NHL Rumor Mill – July 11, 2025

by | Jul 11, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – July 11, 2025

The latest on the Maple Leafs, Canadiens and Bruins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

SPORTSNET: Luke Fox believes the Toronto Maple Leafs still have some moves to make this summer.

Fox thinks general manager Brad Treliving must add a top-six winger, noting that they have salary-cap space to work with in the trade market. However, the Leafs lack the tradeable assets (first-round picks, desirable prospects) needed to make a major trade.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving (NHL.com).

That’s why there’s speculation suggesting Treliving might peddle a defenseman like Brandon Carlo or Morgan Rielly (if he’ll waive his no-movement clause) instead. It’s also rumored Treliving could settle for a free agent like Jack Roslovic.

Fox also suggested waiting for better options to appear during the regular season, pointing out the Vancouver Canucks weren’t shopping J.T. Miller last summer.

THE ATHLETIC: James Mirtle also weighed in on what the Maple Leafs might do with their extra salary-cap space this summer.

Mirtle also noted the Leafs have been linked to Roslovic. He suggested they could free up more cap room by trading forwards Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf. Mirtle shared Fox’s suggestion that remaining patient could be the best option.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Treliving remains busy trying to improve the Leafs’ roster. On Thursday, he sent little-used enforcer Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks for young defenseman Henry Thrun. Nevertheless, finding a suitable top-six winger will be challenging.

There aren’t many decent players still available via free agency, certainly not of the caliber that would bring in the type of top-six production they need. Finding them in the trade market won’t be easy given their limited trade resources. And no, Rielly won’t waive his NMC.

Turning to the Montreal Canadiens, Fox believes they must still address their need for a second-line center. However, GM Kent Hughes admits the limited options in the trade and free-agent markets mean it might not be fulfilled during the offseason.

One suggestion was signing Evgeny Kuznetsov as a placeholder. However, the 33-year-old’s performance has declined to the point where he’s probably incapable of filling that role. They could resort to trying oft-injured Kirby Dach in that position.

THE ATHLETIC: Arpon Basu reports Canadiens vice-president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton believes there could be more movement in this summer’s trade market. He cited that several teams were left unsatisfied thus far with the changes they’ve made, especially those with salary-cap dollars to spend.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have already made two significant additions, acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders and promising middle-six forward Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues.

Addressing the second-line center position, however, remains a difficult task. It’s a seller’s market for that type of player. Like the Maple Leafs, the Canadiens could be forced to wait and see if the market improves during the regular season.

NESN: Jay Pritchard observed Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman’s recent speculation suggesting the Boston Bruins seem to be setting up for something major.

Friedman was referring to the 2026 unrestricted free-agent class. He thinks the Bruins want a shot at signing one of those players.

Pritchard suggested the Bruins’ moves this summer support that theory. They added Viktor Arvidsson, who is in the final season of his contract with an affordable cap hit. Signing Tanner Jeannot to a five-year contract raised eyebrows for its term, not its $3.4 million AAV.

Next year’s UFA class could include Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, Vegas’ Jack Eichel, Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov, Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor, the New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin, Colorado’s Martin Necas, and Montreal’s Patrik Laine.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of those players could re-sign with their current teams before next July. Nevertheless, a few could be available, giving the Bruins a shot at landing one of them.

The Bruins have over $19 million in projected space for 2026-27 with 18 active roster players (including their core players) under contract. Their notable free agents are RFAs Matthew Poitras and John Beecher, who won’t put a significant dent into their cap room. They could have enough to win a bidding war for one of those top UFAs.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 11, 2025

by | Jul 11, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 11, 2025

The Stars trade Matt Dumba to the Penguins, the Avalanche re-sign Josh Manson, Ilya Sorokin’s agent reacts to recent trade rumors, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins acquired defenseman Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick from the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a salary dump by the Stars, who were sitting over the salary cap before this deal took place. It clears Dumba’s $3.75 million cap hit from their books, giving the Stars $1.955 million in cap space with 21 active roster players under contract for this season, with no notable players to re-sign.

The Dallas Stars trade Matt Dumba to the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL Images).

The Athletic’s Josh Yohe considers this move more about the second-round pick for the rebuilding Penguins, continuing management’s theme of taking on bad contracts in the short term to add solid future assets.

Dumba’s performance has declined in recent years, but he won’t make the Penguins’ defense corps any worse than it already is. He’s also in the final season of his two-year contract, and he could be dealt at the March trade deadline for another draft pick if he has a decent performance this season.

Yohe also suggests Dumba can provide depth on the right side of the Penguins’ blueline if they trade Erik Karlsson.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche signed defenseman Josh Manson to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.95 million beginning in 2026-27. It’s a slight discount from his current AAV of $4.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Manson, 33, has been plagued by injuries in recent years. When healthy, however, he provides the Avalanche with a physical, right-shot presence on their blueline. It would cost them much more to replace him had he gone to market next summer.

TSN: Player agent Dan Milstein, who represents Ilya Sorokin, took to social media on Thursday to swat down recent trade rumors swirling around the 29-year-old New York Islanders goaltender.

Milstein reminded everyone that his client has a full no-trade clause, claiming Sorokin “has never been part of any trade discussions – not at any point.” He went on to scold those who originated the rumors. “There’s a difference between reporting facts and creating buzz about yourself.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before Milstein’s comments appeared, NYI Hockey Now’s Russ Macias dismissed the Sorokin speculation, citing his no-movement clause and why the Islanders have no reason to move him.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers signed restricted free-agent forward Mackie Samoskevich to a one-year, $775,000 contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This deal generated some buzz yesterday as some readers questioned why Samoskevich accepted less money than the AAV of his entry-level contract ($925,000).

The Panthers were already over the salary cap before re-signing Samoskevich, who had little leverage coming off his entry-level contract. Given their cap situation, it wouldn’t be surprising if management convinced the 22-year-old forward to accept this reduction with the promise of a more lucrative deal next summer, when the Panthers have over $23 million in cap space.

This signing leaves the Panthers sitting above the cap by $3.725 million. They’re allowed to exceed the cap by 10 percent during the offseason, but must be cap compliant when they begin the regular season.

It’s been rumored that Matthew Tkachuk could miss the start of the season if he undergoes surgery this summer to repair a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia. In that case, the Panthers would place him on long-term injury reserve, enabling them to remain above the cap when the season begins. However, they’ll have to shed salary or find another way to become cap-compliant if he returns to action during the regular season.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW/TORONTO SUN: The Sharks traded defenseman Henry Thrun to the Toronto Maple Leafs for winger Ryan Reaves.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks cleared a logjam on defense following their recent acquisitions of Dmitry Orlov and Nick Leddy. Reaves hasn’t fit within the Leafs’ roster for the past couple of years.

Thrun, 24, will be a decent depth addition to the Leafs’ blueline. Reaves could provide the Sharks with some muscle to ensure rival clubs don’t take liberties against their promising youngsters like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.

SPORTSNET: The new NHL-NHLPA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) contains a provision that will allow NHL teams to place one CHL player in the AHL per season. This would enable teams to transition a promising young prospect into professional hockey sooner. Players who are 18 years old would be ineligible for the new rule, which begins in 2026-27.

DAILY FACEOFF: London Knights head coach Dale Hunter has been selected by Hockey Canada to coach its 2026 World Junior team. His brother, Mark Hunter, will be part of the management group.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston weighs in on Sportsnet’s recent announcement that it is hiking its fees for its subscription-only service from $75.00 (Canadian) to $324.99.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t use Sportsnet’s subscription-only service, but if I did, this significant rate increase would probably have me considering other options. Johnston believes fans aren’t currently getting their money’s worth, citing on-air quality and the degrading of the Hockey Night in Canada brand.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 10, 2025

by | Jul 10, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – July 10, 2025

Check out the latest on Erik Karlsson, Ilya Sorokin and Jordan Kyrou, plus five teams that could make moves this summer, in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports multiple teams are interested in Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson.

According to a league source, the Toronto Maple Leafs are among them. They’re in the market for an offensive defenseman and have also been linked to Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils. The Penguins would have to retain part of their share ($10 million) of his average annual value.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson (NHL Images)

The source also dismissed the notion of bad blood between Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas and his former team. It’s also believed the Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth and Dallas Stars were involved.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have $4.9 million in cap space, meaning the Penguins must retain up to half of their share of Karlsson’s cap hit. Even then, the Leafs would have to shed more salary to make it work.

Karlsson is reportedly willing to waive his no-movement clause to join a contender. That rules out the Red Wings, Ducks and Mammoth.

The Stars meet the contender criteria, but they’re over the cap by nearly $1.8 million. It’s unlikely they could make the dollars fit.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Stefen Rosner is skeptical of a recent report suggesting the New York Islanders were considering trading goaltender Ilya Sorokin during the 2025 NHL Draft.

The report claimed Islanders GM Mathieu Darche might’ve dangled Sorokin in an attempt to move up in the first-round draft order to select Long Island native James Hagens. However, Rosner pointed out that Darche indicated teams weren’t willing to trade their first-rounders.

Rosner also doesn’t see the Islanders trading their franchise goaltender when backup Semyon Varlamov is coming off lower-body surgery. He also noted that Sorokin is in the second season of an eight-year contract with a full no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The only reason Darche would trade Sorokin is if he were staging a full roster rebuild. As Rosner noted, the Islanders aren’t moving their core players if they remain committed to being competitive.

STLTODAY.COM: Lynn Worthy doesn’t put much stock into recent trade rumors surrounding Blues winger Jordan Kyrou.

He acknowledged the 27-year-old’s scoring ability is what would make him a great trade chip. However, it’s also a big reason why the Blues should retain him, especially since they were 13th last season in goals scored.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Most of the Kyrou speculation occurred before his no-trade clause kicked in on July 1. Unless he’s keen to move on (and he’s publicly expressed no such sentiment), he’ll be in their lineup when the regular season begins in October.

SPORTSNET: Sonny Sachdeva listed the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche as five teams that could make moves in this summer’s trade market.

It’s believed the Oilers considered moving out a key player like Adam Henrique or Darnell Nurse to continue reshaping their roster, but they declined to waive their no-trade clauses.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sachdeva suggested the Oilers take a swing at adding Minnesota’s Marco Rossi or Florida’s Evan Rodrigues, or a depth forward like New Jersey’s Dawson Mercer or Colorado’s Ross Colton. Their biggest need, however, remains between the pipes. However, the limited goaltending options available mean they could be waiting for a while to find a suitable trade target.

The Maple Leafs could use a couple of scoring forwards. Sachdeva proposed Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust of the Pittsburgh Penguins as trade targets. Moving out forwards Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf would free up $4.5 million to create additional cap space to facilitate a trade.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs could get Rakell or Rust but not both. However, they lack the tradeable assets to interest the Penguins, like a first-round pick or a good, young NHL player.

The Jets have the cap space ($19.8 million) to work with if they wish to continue adding to their forward lines. One option could be Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz, who has a year left on his contract with a cap hit of $5.85 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth hopes to push for a playoff berth this season, so it’s unlikely Schmaltz is available. It might be a different story if they’re outside the postseason picture by the March trade deadline.

Sachdeva noted the Kings made some additions via free agency (forwards Corey Perry and Joel Armia, defensemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin), but they need more if they hope to take the next step this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sachdeva mentioned acquiring Jason Robertson from the Dallas Stars, but even he considers that to be a remote possibility.

The Avalanche could be a landing spot for Schmaltz or one of the Penguins’ wingers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: See my previous comments on Rust, Rakell and Schmaltz.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 10, 2025

by | Jul 10, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 10, 2025

Golden Knights center Jack Eichel on new teammate Mitch Marner, Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere looks forward to 2025-26, the Canucks’ goaltending logjam, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel said he understands what it’s like to start over with a new NHL club. He’s willing to lend a hand to help new teammate Mitch Marner adjust.

“Having went through the situation of leaving an organization in the city and having a fresh start with Vegas, I think I can relate, to a point, to some of the things he’s going through,” said Eichel. He added that he’s looking forward to continuing getting to know Marner and the opportunity of playing with him.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).

During the “Leafs Morning Take” podcast, Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said it was difficult to predict if Eichel and Marner would end up on the same line this season, but he is looking forward to seeing the two players together when training camp opens in September.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s possible that Eichel and Marner might not mesh well as linemates. Nevertheless, it won’t be surprising if they’re on the first line when the Golden Knights open their season in October.

RDS.CA: New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere acknowledged he and his teammates didn’t play well last season. His struggles at times made him the subject of trade speculation.

However, Lafreniere expressed optimism for this season, pointing out that the Rangers have a new head coach (Mike Sullivan) and a slightly different roster. He’s hoping to regain the form that saw him net a career-high 57 points in 2023-24.

Lafreniere also indicated that he ignores trade rumors, saying he loves playing in New York.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lafreniere’s struggles and general manager Chris Drury’s ongoing roster tinkering fueled the trade speculation. However, it seems that Drury still believes the 23-year-old winger fits into his team’s long-range plans. Lafreniere is in the first season of a seven-year contract that he signed last fall.

THE PROVINCE: Arturs Silovs was the 2025 AHL playoff MVP backstopping the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate win the Calder Cup. However, he’s stuck as the Canucks’ No. 3 goalie behind Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen.

Silovs’s Calder Cup performance and his solid play for the Canucks in the 2024 NHL playoffs could make the 24-year-old goaltender a player of interest for teams seeking depth between the pipes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Silovs is no longer exempt from NHL waivers. It’s doubtful he’d pass unclaimed if the Canucks try to return him to Abbotsford before the start of the regular season. With several teams in the market for goalie depth, Silovs could surface in trade rumors during training camp in September.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Climate Pledge Arena co-developer Tim Leiweke stepped down as CEO of Oak View Group following a grand jury indictment for allegedly rigging a bidding process for an arena project at a public university in Austin, Texas.

Climate Pledge Arena is the home of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. The team released a statement indicating Leiweke’s indictment has nothing to do with the team or the arena and won’t affect their day-to-day operations.

Leiweke is the former CEO and president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. None of the allegations have been proven in court. If found guilty, he would face up to 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

TSN: NHL player agent Todd Diamond believes the organizational makeup of a team plays a bigger role in where players sign rather than their location.

“I think it’s a red herring,” said Diamond, referring to the issue of teams based in no-tax states. “It’s all about winning and how organizations are treating their players.”

Diamond acknowledged that lifestyle, weather and climate play a role to a certain extent, but pointed out that he has had clients who preferred to re-sign in Pittsburgh and Carolina. “It’s all about the feel and the ability for organizations to compete that are the foremost drivers in deciding where players want to play.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A team in a no-tax state has an advantage in re-signing or adding stars for slightly less than market value compared to other states. However, it doesn’t assure that those teams will become Stanley Cup champions.

Some believe it was a key factor behind the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning winning five of the last six Stanley Cup championships.

Whenever someone raises this issue, they never have a suitable answer for why the Panthers and Lightning had long periods in their history when they failed to reach the playoffs. They can’t explain why the Golden Knights didn’t advance past the second round over the past two years, or why the Lightning haven’t won a playoff round since 2022.

Shrewd management and strong coaching were the real reasons behind the success of those teams.

NEW YORK POST: The employer of former NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky is looking into a fight he had with another man on an Alberta golf course on July 4. The incident was filmed and subsequently appeared on social media.

Tarnasky coaches Red Deer Minor Hockey’s U17 team. Local authorities looked into the incident, but no charges were laid. Police were dispatched to the golf course following a report of a drunken man starting fights, but the probe was closed when officers arrived and the suspect was gone.

The video shows a man charging at someone who is thought to be Tarnasky, who tossed the assailant into a lake. The individual kept coming after Tarnasky, who threw several punches and then tossed the man to the ground. The man was then led away by his companion.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 9, 2025

by | Jul 9, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – July 9, 2025

Did the Islanders attempt to trade Ilya Sorokin at the draft? What’s the latest on Dougie Hamilton and Marco Rossi? Will the Capitals explore the trade market? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

ARE THE ISLANDERS CONSIDERING TRADING ILYA SOROKIN?

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski cited Frank Servalli of Daily Faceoff claiming the New York Islanders considered the possibility of trading Ilya Sorokin. Seravalli made the remarks during an appearance on the Kevin Karius Show.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (NHL Images).

The 29-year-old goaltender is in the second year of his eight-year contract with an average annual value of $8.25 million. Seravalli said he’d heard of speculation that the Isles had discussed a deal with the Utah Mammoth for the fourth-overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No reaction yet from those who cover the Islanders regarding this report. Any attempt to trade Sorokin would need the goaltender’s blessing. He has a full no-movement clause through 2027-28.

THE LATEST ON DOUGIE HAMILTON

B/R OPEN ICE: Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli also believes the New Jersey Devils explored the trade market for Dougie Hamilton.

The 32-year-old defenseman is signed through 2027-28 with an AAV of $9 million. He carries a 10-team trade list for the remainder of his deal.

Seravalli doesn’t believe the Devils are intent on trading Hamilton. However, they’ll need to find some flexibility with their blueline going forward. If not, they’ll have to make some tough decisions with some of their younger defensemen, like Simon Nemec.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Utah Mammoth and Dallas Stars were believed to be among the clubs interested in Hamilton. While the Devils are getting trade calls for the puck-moving blueliner, he’s not expected to be moved anytime soon.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hamilton’s cap hit and trade list will limit the potential suitors, in turn meaning few options for the Devils to get a suitable return.

The signing bonuses in his contract will also be a factor. Murphy pointed out Hamilton will receive a base salary of $1 million for this season and next, with a $7.4 million signing bonus due on July 1, 2026, and $5.25 million in actual salary for the final season with no bonus payments.

Interested clubs may have been waiting for the Devils to pay Hamilton his signing bonus for this season before expressing interest. Some might prefer waiting until next summer after his final bonus payment is made.

AN UPDATE ON MARCO ROSSI

THE ATHLETIC: Michael Russo and Joe Smith report that there were teams interested in acquiring Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi. However, they were offering up futures or top-six forwards, which the Wild didn’t want.

The Vancouver Canucks offered the 15th overall pick in this year’s draft, but Russo and Smith aren’t sure there was a player the Wild would’ve wanted with that pick. “If you look at Carolina, who would the Hurricanes offer other than Jesperi Kotkaniemi?”

As for Rossi’s stalled contract negotiations, they could stretch into training camp and beyond unless he signs an offer sheet. Wild general manager Bill Guerin has said he would match any offer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Until a rival club steps up with a significant trade offer, it seems Rossi won’t be going anywhere this summer. If no one’s pitching an offer sheet, the 23-year-old center could have little choice but to re-sign rather than risk missing training camp and regular-season playing time that will adversely affect his performance after he inevitably re-signs with the Wild.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CAPITALS?

NHL.COM: Tom Gulitti recently reported Washington Capitals GM Chris Patrick indicated he intends to explore the trade market after plans to make a significant addition in free agency fell through.

Gulitti indicated the Capitals hope to add a top-six forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s believed the Capitals were among the clubs bidding for Nikolaj Ehlers before the UFA winger signed with the Hurricanes last week.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 9, 2025

by | Jul 9, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 9, 2025

The NHL and NHLPA ratify the new CBA, the Oilers and Lightning swap top prospects, projected 2026 top prospect Gavin McKenna explains why he’s heading to the NCAA, and more in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The league and the NHL Players’ Association ratified a four-year collective bargaining agreement more than a year before the expiration of the current CBA. The agreement begins in 2026-07 and runs through 2029-30.

THE SCORE: An 84-game regular-season schedule with less preseason play and the reduction of maximum-length contracts by one year are among the notable changes in the new CBA. There will also be a playoff salary cap, no mandatory dress code for players, and the creation of a full-time travelling backup goaltender to replace emergency backups (EBUGs).

THE ATHLETIC: Jesse Granger and Rob Rossi spoke with 10 NHL players around the league regarding the new CBA. Early reviews were mostly positive, but there were some dissenting opinions.

All agreed that it was best to avoid another lockout and get a deal done, though some questioned the speed at which the agreement was reached. Older players are pleased with the reduction in preseason play, but some younger players complained it made it harder to earn a roster spot.

Some players felt the reduction in contract lengths was a slight sacrifice, while others expressed concern. All of them were happy with the increase in the playoff fund.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: All of the significant changes were previously reported last month. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what is contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is expected to be released soon.

The playoff salary cap is the most significant as it addresses the contentious long-term injury reserve (LTIR) loophole that enabled teams to bolster their playoff rosters using injury relief cap space.

Reducing contract term (seven years for re-signings and six years for unrestricted free agents) will affect only the league’s top talent. Most players never see a contract longer than the league average of three years.

Changing the current EBUG system was a necessity. It robs us of entertaining scenarios when an amateur goalie occasionally gets an opportunity to play an NHL game, but the system was an embarrassment for a professional league.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning swapped a couple of promising prospects on Tuesday evening. Heading to Edmonton is left wing Isaac Howard, while the Lightning receive center Sam O’Reilly. The Oilers immediately signed the 21-year-old Howard to a three-year entry-level contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This trade occurred because Howard was reluctant to sign with the Lightning, preferring to choose which club he’d play with. He evidently felt that he’d have a quicker path to the NHL with the Oilers than with the Lightning, who reportedly preferred that he spend a season with their AHL affiliate in Syracuse.

It’s similar to Rutger McGroarty’s refusal to sign with the Winnipeg Jets last summer, resulting in his trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Brayden Yager.

Howard won the 2025 Hobey Baker Award as the top player in US college hockey. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports he’s expected to be in the Oilers’ opening-night roster in October.

Seravalli stated that some scouts think O’Reilly is the better long-term prospect, but Howard is NHL-ready now. Time will tell how this move pans out for both clubs.

TSN: Gavin McKenna made his long-rumored move to the NCAA official on Tuesday. The 17-year-old winger is leaving the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers to join Penn State University this season.

McKenna is the presumptive top prospect in the 2026 NHL draft class. He explained that his move enables him to play against “older, heavier, stronger guys” in the NCAA, which he believes will help prepare him for the NHL.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A smart decision by McKenna. Future top prospects in the Canadian Junior A ranks could follow the same path in the coming years.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports the chaos that has dogged the Vancouver Canucks in recent years hurt their ability to attract free agents.

Multiple player agents cited issues like the team’s ownership, facilities, management, and off-ice drama. Travel and cost of living were also mentioned. It could also lead to team captain Quinn Hughes departing at the first opportunity.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before assuming that some of these issues are unique to Canadian teams, Johnston pointed out that the Winnipeg Jets don’t seem to struggle to retain or attract players, despite Vancouver being nicer than Winnipeg.

The Jets did lose Nikolaj Ehlers to free agency this summer, but the winger stressed that it was a personal decision, going on to praise the team and the city of Winnipeg. Indeed, the Jets retained superstar Connor Hellebuyck and top center Mark Scheifele, building a team around them that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season.

While the Jets’ ownership was recently criticized for taking their fans for granted, they’ve provided top-down stability that doesn’t meddle in management’s affairs, resulting in a consistent, competitive on-ice product since 2017-18 and a better record than the Canucks over the same period.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Winger Jesse Puljujarvi has signed a two-year contract with Geneve-Servette in Switzerland’s National League.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This likely signals the end of a disappointing NHL career for the 27-year-old Puljujarvi. Chosen fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 draft, he struggled to play up to expectations as a scoring forward.

From 2016-17 to 2024-25, Puljujarvi had 58 goals and 128 points in 387 NHL games with the Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Florida Panthers. He underwent double hip surgery in 2023, missing half of the following season.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: The Avalanche hired former Seattle Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol as their new assistant coach.

TSN: Former NHL player Riley Nash has retired after 13 seasons. From 2011-12 to 2023-24, Nash had 63 goals and 176 points in 628 regular-season games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Arizona Coyotes and the New York Rangers. He also had eight points in 42 postseason games.