NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 22, 2026

by | Jul 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 22, 2026

The Stars and Jason Robertson avoid arbitration, the Mammoth re-sign John Marino, the Blue Jackets and Jett Greaves remain apart in contract talks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars and winger Jason Robertson avoided salary arbitration, agreeing on Tuesday to a one-year, $12 million contract.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

Robertson, 26, was a restricted free agent coming off a four-year contract worth an average annual value of $7.75 million. He was slated for an arbitration hearing on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Robertson was reportedly seeking $14 million annually while the Stars countered with $12 million.

This contract buys time for both sides. Robertson wants to remain with the Stars, vetoing a trade to the Seattle Kraken after refusing their offer of an eight-year deal worth $15 million annually. The Stars want to keep him, especially as they push for a Stanley Cup in 2026-27, but at their price.

Robertson was due for a substantial raise after leading the Stars in scoring last season with 45 goals and 96 points. He’s also been consistently among their top scorers since his rookie season during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, finishing no lower than second in each of those seasons.

Another high-scoring season will ensure that Robertson will get a big pay bump on his next deal. He’ll either get that lucrative new contract with the Stars or another club as an unrestricted free agent next July. Given the rise in the salary cap to $113.5 million for 2027-28, his asking price could be more than $14 million annually.

The Stars will have more salary-cap space next summer ($41.163 million as per PuckPedia) to re-sign Robertson. They can open contract extension talks on Jan. 1.

Robertson was the subject of frequent trade speculation last season. The longer he goes without an extension, the more rumors will arise about his future in Dallas.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Utah Mammoth signed defenseman John Marino to an eight-year contract extension worth an AAV of $6.75 million. He’s in the final season of a six-year deal with an AAV of $4.4 million.

Marino, 29, is coming off a career-best 36-point performance in 80 games last season. He’s been among their best all-around defensemen, playing a key role in the Mammoth’s improvement as they reached the playoffs last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong believes Marino can become an elite puck-moving defenseman. They consider him to be an invaluable part of their blueline corps. Given the steady rise of the salary cap, this could become a cost-effective contract.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets and goaltender Jet Greaves appear to be far apart in contract negotiations as his July 23rd arbitration hearing approaches.

Both sides submitted their briefs to the arbitrator on Tuesday on a one-year contract. Greaves is seeking $7.5 million while the Blue Jackets offered $2.8 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If this goes to arbitration, Greaves could get an amount somewhere around the midpoint of those two submissions. However, he and the Jackets could also reach an agreement before Thursday’s scheduled hearing, which is usually the outcome as these cases rarely go before an arbitrator.

THE ATHLETIC: The New York Rangers hired two former players for development roles.

Jonathan Quick will become the Rangers’ new director of goaltending development. Derick Brassard becomes a player development assistant.

Quick, 40. retired at the end of 2025-26 after 19 seasons as a goaltender, 16 of those with the Los Angeles Kings. He spent the past three seasons as the Rangers’ backup.

Brassard spent 16 seasons in the NHL as a center, with four of those as a Ranger.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium is hoping for a breakout performance this season. The 20-year-old finished third among rookie blueliners last season with 26 points in 76 games. He’s spending the offseason focused on improving his stamina.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buium was part of the return the Canucks received in the trade that sent superstar rearguard Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. He’s expected to become an important part of the club’s rebuild.

ESPN.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, and St. Louis Blues will have their games produced and distributed by NHL Productions this season.

The four clubs had agreements with Main Street Sports, which operated regional channels under the FanDuel Sports Network brand and went out of business at the end of last season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 21, 2026

by | Jul 21, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 21, 2026

Check out the latest on Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer, Mammoth center Logan Cooley, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Blackhawks center Connor Bedard said he’s feeling good following shoulder surgery two weeks ago. He intends to remain mostly in Vancouver during his recovery this summer. His estimated recovery timeline is four months.

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images)

Regarding his new contract, Bedard said that Leo Carlsson’s new contract with the Anaheim Ducks didn’t really change things regarding his negotiations with the Blackhawks, saying he was “very happy” with the money he’ll be making.

Bedard maintains he’s very happy in Chicago and with the Blackhawks’ progress. He also said he’s excited at the possibility of Patrick Kane potentially returning to the club as a free agent. “Hopefully, he decides to come back,” Bedard said. “It would make us a way better team.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard will be earning an average annual value of $15 million on his new five-year contract.

As for Kane, it’s believed he’s considering returning to the Blackhawks or signing with his hometown club, the Buffalo Sabres.

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh reports New York Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer believes Matthew Schaefer could one day become the club’s captain.

DeBoer took over as the Isles coach late last season, but was impressed with Schaefer’s performance and the 18-year-old defenseman’s leadership within the dressing room. He believes Schaefer will be part of the Isles’ leadership group, and thinks he could become captain one day, but stressed they must be careful not to put too much on the youngster too soon.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders need a new captain after Anders Lee departed via free agency this summer. It’s unlikely they’ll hang the “C” on Schaefer, but there’s no doubt that the young blueliner will be part of their leadership group going forward.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley is looking forward to playing alongside Vincent Trocheck. He grew up admiring Trocheck, who was acquired from the New York Rangers earlier this summer.

The two Pittsburgh-area natives have skated together in offseason training, developing a friendship. Trocheck said it was among the factors that contributed to his decision to accept a trade to Utah.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Trocheck is a center, but he’s indicated that he’s willing to play on the wing for the Mammoth. Perhaps he and Cooley will be linemates this season.

NHL.COM: According to Dylan Strome, it’s Stanley Cup or bust for the Washington Capitals. “I mean, I think it has to be”, the Capitals forward said. “I think that with the pieces that we’ve added, you can’t ask much more from management, so now it’s time for the players to step up and do what’s asked of us.”

The Capitals were among the busiest teams this summer, acquiring Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou, and Boone Jenner through trades and free agency, and signing team captain Alex Ovechkin to a one-year contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals’ recent moves were spurred by their disappointing performance last season after finishing first in the Eastern Conference in 2024-25. They are not only attempting to bounce back, but also give Ovechkin one last chance to stage a run for a second Stanley Cup before his inevitable NHL retirement.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens have officially announced that they’ve hired former Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde as their new associate coach, replacing Trevor Letowski.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL center Eddie Joyal passed away at the age of 86.

Joyal spent nine seasons in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, and Philadelphia Flyers from 1962-63 to 1971-72. He also spent four seasons in the WHA from 1972-73 to 1975-76.

In 465 NHL games, Joyal scored 128 goals and 134 assists for 262 points, and 11 goals and 19 points in 50 postseason games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Joyal’s family, friends, and former teammates.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 20, 2026

by | Jul 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 20, 2026

Reaction to Connor Bedard’s new contract, Brandon Saad could be heading overseas, Jack Campbell retires, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks signed center Connor Bedard on Saturday to a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $15 million.

Bedard, 21, had completed his three-year entry-level contract. He has the third-highest AAV this season, behind Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson ($18 million) and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million).

THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus believes Bedard likely would’ve received the same contract as Carlsson if he’d asked for it. However, he informed his agent, Don Meehan, that he was happy to continue to negotiate from their original position, which would give the Blackhawks the salary-cap leeway necessary to remain “as effective and competitive as it could be.”

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (NHL Images)

According to Lazerus, money was never the issue. “The sticking point – if you can call it that – was term.” The contract expires when Bedard is 26, making him eligible for unrestricted free-agent status.

Meehan also indicated that Bedard had no interest in signing an offer sheet. He also stressed that the shorter term is not indicative of any uneasiness on his client’s behalf over the direction of the Blackhawks. He said his client remains “very happy” in Chicago, believes in his teammates, and remains committed to the organization.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard didn’t opt for the same deal as Carlsson’s, but the latter’s new contract did affect what the young Blackhawks star received. He could’ve received $18 million annually or more if he wanted it.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli is the most notable young star still unsigned this summer. So far, there’s no indication that the 21-year-old center is getting closer to a deal. The longer he remains unsigned, the more speculation there is over whether he’ll receive an offer sheet.

EXPRESSEN: Johan Svensson reports two SHL teams (Brynas IF and Djurgardens IF) have expressed interest in signing Brandon Saad. The 33-year-old winger spent last season with the Vegas Golden Knights on a one-year contract. He had nine points in 49 games and two points in five playoff contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stick tap to Gabriel Foley of Pro Hockey Rumors. A seven-time 20-plus-goal scorer who won two Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks, the 33-year-old Saad’s 15-season NHL career is winding down. He might have to sign in Sweden or elsewhere in Europe to continue his pro career.

SPORTSNET: Goaltender Jack Campbell has announced his retirement.

Campbell, 34, spent nine seasons in the NHL from 2013-14 to 2023-24 with the Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Edmonton Oilers. His last NHL team was the Detroit Red Wings in 2024-25. He entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and later spent 14 games with the Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids in 2024-25.

Campbell said he was “super grateful” for his playing days, but said a lot of people never saw the personal battle he went through during that time. He intends to pursue a career as a life coach.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In 164 games saved, Campbell had a record of 93 wins, 52 losses, and 18 overtime losses, finishing with a 2.76 goals-against average, a 909 save percentage, and 10 shutouts. He had a postseason record of 7-8-0 with a 2.28 GAA, a .920 SP, and two shutouts.

DAILY FACEOFF: Blue Jackets center Isac Lundestrom underwent successful surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. He is expected to return to action in November.

NJ HOCKEY HOCKEY: Former Devils assistant coach Sergei Brylin has reached an agreement to become the head coach of Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.

THE PIONEER PRESS: “Da Beauty League” is staging its final season. The Minnesota summer rec league, consisting of Minnesota-based NHL players, minor leaguers, and collegians, began 10 years ago in Edina.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 18, 2026

by | Jul 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 18, 2026

The Flyers re-sign Jamie Drysdale, Wild coach thinks Quinn Hughes will stay in Minnesota, the top remaining UFAs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I will be taking time off on Sunday, July 19. The next update to this site will be Monday, July 20. And now, on to this morning’s notable NHL headlines.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers avoided salary arbitration with Jamie Drysdale, signing the 24-year-old defenseman to a four-year contract worth an average annual value of $6.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drysdale is coming off a three-year contract that he signed with the Anaheim Ducks worth an AAV of $2.3 million. AFP Analytics projected he’d receive a six-year contract with an AAV of $7.29 million.

Drysdale had a career-best performance last season, with eight goals and 24 assists for 32 points. He’s getting a substantial raise as a result of shaking off a period of uncertainty earlier in his career due to injuries that hampered his development.

THE MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE: Wild head coach John Hynes remains “very optimistic” that Quinn Hughes will sign a contract extension.

The Wild acquired the 26-year-old superstar defenseman in a blockbuster trade last December.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

“I think he really enjoys Minnesota,” Hynes said. “He enjoys the team. He’s got a good relationship with (general manager Bill Guerin), myself, the coaches, and I think he feels like he’s got good teammates. He had very good success. Obviously, he’s a very good player. But since he’s been with us, he’s been very successful from an individual standpoint, which has certainly helped our team.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes helped the Wild have one of their best seasons in franchise history. They had their fourth-best regular-season performance with 104 points and won their first playoff series in 11 years.

Hughes has a year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $7.875 million. As a recent winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy and one of the league’s elite stars, he will pursue a significant raise.

With Leo Carlsson’s new contract setting the benchmark for the league’s highest-paid players in terms of AAV ($18 million), Hughes can justify seeking more than that.

Last month, Wild owner Craig Leipold publicly declared that his club will sign Hughes to a contract extension. That was before Carlsson’s contract blew up the market. With superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov earning $17 million annually on his new contract, the Wild are looking at investing heavily in two superstars.

Assuming Hughes agrees to $18 million annually to stay in Minnesota, they’re looking at $35 million invested in two players. Even with the salary cap rising considerably for the foreseeable future, Kaprizov and Hughes would still be eating up a big chunk of the Wild’s cap payroll.

DAILY FACEOFF: Forwards Patrick Kane, Patrik Laine, and defenseman Logan Stanley top the list of the best players still available in this summer’s UFA market.

Wingers Vladimir Tarasenko, Michael Bunting, and Eeli Tolvanen, goaltender Cam Talbot, defensemen John Klingberg and Nick Blankenburg, and winger James van Riemsdyk round out the top 10.

Others include goaltender Connor Ingram, wingers David Perron and Jonathan Drouin, center Adam Henrique, defenseman Carson Soucy, and goalie James Riemer.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane is reportedly set to choose between returning to the Chicago Blackhawks and joining his hometown club, the Buffalo Sabres.

There’s been little news about possible destinations for the remaining players on that list. Some will likely end up with new NHL teams this season on cheap one-year contracts. Others will try to keep their NHL careers alive by signing professional tryout offers in September.

Feel free to make your best guesses as to where these players might end up in the comment section below.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers head equipment manager Teddy Richards has been suspended by the club after his arrest on Friday on one count of domestic violence and one count of unauthorized use of 911 services.

In a statement, the Panthers indicated that Richards is suspended from “all team activities and facilities pending investigation.”

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The NHL revealed its official logo for the 2027 All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena on Long Island. The New York Islanders will be hosting the event on Feb. 5 and 6.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks hired Ryan Papaioannou as head coach of the AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. He replaces Manny Malhotra, who was promoted to Canucks head coach last month.

Papaioannou spent last season as head coach of the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers, who were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He guided the Nailers to an ECHL Northern Division title and reached the Eastern Conference Final.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Nailers, they are no longer affiliated with the Penguins. Their new ownership has opted to be affiliated with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades, ending a 29-year relationship with the Nailers and the city of Wheeling, WV.

SJ HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks hired Jeff Kealty as their new assistant general manager. Kealty spent over two decades with the Nashville Predators as a scout, assistant GM, and head of professional scouting.

COL HOCKEY NOW: The Colorado Avalanche named Jussi Ahokas as the new head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.

Ahokas spent the last three seasons as head coach of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers. He was named OHL Coach of the Year in 2024-25. This season, he guided the club to the OHL and Memorial Cup Championships.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 17, 2026

by | Jul 17, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 17, 2026

The full 2026-27 schedule is released, forwards Connor McMichael and Kirby Dach avoid arbitration, the Canucks bring back Alexander Edler in a front-office role, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The league released the full schedule for 2026-27. It begins on Sept 29 with five games, featuring the Carolina Hurricanes raising their 2025-26 Stanley Cup banner at home against the Florida Panthers.

Other notable games throughout the season include the Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken playing two games in Helsinki, Finland (Nov. 12 and 14), and the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators playing two games in Düsseldorf, Germany (Dec. 18 and 20), as part of the NHL’s Global Series.

The first outdoor game of the season features the Winnipeg Jets hosting the Montreal Canadiens in the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic on Oct. 25. The Utah Mammoth host the Colorado Avalanche at Rice-Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah in the Discover NHL Winter Classic on Dec. 31. The Dallas Stars will host the Vegas Golden Knights at AT&T Stadium in the 2027 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series on Feb. 20.

After a two-year hiatus, the NHL All-Star Game returns as the New York Islanders will host the 2027 All-Star Game at UBS Arena, with the skills competition on Feb. 5 and the game itself on Feb. 6.

The season concludes with all 32 teams in action on Saturday, Apr. 10.

St. Louis Blues forward Connor McMichael (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link above for the full schedule.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The St. Louis Blues avoided salary arbitration with Connor McMichael, signing the 25-year-old forward to a six-year contract worth an average annual value of $6.75 million.

The Blues acquired McMichael last month from the Washington Capitals as part of the trade that sent winger Jordan Kyrou to Washington.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMichael completed a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.10 million. He had a career-best 57-point performance in 2024-25, but his production slipped to 46 points last season.

The Blues are banking on the versatile, play-making McMichael to regain his form as a key part of their young core of forwards. His pay raise is in line with the $6.4 million that AFP Analytics projected he’d get.

MTL HOCKEY NOW: The Montreal Canadiens avoided arbitration with Kirby Dach, signing the 25-year-old forward to a one-year, $3.6 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a slight increase over the $3.36 million that Dach received as his AAV on his previous deal.

This is a “last chance” contract for Dach with the Canadiens. Acquired four years ago from the Chicago Blackhawks, he was expected to become their second-line center. However, he’s been plagued by injuries that have hampered his development, resulting in inconsistent performances.

TSN: The Vancouver Canucks have brought back Alexander Edler as part of their front-office staff.

Edler spent 15 of his 17 NHL seasons with the Canucks as a defenseman. He is joining their player development department and will be working with the club’s prospects.

NJ HOCKEY NOW: Earlier this week, the New Jersey Devils announced the new additions to their coaching staff.

Leo Luongo was named Director of Goaltending, while Ted Donato and AJ MacLean will be assistant coaches.

NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning announced they’ve extended their affiliation with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch through 2029-30.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 16, 2026

by | Jul 16, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 16, 2026

The league announced the home openers for the 2026-27 regular season, the Flyers re-signed Trevor Zegras, the Devils landed Anthony Mantha, the Jets inked Cole Perfetti to a new deal, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The league announced the 2026-27 regular season, expanded to 84 games, will commence on Tuesday, Sept. 29, with a tripleheader broadcast on ESPN in the United States and a doubleheader on Sportsnet in Canada.

The schedule begins at 5 pm ET with the Florida Panthers visiting the Carolina Hurricanes, who will be raising their 2025-26 Stanley Cup championship banner.

At 7 pm ET, the Montreal Canadiens travel to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs.

The New York Rangers face off against the Boston Bruins at 8 pm ET; the Vancouver Canucks meet the Edmonton Oilers at 10 pm ET; and the Chicago Blackhawks will tangle with the Vegas Golden Knights at 10:30 pm ET.

The league also introduced the dates for all 32 home-opening games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link above to find out when your favorite NHL team’s home opener will be.

The complete 2026-27 regular-season schedule will be released on Thursday, July 16, at 1 pm ET.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers avoided salary arbitration with Trevor Zegras, signing him to a four-year contract worth an average annual value of $9.125 million.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).

Zegras, 25, enjoyed a career-best performance of 26 goals and 67 points last season, his first with the Flyers. He was coming off a three-year contract worth an AAV of $5.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s a significant raise for Zegras, prompting some observers on social media to suggest the Flyers overpaid him.

That would’ve been the case had the Flyers not blown up the salary benchmark for talent by signing Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to a five-year offer sheet with a record-breaking, league-leading AAV of $18 million. While the Ducks matched the offer, the impact of the Carlsson contract has significantly changed the market for talented young players around the league.

Another factor is the significant rise in the salary cap from $95.5 million last season to $104 million this season. Had the cap risen marginally as it did earlier in the decade, the Flyers probably wouldn’t have made such an expensive pitch for Carlsson.

With the cap set for $113.5 million in 2027-28 and projected to reach $123 million in 2028-29, we’re entering an era where substantial pay raises will become the norm. A player considered overpaid in 2026-27 will be regarded as a frugal signing by 2028-29.

NJ HOCKEY NOW: The New Jersey Devils signed winger Anthony Mantha to a two-year contract with an AAV of $4.75 million.

Mantha, 31, is a big winger who had a career-best 33-goal, 64-point performance last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a cost-effective move by the Devils that should provide a boost to their offense over the next two seasons.

It was believed Mantha sought a long-term contract entering the free-agent market, but it’s apparent things have changed over the past two weeks, forcing him to accept a short-term contract.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets avoided salary arbitration with Cole Perfetti, inking the 25-year-old winger to a five-year contract worth an AAV of $6 million.

Perfetti had an injury-shortened season in 2025-26, netting 32 points in 68 games. However, he enjoyed a career-best 50-point performance in 2024-25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perfetti completed a two-year deal with an AAV of $3.25 million. Like Zegras, he’s getting a big raise that probably wouldn’t have been possible before the Carlsson offer sheet happened.

The Jets are betting that a healthy Perfetti will regain his form this season and exceed his career-best performance. If he does, this could become a worthwhile contract that will look better as the salary cap rises in the coming years.

CHGO BLACKHAWKS: Chris Chelios said he has spoken with Patrick Kane, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer. According to Chelios, the 37-year-old winger is deciding between signing with the Buffalo Sabres and returning to the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane spent 16 seasons with the Blackhawks before joining the Detroit Red Wings for the past three years. It’ll be interesting to see if he opts to return to Chicago to finish his career or stay in his hometown and play for the Sabres.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers signed prospect defenseman Alberts Smits to a three-year, entry-level contract. Smits, 18, was chosen fifth overall in the 2026 NHL Draft.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs named Jeremiah Crowe as their director of player personnel. Crowe is the former director of pro scouting for the Buffalo Sabres.