Winnipeg Jets Re-sign Kyle Connor

by | Oct 8, 2025

Winnipeg Jets Re-sign Kyle Connor

The Winnipeg Jets signed left wing Kyle Connor to an eight-year, $96 million contract extension. Connor, 28, will receive a team-leading average annual value of $12 million.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Connor is in the final season of a seven-year, $50 million contract ($7.142 million AAV). He was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He’s the third notable star from that UFA class to re-sign with his current team in recent weeks, joining Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov.

Once again, the Jets have retained one of their top core players. Two years ago, they inked goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and center Mark Scheifele to identical seven-year, $59.5 million contracts.

Connor has earned that significant pay raise. Entering this season, he’s eighth among NHL scorers with 282 goals since his breakout season of 2017-18. That includes two 40-plus goal campaigns and two 90-plus point performances, including a career-high 97 points in 2024-25.

The Jets have been a better team since re-signing Hellebuyck and Scheifele, including winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time in franchise history last season. That likely contributed to Connor’s decision to stay put.

Connor’s new contract leaves the Jets with over $27.5 million in projected cap space for 2026-27, with 16 active roster players already signed. Their most notable free agents next summer include forward Cole Perfetti (restricted free agent) and team captain Adam Lowry, who is UFA-eligible.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 8, 2025

by | Oct 8, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 8, 2025

The potential effect of Connor McDavid’s new contract on the UFA market, the latest on Jack Eichel’s contract talks with the Golden Knights, Lane Hutson’s negotiations with the Canadiens, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

HOW MCDAVID’S CONTRACT COULD AFFECT THE UFA MARKET

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes the Los Angeles Kings would’ve attempted to sign Connor McDavid had he gone to free agency next July. He also thinks the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Dallas Stars would’ve been among the suitors for the 28-year-old center, who signed a two-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes all eyes will be on Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar as the next big contract explosion. He claims the Avalanche have prepared for it and could just hand him a blank check. Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks could be another.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both players are eligible for unrestricted free-agent status in July 2027. The earliest their teams can attempt to re-sign them is July 1, 2026.

The recent signings of McDavid and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov convinced Friedman that there will be more players earning eight-figure salaries. He singled out Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor, Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas, and Buffalo Sabres power forward Alex Tuch.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s been speculation suggesting that some NHL teams might point to McDavid accepting well below market value to stay with the Oilers to get their own superstars to do the same. However, most player agents will simply say that McDavid’s case was a unique one that has no bearing on their clients’ contract situations.

For example, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been underpaid for years, partly because of his superstition about his No. 87, and partly because his previous contract was an extremely long one (12 years). Those deals no longer exist due to the implementation of contract term limits since 2013.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (NHL Images).

Today, 45 players carry a higher AAV than Crosby. Not all of them are superstars.

UPDATE ON JACK EICHEL’S CONTRACT TALKS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports contract negotiations are ongoing between the Vegas Golden Knights and Jack Eichel. The 28-year-old center doesn’t want to go anywhere, and both sides are focused on an eight-year deal. LeBrun also said that Kirill Kaprizov’s $17 million average annual value with the Wild isn’t much of a factor in these negotiations.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman also noted it’s a happy marriage between Eichel and the Golden Knights, and he expects they’ll get a new deal done. He claimed the club would prefer to get Eichel and Mitch Marner for a combined $25 million. Marner is already earning $12 million annually on an eight-year deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Eichel is earning $10 million annually on his current contract. The Golden Knights might be offering $13 million, but he could be seeking something between $14 and $15 million.

THE LATEST ON THE CANADIENS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens made an eight-year contract extension offer to Lane Hutson. He believes it had some salary deferral, which the Hutson camp wasn’t interested in. Both sides are taking some time now to let things cool down before resuming discussions.

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman felt that Hutson was hoping to sign an extension before the start of this season. He cited several sources claiming it was “slightly below 8 x $9 million”, including some deferral to lower the cap hit. The Canadiens also pitched a Canadian retirement compensation arrangement (RCA), which many players use to soften the tax burden. Hutson’s representatives were slightly above the $9 million AAV but weren’t interested in salary deferral or the RCA.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Friedman indicated that the Canadiens still want to keep Hutson, and he still wants to stay. General manager Kent Hughes said the club’s fans shouldn’t be worried, pointing out that the 21-year-old defenseman isn’t eligible for unrestricted free-agent status until July 2031.

Hughes also acknowledged the recent new contracts for New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes and Anaheim Ducks blueliner Jackson Lacombe. He considers Hughes a better comparable for Hutson than Lacombe.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico believes the Canadiens are preparing to make a big trade during this season.

Instead of icing a 23-man roster to start this season, the Canadiens are using 22 players. In this way, they save about $775K in early-season salary obligations, which could compound into several million dollars by the trade deadline.

The Canadiens could be targeting a move before the December trade freeze (Dec. 20-27), as some teams could be pushed into becoming early sellers in the trade market. They’ll have around $14.5 million in prorated cap space by then, giving them a potential advantage over other teams.

UPDATE ON ROSLOVIC

TSN: Chris Johnston believed free-agent forward Jack Roslovic might not have to wait too long to land with an NHL team. He indicated that the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets are among several clubs already looking for forwards.

OTHER NOTABLE RUMORS FROM FRIEDMAN’S LATEST “32 THOUGHTS”

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman believes the Philadelphia Flyers are “definitely checking” to see what’s available on defense in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: William James of Philly Hockey Now pointed out that defenseman Cam York is joining fellow Flyers blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen on injured reserve to start the season. They have over $6.6 million in cap space after trading away Ryan Ellis’ contract to San Jose earlier this week, giving them cap flexibility to add a defenseman.

The Vancouver Canucks are continuing their search for a center. The Toronto Maple Leafs want to add a top-six forward, while the Carolina Hurricanes are “always lurking.” The Ottawa Senators could attempt to make a big move this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of the Hurricanes, Friedman reported they attempted to sign Evan Bouchard to an offer sheet this summer before he eventually re-signed with the Oilers. They instead acquired blueliner K’Andre Miller from the New York Rangers.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 8, 2025

by | Oct 8, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 8, 2025

Recapping the opening night of the regular season, Kyle Connor and the Jets are getting closer to a contract extension, an update on Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THE OPENING NIGHT GAMES

NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon collected two assists and Martin Necas scored twice to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-1 season-opening victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Cale Makar also had two assists, and Artturi Lehkonen had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche. Kevin Fiala replied for the Kings.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon moved past Joe Sakic to become the Avalanche’s franchise points leader (1,017) since the club relocated to Colorado from Quebec City in 1995. Sakic remains the all-time leader in points (1,641), goals (625), assists (1,016), and games played (1,378).

Florida Panthers forward Jesper Boqvist snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period to give his team a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Mackie Samoskevich collected two assists for the Panthers, who raised their second straight Stanley Cup banner in a pregame ceremony. Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight made 34 saves against his former team, while teammates Frank Nazar, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Teuvo Teravainen each collected two points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers also signed forward Noah Gregor to a one-year, two-way contract.

The Pittsburgh Penguins got a 25-save shutout from goaltender Arturs Silovs to blank the New York Rangers 3-0. Justin Brazeau scored two goals, and Evgeni Malkin had two assists for the Penguins. Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin allowed one goal on 27 shots before being pulled for an extra attacker.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Silovs’ first NHL regular-season shutout. He had one in the 2024 playoffs with the Vancouver Canucks. This was Mike Sullivan’s first game as head coach of the Rangers, and his first against his former team.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the Winnipeg Jets and winger Kyle Connor are moving closer to a contract extension. The 28-year-old winger is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. It’s believed the new deal will be a long-term one with an average annual value in the $12 million range.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would be a substantial raise over Connor’s current AAV of $7.142 million. He’s earned it, sitting eighth among NHL scorers with 282 goals since his breakout performance in 2017-18.

Friedman also reported that the Vegas Golden Knights have announced that Alex Pietrangelo will not play during the 2025-26 regular season and playoffs. The 35-year-old defenseman is taking time away to deal with a nagging hip injury. The Golden Knights will be eligible for full salary-cap relief on his $8.8 million cap hit for this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pietrangelo had suggested last month that he wasn’t ruling out a possible return to the lineup this season. This news puts that possibility to rest.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Golden Knights, they signed restricted free agent forward Alexander Holtz to a two-year contract with an AAV of $837,500.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Dallas Stars placed captain Jamie Benn on long-term injury reserve (LTIR). He suffered a collapsed lung last month and is expected to miss the first month of the season. They also recalled defenseman Lian Bichsel and signed free-agent forward Adam Erne to a one-year, two-way contract.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers placed winger Zach Hyman on injured reserve (IR) to start the season. He is still recovering from a dislocated wrist suffered during the 2025 playoffs.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Minnesota Wild placed winger Mats Zuccarello on IR with a lower-body injury. He could be sidelined until well into November.

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. They also announced that forward Milan Lucic will remain in St. Louis to rehab an injury. The Blues haven’t ruled out signing the 37-year-old winger to another professional tryout offer (PTO).

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks placed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph (groin injury) on IR and recalled defenseman Victor Mancini.

DAILY FACEOFF: Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, Anaheim Ducks goalie Ville Husso, and Utah Mammoth forward Kevin Rooney are among the five players placed on waivers on Tuesday.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2025

by | Oct 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – October 1, 2025

How will Kirill Kaprizov’s new contract affect the free-agent market? What’s the latest Oilers speculation? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

KAPRIZOV’S NEW CONTRACT WILL BE FELT IN THIS SUMMER’S UFA MARKET

TSN: Chris Johnston doesn’t believe Kirill Kaprizov’s new contract with the Minnesota Wild will have any effect on Connor McDavid’s negotiations with the Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In case you missed it, Kaprizov signed an eight-year, $136 million contract with the Wild. The average annual value is $17 million, and comes with a full no-movement clause throughout.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)

Johnston believes McDavid isn’t seeking an eight-year deal. If he and the Oilers reach an agreement, it’ll be on a shorter term of two, three, or four years. The Oilers also need some cap flexibility to maintain a winning roster around McDavid.

Pierre LeBrun agrees with Johnston, but noted that Kaprizov’s new deal will affect other players eligible to become unrestricted free agents next summer. They include Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe, Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch, and Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas.

Darren Dreger adds Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor to that list. He reports the two sides continue to negotiate, but it has to be a deal that makes sense for both sides.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Robert Tychkowski believes Kaprizov’s contract leaves McDavid with a tough decision to make.

Does he accept a short-term deal and watch his salary increase with the cap, knowing the injury risks? Or does he take the security of an eight-year deal with a guaranteed $144 million if he pursues the maximum AAV of $20.8 million?

Assuming McDavid agrees to slightly less on his AAV of around $18 million, it still bites deeply into the Oilers’ salary-cap payroll, making it difficult for them to maintain a Stanley Cup contender.

Tychkowski’s colleague, Jim Matheson, doesn’t see McDavid agreeing to the same AAV as Kirill Kaprizov. He believes the Oilers captain could give his club a discount of $18 million annually for two or three years.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli doesn’t believe the Oilers can afford to go higher than $17 million annually for McDavid, partly because of the expensive contracts of teammates Leon Draisaitl ($14 million AAV) and Evan Bouchard ($10.5 million). McDavid also wants tangible proof that the Oilers intend to maintain a winning roster over the next several years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier this week, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said he thinks the AAV on McDavid’s next contract will be much lower than people think. How much lower, and for how long, remains to be seen.

If McDavid seeks top dollar, there are only a handful of teams with the cap space who can also be considered Stanley Cup contenders. They are the Dallas Stars (depending on what happens with RFAs Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley) and New York Rangers (if they can regain their 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy form).

McDavid could join the Toronto Maple Leafs with the intention of leading them to the Stanley Cup. However, that signing would maintain their status as a team top-heavy with star forwards lacking the necessary depth to go deep in the playoffs.

The Tampa Bay Lightning could be another destination, but McDavid would have a short window with them to win the Cup with their aging roster.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Hannah Kirkell weighed in on how Kaprizov’s contract might affect Jack Eichel’s contract talks with the Golden Knights.

She cited insiders like Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, TSN’s Chris Johnston, and Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli speculating that Eichel’s AAV on his next deal will be between $13 million and $14 million.

That’s a lot of money, but it would only be between 12.5 and 13.46 percent of the $104 million salary cap for 2026-27. Eichel could seek $15 million, and the Golden Knights would probably pay him, but Kirkell believes he’ll come in at around $13.5 million.

BLEACHER REPORT: Frank Seravalli was asked how the Kaprizov contract will affect Martin Necas’ negotiation with the Colorado Avalanche.

Seravalli dismissed rumors suggesting Necas won’t re-sign with Colorado. He believes that Kaprizov’s new deal will push Necas’ asking price higher than the Avalanche would be comfortable with, especially if he has another point-per-game season. His asking price could be north of $10 million annually.

THE LATEST ON THE OILERS

THE ATHLETIC: Allan Mitchell wonders if the Edmonton Oilers will make a trade before the regular season begins.

Goaltending depth, the third line right-wing position, and the third-line center position are areas of concern this season.

Mitchell suggested Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins and Connor Ingram of the Utah Mammoth as trade options, pointing out the latter might make sense now that he’s cleared waivers and is in the minors. Free-agent center Evgeny Kuznetsov hopes to return to the NHL, but the Oilers aren’t believed to be linked to him.

Possible trade bait for the Oilers includes defenseman Ty Emberson or Troy Stecher.

SPORTSNET’s Mark Spector believes Chicago Blackhawks winger Lukas Reichel could draw interest from the Oilers. GM Stan Bowman drafted him in Chicago, and the Oilers need to get younger. Spector suggests a fresh start with a new club might help Reichel get his career back on track.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli reported the Blackhawks’ asking price could be a mid-to-late-round draft pick. The Oilers have two fifth-rounders in the 2027 draft.

PREDATORS RISK LOSING ANOTHER YOUNG FORWARD

THE TENNESSEAN: Alex Daugherty believes the Nashville Predators’ contract standoff with RFA winger Luke Evangelista is a bad look for the franchise.

The two sides failed to reach a long-term agreement. A short-term contract is more likely, but they remain divided on salary.

Evangelista trends as a middle-six forward who can average a steady 15-20 goals per season. Daugherty believes the Predators aren’t in any position to treat young, offensive forwards with such hesitancy, given their lack of depth in their pipeline and among those who are NHL-ready.

Daugherty fears that Evangelista could follow the path of former Predators forwards like Kevin Fiala, Eeli Tolvanen, and Philip Tomasino, who moved on via trades or waivers.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 24, 2025

by | Sep 24, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 24, 2025

Check out the latest on Jets winger Kyle Connor, Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, Devils blueliner Luke Hughes, and Predators winger Luke Evangelista in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

RG.ORG: James Murphy reports Winnipeg Jets chairman Mark Chipman doesn’t envision Kyle Connor moving on to another club after this season. The 28-year-old left winger is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status on July 1.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).

Chipman said he’s not directly involved in contract talks, as general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff handles that issue. Nevertheless, he pointed out that Connor is part of their roster core, and those players are very close.

“I think it would be my expectation that we’ll get something done sooner rather than later,” Chipman said. “My instincts are telling me that this is likely going to get done.”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This isn’t a rumor on Connor’s contract situation, but it’s worthwhile including here because he’s bound to come up in media chatter the longer he remains unsigned this season.

Connor’s offensive skills would make him a highly-prized player in next summer’s free-agent market, especially if Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov, Vegas’ Jack Eichel, and the New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin end up re-signing with their current clubs.

Some observers might question whether the small-market Jets can afford to retain Connor, especially after losing Nikolaj Ehlers to free agency this summer. However, they were able to re-sign Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele two years ago despite speculation that they might test the open market. It wouldn’t be surprising if they keep Connor in the fold.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun believes there’s a chance the Calgary Flames might be able to re-sign defenseman Rasmus Andersson, but he still considers it unlikely.

Andersson, 28, is UFA-eligible on July 1. The Flames are happy to have him back, and he’s willing to play his best for them this season. Neither side wants to totally close the door on contract talks.

LeBrun said Andersson was nearly traded to the Vegas Golden Knights this summer, but it failed to materialize. He thinks the blueliner might listen if an eight-year offer is on the table, but it doesn’t seem like the Flames are willing to go there.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson turns 29 next month, which explains why the Flames are reluctant to offer up an eight-year deal. Unless he’s willing to accept a shorter term, he’s likely to be moved by the March 6 trade deadline.

LeBrun also reported that New Jersey Devils’ management and representatives for Luke Hughes met on Monday to try to find some leeway in contract talks.

Hughes, 22, is a restricted free agent coming off his entry-level contract. LeBrun stated that the two sides remain far apart and still must find more common ground. They are both focused on a long-term contract but can’t agree on the average annual value. He indicated the tone remains amicable, but a deal isn’t imminent.

THE CHRIS JOHNSTON SHOW: provided an update on Luke Evangelista’s contract talks with the Nashville Predators. Johnston indicated the Predators are offering up a two-year deal worth an AAV of $2 million. Meanwhile, the Evangelista camp seeks around $3.25 million.










NHL Rumor Mill – September 17, 2025

by | Sep 17, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – September 17, 2025

Updates on the Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin, and the Jets’ Kyle Connor, plus the latest Maple Leafs’ speculation in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST ON KAPRIZOV’S CONTRACT SITUATION

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Minnesota Wild’s eight-year, $128 million contract offer to Kirill Kaprizov remains on the table despite the winger rejecting the proposal last week.

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

He also indicated that the Wild are definitely not engaged in trade discussions with other teams regarding Kaprizov. Their only focus is re-signing him as they believe the winger wants to stay in Minnesota.

Kaprizov has not been heard from since rejecting the offer. He will meet the media when training camp opens on Thursday, as will general manager Bill Guerin.

LeBrun also mentioned that the vibes in these negotiations are not cordial compared to those with the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid. “This is a little more edgy, let’s just say, between Kaprizov’s agent and Guerin,” Lebrun said. “I think last week was very emotional, and it’s not clear what the endgame here is.”

The Wild believe they made an “unbelievable offer” of eight years with an average annual value of $16 million. LeBrun isn’t certain how far they might have to move off that, but they may have to to get a deal done.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bleacher Report’s Frank Seravalli noted that there’s been some speculation linking Kaprizov to the New York Rangers or the Chicago Blackhawks. However, he indicated that there hasn’t been as much trade talk about the winger as some suggest. Seravalli stated that he’s seen little indication from the Kaprizov camp that the superstar winger wants to play elsewhere.

WILL THE RANGERS RE-SIGN PANARIN?

THE ATHLETIC: Peter Baugh and Vincent Z. Mercogliano wondered what’s next for Artemi Panarin in his contract year. The 33-year-old New York Rangers winger’s point-per-game rate dipped to its lowest since 2018-19, his last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

It’s believed Rangers GM Chris Drury is in no rush to decide how aggressively he’ll pursue an extension for Panarin. The club has cap flexibility, but they’re closely monitoring some of the big-name players who could become UFAs next summer, like the Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mercogliano recently speculated about the possibility of the Rangers pursuing Kaprizov if he becomes available by the March 2026 trade deadline. He suggested including winger Alexis Lafreniere in the deal, clearing his $7.45 million cap hit from their books. It would give the Rangers over $37 million in cap space, more than enough to sign Kaprizov and perhaps retain Panarin on a reduced salary.

KYLE CONNOR AND THE JETS ARE TALKING ABOUT AN EXTENSION

TSN: Darren Dreger reports there is an open line of communication between Kyle Connor and the Winnipeg Jets, who have made re-signing the 28-year-old winger a priority.

“I don’t doubt for a second that they will extend Kyle Connor,” Dreger said. He went on to say that the winger has been an important part of the club’s past, present, and future. There is no timeline for getting a deal done.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like Kaprizov, Connor is eligible for unrestricted free-agent status next July.

Some folks wondered if the Jets risk losing Connor after Nikolaj Ehlers departed for the Carolina Hurricanes as a free agent in July. However, they re-signed core players Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele in 2023.

Connor is just as important as Hellebuyck and Scheifele, so don’t be surprised if he’s re-signed to a lucrative new contract.

THE LATEST ON THE MAPLE LEAFS

TORONTO SUN: Terry Koshan believes re-signing goaltender Anthony Stolarz should be the Maple Leafs’ priority. He anticipates the 31-year-old will get a nice raise over his current $2.5 million AAV after leading the league in save percentage last year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Darren Dreger reports the two sides are working on a multi-year extension. He considers Kevin Lankinen’s contract with the Vancouver Canucks (five years, $4.5 million AAV) as a comparable.

Koshan anticipates Leafs GM Brad Treliving could move a depth forward in a cost-cutting trade before the start of the regular season. Calle Jarnkrok, David Kampf, or Nick Robertson are the likely candidates.