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Devils Turn Attention To Luke Hughes Extension

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With the initial wave of free agency behind them, New Jersey Devils’ general manager Tom Fitzgerald is now making an extension with restricted free agent defenseman Luke Hughes his top priority, per team reporter Amanda Stein.

While the Devils have made a flurry of signings over the last 48 hours (headlined by re-signing goalie Jake Allen, and adding forwards Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov), and acquired the signing rights to RFA forward Thomas Bordeleau from the Sharks in exchange for Shane Bowers, Fitzgerald made it clear that his attention now shifts to Hughes. When asked if progress has been made on extension talks with his young defender, Fitzgerald stated, “No. But that’s my number one priority now.” When later asked if the club was still in the market for additional forward support, Fitzgerald doubled down by stating, “My number one priority now is signing Luke Hughes.”

This echoes Fitzgerald’s previous statements regarding his outlook for the offseason. At the beginning of June, Fitzgerald sat down with NHL.com’s Mike Morreale to discuss the team’s priorities heading into the offseason and acknowledged then how important it was for the team to extend Hughes.

He said at the time: “We’re just trying to figure out what’s best for Luke and for us and how do we make our team better with the funds that we have available… Both parties are in agreement… We’re going to get this done.”

Hughes skated in 71 games last season, posting seven goals and 44 points. He was injured in Game 1 of the team’s first-round matchup against the Hurricanes and underwent shoulder surgery in May. Fitzgerald noted today that Hughes’ recovery is progressing well and that he is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Hughes is projected to sign a long-term deal with a price tag north of $9MM by CapWages. The Devils currently have just north of $6MM in cap space (per PuckPedia), so even if Hughes signs for under that projection, Fitzgerald will likely have to make some moves to fit the extension into the fold.

Brent Burns Signs One-Year Deal With Avalanche

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The Colorado Avalanche have signed veteran defenseman Brent Burns to a one-year contract, per a team release. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman is reporting the deal comes with a $1MM base, with games-played bonuses that could secure him another $3MM.

Burns, 40, comes to the Avalanche after registering 29 points in 82 games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season. While his offensive numbers dipped considerably in 2024-25, he still logged a hefty 20:57 of ice time per game on the season. He added five points in 15 playoff contests.

Burns’ 21-year career has been filled with accolades, including six all-star appearances and the 2016-17 Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman. He has produced 910 career points over 1,497 games and has added 80 points in 135 career playoff contests. And despite his age, Burns has skated in 925 consecutive games, the fourth-longest mark in league history.

Burns joins a Colorado blue line that has openings on the second or third pairing, giving him a chance to compete for a regular role. While Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, and Josh Manson are locked into spots, the depth thins out beyond that, with Sam Malinski the only other defenseman on a one-way contract.

After an illustrious 11-year run with the Sharks, Burns was traded to the Hurricanes in July of 2022, and produced 133 points in 246 games with Carolina. His move to Colorado draws parallels to that of Hall of Fame defenseman Raymond Bourque, who was traded to the Avalanche during the 2000-01 season at the age of 39 and went on to win his long-awaited Stanley Cup.

Senators Sign Hayden Hodgson, Hunter Shepard, Jackson Parsons

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The Ottawa Senators announced a flurry of free agent signings today, including a two-year, two-way deal with forward Hayden Hodgson and a one-year, two-way deal with goaltender Hunter Shepard, per a team release. The terms of those deals are not immediately known. Additionally, the team confirmed the previously reported signing of forward Arthur Kaliyev, along with forwards Wyatt Bongiovanni and Olle Lycksell, whose deals had also been reported earlier.

Hodgson, 29, returns to the Senators organization after appearing in two games with Ottawa and 43 more with the AHL’s Belleville Senators last season. For his career, the 6’2″, 220-pound winger has appeared in nine career NHL games spanning three seasons, producing a goal and two assists.

Bongiovanni, 25, also remains in the Senators’ franchise after appearing in 54 games with Belleville last season, where he produced 22 goals and 33 points. While he has yet to appear in an NHL game, his production last season was a major step in the right direction, as he nearly doubled his previous highs in goals and points at the AHL level.

Lycksell, 25, comes to Ottawa after spending his entire professional career within the Flyers organization, which selected him in the sixth round of the 2017 NHL draft. Last season, Lycksell appeared in a career-high 19 games for the Flyers, registering five assists while averaging 11:53 of ice time per night. In 43 games for the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season, he produced 19 goals and 44 points.

Shepard’s one-year deal comes a year after he appeared in 39 games for the AHL’s Hershey Bears, where he compiled a 23-11-4 record, 2.80 goals against average, and a .891 save percentage. The 29-year-old Shepard, who was named an AHL all-star last season, has appeared in five games at the NHL level across two seasons with the Washington Capitals, including one start last season.

Additionally, the Sens signed goaltender Jackson Parsons to a three-year, entry-level contract. Parsons, 20, appeared in 52 games for the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, registering a 37-12-3 record, 2.24 goals-against average, and a .920 save percentage. A native of Ottawa, Parsons received several key accolades for his play last season, including Goaltender of the Year in both the OHL and the Canadian Hockey League and the Leo Lalonde Trophy as the OHL Overage Player of the Year.

Kings Sign Samuel Bolduc, Logan Brown, Cole Guttman

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The LA Kings continue to bolster their depth on the second day of free agency, signing defenseman Samuel Bolduc and forwards Logan Brown and Cole Guttman to two-way contracts, per a team release. In that same release, the team also confirmed the signing of forward Taylor Ward, who was previously reported to have inked a one-year, two-way deal with the team.

Bolduc’s one-year deal comes with an $775K AAV at the NHL level. Bolduc, 24, appeared in just one game for the New York Islanders last season, spending most of the season with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders. In 52 career games at the NHL level, the 6’4″, 220-pound defender has produced four goals and eight assists. However, he had produced far better offensive numbers in the AHL, including last year when he secured nine goals and 35 points in 69 games for Bridgeport.

Brown, 27, was selected 11th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2016 NHL Draft. He has appeared in 99 NHL games over six seasons, posting seven goals and 27 points. However, he hasn’t appeared at the top level since a 30-game stint with the St. Louis Blues during the 2022-23 season. He spent last season in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization but only secured playing time in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, where he posted 29 points in 33 games. His contract is a one-year deal with a $775K AAV.

Guttman’s two-year deal also comes with a $775K AAV at the NHL level. Guttman, 26, last appeared in the NHL with the Blackhawks during the 2023-24 season, where he posted four goals and eight points in 27 games. While he didn’t appear in an NHL game last season, Guttman had his best year as a professional, posting 23 goals and 57 points for the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.

Canucks Sign Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph

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The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph to a one-year contract worth $775,000, per a team release.

The former first-round pick (23rd overall in the 2017 NHL Draft) joins Vancouver after skating in 194 career games over five NHL seasons. Joseph spent time with both the St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins last season, the latter reacquiring him midway through the year. In 47 games between the two teams, he recorded just three assists and finished with a minus-22 rating.

During the 2022–23 season with the Penguins—his first full NHL campaign—Joseph displayed the potential that made him a first-round pick, setting career highs in games played (75), goals (five), points (21), and plus/minus (plus-eight). However, he has been unable to replicate that level of success in the seasons since.

It’s worth noting that Jim Rutherford, now the Canucks’ president of hockey operations, was the Penguins’ GM when they brought in Joseph as part of the trade that sent Phil Kessel to the Coyotes. The deal also reunites Joseph, 26, with former teammate Marcus Pettersson. The Canucks appear set in their top four with Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Tyler Myers, and Pettersson, but Joseph could compete for a role on the third pairing or, at the very least, provide the organization with a reliable depth option on the blue line.

“Pierre-Olivier has good speed and mobility and will add to our depth on the back end. His addition gives us a player with some solid NHL and pro hockey experience, he is comfortable playing both sides, and he won a world championship with Tyler Myers in 2023. We look forward to getting him here to start working with our group,” said GM Patrik Allvin.

Alex Pietrangelo Placed On LTIR, Unlikely To Play Again

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Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon stated today that defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has officially been placed on LTIR and that the veteran is unlikely to play again, reports David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. McCrimmon’s grim outlook reinforces the picture that both he and Pietrangelo have been painting in recent days regarding Pietrangelo’s future.

On Sunday, after weeks of speculation, it was announced that Pietrangelo would need to undergo “multiple major surgeries” this offseason, likely putting his 2025-26 season in jeopardy. On Monday, things became even more bleak as Pietrangelo and McCrimmon discussed the defender’s future, with Pietrangelo stating how challenging the last few seasons have been on his physical well-being.

“After exploring options with doctors as well as my family, it’s been advised to remove the intensity of hockey to see if my body can improve so that I can return to a normal quality of life. This decision has been difficult to come to terms with after the last 17 years of competition and the camaraderie with my teammates and coaches. The likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play, but I know this is the right decision for me and my family,” he said.

McCrimmon added that Pietrangelo would need to have bilateral femur reconstruction in order to resume his playing career, and that the procedure would not guarantee a return to health.

“Our hope in February during the NHL’s break for the 4 Nations Face-Off was to give Alex treatment and rest to help provide relief, but instead, what we found were diminished positive results and a process that is no longer sustainable moving forward. Alex has given everything to the game and to the Golden Knights and has played through significant challenges in the pursuit of trying to win another Stanley Cup in Vegas,” McCrimmon said.

A day later, it appears McCrimmon has seemingly made Pietrangelo’s future official. If this is the end of the road for Pietrangelo’s playing career, the 35-year-old retires with 1,087 games played, 637 points, and two Stanley Cup championships.

Flames Ink Goalie Ivan Prosvetov To One-Year Deal

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The Calgary Flames have signed goaltender Ivan Prosvetov to a one-year contract, the team announced. The deal, which is a one-way contract, will come with a $950,000 AAV.

The 26-year-old is a former fourth-round selection of the Coyotes (144th overall) in the 2018 draft. After spending a few seasons in the minors, Prosvetov made his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season, and appeared in 13 games in Arizona over three seasons. After the Coyotes placed him on waivers in October 2023, he was picked up by the Colorado Avalanche and appeared in a career-high 11 games for the Avs that season, compiling a record of 4-3-1. He also appeared in 21 games for the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, where he secured a .921 save percentage and 11-7-2 record.

However, with a career save percentage of just .881 at the highest level, Prosvetov was unable to secure an NHL contract last offseason and instead returned to Russia to try to reinvigorate his career — and appears to have done just that. In one season in the KHL for the CSKA Moscow, Prosvetov posted a .920 save percentage, four shutouts, and a 20-16-2 record.

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Moscow native joins the Flames’ goaltending room that includes the rising Dustin Wolf, and potentially replaces last year’s backup Daniel Vladař, who signed a two-year, $3.35MM AAV contract with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier today. While Vladař has proved to be a solid veteran backup, he hasn’t eclipsed the .900 save percentage mark since the 2021-22 season. If Prosvetov can maintain the confidence he created in his one season overseas, he could prove to be a smart, affordable addition for GM Craig Conroy.

Ducks Finalize Coaching Staff

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The Anaheim Ducks have hired Jay Woodcroft, Ryan McGill, and Andrew Brewer as assistant coaches, finalizing head coach Joel Quenneville’s new staff, according to a team release.

Woodcroft’s hiring had been previously reported, and today’s announcement marks his return to the NHL. He last coached in the league during the 2023–24 season, when he was relieved of his duties as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. Woodcroft, 48, brings 20 years of coaching experience to the table, and in three seasons as head coach of the Oilers, he led the club to a 79-41-13 record in 133 regular-season games and led them to the 2022 Western Conference Final. It wouldn’t be surprising if Quenneville tasks Woodcroft with leading the team’s power play, as under his watch during the 2022-23 season, the Oilers set an NHL record with a 32.4 percent success rate.

McGill, 56, has 10 years of experience as an assistant coach in the NHL. Most recently, he spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils, following five seasons in the same role with the Vegas Golden Knights. In contrast to Woodcroft, McGill specializes in leading the penalty kill and helped guide the Devils to the league’s second-ranked unit last season. With over 25 years of coaching experience, McGill also spent time as a head coach in the AHL, CHL, and WHL.

Brewer, 39, has 15 years of coaching experience, including eight at the NHL level. Brewer is an experienced video coach with previous stops in Detroit (2014–15) and Florida (2020–22). Between those stints, he spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He most recently served as an assistant coach for the Utica Comets of the AHL.

The team also announced that Dave Manson and Michael Babcock have been named assistant coaches for their AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. Manson, 58, has years of experience coaching in junior hockey, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL. He also spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Oilers, working under Woodcroft during that time. Manson was also the 11th overall selection in the 1985 NHL draft and appeared in 1,103 career games through 16 seasons. Babcock, 30, spent the last two seasons as a skills coach and also spent time in the Ottawa Senators organization in a developmental role. He is the son of long-time NHL coach Mike Babcock.

Maple Leafs Sign Matthew Knies To Six-Year Deal

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July 1: The Knies deal was officially registered today after issuing him a qualifying offer yesterday, the club announced. Because of that, he was technically an RFA for a few hours, so the deal doesn’t qualify as a true extension. With Knies’ deal on the books and the Marner sign-and-trade completed, the team enters the free agent signing period with $5.8MM in cap space to spend on one open roster spot. The deal breaks down as follows, per PuckPedia:

2025-26: $3MM salary, $6MM signing bonus
2026-27 – 2027-28: $7MM salary, $2MM SB
2028-29: $6.5MM salary, $500,000 SB
2029-30: $6.25MM salary
2030-31: $6.25MM salary, 10-team no-trade list

June 29: The Toronto Maple Leafs and forward Matthew Knies have agreed to a six-year, $46.5MM extension, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal comes with a $7.75MM AAV.

Knies, who is coming off a 29-goal, 58-point campaign, will remain in Toronto long-term after being selected by the Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2021 draft.

Knies was set for restricted free agency, but Toronto wrapped up the winger before he could receive any offers from additional teams. The 22-year-old showcased his abilities last season, sniping nearly 30 goals while forming one of the top lines in the league alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. With Marner likely to leave the Maple Leafs in free agency, the team made sure not to lose Knies or recently extended John Tavares.

The extension comes after Knies discussed his hope to remain in Toronto long term at his end-of-season media availability on May 20th. In part, he stated: “I love to play in this city. I think it’s a blast. I want to be here and I want to play here. That’s all that really matters to me,” he said. “I love this group and everyone in this locker room. I think there’s really a chance to win here, and I think it’s the best chance for me to win.”

The American-born Knies has scored 44 goals and 94 points in 161 games for Toronto. Knies also showcased a strong performance during the playoffs last season, posting five goals and seven points in 13 games.

The extension leaves the Leafs with just north of $13.5MM in cap space, per PuckPedia. Now that Knies is signed, GM Brad Treliving can turn his focus to other pending RFAs, including Nicholas Robertson and Pontus Holmberg, before setting his sights on unrestricted free agency.

East Notes: Islanders RFAs, Penguins, Lauko

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After a busy stretch that included trading Noah Dobson and drafting Matthew  Schaefer first overall, the Islanders and GM Mathieu Darche have shifted their focus to free agency by extending qualifying offers to all of their pending restricted free agents, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com.

The list of current pending RFAs for the Islanders includes forwards Simon Holmstrom, Emil Heineman, Maxim Tsyplakov, and Marc Gatcomb, as well as defenders Alexander Romanov and Scott Perunovich. Of note, Rosner expects Gatcomb to be back with the Islanders, whether by accepting his qualifying offer or signing a different deal.

All four forwards showcased some success last season. Homstrom, 24, posted 20 goals and 45 points last season. Holmstrom was the Islanders’ 2019 first-round selection (23rd overall) and has skated in 75 games each of the previous two seasons. Gatcomb showcased a solid scoring touch, netting eight goals in 39 NHL games (a projected 17-goal pace over 82), while Heineman chipped in 10 goals and 18 points across 62 contests, and Tsyplakov tallied 10 goals and 35 points in 77 games. And with only five defenders under contract, excluding non‑rostered players, re-signing Romanov and/or Perunovich could provide valuable depth on the blue line.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference:

  • The Penguins may have recently announced multiple coaching hires, but the team is still looking to add one additional assistant coach, per Shelly Anderson of Pittsburgh Hockey Now. General manager Kyle Dubas recently discussed new head coach Dan Muse’s staff and confirmed the team intends to hire an assistant specifically to oversee the Penguins’ defense. Dubas also discussed the role each recently hired assistant would have next season, with Todd Nelson tasked with running the power play and Rich Clune serving as an “eye in the sky” and helping with development. Recently retired Nick Bonino will support the team with faceoffs and will learn the ins and outs of coaching, Anderson passes along.
  • Boston Bruins’ restricted free agent Jakub Lauko will not receive a qualifying offer and is set to become an unrestricted free agent, his agent JP Barry told Boston Herald reporter Steve Conroy. Lauko was the team’s third-round selection in the 2018 draft and was traded last June to the Minnesota Wild. However, he was traded back to Boston on March 6 as part of a package that sent Justin Brazeau to Minnesota. He posted five goals and 11 points in 56 games last season. Through 139 NHL games, the Czech Republic native has scored 11 goals and 28 points.

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