Canadiens Hire Derek Lalonde As Associate Coach
According to a team announcement, Former Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde has landed on the Montreal Canadiens coaching staff as an associate coach, first reported by Eric Engels of Sportsnet.
Lalonde spent the past season in Toronto in a similar role. He wasn’t out of a gig for long, as the Maple Leafs announced just yesterday that he wouldn’t be returning, with the news of Daniel Alfredsson coming aboard. Speaking of elite players of the 2000s, the 53-year-old Lalonde moves on to Martin St. Louis‘ staff at an exciting time, fresh off the club’s unlikely run to the Eastern Conference Finals. According to Engels, he is directly replacing Trevor Letowski in Montreal, who has stepped away from the demands of coaching to spend more time with family, while the organization hopes to retain him in a smaller capacity after five years behind the bench.
A native of Brasher Falls, New York, Lalonde earned his stripes starting out at an assistant at the NCAA Division III level in 1995, moving up to serve on the staffs of Division I Ferris State as well as the University of Denver. A former goaltender at the collegiate level with SUNY-Cortland (NCAA DIII), his first head coaching job came with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye in 2014, immediately taking home Coach of the Year honors in his first campaign. After a two-year stint with the Iowa Wild (AHL) from 2016-18, he was brought on to Jon Cooper‘s staff starting in 2018. Lalonde did excellent work there, winning two Stanley Cups with his defensive units and stout penalty kill making a big impact.
Pulled along to the Motor City from Tampa Bay by Steve Yzerman in 2022 as the 28th head coach in franchise history, he was fired midway through his third season in Detroit after an 89-86-23 record, not able to qualify for the playoffs. A defensive-minded coach, the Wings struggled to put the puck in the net, ranking 26th in the league across his tenure, and their defending efforts weren’t much better, allowing 3.33 goals per game, 27th. Detroit hasn’t exactly made huge strides since his departure, while Lalonde is perhaps best suited in a role where he can fully lean into his past duties in Tampa. He helped the Maple Leafs to an 81.2% penalty kill success rate, ranking 8th, despite the team’s overall struggles, surrendering the second highest goals in the entire league (299) only better than the league’s worst Canucks. It was reported in late May that Lalonde got an interview for the Leafs’ head coaching job, although they ended up deciding on Jim Hiller, leaving Lalonde to move on despite solid work in Toronto.
Hoping to bring that same success to Montreal, the Canadiens have room to improve on the PK as their 78.2% rate this past season was 18th in the NHL. A team offering a pair of strong defensive centers in Phillip Danault and Jake Evans, it has the makings of a nice fit. Depending on how Lalonde’s results as an assistant continue to go, perhaps one day the Stanley Cup winner will get another head coaching opportunity.
What Comes Next For 2025-26’s Top AHL Players
A fascinating case in North American professional hockey is who lights up the AHL each season, making a case to get a shot in the NHL. Often once intriguing prospects, the numbers jump out from the AHL’s top point-getters, enough that fans find themselves looking at their favorite team’s underachieving forwards and wondering if an upgrade is right there waiting in the wings.
In recent memory, gifted sniper Martin Frk‘s 224 AHL goals were enough for him to get a look from several clubs over the years. The Czech even broke Zdeno Chara‘s record at the AHL All-Star Skills Competition in 2020 on an absurd 109.2 miles-per-hour slapper. Unfortunately his lack of foot speed wasn’t enough to translate to the NHL, despite an all-world shot, and the 32-year-old is set to depart for the KHL after a 30-goal campaign for the Calgary Wranglers in 2025-26. On the flip side, success stories exist like that of Utah’s Michael Carcone, an undrafted winger at 5’9″ who played in the AHL for seven years before getting a shot with the Arizona Coyotes, now a veteran of 236 NHL games and a valuable depth scorer for the Mammoth. So what about the latest examples, of those who put together outstanding 2025-26 campaigns in the American Hockey League, and what’s next to come for them?
This past season’s regular season AHL scoring title went to Jakob Pelletier, a perfect case of a former first rounder (Calgary, 26th, 2019) who is still searching for a home at the highest level. Now in Tampa Bay’s organization, the 25-year-old posted 49 helpers and 77 points in 63 games for the Syracuse Crunch. At one point, he set a franchise record with 19 consecutive games with a point.
The Bolts had numerous injuries all throughout the campaign, a perfect opportunity for someone like Pelletier to slot into a meaningful role, but it didn’t materialize. He skated in five games for Tampa, coming away scoreless on 9:21 a night. As the Crunch were a playoff contender, there wasn’t enough motivation to take away the league’s top scorer if not for any significant NHL role. Signed for two more years in Tampa, Pelletier is in a good situation on a team often able to get the most out of under-the-radar forwards to round out their roster. He’ll be a name to watch in camp next season, and even if the once top-six upside is no longer realistic, there’s plenty of reason to think Pelletier can become a solid bottom-sixer if he can stay healthy. The Quebec native has plenty of versatility, skill, and forechecking abilities, must-haves for a player in his situation, but the 5’10” frame and his skating have held things back a bit.
Next up, another name familiar to Tampa fans, Alex Barré-Boulet came away at a point-per-game pace in 70 games for the Colorado Eagles, his second-best AHL season after an insane 84 points in 2022-23 with the Crunch. The undrafted center played in two games for the Avs, recording an assist. At age 29, he’s no longer the once-prospect that generated some excitement being plucked by Seattle nearly five years ago, and ever becoming a full-time NHLer seems unlikely.
Moving on to San Jose this off-season on a two-year, two-way deal, if this was the Sharks of recent years the elite AHLer would be in a nice position to get into some games, but now that San Jose’s sights are on playoff contention, Barre-Boulet will figure to bring his high production to the Barracuda, benefitting their several bright prospects.
Ranking third in points but first in goals, Arthur Kaliyev was a weapon for the Belleville Senators with 40 goals in 70 games, shooting 15%. He was the league’s first AHL 40-goal man since 2023-24. A second-round pick of the Kings in 2019 after incredible OHL scoring numbers, Kaliyev has the most NHL experience out of the group listed here, 204 games. Turning in 14 tallies in his first full-time NHL season still before even turning 21, it looked like Los Angeles had a strong young piece on their hands despite question marks on his skating and defense.
Kaliyev’s NHL role gradually stalled out, never able to round out his game. After a brief stint with the Rangers, Ottawa sought him out on a one-year, two-way deal. Hardly able to benefit the big club, skating in just two games where he notched an assist, the signing still worked out greatly for Belleville. Kaliyev just turned 25 and he remains unsigned. Another team taking a flyer for the 2026-27 season, with a PTO offer, seems likely in the coming weeks.
Next, Zachary Jones stands out as the league’s top producer out of defensemen, recording 52 assists and 62 points in 60 games for the Rochester Americans (Buffalo). The 5’11” lefty has 115 games of NHL experience, all as a Ranger after they selected him in the third round of the 2019 draft. Thought to get a look in Buffalo at some point, it never happened even once, thanks to the team’s loaded defense core and unlikely turnaround to contention.
Signing with Utah for two years, the 25-year-old doesn’t have the clearest path into the Mammoth’s roster, seemingly not in their top seven, but in the event of any injuries he should get a call-up. A typical smooth-skating puck-mover whose size has held him back, Jones has the makings of a great piece alongside Maveric Lamoureux for the Tucson Roadrunners, and it would be a shock if he’s unable to get into a single NHL game again in 2026-27.
Rounding out the bunch, Providence Bruins goaltender Michael DiPietro took home plenty of hardware as AHL Goaltender of the year as well as league Most Valuable Player. The 27-year-old has just four NHL games to his name, coming in for 6:03 for the B’s this past season, turning away the two shots he faced. Modest results for the netminder who debuted in the NHL seven years ago as a promising Canucks prospect, DiPietro has been excellent year after year in the AHL but further opportunities just haven’t arrived.
Posting an insane .930 save percentage, 1.91 goals-against-average, and 34-8-1 record, the Ontario native’s efforts led Providence to the league’s best record, before a shocking upset at the hands of the Springfield Thunderbirds in the Semifinals. Set to return to Boston in the final year of his contract, the door has finally opened with Joonas Korpisalo traded away. If DiPietro can hold down the backup job behind Jeremy Swayman it would be a great success story after years of patience as a 2017 draftee. After seeing Brandon Bussi’s emergence, it’s absolutely not too late for DiPietro to make a name in the NHL, and Boston surely is hesitant to risk losing him the same way they did with the Hurricanes netminder.
While any player on this list would dream of becoming the next Bussi, finally finding the right situation thanks to the waiver wire, or another Yanni Gourde, blossoming into a standout after years in the minors, there’s always spots in supporting roles which can be filled by those in such a mold. The AHL’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement allows teams to dress six veterans without dealing with the complications of counting games of an “exempt” player, and in a way it’s a nod to the league’s top players who offer significant organizational value, even if they never become a full-time NHLer.
Image Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Top 2027 NHL Draft Prospect Luca Santala Signs With OHL’s London Knights
The OHL’s London Knights have landed another big-time prospect, forward Luca Santala, who signed on an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.
The 16-year-old was London’s first pick during the 2026 CHL Import Draft. Still with the dust settling from last month’s NHL draft, soon when the analysis picks up on 2027, expect Santala’s name to stand out. Ranked 12th overall among 2027 prospects by Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff, the 6’2” forward has potential to play down the middle or the wing, scoring four goals in five games at the U18 World Championships. Holding top-six upside with a robust, straightforward game, Santala is one of the premium players out of Finland’s upcoming 2027 class although he’s technically a native of Zurich, Switzerland.
Coming along as a product of Kiekko-Espoo, Santala recorded 12 points in 25 games playing alongside skaters three years his senior, good for 12th best on the team. Teammates of his included Noel Pakarinen (Vegas, 2026 7th round) and Max Laatikainen (Philadelphia, 2026 7th round), speaking to the quality of play the youngster was a part of before even entering the Ontario Hockey League.
A Finn with a strong pedigree, Santala’s father Tommi had a long and successful professional career as a center across the NHL, Finland, Switzerland, and even a stint in the KHL. He played in 63 games between the Atlanta Thrashers and Vancouver Canucks, leaving North America after the 2006-07 season. Already familiar with the game on this side of the pond, his son joins one of the most prestigious junior teams known for developing NHL star power including Patrick Kane, Mitch Marner, and Matthew Tkachuk.
Rather than stay home and vie for games in the Liiga, Luca should immediately be a top OHL scorer in London, linking up with Kings 2025 first rounder Henry Brzustewicz and forward Jaxon Cover, Ottawa’s 32nd overall pick this summer. Led by legendary coach Dale Hunter, the Knights went 40-23-4 in 2025-26, last winning the Memorial Cup in 2025.
Penguins Announce ECHL Affiliation Changes
After 29 years of partnership, the Pittsburgh Penguins are making a change at the ECHL level. In a statement shared this afternoon from general manager Kyle Dubas, the club announced that the Wheeling Nailers will no longer be an affiliate, due to what Dubas called “very unique circumstances”. Just two hours later, the highly successful Florida Everblades were announced as their replacement.
Last month the Chicago-based Hoffmann Group was granted approval to acquire the Penguins, quite the step up from their only other venture into the hockey world, owning the Everblades. Based on that, today’s news was expected, but it is still a tough end for what was the longest ongoing ECHL/NHL partnership in the league. Located just 60 miles away in Wheeling, West Virginia, the Nailers offered a local farm club with a dedicated fan base which Dubas referred to as an “invaluable part of the organization’s player development process”. Penguins fans living close to the border had the option to attend Nailers games nearby and check in on prospects in an environment which brought the typical minor league charm.
NHL teams changing ECHL affiliations is not rare; the Wild, Blues, Jets, and Rangers have all done such in recent months. The Wheeling/Pittsburgh connection was special for how long it lasted, very uncommon in today’s landscape. Even outside of transitioning between teams, unfortunately the past few years have been tough for the ECHL, as last December there was a player strike which was eventually resolved. Needless to say, the stability the Penguins brought to the Nailers will be missed. Now, the Dallas Stars/Idaho Steelheads relationship is bumped to the top, having started theirs in 2005-06.
According to the team, Wheeling has developed more NHL talent than any opponent in the ECHL, with 71 total alums across various roles, 64 of whom were players. Notables include Josh Archibald, Tom Kühnhackl, and Carter Rowney. Dallas Stars netminder Casey DeSmith appeared in 13 games for the Nailers during the 2015-16 season, and one cannot forget prominent media figure Paul Bissonette, the former NHL enforcer playing for the team across 2005-08 and even posting 42 points in 2006-07, his most productive offensive season as a pro by a considerable margin.
Often a league for the less-heralded prospects, bright young goaltender Sergei Murashov and 23-year-old forward Avery Hayes form the next wave of younger talent who wore the Wheeling uniform and took to the ice in West Virginia.
Leaving behind the more local organization, the Penguins are joining forces with an ECHL dynasty of sorts down south. The Everblades, based in Estero, Florida, brought home the 2026 Kelly Cup as ECHL Champions. It was their fourth title in the past five years, and fifth overall as a franchise since starting play in 1998. According to a 2025-26 ECHL Attendance Graph put together by Hockeydb.com, the Everblades ranked seventh in league attendance per-game, 6,552, a significant gap higher than Wheeling who ranked toward the bottom at just over 2,500. The two teams clashed in the playoffs this past season in the Eastern Conference Final, with Wheeling, of course, coming up short to the eventual champs four games to one.
As for what comes next for Wheeling, thankfully other nearby teams have ECHL vacancies; the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, and Buffalo Sabres. Even if they had to stretch out west, the Utah Mammoth also are without a current partner, per the league’s website. Whatever comes next for them, the Nailers will hope to reach the Kelly Cup Finals for the first time since 2015-16 and one day hang their first banner in the rafters.
Latest On Maple Leafs
Toronto ex-head coach Craig Berube appeared on Toronto Sports Rush with E.J. Hradek, making several compelling comments about the team during his tenure.
Fired after going 32-36-14 this past season, the 60-year-old emphasized that he has no hard feelings, interviewing with multiple teams this summer including the Edmonton Oilers before they selected Mike Babcock. Berube remains available, but with a .580 win percentage across over 700 regular season games, he should be back behind an NHL bench before long.
Known for his spectacular turnaround to lead the St. Louis Blues to their first-ever title in 2019, Berube found immediate success with the Leafs in 2024-25 before falling short in Game 7 of the second round against Florida. What goes down as the final chapter of the “Core Four” era, he said that the pressure of a deciding game on home ice got to the group and zapped their patience. Considering everything that led up to that night, and what was at stake, it’s a reasonable explanation. Berube’s team offered a stronger bottom six than previous years, breaking past criticisms, but role players of the time such as Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell made the difference for Florida, according to the coach.
He had praise for Morgan Rielly, saying that as part of his efforts to re-shape the team, he tried to sharpen the offensively gifted player’s defensive acumen. Berube suggested that it threw Rielly off his game contributing to what was a tough 2025-26. Connected to trade rumors constantly, Berube says that Rielly “loves Toronto” and doesn’t want to go anywhere, wanting to see things through.
The longest tenured player of the Maple Leafs, Rielly was thought to be out the door in late June, linked to San Jose. Instead they went for Darnell Nurse, and nothing has happened yet. Now in mid-July, the former Oiler didn’t require any salary retention at a cap hit $2MM higher than Rielly. Unloading him in favor of a marquee free agent would have made some sense, but at this point nobody up for grabs stands out for Toronto, and losing Rielly in a salary-shedding type deal would only leave a hole on their blueline. Facing the hardest workload year after year, the team finally brought in another top defenseman to help out, Darren Raddysh, and it could pay dividends for Rielly if he’s still in the blue and white next fall.
As for what else went wrong this past season, Berube spoke on losing both Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz as their biggest issue, also missing the stable presence of Chris Tanev, gradually losing belief as a group after the Olympic Break and falling out of reach of making the postseason for the tenth straight year.
Not naming names, Berube said that certain new players needed time to get going. In terms of individuals who fit that suggestion, Nicolas Roy, by no means expected to replace whom he was traded for by Vegas, was needed to chip in 30-40 points as a valuable third liner. Instead the 29-year-old had just five tallies in 59 games for the Leafs before being shipped to Colorado at the deadline. Mattias Maccelli had only 13 points by New Year’s, getting scratched and not meeting the hopes of a strong supporting piece alongside the club’s stars. He started to get going in the spring, finishing with 39 points, but the 25-year-old departed for the New York Islanders in free agency.
All water under the bridge now, of course Mitch Marner came up, and Berube wasn’t shy in saying he was hoping the elite forward would stick around in Toronto, and he was a huge loss as a leader, the “engine” of the team. When asked if he had any instinct that a break-up was coming, “Chief” said that by the trade deadline in 2025, he knew Marner was not going to stay.
As for the opportunity to add Brad Marchand in free agency, Berube says that financial limitations got in the way but that the Leafs had serious interest in adding the veteran for both his on-ice play and overall energy. The longtime playoff nemesis re-signed in Florida on a six-year deal worth $5.2MM per, surpassing the point-per-game mark for the first time in four years, with 54 in 52 contests last season.
Set to move on, the new regime of John Chayka and Jim Hiller are tasked with trying to make something of the Auston Matthews era before it is too late. One decade since a future which seemed brighter than ever, one has to wonder what the missing pieces really are for new management to finally uncover, with Berube far from the only factor to blame.
Chayka hasn’t shied away from taking bold risks. On paper, Sergei Bobrovsky is far and away the most accomplished netminder Toronto has had since before the days of Matthews, but signed at $7MM for three years, it’s a roll of the dice. Florida was willing to let him walk away off a tough season where he had a goals-saved-above-expected of -12.2, ninth worst in the league among qualifying names. The Leafs will hope the 37-year-old has a resurgence in him reminiscent of Ed Belfour, another Stanley Cup champion who joined Toronto at the same age in 2002, proving that he still had something left in the tank. Connected from their time in Philadelphia, Berube spoke highly of “Bob” as well as other additions to help show Matthews their intent on contention.
Wrapping up his conversation with Hradek, Berube reminisced on his playing days as a Leaf. He cherished his time at Maple Leaf Gardens, wishing he was never traded away, but being quite understanding of the deal to Calgary which fetched the Leafs a legend in Doug Gilmour.
From teenager Gavin McKenna to an aging netminder in Bobrovsky who caused the team much pain in previous playoff meetings, Toronto has already gone far to revamp their roster with Rielly still in the fold. They had to have a bold offseason, and the Maple Leafs hope to find a level of optimism not seen since Berube led them into Game 7 in 2025, one win from reaching the Eastern Conference Final.
Image Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Latest On Quinn Hughes
During his end of season comments two months ago, Minnesota’s Quinn Hughes offered that he is “definitely open to re-signing” with the Wild, with a preference to work something out over the summer if so. That time is now here.
An opportunity for players to hold final press conferences before departing for the off-season, such discussion doesn’t always hold the most weight; Exhibit A being Brady Tkachuk shutting down trade rumors only to be off to Florida some 53 days later. Back to the present with Hughes, however, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported yesterday on Hello Hockey that the Wild and he are “getting there” on an extension with an AAV of at least $17MM, if not higher.
A side comment by Pagnotta on Hughes while primarily discussing rising NHL salaries as a whole, there’s surely still uncertainty and work to be done, however it’s at least encouraging to hear for Minnesota fans. Thought to be a huge gamble, buying about a year and a half of the superstar before facing the real chance of losing him for nothing, perhaps general manager Bill Guerin’s “all in” mentality has done enough to win over Hughes.
Not that there was doubt but Hughes was a perfect fit with the Wild, elevating their play on the back end tremendously. Having been among the lower scoring clubs from defensemen, bringing aboard the lefty who averaged over 27 minutes a night, putting up 53 points in 48 games, did wonders in that department. He led the entire NHL in ice time per game, a minute over the second-ranked Zach Werenski. Hughes finished fifth among defenders for points (76 combined between Vancouver and Minnesota), 33rd highest in NHL skaters, interestingly one spot behind his brother Jack.
Speaking of his sibling, the hope, if not optimistic expectation of certain parties in the Northeast was that Quinn would roll along to free agency and head to New Jersey, teaming up with Jack and their brother Luke for a trio able to make an impact never seen in the league. It’s easier said than done though, as the Devils offer $6 million more in cap space than the Wild as of today, however, to meet Hughes’ free agent value hypothetically, they’d have to move out a contract such as Dougie Hamilton’s $9MM. Another team where the electric skating defensemen wouldn’t be the final piece, New Jersey will spend under 4% of their cap space on goaltending next season. As fun as it would be to imagine, the ball is firmly in Minnesota’s court for plenty of time to work something out.
Assuming the Newark family reunion is not meant to be, and that at some point before long Hughes re-ups on another record-setting contract in Minnesota, what’s fascinating to consider is the rest of their roster. With the salary cap set for 2026-27 at $104 million, it’s realistic to predict another increase the following season, as much as $8.5 million, but on current figures paying $17 million to Hughes and Kirill Kaprizov would equal nearly 33% of their total salary allocation. Not even the Oilers, boasting Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, fork over that much for their two stars with the duo set through 2027-28 at a combined $26.50MM cap hit. Their abilities hardly require further analysis, but to do so anyway, McDavid and Draisaitl combined for 235 points in 147 games last year, on the Oilers’ 282 total goals-forced. To justify a level of payment on Kaprizov and Hughes which would exceed that, NHL-best production would be a requirement.
This time next year, if Guerin secures what would be at least a $10 million raise for Hughes, he’d be left with limited space on other players. Captain Jared Spurgeon, the club’s longest tenured player and annual Lady Byng vote-getter, will expire after 2026-27 on a current $7.58MM cap hit, along with Ryan Hartman and Blake Coleman. There’s no telling what the roster may look like by next July, but it’s safe to assume at least 4-5 bottom six forward holes will need to be filled, and that’s not even counting their bigger needs. A team thought to require an upgrade down the middle to break through in the Western Conference, it’s hard to see where Guerin could fit in someone like Dylan Larkin and his $8.7MM ticket. In net the Wild made a long-term commitment to Filip Gustavsson, with standout 23-year-old Jesper Wallstedt a luxury for the time being at $2.2MM. It’s practically a foregone conclusion that one of their two excellent netminders, a major strength of the team, will have to be moved out to help out the center ice position, as well as open the space for a Hughes extension. With all of those items coming in the future, Minnesota has already dealt with cap casualties, having lost key veteran Mats Zuccarello, likely to end up the same with Vladimir Tarasenko, Guerin will have to get seriously creative to build a supporting cast on team-friendly contracts similar to 38-year-old Nick Foligno’s $900k for the upcoming season.
By no means an attempt to criticize Guerin, the 2025-26 NHL general manager of the year who has raised the bar in Minnesota and brought the most exciting times for the franchise, their #1 order of business in locking up Hughes will present a new series of challenges to follow. His attempts to be as aggressive as possible are commendable, but at some point the concern is raised on what to make of the rest of the Minnesota roster. Especially as recent history suggests that top-heavy constructed teams lack the ability to comfortably roll lines in the playoffs and take home the Stanley Cup. Regardless, Guerin and his Wild would much rather take a shot at proving that wrong, rather than the possibility of the all-world defenseman walking away after a short stop in Saint Paul.
Image Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Oilers Sign Colton Dach To Two-Year Extension
This afternoon the Edmonton Oilers shared that Colton Dach has been re-signed on a two-year pact worth $1.2MM per season. The forward was the club’s last notable restricted free agent to deal with this summer. Upon expiration of the contract after 2027-28, he’ll remain an RFA.
Acquired at the deadline from Chicago along with Jason Dickinson, the St. Albert, Alberta native had a nice start to his Oilers tenure with four points in his first eight contests, then dealing with an injury which cost 12. Dach worked his way back for the playoffs, adding one helper in five appearances. Still aged 23, it’s fair to call Dach a prospect, as he was ranked 10th in Chicago’s system last August by The Athletic’s Corey Pronman as a player with below average skating but nice playmaking ability and vision for a 6’4″ frame. Dach is thought to have middle-six upside, and the Oilers will hope he can be a cost-effective everyday player in their bottom-six. Edmonton paid a pretty penny in the Dickinson trade to shed Andrew Mangiapane‘s contract, a conditional 2027 first-rounder, so there’s a real need for Dach to stay healthy and reach his potential in order to call the trade a success.
Selected in the second round by Chicago in 2021 (64th overall) Dach joined his brother Kirby in the organization until they were separated by his trade to Montreal one year later. Never able to play together with the Hawks, Colton still lined up against his brother during his NHL debut in January 2025 at the United Center. A solid piece for the young team’s bottom-six, Dach had nine points in 53 games last season prior to the trade. Regardless of the organization’s evaluation on the former second-rounder, a first-round-pick coming back was enough of an asset for them to part ways.
Listed as a center, Dach won just 36.6% of his draws with Chicago in 2025-26, not lining up for a single face-off with the Oilers. He was effective alongside 28-year-old Trent Frederic, bringing ruthless forechecking and energy and helping reinvigorate Frederic’s game, much needed considering his struggles on a long-term contract. Once a high scorer with the Kelowna Rockets, lighting it up with Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall, Dach’s calling in the NHL will be reliable play in his own end, net driving, and finishing checks.
With Dach crossed off their list the Oilers have around $4.7MM in cap space remaining. Shedding Darnell Nurse‘s $9.25MM allowed them to comfortably retain GM Stan Bowman‘s trade additions, also signing Ryan Shea and Frederik Andersen for just $5MM combined. It seems likely Bowman will utilize the remaining dollars on a free agent forward who could be a repeat of last season’s Jack Roslovic, who successfully netted 21 goals on a one-year deal. As for Dach, it’s expected he’ll be a regular in the lineup in 2026-27.
Snapshots: Ducks, Stephens, Jets ECHL Affiliate
It seems like the hits will just keep coming in Anaheim this summer. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier’s price tag could be as much as a $15MM AAV, as he said on today’s episode of The Sheet with Jeff Marek.
Surely in no mood to sell himself short after a team-leading 41-goal campaign at just age 22, the forward is in for a huge payday, although he’s not offer sheet eligible. Even just a few weeks ago, the idea of Anaheim having to choose between him or the dynamic 21-year-old center Leo Carlsson would seem impossible, but Philadelphia’s five-year $90 million offer sheet ($18MM AAV) has wrecked any hopes of a smooth July in Anaheim.
The clock is ticking, as general manager Pat Verbeek has just until this Friday to decide whether to match the record-setting offer. Assuming he does, the Ducks will be left with just over $9 million in cap room, still not enough to take care of Gauthier barring something unexpected. Even if Verbeek is able to move out a contract such as Frank Vatrano’s $4.5MM, one of three high-cost veterans along with Chris Kreider and Alex Killorn, there’s still hardly any breathing room, not to mention that the Ducks lost four big pieces on the back end, 35-year-old Nick Jensen being the only addition so far.
One has to ask, how did things turn so quickly for a playoff team who had so much cap room? It’s all hindsight now, but Verbeek did himself no favors in negotiation with Carlsson. The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported that the Swede was looking for around $15MM earlier this summer, if not even less, an AAV which is now long gone as a possibility. Anaheim would take in four first round picks if they somehow let Carlsson walk away, a massive haul which could acquire another star caliber player via trade. With the picks themselves though, it’s highly unlikely they’d land another player of his talent without lottery luck. Whatever is in store for the Ducks in the next 48 hours will be fascinating to watch unfold.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Center Mitchell Stephens has re-signed with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in an AHL contract for two years, the team announced. A 2015 second-round selection of Tampa Bay, the now 29-year-old won a Stanley Cup in 2020 with the Bolts, making stops in Detroit, Montreal, and finally Seattle (Coachella Valley’s NHL franchise) in the past five years. With 123 NHL games under his belt, the Ontario native has 19 points. Stephens has landed at the AHL level as a solid contributor, recording 27 points in 69 games for the Firebirds this past season, good for ninth best on the team. His two-way acumen is especially impactful at the AHL level.
- The Winnipeg Jets announced a new ECHL affiliate, the Bloomington Bison. Unlike their AHL team the Manitoba Moose who share the same home arena, the Bison aren’t quite neighbors, located in Illinois. An ECHL expansion team founded in 2024, the club started out with an affiliation of the New York Rangers, going 37-30-2 last season and qualifying for the postseason. Any Bison player or opponent faces a long road to the highest level, but that’s not to say it doesn’t happen. According to the league, 36 ECHL alumni players were on Stanley Cup rosters, and one cannot forget Brandon Bussi’s performance, the Carolina goaltender having played four games with the Maine Mariners in 2022-23.
Ducks’ Frank Vatrano Emerging As Trade Candidate
With the Anaheim Ducks off-season taking a sudden and unexpected turn, Frank Vatrano could be next impacted in the wake of recent news. According to The Fourth Period’s Summer Trade Watch List 3.0, he may be the “odd man out”. Already thought to be a possible trade candidate, the veteran perhaps must be moved sooner rather than later.
Marching along into free agency as a playoff team among the richest in cap space, Friday’s offer sheet given by Philadelphia on Leo Carlsson has forced their hand to make the young star the highest-paid player in the league if they’re to keep him in Orange County. Anaheim hurried to lock up Pavel Mintyukov today before another offer sheet dropped onto GM Pat Verbeek’s desk, agreeing on a five-year pact worth $7.2MM per season. Both players are crucial young pieces they can’t afford to lose, but Carlsson and Mintyukov’s salaries jumping from entry level to over $25 million combined is an unbelievable development.
Having lost several pieces on the back end in John Carlson, Jacob Trouba, Olen Zellweger, and captain Radko Gudas, there’s still work to be done even assuming Carlsson’s shocking ticket is matched. Not to mention, the Ducks’ leading scorer Cutter Gauthier also remains a restricted free agent, thankfully for them, not eligible for an offer sheet himself. With all of this in mind, suddenly Vatrano’s $4.57MM cap hit would be much better utilized elsewhere. Rather than have the chance at a bounce-back season in Anaheim, the team may be forced to make a move on him now despite trade value as low as ever.
For what it’s worth, the undrafted forward isn’t the only veteran on the team with a questionable price tag, as Chris Kreider and Alex Killorn combine for $12.75MM against the cap next season. However, both are more trusted as supporting cast for the Ducks and have maintained top six usage, again speaking to Vatrano’s position as the “odd man out”.
Holding trade protection as able to reject trades to seven clubs, Vatrano still has two years remaining on his deal which was signed at his peak as a player. At the time, the Massachusetts native had broken out in 2023-24 as a Duck with 37 goals, being named a 2024 NHL All Star. Vatrano continued his solid scoring pace into the following season which earned the January 2025 extension good for another three years. Moving on from Greg Cronin, now an assistant in St. Louis, Anaheim’s youth movement exploded this past season but it was Vatrano whose performance fell off. Under new head coach Joel Quenneville, Vatrano turned in a brutal 2025-26, scoring just five goals in 50 games, shooting 6.3%, far below his career average which is over 10%.
In the regular season Vatrano averaged 11:49 a night, usage not seen since his early professional days as a Bruin. The typically solid secondary scorer was scratched in the playoffs, unable to get into a single one of Anaheim’s 12 postseason games. Bringing an excellent shot and high energy within his 5’11” frame, the winger has just one lost season dragging him down, and a fresh start could have him humming along again in no time. Any suitors banking on such a prompt return to a 20-goal level could be enticed in a buy-low opportunity.
Needing to shed every last penny, a trade where Verbeek adds draft capital as a sweetener is the most likely scenario. Thankfully the Ducks have three 2027 second rounders to work with, two courtesy of trades on stars of their past era, Cam Fowler and John Gibson. It would be an asset painful to have to part with, but if the past few days are any indication, teams haven’t been so kind as to do favors for Verbeek. Moving Vatrano’s contract quickly may prove costly.
Plenty of current low spending franchises would be content to take on as much as a second-round-pick along with the former 37-goal-scorer in a fresh start trade, such as Chicago or Seattle. If Vatrano has no interest in going there, Detroit and Columbus also stand out as teams who have needs up front while simultaneously lacking a second-round selection in the next draft. Even if they couldn’t pry such a high selection away, settling for less of a sweetener, Vatrano an intriguing enough player to take a shot on in a dry free agent class.
Regardless of what Anaheim may have to dangle to entice trade partners for their struggling forward, it’s fascinating to consider the domino effect caused by the Flyers’ offer sheet. Left scrambling of late, the Ducks were thought to be on enviable ground this summer after their breakout campaign. Now they’re forced into difficult and costly decisions ahead, and Vatrano’s name is one to watch in their efforts to open up more breathing room on the salary cap front.
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Ducks Linked To Darnell Nurse
According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Anaheim Ducks have “serious interest” in Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.
Long thought to be a situation where both sides need a fresh start, Nurse formally requested such two weeks ago. Since then, the 6’4” lefty has been loosely connected to the Flyers, as one club the veteran is apparently open to becoming his new home, with other suitors not so clearly known. After moving Olen Zellweger to Buffalo yesterday, Anaheim stands out as they work toward a new defense core in 2026-27.
At age 31 the former seventh overall selection of Edmonton (2013) has seen his statistics dwindle, once a reliable 40-point-getter in his mid-20s. Locked up five years ago on a long-term deal which pays him $9.25MM per season through 2030-31, the expectation was that Nurse would continue to be a crucial piece in the blue and orange who would help lead their core through the Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl era.
Striking gold with Evan Bouchard, along with the addition of the ever-steady Mattias Ekholm, it’s not to say that Nurse himself has fallen off a cliff. He finished just behind Bouchard in ice time for defenseman on the team, 20:58 a night, suiting up in all 82 games. Nurse also surpassed the 100-penalty-minute mark for the first time in year 12, fully indicative of his willingness to take on a different role and do the dirty work, dropping the gloves and contributing on the penalty kill. Absolutely still a useful player, it simply comes down to where Edmonton stands as a franchise. Needing a shake up after falling flat in the opening round, the Oilers no longer can afford to shell out over nine million for Nurse.
No stranger to taking on players in such situations, twice moving respected veterans from the Big Apple to Orange County in Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider, Anaheim makes a lot of sense out of the limited teams capable of taking on Nurse. Holding over $44 million of cap space after the draft night trade of Mason McTavish brought only draft capital courtesy of St. Louis, the Ducks have just three defensemen signed for next season. John Carlson is expected to move on, the aforementioned Trouba’s status is unknown, along with their captain Radko Gudas who are all on track to hit the open market next week. Needing a lefty to work behind Jackson LaCombe, Nurse would continue to eat tougher minutes, not expected to put up any fancy numbers. It would continue to not be a lot out of the current 11th-highest paid defenseman in the league, but in a free agent class thin on lefties, now is the time to pull the trigger, to Nurse’s benefit, no less.
Holding the cards on what comes next in the form of a full no-trade clause, the Ducks have a lot to offer Nurse, whose 100 career playoff games haven’t yet brought the ultimate goal. Trying to find a contending team to his liking who would be comfortable enough inheriting such an inflated contract presents a tough scenario, and Anaheim presents a complete package. The dynamic young team ended their seven-year playoff drought, winning one round, setting their sights on much more to come.
Surely motivated to make something happen before July 1, Edmonton general manager Stan Bowman would be looking to unload as much of the $9.25MM as possible to supplement their current $7MM in space ahead of free agency. Getting out unscathed would require some serious wizardry, as retention or taking back an unfavorable contract such as Frank Vatrano’s $4.57MM are possibilities. Rather than so much emphasis on the actual assets brought back to Edmonton, what will be fascinating is just how much Nurse’s soon-to-be second club would be willing to take on.
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