Notable NHL Trades and Signings – June 27, 2025
The Florida Panthers signed Sam Bennett to an eight-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $8 million. He was slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s doubtful anyone’s surprised by this news. Bennett, 29, won the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy, helping Florida win their second straight Stanley Cup. His versatility and agitating two-way style made him an important part of the roster core that turned the Panthers into the NHL’s dominant team over the past two years.
Bennett completed a four-year contract with an average annual value of $8 million, which is what most observers projected he’d get. He might’ve received a little more on the open market from teams eager to overpay for his services, but he never had any intention of leaving a proven winner, especially when they were keen to pay up to keep him.
The Panthers intend to keep their roster core intact to remain a Cup contender for the foreseeable future. However, Bennett’s gritty style of play could catch up with him over the latter half of his deal, which could make this deal burdensome in its final years.
The Montreal Canadiens acquired defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders in exchange for the 16th and 17th overall picks in this year’s draft and forward Emil Heineman. The Habs also signed the 25-year-old defenseman to an eight-year contract worth an average annual value of $9.5 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the biggest move yet by Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes. Dobson is a right-shot blueliner who netted a career-best 70 points in 2023-24. His production dropped to 39 points last season, but so did the offensive output of most of the Islanders in 2024-25. There were also rumors that he was clashing with Islanders head coach Patrick Roy.
New York Islanders trade Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens (NHL Images).
Dobson is entering the prime of his career. If he returns to form under Montreal coach Martin St. Louis, it will take considerable pressure off young star Lane Hutson on the right side of the Canadiens’ blueline.
The Islanders didn’t seem to be much in return for Dobson. However, those two first-round picks could be used to make a trade to move up in the round, putting them in position to draft center (and Long Island native) James Hagens.
The Toronto Maple Leafs re-sign John Tavares to a four-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $4.38 million. He also gets a full no-movement clause in the first two years, followed by a five-team trade list for the final two seasons.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was never in doubt. Tavares stated he wanted to stay in Toronto following the Leafs’ second-round playoff exit. He knew he’d have to accept a pay cut from the $11 million AAV of his previous contract. This shows his willingness to remain a Maple Leaf.
The Colorado Avalanche traded center Charlie Coyle and winger Miles Wood to the Columbus Blue Jackets for prospect center Gavin Brindley, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2027 second-rounder.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a salary dump by the Avalanche. The 33-year-old Coyle is a versatile middle-six forward who can play center or right. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Boston Bruins, he has a year left on his contract with an AAV of $5.25 million.
Wood frequently surfaced in the rumor mill after struggling through injuries and inconsistency in 2024-25. The 29-year-old checking-line winger is signed through 2028-29 with an AAV of $2.5 million.
Taking into account Brindley’s $775K cap hit, the Avalanche have $8.9 million in cap space with 16 active roster players under contract. They could be planning other moves with that cap room to shore up their depth.
So much for my view of this. Not concerned about the cost in assets (I will miss Heineman), just the cap hit.
But deal done. Now I don’t have to waste time watching the draft today.
Cap hit via puckpedia 9.5 X 8 years. A little lower than I had feared.
LJ you and a few other Hab fans are more knowledgeable them I . But I see this ad the downfall towards a rebuild .
To me this is the Leafs signing Travese all over again. Hutson will command way more and agree he should get it as a number 1 d .
I get cap going up but we are a few years away sign trade for the big guy maybe 2 years from now . Hope I am wrong
Swany: Thanks for the compliment but I categorize myself as more of an enthusiast about the Habs rather than more knowledgeable than most.
Today is a good example of that. Earlier today I was against the trade.
Now that it happened I think I understand: this was Plan B, a RHD because a 2C wasn’t available at any reasonable price. In that sense perhaps you can see it isn’t a backward step, just a forward step in another direction.
I do think it means another trade or two will happen, I see Struble being moved as there is now a log jam on the blue line and the young D prospects have to have room to audition. Or does it mean Matheson gets moved?
All of this is speculation on my part, another day of ‘what do I know.” I’m going to sit back and let the day unfold. Let’s enjoy the unexpected.
Imagine if the unexpected was Dach coming back, staying healthy, and blooming as our 2 C.
I’m just going to enjoy picturing this for a while.
Look for Matheson to be traded soon
Two great moves by both Canadian teams. For the Habs for snapping up a promising young player. Not too bad of a signing amount too because of the Canadian team factor (taxes, market expectations, etc) which to me are all bs reasons but it is what it is.
But what I really like about the move is how much this should help the rookie Hutson which undoubtedly would be on many players radar next season.
The Leafs get the top goal scoring UFA to resign for four years at how much? Wow finally a contract including the NTCs, a thing other teams not named Leafs usually do. That deal is even better than the tax free state deal signed in Dallas which was the baseline of what is considered good. Wonder what the Avs were thinking.
Ron, are you referring to the Leafs signing of Tavares?
If so, yep, good for the Leafs. I had a fantasy that the Habs could steal him, still has much to give and a character guy.
And you are spot on about the help Dobson brings Hutson.
ds: Sid to the Habs? To quote Iago, the well respected insider: I will have a heart attack and die from that surprise.
@lj
even as a rangers fan i wanted to see Sid in the playoffs again. he has 6% chance with pitts.
no one will get that mad at him for joining montreal
If your post ended in Colorado and nstead of Montreal it would have made some sense😉
Getting Tavares for 4.39 was well below what everyone thought. Even if Knies goes for around 8, that still leaves them with about 14 mill to sign 5 players and I can see a buyout coming. The Dobson deal was good for the Habs, thought the Isles could’ve done better.
Yogi, getting Tavares for that amount is, in many respects, THE best deal made anywhere, to date – from so many angles.
And it certainly will reflect – in negotiations anyway – on the Giroux-Senators dialogue because, as much as I like Giroux and the fact he can still contribute, he ain’t no Tavares from an offensive perspective.
George I figured 6 per would’ve been a steal. Tavares made his money, nice to see a player put the greed away and JT didn’t demand the NMC the whole contract. But it sure gives Toronto room to make a big signing now
Islanders now with #16 and #17 likely plan attempt trade back into Top 10. Suppose the Penguins with #11 and #12 want same player ? want trade back into the Top 10 ? hehehe
Speed kills how about Boston at 7,for your 16+17 picks.
Hey Sr. Some in Flames land were wondering where the Bruins actually are at. They seem to have too many high end players on term to do a rebuild & it looks to be a fast retool & get back to playoffs asap! Are Flames a fit? They are desperate to get into top 10, how about Andersen at 50%, #18 & choice of Mews or the #54 for that #7. Bruins get now & futures for the pipeline. Andersen & Lindholm were buds in Calgary so i dont see an issue him extending there. If Bruins lay another egg & dont want to re-sign him cause they want to go in another direction, he should be a pretty hot commodity at the Trade Deadline to net out a bunch more futures for the 2026 draft. Just curious if Bruins would see that as a win.
Call me crazy… but Habs preparing to add Sid?
Seems…. would be a good story for all.
You’re crazy. Crosby has repeatedly stated his desire to retire a Penguin. Both Pittsburgh’s and Montreal’s FO have denied any interest in such a trade. The whole thing started on some fanboy’s blog as a call to let Sid come home to finish his career. Except, Sid wasn’t raised in Montreal. Give it a rest.
Great trade for the Habs. A team that could certainly afford to give up futures for a player like Dobson. Contract is what it is. I think getting it under 10 was a win as well.
Going to be interesting how that contract impacts the future Hutson contracts. But that is not a concern for today!
As for the Islanders I don’t watch them enough to understand what their goals are this summer…but two 1sts is something
My first gut reaction is too much cost in assets and and too much cost in $/term. I am assuming they are giving up on Mailloux and Reinbacher as RDs. Which one of Dobson, Reinbacher or Hutson is your third pairing Dman in a few years? Have they created a Tavares situation where if Reinbacher develops into a solid R Dman, you paying over $30million on RDs? IMO they could have got a veteran RD for a couple of years until Reinbacher was ready to go for a lot less cost in assets and in $. What a mistake in trading Kovacevic last year. I hope I’m wrong on this!
I don’t follow Laval but some of our fellow posters have opined that Reinbacher and Mailloux aren’t ready to take the step and further suggested Mailloux might never get there. More time developing always seems to be the best thing for young D. If both do, then someone becomes a trade asset.
What I do like about the trade is the team is better than it was last year without giving up a roster player.
And I do like how this somewhat insulates Hutson.
Sad to see E.H. go without really seeing what he can do, and I know we still have roster holes and a developing D corps, but maybe the “step back” caution that has been expressed for next season mitigated? I am hoping so.
It’s a great deal. Everyone wins.
Scary right side in Montreal.
Hutson plays left side. Dobson doesn’t have a NTC, he can be moved if Mailloux reaches his potential.
The Dobson contract is a deal if you compare it to other D-men of his stature and have been making this kind of money for years now.
With smaller cap, Habs were paying Subban and Price the same kind of money.
The Habs have the core signed long term at reasonable cap and Price’s $10 million comes off next year so there’s no concern.
Good on Tavares to take that deal, might be the best contract in the league now and a statement in perhaps setting culture for TML. In my eyes (who care) he’s the real Captain of the team.
habfan30, no doubt there are other calculations and probably deals coming, but as of this moment, following the trade, Puckpedia shows Montreal with a cap deficit of -$3,394,166 and still with RFAs G Jakub Dobes (exp. $925,000) and LD Jayden Struble (exp. $867,500) – both with arbitration rights, to re-up.
Their UFAs – RW Joel Armia (exp. $3,400,000); C/LW Christian Dvorak (exp. $4,450,000); and C/LW Michael Pezzetta (exp. $812,500) are obviously history.
Anything obvious jump to mind?
George,
Teams can be 10% over the cap in the off season so that’s about $6.5 million and once the season starts Price’s ltir and $10 million kick in.
Dobes and Struble will get slight
increases, Pezzetta, Dvorak and Armia will go.
That leaves them with a full roster and about $3 million to spare .
More trades are still in the cards for lower cost UFA
Besides Price’s LTIR option I mean
Maybe they’ll trade Price’s contract to a rebuilding club that needs to meet the $70 million cap floor? San Jose, perhaps?
That’s certainly an option.
I was WRONG. Avs making space for Sid???
Are you trying to prove that you have brain damage? Why would Sid sign an extension if he knew he’d be traded?
Sid. A hab. 😂😂
As an Isles fan not thrilled with the deal. Should have got a better prospect back like Rienbacher. Hope they move up and get Haggins. I know Dobson did not want to be here and wanted 11 million .Had to trade him and he is as soft as ice cream but he can put up points. Did Darch do Montreal a favor? Now I hear Barzal may be next to go with Chicago and Vancouver after him according to Dave Pagnotta. Good grief what is going on? Going to start drinking early now for the draft.
Lou did not leave the Isles in the best spot for the future
I am sure you will get Hagens as well.
Just need to wait til 2027 to watch a good team
They might surprise a lot of people this coming season. They were a .500 team over the season just ended, 9 points back of a WC spot.
That is not insurmountable, and their upcoming 1st overall will certainly be a factor in the line-up, as would another high pick if they can use those other first-round selections to move up.
Heineman will also help.
They won’t be an easy 2 points for any team.
I don’t know George. I would pin my hopes that playing this years 1st OA draftee will make them better or even advisable for him. Sure you can say they were only 9 pts away but a team like Montreal shouldn’t even of made it considering where we all surprised when they did.
I don’t want to sound like I’m hating on them just because the hate that greedy JT but like in many teams there’s a lot to fix on the isle.
Let’s see what they do with the almost $21 mil in cap reserve!
So Bennett signs 8×8, another one bites the dust. Pickings are goinf to be slim july 1st
Isles “ cupboard” consists of Eiserman and Ritchie and soon to be a lot better.
Love Dobson . Has only had one off year for whatever the reasons. I am sure attributed to a Nagging injury a nagging P.Roy. 4 consecutive 20 goals
Why not trade down for sumptin sumptin and take Hagens
Congratulations, Sam Bennett. You earned a good contract. Good luck, except when you play the Columbus Blue Jackets.
I’m watching the NHL draft and understand why Montreal traded both their first round draft picks. Unwatchable. Whoever thought this format would be a good idea, should be fired.