East Notes: Zacha, Ristolainen, Paupanekis
A trade market for Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha continues to materialize throughout the summer months. According to a new report from James Murphy of RG Media, an NHL source claims that the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames are two teams that have inquired about the forward’s availability.
Murphy cited a quote from the source, saying, “The Canadiens definitely have interest in Zacha and have inquired about him, but they’re not the only team. Several teams — I’m told the Flames are one — continue to express interest in him.” While nothing is urgent, especially between the two Original Six rivals, Murphy states that various scenarios are now being discussed.
He did not specify which players the Canadiens might be willing to trade for Zacha. However, Murphy mentioned that Joshua Roy, Oliver Kapanen, and Jayden Struble have been mentioned as potential trade candidates in Montreal’s search for a second-line center. Still, it’s notable that outside of swapping draft picks, the Canadiens and Bruins haven’t connected on a player trade since 2001.
At any rate, Zacha would certainly fit the mold of a second-line center that Montreal and other teams are coveting this offseason. Over the past three years in Boston, Zacha has scored 56 goals and 163 points in 242 games with a +30 rating, averaging 17:44 of ice time per night. Meanwhile, he’s been a net positive on the defensive side of the puck, averaging a 52.9% success rate in the faceoff dot and 90.1% on-ice save percentage at even strength.
Other notes from the Eastern Conference:
- Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen continues to recover from tricep surgery that has sidelined him since March 26th of last season. In a positive update to his recovery timeline, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported that Ristolainen has resumed skating, albeit in a non-contact jersey. Ristolainen was initially given a six-month recovery timeline, suggesting he might be ready for the start of the 2025-26 season. He aims to build on a successful season before surgery, having scored four goals and 19 points in 63 games with the Flyers.
- One of the Canadiens’ recent draft picks won’t participate in the team’s upcoming rookie camp. In a team announcement, Montreal shared that forward Hayden Paupanekis, drafted 69th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, will miss rookie camp due to a diagnosis of mononucleosis. He’s coming off a relatively productive season split between the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs and Kelowna Rockets, scoring 22 goals and 43 points in 71 games with a -30 rating.
KHL’s Barys Astana Terminate Olivier Rodrigue’s Contract
In a relatively vague announcement, the KHL’s Barys Astana announced that they’ve mutually agreed with netminder Olivier Rodrigue to terminate his contract. The club announced that Rodrigue sustained an unspecified injury during training, and a subsequent medical evaluation revealed that he required additional treatment.
There could be several reasons why Rodrigue and Barys Astana decided to terminate his contract altogether. Hesitating to speculate too much, it could be a season-ending injury, or an injury that Rodrigue prefers to have treated in Canada or the United States, negating any reason for him to remain in Kazakhstan.
Additionally, there’s credibility to an argument that Rodrigue has been dealing with an injury for some time, given how his performance collapsed last year with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. In the 2022-23 season, Rodrigue managed a 14-14-1 record in 29 games with a .912 SV% and 2.77 GAA. Earning more playing time the following season, Rodrigue put up a 19-12-5 record in 37 games with a .916 SV% and 2.73 GAA.
Given the uncertainty in net for the Edmonton Oilers for the past several years, Rodrigue appeared to be a safety net the Oilers could give an opportunity to should their goaltending completely collapse. Unfortunately, all hope for a future in Edmonton fell apart for Rodrigue this past season.
Playing primarily for the Condors, Rodrigue recorded an 18-16-8 record in 41 games with a .897 SV% and 3.12 GAA. In his two appearances with the Oilers, Rodrigue earned one loss with an .862 SV%, giving up three goals on 18 shots in an April 7th start against the Anaheim Ducks.
Edmonton decided not to issue Rodrigue a qualifying offer this summer, leaving to last month’s contract with the Barys Astana. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to play through that deal, and it’ll be interesting to see if he lands in a different AHL organization over the course of the season.
Kings’ Liam Greentree Fully Recovered From Wrist Surgery
Although he’s not expected to crack the Los Angeles Kings’ roster out of training camp, prospect Liam Greentree has reportedly fully recovered from his offseason wrist surgery. In an update from David Hofreiter of the Mayor’s Manor, Greentree will participate in the Kings’ upcoming rookie camp.
After recording 36 goals and 90 points in 64 games for the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires during the 2023-24 season, the Kings selected Greentree with the 26th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft. Suiting up for the Spitfires again last year, Greentree set new career-highs with 49 goals and 119 points in 64 games with an impressive +55 rating.
He added on to his exceptional 2024-25 performance with a solid postseason run, scoring 14 goals and 24 points in 11 games. Unfortunately, the Spitfires were eliminated in the second round of the OHL playoffs.
Regardless of the solid campaign, it’s been several months since Greentree has played at full speed, considering he missed the Kings’ development camp earlier in the summer. Meanwhile, he was held out of the Spitfires’ first preseason contest last night, although he’s expected to feature in at least one exhibition before heading to Los Angeles for rookie camp.
He’ll be an interesting player to watch in the upcoming season. He has very little left to prove in the OHL, but isn’t old enough to play for the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign (unless the current rules are unexpectedly amended before the start of the season). Instead of getting a nine-game tryout with the Kings to start the season, it may be best to wait toward the back of the season to get Greentree into Los Angeles’ nine remaining games before participating in the playoffs, if they qualify.
SHL’s Växjö Lakers HC Sign Brogan Rafferty
The SHL’s Växjö Lakers HC has strengthened its defensive lineup as it aims for postseason qualification for the 13th consecutive year. According to a team announcement, the Lakers have signed defenseman Brogan Rafferty to a two-year contract.
Before signing as an undrafted free agent and debuting with the Vancouver Canucks toward the end of the 2018-19 campaign, Rafferty enjoyed a strong three-year career with the NCAA’s Quinnipiac University. Although he departed four years before the program won its first national championship in 2023, Rafferty scored 10 goals and 65 points in 116 games for the Bobcats before becoming one of only 11 alumni to participate in an NHL contest.
The West Dundee, IL native appeared in two games for the Canucks to close out the 2018-19 campaign and spent the entire next season with their then-AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets. Earning All-Rookie First Team honors that year, Rafferty finished with seven goals and 45 points in 54 games with a +17 rating.
Unfortunately, despite his success as a rookie in the AHL, Rafferty spent the entire 2020-21 campaign on Vancouver’s taxi squad, participating in just one game for the Canucks, where he collected his first assist. Rather than continue his stay with Vancouver, Rafferty signed a one-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks the following offseason.
Since then, Rafferty has only played in the AHL, spending time with the San Diego Gulls (Anaheim), Coachella Valley Firebirds (Seattle Kraken), and Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings). Although he hasn’t played in the NHL since the 2020-21 season, he put together an exceptional performance with the Firebirds during the 2022-23 campaign, collecting nine goals and 51 points in 72 games with a +28 rating. Helping Coachella Valley reach the Calder Cup Final, Rafferty scored two goals and 11 points in 26 postseason contests.
Evening Notes: Karlsson, Hughes, Swayman
The Penguins are entering the season with much of last season’s roster intact, but Erik Karlsson remains the most likely trade candidate. In a recent article on The Athletic, Josh Yohe highlights that despite being a three-time Norris Trophy winner, Karlsson’s $10 million cap hit, recent struggles, and no-movement clause could complicate any potential trade. Any trade would likely require Pittsburgh to retain a large portion of his salary, raising questions about whether the return would justify the cost.
An ownership change could further complicate a Karlsson trade. The new prospective ownership group, the Hoffmann Family, may be reluctant to inherit retained salary obligations, while Fenway Sports Group could hesitate to commit to such a deal if it remains the majority owner. The uncertainty leaves Karlsson’s future in limbo, even as the front office appears to believe moving him is ultimately in the team’s best interest.
As Yohe notes, Karlsson’s situation also ties directly to the development of prospect Harrison Brunicke. The 19-year-old impressed last year as the best defensive prospect in the Penguins system, scoring five goals and 30 points in 41 games for the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers. Still, with Karlsson, Kris Letang, Matt Dumba, and Connor Clifton on the right side, there’s no current path to NHL minutes. A Karlsson trade could open significant ice time and accelerate Brunicke’s rise, aligning with the Penguins’ stated goal of going younger this season.
Other notes from this evening:
- Despite qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, the General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens, Kent Hughes, is tempering down expectations for the team entering the 2025-26 campaign. Montreal gained a year of experience from last year’s playoff run and boosted its forward core this summer by adding Zachary Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues. Still, in an interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Hughes was quoted as saying, “It’s great that the fan base is excited about it. As a general manager, you worry that the players don’t get too far ahead of themselves. It’s a little bit harder when people see you coming than when we sneak up on them.“
- After the objectively worst season of his NHL career, Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins has changed “everything” about his play this summer. In a post-skate meeting with Scott McLaughlin of WEEI, Swayman said, “I’m a completely different human being.” Last season, in his first as Boston’s de facto starter, Swayman managed a 22-29-7 record in 58 starts with a .892 SV% and 3.11 GAA.
Scott Laughton Hopeful For Extension With Maple Leafs
If forward Scott Laughton had his way, he wouldn’t become an unrestricted free agent next summer. In a recent interview with Nick Barden of The Hockey News, Laughton shared his hope that extension negotiations with the Toronto Maple Leafs would come.
During last deadline season, the Maple Leafs acquired Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers for a 2027 first-round pick and Nikita Grebenkin. Although he didn’t contribute offensively as much as he would have liked to (two goals and two assists in 20 games), Laughton was a stellar addition on the defensive side of the puck, securing a 54.7% success rate in the faceoff dot and a 92.2% on-ice save percentage at even strength.
This summer, the acquisition of Nicolas Roy from the Vegas Golden Knights as part of the Mitch Marner sign-and-trade might prevent Laughton from replicating his performance from the 2022-23 season with the Flyers. However, his defensive value should still be significant for the Maple Leafs moving forward.
Specifically, in the interview, Laughton was quoted, saying, “I think that’s something that I haven’t thought too much into, actually. I think I got to focus on helping this team, and hopefully those conversations come.” Although it was a soft acknowledgement of his desire to stay in Toronto, it’s an even larger acknowledgement that those conversations haven’t taken place yet.
Laughton’s next contract will depend on his performance in the 2025-26 season and his asking price. The Maple Leafs don’t have much money coming off the books next summer, but they only have a few players worth retaining. Netminder Anthony Stolarz, who has reportedly already begun extension talks, depth forward Bobby McMann, and Laughton serve as the only reasonable extension candidates, which Toronto should have no issue keeping should they find each player’s price amenable.
Still, given that Toronto is only paying half of Laughton’s salary for the 2025-26 season, a solid campaign from the veteran center could price himself out of Toronto. The Maple Leafs may not have a wealth of prospects, but young player Easton Cowan could compete for Laughton’s position in the upcoming year. This potential development might give the Maple Leafs greater leverage in any extension discussions.
Avalanche’s Jacob MacDonald Undergoes Hip Surgery, Out 5-6 Months
The Colorado Avalanche have already lost one of their defenseman for a decent chunk of the 2025-26 season. The team announced that Jacob MacDonald underwent hip surgery on Tuesday and isn’t expected back until February or March.
In his second stint with the Avalanche organization, MacDonald spent all of last season with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. Achieving his best professional offensive season to date, the Eagles’ assistant captain scored 31 goals and 55 points in 63 games with a +24 rating. MacDonald’s 2024-25 performance was so impressive that he won the Eddie Shore Award as the league’s top defenseman, the President’s Award for displaying excellence in all areas of the ice, and a First All-Star Team nod.
Unfortunately, he will not be able to make such an impact this season. Before re-joining the Avalanche last summer, MacDonald spent a year and a half with the San Jose Sharks after the Avalanche included him in a 2022-23 trade alongside Martin Kaut. Throughout that stint, MacDonald scored eight goals and 15 points in 59 games for the Sharks, averaging 13:55 of ice time per night, and four assists in six games for their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.
With respect to MacDonald, it’s not a severe loss for the Avalanche, but it does have negative implications on their defensive depth throughout the regular season. MacDonald’s surgery leaves Ronald Attard and Jack Ahcan as the most experienced depth defensemen for Colorado to call upon, should injury concerns arise on the blue line.
Given this, it would be unsurprising for the Avalanche to tap into the remainder of the unrestricted free agent market for defenseman in the waning days of the summer months. Although they likely won’t pursue the top name available, Matt Grzelcyk, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Colorado offer T.J. Brodie or Jonathon Merrill a tryout opportunity at the very least.
Extension Notes: Connor, McDavid, Kempe
Unlike what transpired between the Winnipeg Jets and his former teammate, Nikolaj Ehlers, there’s more optimism in Manitoba that winger Kyle Connor will eventually sign a long-term extension to remain with the Jets. Unfortunately, extension negotiations between Connor and Winnipeg have been quiet this summer, as Frank Seravalli reported a few weeks ago.
Still, that’s expected to change, as David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported today that extension talks could begin as early as this week, and a baseline salary has already been set. Pagnotta believes that Connor will earn at least $10MM a year on his next contract, and it will likely be on a longer-term deal.
That salary would quickly become the highest on the Jets, beating out the $8.5MM AAVs for Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck. Regardless, it should be a more than palatable price for Winnipeg, given that Connor has been a higher-than-a-point-per-game player for the last five years, while crossing the 90-point plateau twice. Meanwhile, even at a record-setting salary for the team, Connor would only be the fifth-highest-paid winger in the league.
Other extension notes:
- Although some noise was made at Team Canada’s Olympic orientation camp regarding Connor McDavid‘s extension talks with the Edmonton Oilers, not much was made about the potential length of a new contract. McDavid signed a max-term eight-year contract with the Oilers back in 2017, but Pagnotta doesn’t believe that’ll be the case this time around. He asserts that the industry belief is that McDavid will prioritize a three-to-five-year deal, with the idea that a five-year deal would cost the Oilers approximately $17MM a year. Should McDavid’s camp push the term lower, his salary could reach the $20MM per season mark.
- Playing out the final year of one of the team-friendliest contracts in the league, Adrian Kempe of the Los Angeles Kings is eligible for an extension. Given that the Kings could be in the final year with franchise legend Anže Kopitar, Los Angeles should be prioritizing Kempe’s extension. In a minor update on the negotiations, Pagnotta notes that Kempe is seeking an eight-year, $80MM extension, while the Kings have countered with an eight-year, $72MM offer. Given that the two sides are only $1MM apart on AAV, it should be a bridgeable gap, meaning an agreement shouldn’t be too far away.
East Notes: Hutson, Milano, Spicer
In a recent article on The Athletic, Corey Pronman ranked 173 players under the age of 23 who are currently on NHL teams’ reserve lists. This means that these players may not be playing for their respective teams just yet. In a major snub to the reigning Calder Memorial Trophy winner, Pronman ranked Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson 34th on that list, lower than eight other defensemen.
Hutson finished the 2024-25 campaign with six goals and 66 points in 82 games, tying Larry Murphy‘s rookie assist record for defensemen from the 1980-81 campaign. Not only did Hutson receive 150 more first-place votes than the next closest (Dustin Wolf) in rookie of the year voting, but he also made some noise in the Norris Trophy voting, finishing ninth in voting with one third-place vote, five fourth-place votes, and 22 fifth-place votes.
Pronman acknowledged Hutson’s scoring prowess, but based much of his ranking on Hutson’s defensive quality. In the article, Pronman said, “He’s a small defenseman without high-end feet or physicality. He works hard, but he can get bullied in physical play, and without high-end athletic traits, he will have trouble defending the fastest, strongest forwards, especially in the playoffs.”
Other notes from the Eastern Conference:
- After being limited to just three games during the 2024-25 season due to an upper-body injury, Washington Capitals forward Sonny Milano is continuing to work his way back to the team’s lineup. The Capitals aren’t setting any hard guidelines for the quality of his play when he returns, only hoping that he eventually does return. Tom Gulitti of NHL.com shared a quote from head coach Spencer Carbery, saying, “The way I look at Sonny right now is I’m looking at it from a standpoint of him just getting back into practice and game action and going from there. There’s no unrealistic expectations of him. Not putting any pressure on him. We just want him to get into camp, feel good health-wise and just take it from there.“
- The defending National Champions, the Western Michigan University Broncos, have earned a commitment from a Boston Bruins prospect. The Broncos announced that Cole Spicer, who last played for the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, will join the program for the 2025-26 NCAA season. Despite playing in the USHL last year, Spicer has prior NCAA experience, suiting up in 49 games for the University of Minnesota-Duluth from 2022 to 2024.
Metro Notes: Hart, Laperrière, Fehérváry
In late July, after the non-guilty verdict was announced, the NHL shared that none of the five players acquitted in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial would be permitted back into the league upon further investigation. Still, that hasn’t negated interest from some teams, especially around Carter Hart.
According to a new article from The Fourth Period, David Pagnotta reports that the Philadelphia Flyers and several other teams are interested in signing Hart, awaiting the NHL’s decision on his eligibility. Regardless of the NHL’s eventual ruling, it is notable that nearly two years have passed since Hart and the other four players participated in competitive hockey, making it almost impossible to project their future value.
Before stepping away from the Flyers during the 2023-24 season, Hart had enjoyed a relatively successful career at the NHL level. The former 48th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft had spent six years in Philadelphia before that point, managing a 96-93-29 record in 218 starts with a .906 SV% and 2.94 GAA. Meanwhile, despite being outed in Round Two by the New York Islanders, Hart’s first trip through the postseason in 2020 was a bright spot in his career, collecting a 9-5-0 record in 14 games with a .926 SV% and 2.23 GAA.
Other notes from the Metropolitan Division:
- After spending the last 16 years within the Flyers organization as both player and coach, Ian Laperrière is finally moving on. Earlier today, Anthony Di Marco of the DailyFaceoff reported that Laperrière is joining the Islanders as a professional scout. Seeking the head coaching position of the Flyers this summer, Laperrière was removed from his post as head coach of the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but retained by the Flyers as an advisor. Regardless, Laperrière has finally decided to leave the organization altogether.
- In late April, the Washington Capitals lost defenseman Martin Fehérváry for their entire playoff run on the last game of the regular season due to knee surgery. There were concerns at the time that Fehérváry may miss a few games of the 2025-26 season, but that no longer appears to be the case. Sammi Silber of the DC Backcheck reported that Fehérváry skated today, but was still donning a non-contact jersey. The Capitals are taking his recovery slowly, which is fairly typical for the summer months, with the hope that he’ll return on time for the upcoming campaign.