Blue Jackets, Canadiens In Talks To Acquire Noah Dobson
It appears the Islanders are set to move on from pending RFA defenseman Noah Dobson with the Blue Jackets and Canadiens as the sole contenders to acquire him, Chris Johnston of The Athletic reports. Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic relayed earlier this morning that the Blues were also in the mix, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman added Dobson wasn’t interested in signing a new contract with a team in the Western Conference. Marco D’Amico of RG was among the first yesterday to identify a connection between Montreal and Dobson.
Things have materialized rather quickly here. Dobson’s name was in trade speculation as far back as February, but it was stressed that they were only willing to part with him in the context of a specific trade that would presumably have netted them a forward of similar caliber in return. Days later, Dobson changed his representation in advance of starting extension negotiations with the Islanders.
Evidently, those discussions weren’t productive. Other teams – including Columbus and Montreal – appear prepared to offer him a price tag of $9.5MM per season on a long-term deal, Johnston reports. It’s unclear if the Islanders ever got to that number on an eight-year deal. It’s worth noting that the Blue Jackets and Canadiens can’t offer Dobson an eight-year contract because he wasn’t on their reserve list at the trade deadline. If he signs one, it’ll be because New York executes a sign-and-trade instead of just dealing his signing rights.
Both the Blue Jackets and Canadiens have two first-round picks in tonight’s draft. Columbus holds No. 14 and No. 20 overall, while the Canadiens hold No. 16 and No. 17. The Islanders will presumably land one, if not both of those picks, in a trade return. While it’s looking like they’ll select consensus top defense prospect Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 overall selection tonight, they have an obvious interest and need for center help.
Long Island native James Hagens, once considered the top prospect in the class but now projected to go later in the top 10, would fill that need. They could presumably use one of the picks they acquire for Dobson as part of a package to trade up and land both names. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports that’s the organization’s preferred outcome here, rather than recouping roster players in return for Dobson.
Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports.
Blue Jackets Sign Hunter McKown To Two-Way Deal
The Blue Jackets announced Friday they’ve re-signed pending RFA center Hunter McKown to a two-way deal for 2025-26. His contract carries a $775K cap hit and NHL salary and a $90K minors salary with a $100K guarantee, PuckPedia reports.
McKown, 23 in August, returns to the Columbus organization for his third full professional season. The 6’1″ pivot was an undrafted free agent signing out of Colorado College late in the 2022-23 season on the heels of a standout junior campaign in which he scored 21 goals and 28 points in 38 games. With that entry-level deal now expiring, he was up for a new contract.
The San Jose, California native reported to the Blue Jackets’ roster immediately after signing. He got serious NHL reps down the stretch, scoring two assists with a minus-four rating in 12 appearances while logging 12:14 per game. There were things to like about the two-way center’s game: he won 55.2% of his draws out of the gate, quite impressive for a rookie, and had reasonably solid relative possession impacts despite not playing much of a physical game (five blocks, 12 hits).
McKown hasn’t seen NHL ice since then, though. He’s spent the entirety of the last two campaigns on assignment to AHL Cleveland, where he’s put together a 22-33–55 scoring line in 121 games. That includes 13 goals and 31 points with a minus-eight rating in 68 games this season.
He’s a good skater and has made some strides in his offensive development in Cleveland, signaling he may still have a future as a bottom-six piece in the NHL if he continues on this trajectory. As such, the Blue Jackets will get him signed now to avoid a bout with restricted free agency and a potential arbitration filing if he didn’t accept his qualifying offer. He’ll be an arb-eligible RFA again next summer as he’ll still be too young to qualify for Group VI unrestricted free agency.
PHR’s 2025 Top 50 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents
The past two weeks have already seen the offseason enter a period of high activity. Still, many big-ticket names remain available with just four days left to go until July 1. There’s only been a handful of last-minute re-signings, and while there’s sure to be more before the market opens, most of the top names look to be available.
While the depth of this year’s class doesn’t sniff last year’s, it does feature perhaps the highest-caliber player to test free agency since Artemi Panarin six years ago. As a reminder, our rankings and predictions are voted on by the entirety of our writing team based on a combination of talent perception and expected demand.
All predictions are independent and have no bearing on each other, while each player is presumed to be signing a one-way contract. Due to this year’s compact offseason schedule, voting was done before the buyout window opened and the June 30 qualifying offer deadline.
1. RW Mitch Marner / Anaheim Ducks / 7 years, $14.25MM AAV
Josh Erickson: It would surprise no one to hear that Marner was the unanimous No. 1 UFA among our writers. He’s the only bona fide top-line forward available and one of the league’s premier playmakers – not to mention he’s coming off a career-high 75 assists and 102 points in 2024-25. Since beginning his NHL career in 2016, the lifelong Maple Leaf is eighth in the league with 741 points in 657 games. After failing to advance past the second round with Toronto again, it’s become a foregone conclusion that he’ll be testing the open market and landing a well-compensated package to take his elite talent to another team.
Sign-and-trade with Golden Knights, 8 years, $12MM AAV
2. LW Nikolaj Ehlers / Carolina Hurricanes / 7 years, $8.5MM AAV
Josh: After Ehlers was limited to 0.74 points per game in 2023-24, his worst per-game showing in five years, there were questions about his long-term fit, and there was a legitimate chance of Winnipeg trading him before his walk year. The Jets stayed the course. While Ehlers lost a few games to injury, he rebounded with one of the better seasons of his career with 63 points in 69 games. A consistent top-six scoring threat who’s a slam dunk for 25 goals and 60 points, he’ll be among the most well-compensated players this summer, whether he stays in Winnipeg or not.
Signed with Hurricanes, 6 years, $8.5MM AAV
3. C Sam Bennett / Florida Panthers / 8 years, $8.25MM AAV
Josh: No one on this list has seen his stock rise more in the last few months than Bennett. The Flames selected him fourth overall in the 2014 draft, but it was a trade to Florida at the 2021 deadline that truly sparked his career. He’s got 196 points in 289 games since joining the Panthers and has served as their second-line center in back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, leveraging his hard-nosed and sometimes over-the-line style of play physically into a 15-goal, 22-point showing in this year’s playoffs that earned him a Conn Smythe Trophy. He’s a high-priority target for the Panthers to retain, and since they still haven’t worked out deals for their other pending UFAs, there’s little reason to believe this one won’t result in an extension.
Re-signed with Panthers, 8 years, $8MM AAV
4. C John Tavares / Toronto Maple Leafs / 4 years, $5MM AAV
Josh: While the veteran center is in no position to command the $11MM cap hit his expiring contract boasted, he’s still an extremely effective second-line center as he enters his mid-30s and would be a No. 1 option on weaker teams. He averaged 18:14 per game last season – his highest workload since COVID – and returned the favor with 38 goals and 74 points with a +10 rating in 75 games. While age-related decline is a valid fear in signing Tavares to any mid-to-long-term contract, he finished second in points among the players on his list and led them in goals by a significant margin. Whether he forgoes an extension with his hometown team and tests the market is the biggest question.
Re-signed with Maple Leafs, 4 years, $4.38MM AAV
5. D Aaron Ekblad / Florida Panthers / 7 years, $7.75MM AAV
Josh: It’s beginning to look like Ekblad may test the open market and find a new home after spending the first 11 years of his career with the Panthers. The 2014 first overall pick had dealt with health issues and declining point totals the past few years. He at least overcame the latter in 2024-25, rebounding for 33 points in 56 games while receiving expanded power-play deployment. He stayed healthy for the most part, too – most of his absence was due to a PED-related suspension late in the year.
Re-signed with Panthers, 8 years, $6.1MM AAV
6. RW Brock Boeser / Minnesota Wild / 6 years, $8.35MM AAV
Josh: Boeser will almost certainly move on from the Canucks this summer; they’re the only NHL organization he’s ever known since being drafted No. 23 overall in 2015. The 6’1″ winger seemingly delivered on his season a year ago, potting a career-high 40 goals and 73 points as the Canucks marched to a division title. Scoring woes plagued Vancouver this season, though, and his production dropped off to 25 goals and 50 points in 75 games. Injuries have been an issue for him over his entire career – he averages 64 points per 82 games but has only ever surpassed the 60-point mark once in actuality. While that would typically mean teams would be wary of giving him too large a contract this summer, his recent burst of production – and the fact he’s still just 28 – will be enough to make him one of the more well-compensated players on the open market this summer.
Re-signed with Canucks, 7 years, $7.25MM AAV
7. LW Brad Marchand / Toronto Maple Leafs / 2 years, $8MM AAV
Josh: While Marchand goes by many nicknames, Big Game Brad may be the most apt. After spending his entire career with the Bruins, the now-former Boston captain was shipped to the Panthers at the trade deadline. The 37-year-old had a somewhat underwhelming offensive showing in the regular season, which was presumably set to limit his market this summer. That all changed with a spectacular postseason showing, finishing as the runner-up to Bennett for the Conn Smythe after scoring 20 points in 23 games, including six goals in six Stanley Cup Final games. Age-related decline is a legitimate concern here, but teams may find him so desirable to give him more term than usual/expected to fend off other suitors.
Re-signed with Panthers, 6 years, $5.25MM AAV
8. D Vladislav Gavrikov / Detroit Red Wings / 7 years, $7.75MM AAV
Josh: Gavrikov enters the market as the top left-shot and top shutdown defenseman available after something of a breakout season in Los Angeles. The 29-year-old was given an extended run in top-pairing minutes for the first time to begin the season with Drew Doughty injured, and he delivered with his best NHL season out of his six. The 6’3″ Russian provided 30 points and a +26 rating while averaging north of 23 minutes per game. He also had spectacular possession impacts for his heavy defensive zone deployment. He’s shown he may not be the best fit on a weaker team in the past (his two-way numbers weren’t nearly as strong in his days with the Blue Jackets), but that likely won’t scare teams off, considering the strength of his platform year.
Signed with Rangers, 7 years, $7MM AAV
9. D Ivan Provorov / New York Rangers / 6 years, $7.25MM AAV
Josh: Provorov could be on the move to the third team of his career this summer. The Blue Jackets took a swing on retaining the pending UFA at the trade deadline – unfortunately, it didn’t materialize in a playoff berth and extension talks have reportedly been slow. He’s coming off a decent but not career year, posting 33 points and a +11 rating while logging heavy minutes in Columbus. One thing working in his favor despite historically average possession impacts and some visual defensive faults – he’s extremely durable, playing 696 out of 699 possible games since making his NHL debut in 2016-17.
Re-signed with Blue Jackets, 7 years, $8.5MM AAV
10. RW Claude Giroux / Ottawa Senators / 2 years, $5.25MM AAV
Josh: While Giroux is squarely in his twilight years, the 37-year-old still projects as an effective middle-six piece for the next couple of seasons. He still managed 15 goals and 50 points in 81 games for the Senators this season. While he’d likely prefer to remain with his hometown team after their first playoff appearance in a while in 2024, he remains without an extension a few days from the market opening. He’s a better fit stylistically on the wing at this stage of his career, but could be a great fit for a team looking for a veteran piece to pair with a young center who struggles in the dot. Giroux still takes a huge amount of faceoffs, winning a career-high 61.5% of them in 2024-25.
Re-signed with Senators, 1 year, $2MM AAV + $2.5MM in performance bonuses
11. C Mikael Granlund / Montreal Canadiens / 3 years, $5.5MM AAV
Brian La Rose: A couple of years ago, Granlund was basically salary ballast as part of the three-team Erik Karlsson trade. But the opportunity to play a top-line role in San Jose gave the 33-year-old a chance to showcase that he can still be a solid offensive contributor with back-to-back seasons of at least 60 points while playing important penalty killing minutes as well. That made him a key addition for Dallas at the trade deadline, and while he was a winger with them, he’ll be viewed as one of the better available centers in this market, putting him in a good position for another multi-year deal.
Signed with Ducks, 3 years, $7MM AAV
12. D Brent Burns / Carolina Hurricanes / 1 year, $5MM AAV
Josh: A Hall-of-Fame career is expected to continue for Burns in 2025-26 as he gears up for his 22nd NHL season. While he was still a top-pair threat heading into his age-39 season, Father Time began to catch up to him in 2024-25. He’ll enter the season at age 40 and coming off a highly underwhelming 29 points in 82 games while seeing a sharp reduction in minutes. He did finish as high as 10th in Norris Trophy voting as recently as two years ago and can still be a good top-four presence – something there aren’t many of on the open market this summer – but he likely won’t receive any multi-year offers.
Signed with Avalanche, 1 year, $1MM AAV + $4MM in performance bonuses
13. D Dmitry Orlov / Los Angeles Kings / 3 years, $5.5MM AAV
Josh: Orlov was No. 1 on this list in 2023 amid an exceptionally weak class. He was coming off a career season then, not so much now. There’s no denying Orlov, 34 next month, can still be an effective top-four piece, but he never lived up to the $7.75MM cap hit he signed for on his two-year deal with Carolina. That was mostly due to his deployment; he averaged only 18:36 per game for the Canes after seeing over 20 minutes per night for most of his career. The undersized but physical lefty posted 28 points and a +16 rating in 76 games this year but saw his stock fall due to a tough postseason in which his declining foot speed was exposed.
Signed with Sharks, 2 years, $6.5MM AAV
14. C Pius Suter / Minnesota Wild / 3 years, $5MM AAV
Brian: Two years ago, Suter didn’t have a particularly strong market, eventually needing to wait nearly six weeks before signing a low-cost two-year deal with Vancouver. That shouldn’t be the case this time around. Suter is coming off a career year with the Canucks, one that saw him score 25 goals, putting him in a tie for third-most among pending UFAs. He was tied with Bennett and Boeser and behind Tavares and Marner. Pretty good company to be in. However, his shooting percentage jumped over 18%, a rate that’s usually viewed as unsustainable while he has only surpassed the 30-point mark once. That means there’s some risk with the signing if he reverts more toward his career numbers but as a versatile two-way player, he can be an effective addition even if the offense takes a step back.
Signed with Blues, 2 years, $4.125MM AAV
15. LW Jonathan Drouin / Washington Capitals / 3 years, $4.5MM AAV
Josh: Reuniting with former junior teammate Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado has re-ignited Drouin’s career. The 2013 third-overall pick is still by no means a standalone top-line threat but has had two of the three best offensive seasons of his career with the Avalanche since first arriving in Denver as a free agent in 2023. While injuries, a common theme in Drouin’s career, limited him to 43 appearances this season, he still managed 11 goals and 37 points for the highest point-per-game output of his 11 NHL seasons. His value will be limited on the open market based on his career numbers outside of Colorado; in Tampa Bay and Montreal, Drouin averaged only 13 goals and 48 points per 82 games.
Signed with Islanders, 2 years, $4MM AAV
16. D Dante Fabbro / Columbus Blue Jackets / 6 years, $4.5MM AAV
Josh: Fabbro landed on waivers at the beginning of the season after he fell out of the regular lineup in Nashville. It was a blessing in disguise for the 2016 first-rounder, who was picked up by the Blue Jackets and emerged as a top-pairing threat alongside Zach Werenski. The 27-year-old had his birthday just last week and is one of the youngest options as a result. He had 26 points and a +20 rating in 68 games between Nashville and Columbus, averaging 20:54 per game with the best possession impacts of his career. He’s the second-best right-shot option on the market behind Ekblad and will get a nice bit of security if he doesn’t extend with the Jackets.
Re-signed with Blue Jackets, 4 years, $4.125MM AAV
17. RW Patrick Kane / Detroit Red Wings / 1 year, $5MM AAV
Josh: Kane has successfully rebounded from his major hip surgery two years ago. While not the perennial All-Star he was a decade ago, he’s still an effective top-six producer and future Hall-of-Famer. He’s scored 106 points in 122 games over the last two years with Detroit. His extreme defensive deficiencies at this stage of his career take away from his on-ice value, but the 36-year-old remains an effective point producer and a fine second-line option. Whether he’ll continue serving that role in Hockeytown remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him extend what’s been a mutually beneficial fit so far.
Re-signed with Red Wings, 1 year, $3MM AAV + $4MM in potential performance bonuses
18. G Jake Allen / Philadelphia Flyers / 2 years, $3.5MM AAV
Brian: Allen hasn’t been a full-fledged starter for several years but is still considered the top goalie available on the open market this summer. He’s coming off a solid showing in New Jersey as the backup to Jacob Markstrom and has played in at least 30 games in four straight seasons. While there won’t be teams necessarily looking at him to be a number one option, he’s someone who can come in and stabilize the backup position and play starter minutes in the short term when injuries arise. In a market bereft of proven and reliable options, Allen stands out as the one goaltender who can be counted on to be a steady performer, which will give him plenty of suitors.
Re-signed with Devils, 5 years, $1.8MM AAV
19. LW Andrei Kuzmenko / Los Angeles Kings / 3 years, $4.5MM AAV
Josh: Kuzmenko’s inconsistency has caused him to suit up for four different teams in his three-year NHL career, including two trades in 2024-25. It’s his high-end flashes and good timing that should lead to significant interest this summer, though. While he had just 11 goals in 66 games on the year after starting his NHL career with seasons of 39 and 22 tallies, respectively, he still put up a strong 5-12–17 scoring line in 22 games for the Kings after they picked him up from the Flyers at the deadline. He also had six points in six playoff games. While by no means a play-driver on his own, he’s proven time and again he can be a good fit as the third-best player on a line and a spectacular complementary scorer if deployed correctly.
Re-signed with Kings, 1 year, $4.3MM AAV
20. C Jack Roslovic / Philadelphia Flyers / 3 years, $3.5MM AAV
Brian: Roslovic has had his ups and downs and recent years and has been with three different organizations over the last 16 months. However, while he’s prone to streakiness, he’s also one of the more consistent secondary scorers in terms of point production in this free agent class as he has surpassed the 30-point mark for the past five years. Roslovic is coming off a 22-goal season and has shifted between center and the wing routinely over the years, a versatility that should be particularly appealing in a market that has lost some of its better options at center recently.
Sharks Expected To Non-Tender Noah Gregor
The Sharks will not issue a qualifying offer to center Noah Gregor, per Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News. He will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
This will be Gregor’s third straight offseason with a non-tender. He was initially a fourth-round pick of the Sharks back in 2016 but was not given a qualifying offer by San Jose in 2023, leading to him signing a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs in free agency. Toronto also declined to qualify him, after which he landed with the Senators for the 2024-25 season. The Sharks brought him back to the organization in the deadline deal that saw Fabian Zetterlund head to Ottawa, but his second stint in the Bay Area will be short-lived.
The quick-footed Gregor first arrived in the NHL with the Sharks in the 2019-20 campaign, his first in the pros. While he bounced between the NHL and AHL his first two seasons in the organization, he established himself as a full-timer in 2021-22 with a 23-point showing in 63 games while averaging nearly 15 minutes per night, all of which still stand as career highs. While a proper depth offensive presence at times, he’s yet to provide the scoring punch necessary to elevate himself out of a bottom-six or even fourth-line role.
This season marked something of a new low for Gregor. He never gelled in Ottawa after signing a one-year, $850K deal there when free agency opened. He dealt with injuries and was limited to just six points and a -12 rating in 40 games when healthy, averaging 11:21 per game. He also had just one assist and a minus-nine rating in 12 showings with San Jose after the trade. His non-tender is an unsurprising one as the Sharks look to create roster flexibility for more impactful free agent signings and young players graduating to NHL roles.
While he hasn’t seen AHL action in over three years, a two-way deal seems likely for Gregor on the open market this season following his tough 2024-25 showing and burgeoning journeyman reputation. There’s still some late bloomer potential as he turns 27 in July, but he’ll have to work on rounding out his offensive skillset beyond just strong skating ability.
Capitals Re-Sign Henrik Rybinski To Two-Way Deal
The Capitals have retained pending RFA forward Henrik Rybinski on a two-way deal for 2025-26, the team announced Thursday. He’ll make the league minimum $775K salary if he’s in the NHL and a $130K salary in the minors.
It’s a nice birthday present for Rybinski, who turns 24 today. He’s yet to make his NHL debut but has spent the last three seasons developing in AHL Hershey after signing his entry-level contract in March 2022. That deal was due to expire this summer, making him a restricted free agent, but he’ll get some offseason business early out of the way with an extension.
Rybinski signs a deal that carries a lower NHL salary and cap hit than his $813,750 qualifying offer would have provided, but does land a higher AHL salary in the process. That’s the more important number for him since he’s not anticipated to spend much of any time on the NHL roster in 2025-26. He is coming off a nice year in Hershey, though, posting a career-high 10-25–35 scoring line with a +11 rating in 60 games.
The two-time Calder Cup champion with the Bears will now get another season to show the Caps what he can do. He was initially a fifth-round pick by the Panthers back in 2019, but they opted not to sign him to an entry-level deal, and his signing rights expired two years later. Washington ended up picking him up in free agency after he scored 65 points in 47 games for the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds in 2021-22.
Since Rybinski will turn 25 by next July 1 and has accrued three seasons of professional experience, he’ll almost certainly be a Group VI unrestricted free agent next summer, so this was Washington’s last summer with control over Rybinski’s rights. The only way they can avoid making him UFA-eligible next summer is by playing him in 80 NHL games next season, a highly unlikely scenario.
Blue Jackets Acquire Brendan Gaunce From Wild
The Blue Jackets have acquired center Brendan Gaunce from the Wild in exchange for right-winger Cameron Butler, the team announced Thursday.
Gaunce, 31, begins his second stint in Columbus after spending one season in Minnesota. The Wild signed him to a two-year, two-way deal on the opening day of free agency last year after spending three seasons in the Blue Jackets organization, primarily with AHL Cleveland. He only made 12 NHL appearances, posting one point and a minus-four rating while averaging 9:42 of ice time per game.
He spent the bulk of the season down with AHL Iowa when he wasn’t in the Twin Cities as an injury call-up. There, he posted a 15-14–29 scoring line in 39 games while posting a -16 rating and serving as an alternate captain. That was one of the better stat lines on a weak Iowa club this year, and his 0.74 points per game was higher than his career average of 0.69 over 382 minor-league games over the course of his lengthy professional career.
As for Butler, the 23-year-old gets a fresh start after a rocky beginning to his professional career. Columbus signed him as an undrafted free agent following a 55-point season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals in 2022-23. He’s struggled to even hold down a regular AHL role in Cleveland, though, posting just 11 points in 91 games over the last three years. He only appeared in 37 out of 72 possible games last season and was looking like a strong non-tender candidate when his entry-level contract expires following the 2025-26 campaign. He’ll now look for more ice time in Iowa as the 6’4″, 209-lb power winger looks to get his development back on track.
PHR Live Chat Transcript: 6/26/25
View the transcript from today’s PHR live chat with Josh Erickson at this link.
Bruins, Henri Jokiharju Having Extension Talks
The Bruins are making an attempt to sign right-shot defenseman Henri Jokiharju to a new deal before he hits the open market next Tuesday, general manager Don Sweeney told reporters (via Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub).
“We have a need on the right side, no doubt about that,” Sweeney said. Boston acquired Jokiharju, 26, from the Sabres at the trade deadline for a 2026 fourth-round pick. It was a peculiar move for a team selling off high-priced assets at the time, but they simply needed NHL-experienced bodies on their blue line to make it through the last few weeks of the season after dealing away Brandon Carlo and losing Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy to injuries, robbing them of their top three rearguards.
While this offseason will ideally provide enough time for Lindholm and McAvoy to be 100% entering training camp and lead to a reset for the rest of the roster, it makes sense the Bruins would want to at least entertain the idea of retaining Jokiharju after surrendering an asset for him just a few months ago. While the 6’0″ Finn would typically be too young to test unrestricted free agency under non-Group VI status, he came into the league as a teenager with the Blackhawks in 2018-19 and has thus accrued seven years of service time. That puts him to UFA status this summer, regardless of his age.
Jokiharju had a tough year offensively, producing 10 points in 60 games. That tied for the worst points-per-game output of his career at 0.17. He’s more of a two-way threat, though, and the 29th overall pick of the 2017 draft wasn’t projected as a big point-getter in the NHL. Defensively, Jokiharju showed a lot to like after the trade. He closed the year with a plus-seven rating in 18 games for Boston, backed up by a strong 50.7 CF% on an understaffed team in difficult deployment. He averaged 21:22 per game, which would have been the second-highest mark of his career over a full season.
There’s a clear fit for him as a fine second-pairing option to help anchor youngster Mason Lohrei or in more sheltered third-pairing minutes if Boston can make a more notable addition on the right side, too, bumping Andrew Peeke to the press box or waivers. There won’t be many options to replace him on the open market if he walks, unless the Bruins make themselves a legitimate contender for a name like Aaron Ekblad or Dante Fabbro (assuming either even gets to the market). That will give Jokiharju some leverage in talks, though. If he hits the open market, AFP Analytics projects he’ll earn a three-year deal worth $3.6MM per season. That’s a little pricey for a player who struggled to hold down a role on an underperforming Buffalo roster in the past couple of years, but he has shown top-four competency in flashes and might still have some room for growth in his game, unlike his older UFA peers.
Golden Knights To Extend Reilly Smith
Pending UFA winger Reilly Smith will sign an extension with the Golden Knights instead of testing the market, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports Wednesday. It’s a one-year deal worth $2MM, half of which will be paid via signing bonus, according to PuckPedia. The contract also includes a full no-trade clause.
The 34-year-old’s second stint in Vegas will last longer than a few months. The Knights reacquired the familiar face, who played for the club in its first six seasons and won the Stanley Cup with them in 2023, from the Rangers at the trade deadline in exchange for prospect Brendan Brisson and a third-round pick.
It’s been rough for the veteran winger since the Knights made him a cap casualty in the days following their Cup win. Vegas had signed him to a three-year, $15MM extension the year prior, but they needed to make room for new deals for goaltender Adin Hill and the younger and more productive Ivan Barbashev on the wing. Smith had limited trade protection, so he was dealt to the Penguins, not one of his preferred destinations, for a third-rounder.
While Smith’s 40 points in 76 games for Pittsburgh were fine, it was a sharp decline from his 56 points the year prior. He only had 13 goals, tied for his lowest tally in a season since establishing himself as a full-time NHLer with the Bruins in 2013-14. The Penguins, looking to get younger and shed salary, traded Smith to the Rangers last summer while retaining some of his contract. His point totals were similarly middling in New York as the team struggled in general, posting a 10-19–29 scoring line in 58 games before getting traded back to Vegas. He finished the year with 11 points and a +11 rating in 21 games for the Knights, although only three of those points were goals. He was also limited to three goals and an assist in 11 postseason outings.
Aside from a blip in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign, Smith was a routine 20-goal, 50-point scorer in his heyday with Vegas. Barring what would be a surprising resurgence given his age, those days are behind him. He’s still a useful depth scorer on a team that needs them, but it would probably benefit both sides if his ice time dropped from the 15 minutes per game he was still seeing last year to give him more favorable matchups. He also didn’t see much power-play time for Vegas after his reacquisition; that could change in 2025-26, depending on how aggressive a makeover the Knights’ forward group receives in the coming weeks.
Clearly, Smith’s priority was staying in Vegas. He leaves some money on the table in exchange for contractually guaranteed team stability, unless he struggles and ends up on waivers. Vegas now has $7.615MM in cap space remaining with Nicolas Hague as their only super notable RFA to re-sign, and he’s on the trade block. They’ve got five roster spots to fill, though, so that might be a tight fit barring a cap-clearing trade. There’s also the potential of defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, signed through 2026-27 at an $8.8MM cap hit, starting the season on long-term injured reserve after playing injured last year.
Image courtesy of Sergei Belski-Imagn Images.
2025 Composite NHL Preseason Schedule
The Capitals, Blackhawks, Stars, Wild, Blues, Jets, Flames, Oilers, Kraken, and Canucks are the teams who have still yet to announce their preseason rosters. For everyone else, we’ve compiled their announcements into a composite schedule here. All times are in CT.
* – denotes split squad game
Sunday, Sept. 21
TBD: Avalanche* at Mammoth*
TBD: Mammoth* at Avalanche*
12:00 p.m.: Rangers at Devils
2:00 p.m.: Panthers* at Predators*
2:00 p.m.: Maple Leafs at Senators
4:00 p.m.: Blues at Blue Jackets
4:00 p.m.: Capitals at Bruins
5:00 p.m.: Ducks at Kings (Toyota Arena, Ontario, Calif.)
6:00 p.m.: Flyers at Islanders
6:00 p.m.: Panthers* at Predators*
7:00 p.m.: Golden Knights at Sharks
Monday, Sept. 22
6:00 p.m.: Lightning at Hurricanes
6:00 p.m.: Sabres at Blue Jackets
6:00 p.m.: Penguins at Canadiens
9:00 p.m.: Mammoth at Ducks
Tuesday, Sept. 23
6:00 p.m.: Blue Jackets at Sabres
6:00 p.m.: Islanders at Devils
6:00 p.m.: Bruins at Rangers
6:00 p.m.: Flyers at Canadiens
6:00 p.m.: Blackhawks at Red Wings
6:00 p.m.: Lightning at Predators
6:00 p.m.: Senators at Maple Leafs
9:00 p.m.: Kings at Golden Knights
Wednesday, Sept. 24
5:00 p.m.: Panthers at Hurricanes
6:00 p.m.: Penguins at Blue Jackets
9:00 p.m.: Kings at Ducks
Thursday, Sept. 25
6:00 p.m.: Islanders at Rangers
6:00 p.m.: Flyers at Capitals
6:00 p.m.: Sabres at Red Wings
6:00 p.m.: Maple Leafs at Canadiens
9:00 p.m.: Mammoth at Golden Knights
Friday, Sept. 26
6:00 p.m.: Hurricanes at Lightning
6:00 p.m.: Devils at Islanders
6:00 p.m.: Red Wings at Penguins
9:00 p.m.: Golden Knights at Sharks
Saturday, Sept. 27
2:00 p.m.: Red Wings at Sabres
4:00 p.m.: Bruins at Flyers
5:00 p.m.: Ducks at Kings (Dignity Health Arena, Bakersfield, Calif.)
6:00 p.m.: Blue Jackets at Penguins
6:00 p.m.: Canadiens at Maple Leafs
6:00 p.m.: Predators at Lightning
6:00 p.m.: Stars at Avalanche
Sunday, Sept. 28
2:00 p.m.: Devils* at Senators (Videotron Centre, Quebec City, Que.)
2:00 p.m.: Capitals at Devils*
6:00 p.m.: Predators at Hurricanes
Monday, Sept. 29
5:00 p.m.: Hurricanes at Panthers
6:00 p.m.: Rangers at Islanders
6:00 p.m.: Flyers at Bruins
6:00 p.m.: Penguins at Red Wings
9:00 p.m.: Sharks at Ducks
Tuesday, Sept. 30
6:00 p.m.: Capitals at Blue Jackets
6:00 p.m.: Panthers at Lightning (Kia Center, Orlando, Fla.)
6:00 p.m.: Canadiens at Senators (Videotron Centre, Quebec City, Que.)
7:00 p.m.: Red Wings at Blackhawks
7:00 p.m.: Golden Knights at Avalanche
8:00 p.m.: Kings at Mammoth (Idaho Central Arena, Boise, Idaho)
Wednesday, Oct. 1
6:00 p.m.: Penguins at Sabres
8:00 p.m.: Avalanche at Golden Knights
9:00 p.m.: Ducks at Sharks
Thursday, Oct. 2
6:00 p.m.: Devils at Rangers
6:00 p.m.: Islanders at Flyers
6:00 p.m.: Bruins at Capitals
6:00 p.m.: Red Wings at Maple Leafs
6:00 p.m.: Panthers at Lightning
7:00 p.m.: Senators at Blues
8:00 p.m.: Kings at Mammoth
Friday, Oct. 3
6:00 p.m.: Sabres at Penguins
9:00 p.m.: Sharks at Golden Knights
Saturday, Oct. 4
1:00 p.m.: Rangers at Bruins
2:00 p.m.: Devils at Flyers
3:00 p.m.: Hurricanes at Predators
3:00 p.m.: Ducks at Kings
5:00 p.m.: Avalanche at Stars
6:00 p.m.: Blue Jackets at Capitals
6:00 p.m.: Maple Leafs at Red Wings
6:00 p.m.: Lightning at Panthers
6:00 p.m.: Senators at Canadiens
8:00 p.m.: Sharks at Mammoth