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Canucks Acquire Rights To Ilya Safonov From Blackhawks

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The Canucks announced Saturday they’ve acquired the signing rights to forward Ilya Safonov from the Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations. Vancouver will now presumably try to get the Russian center, who’s been on Chicago’s reserve list since they drafted him in the sixth round in 2021, signed to an NHL contract.

The 24-year-old was a sixth-round pick by Chicago back in 2021, going 172nd overall.  At the time, Safonov had a minor role with Kazan in the KHL but in 2022-23, he had a breakout 37-point performance that suggested he could bring more to the table while also sparking hopes that he might come to North America.

Unfortunately for Chicago, Safonov’s production has gone in the wrong direction since then.  He managed 20 points in 67 games in 2023-24 and while his point total (22) was marginally better this season, his seven goals were the lowest he had in a single season since being drafted.  In the meantime, he signed a one-year contract extension with Kazan last month, keeping him signed in Russia through the end of next season.  Unlike contracts in some other countries, his deal does not have an NHL out clause.

With this in mind, it feels like this is a longer-term no-risk move for the Canucks.  If Safonov is able to rebound offensively next season, he could play his way into consideration for being signed and given a chance to crack Vancouver’s lineup.  Meanwhile, if that doesn’t happen or Safonov decides he just wants to keep playing at home, it’s not as if they’ve given up anything to get his rights.

Vladislav Gavrikov Expected To Reach Free Agency

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The Kings are not expecting to get an extension done with defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov before he reaches unrestricted free agency on Tuesday, general manager Ken Holland told reporters Saturday (including John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor).

The news doesn’t rule out Gavrikov returning to L.A. if they dole out the most competitive offer for him on the open market, but it does understandably significantly decrease the likelihood of him remaining in a Kings uniform next season. They’ve had continued discussions with Gavrikov’s camp on a new deal this week, but still aren’t close, Holland said.

The silver lining for Los Angeles is that Gavrikov has a limited number of teams he’s considering signing with this summer, the Kings obviously being among them. The other presumed frontrunner for his services will be the Rangers, where there have been strong indications of mutual interest, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period said last week.

If Gavrikov departs, that’s now two defense slots L.A. needs to replace on the open market or via trade. The team also traded young righty Jordan Spence to the Senators during today’s draft.

Replacing Gavrikov directly will be a struggle. The 29-year-old is understandably looking to cash in following the best two-way season of his career, averaging over 23 minutes per game while posting 30 points and a +26 rating in 82 appearances for the Kings.

There’s no one available who checks all the boxes of Gavrikov’s strengths as a puck-mover, penalty-killer, and shot-blocker with a big frame. Some names could at least help them recoup a big chunk of Gavrikov’s value.

Ivan Provorov is one, and it looks like the fellow Russian lefty will be available next week with no extension looming with the Blue Jackets. He doesn’t match Gavrikov’s defensive skillset but could produce better possession impacts in an insulated L.A. system, and he has plenty of experience logging the type of deployment Gavrikov managed for the Kings this season. He’s also one of the more durable players in the league and has three straight 82-game seasons under his belt.

Matt Grzelcyk, Ryan Lindgren, and Dmitry Orlov round out the next tier of available lefties after Provorov, all of which present a more significant projected downgrade on the value Gavrikov brought to the Kings’ blue line last season. Among trade targets, there could be an informal swap with the Rangers in the cards. Los Angeles has kicked tires on New York’s K’Andre Miller, a pending RFA, according to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. A speculative sign-and-trade that sees Gavrikov head to Manhattan while the Kings acquire Miller’s signing rights could be feasible.

That would, of course, leave the Kings looking to pursue a more defensively responsible righty to replace the puck-moving Spence. That’s not exactly the skillset Miller provides, and in order to get the most out of his all-around value, he’d need something of an anchor partner next to him on the right side. Top open-market righties include Aaron Ekblad – although that likely won’t work under the salary cap if they’re already bringing in a speculative mid-priced asset in Miller – along with Cody Ceci, Henri Jokiharju, and Dante Fabbro.

Wild’s Jonas Brodin Underwent Surgery, To Miss Start Of Season

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According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, General Manager Bill Guerin has confirmed that Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin underwent upper-body surgery a few weeks ago, and he’ll likely miss the beginning of the 2025-26 season.

It’s an interesting development considering Brodin played for Team Sweden at the 2025 IIHF World Championships a few weeks ago. After scoring three goals and seven points in 10 tournament contests, Russo indicated that despite being medically cleared to play in the international competition, Brodin’s upper-body injury flared up again.

If Guerin’s assessment is correct and Brodin misses several games at the start of the 2025-26 season, it will be the seventh consecutive year that he has not played 80 or more games. The 13-year veteran has been mired by injuries for much of his career, failing to register even 70 games in three straight years.

Being limited to only 50 regular-season games during the 2024-25 campaign, it was Brodin’s lowest games played total since his rookie campaign during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. Still, he was able to avoid his worst offensive output, managing four goals and 20 points with a +10 rating when available.

Because he’s such a quality option for Minnesota when healthy, it would be inappropriate to call Brodin’s contract a sunk cost. Sure, the Wild would like more availability from their third-highest-paid defenseman, but his ability when healthy makes up for the lost time.

It’ll be interesting to see how Guerin fills the void left by Brodin. Depending on the duration of his absence, the team may shift Marco Rossi’s trade negotiations towards a readily available top-four option. Still, due to their urgent need for a second-line center, Minnesota is likely to wait for Brodin’s return and utilize internal candidates to fill the gap.

Canucks, Golden Knights, Kings Interested In Bowen Byram

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After sending high-end winger, JJ Peterka, out West a few days ago to the Utah Mammoth, the Buffalo Sabres are reportedly working the phones on another one of their younger roster players. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger on the Barn Burner podcast, the Sabres are receiving consistent interest in defenseman Bowen Byram from the Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, and Los Angeles Kings.

For the former two teams, it’s apparent that Byram is being viewed as an option on his off-hand. Operating on the assumption he’ll be in any acquiring team’s top-four, the Canucks already have Quinn Hughes and Marcus Pettersson on the left, while the Golden Knights have Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin.

Meanwhile, the Kings may view Byram as a sufficient replacement for Vladislav Gavrikov should the defensive blue liner depart in free agency. Byram isn’t nearly as good as Gavrikov in the defensive zone, but would bring far more offensive pressure and could create a quality pairing with fellow youngster, Brandt Clarke.

For context, there’s no trade close at the time of writing, but it’s become apparent that the Sabres are making a concerted effort to balance out the handedness of their defensive core. The team has already found one quality right-handed option in Michael Kesselring, and is likely seeking one more after moving Byram.

Unfortunately for Buffalo, it’s challenging to ascertain Byram’s value on the trade market. He has not made many significant strides since his time with the Colorado Avalanche, recording a 0.46 PPG average over the past three years, despite an increase in average ice time since arriving in New York.

Still, despite his billing as an offensive-minded defenseman, Byram can hold his own in the defensive zone, racking up 313 blocked shots in 246 career games, with a 90.1% on-ice save percentage at even strength. It’s also important to note that, unlike many of his peers in Buffalo, Byram has postseason experience and had his name put on the Cup in 2022 with Colorado.

Golden Knights, Maple Leafs Discussing Mitch Marner Trade

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According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs are in active negotiations for a sign-and-trade deal that would see Mitch Marner end up in Nevada. Friedman followed up on the initial report, stating that forward Nicolas Roy is expected to be part of the return to Toronto if a deal is finalized. A few moments later, TSN’s Bruce Garrioch reported that the Maple Leafs requested defenseman Nicolas Hague in the return as well.

Although sign-and-trades of this caliber are exceptionally rare, the Golden Knights’ motivation to make the move now, instead of pursuing Marner for nothing in a few days, is likely twofold. Acquiring him with a new contract in place now eliminates all competition for his services, and would allow Vegas to add an eighth year to his contract via Toronto.

Besides the magnitude of the hypothetical trade, the news comes with little surprise. The Golden Knights are no stranger to making sizeable additions to the roster and have been linked to Marner by various outlets for several weeks.

Depending on the dollar amount for Marner’s next deal, Vegas should be able to get a deal done rather comfortably. Assuming Roy is in the trade, the Golden Knights would have approximately $8.6MM available in cap space, with an additional $8.8MM available if defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is headed for the long-term injured reserve.

Adding Marner to a forward core that already includes Jack Eichel and Mark Stone would be enough to create one of the most dynamic offenses in the league. Eichel was the team’s leader in points this past season, scoring 28 goals and 94 points in 77 games. Meanwhile, Marner recently concluded the best individual season of his career, scoring 27 goals and 102 points in 81 contests with a +18 rating.

Despite not having a 100-point scorer in their brief team history, Vegas was still able to finish with the league’s fifth-best offense this season, averaging 3.34 goals per game. Unfortunately, their defense may suffer as a result of the trade.

Assuming Pietrangelo is headed for the LTIR, and Hague is included in the trade, that leaves the Golden Knights in the unenviable position of giving consistent minutes to Ben Hutton and Kaedan Korczak throughout the 2025-26 campaign, with few dollars to improve. They may find better options on the trade market, but it’ll be challenging with Marner presumably anchoring their salary cap table.

According to Friedman, Vegas views their situation similarly when it comes to their defensive core. The insider for Sportsnet indicated earlier that the Golden Knights attempted to acquire defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames earlier this week, though nothing worthwhile came to fruition.

Meanwhile, while only knowing a few of the reported names hypothetically headed to Toronto, Roy would be a quality addition for the Maple Leafs. Although he’s best used as a third-line center, Roy would bring a ton of versatility to Toronto’s forward with the ability to play up and down a lineup.

He’s been a consistent secondary scorer for the Golden Knights over the past four years, scoring 57 goals and 141 points in 284 games with a +26 rating, averaging 15:48 of ice time per night while maintaining a 47.9% success rate in the faceoff dot. Additionally, he’s a capable presence in the playoffs, scoring three goals and 11 points in 22 postseason contests during Vegas’ run to a Stanley Cup title in 2023.

Moving to the blue line, Hague is a known commodity in the league and has generated plenty of interest this summer. Utilizing a similar playstyle to Jake McCabe, Hague is a quality top-four option who can eat meaningful minutes. Although he’s not much of a point producer, Hague is an incredibly physical defenseman and stalwart in the defensive zone, managing a 90.9% on-ice save percentage in 364 games as a Golden Knight.

St. Louis Blues Sign Joel Hofer To Two-Year Extension

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General Manager Doug Armstrong has followed through on his promise that netminder Joel Hofer wouldn’t be leaving the St. Louis Blues this offseason. According to a team announcement, the Blues have signed Hofer to a two-year, $6.8MM extension.

The new two-year agreement will take Hofer through the 2026-27 season in St. Louis, when he’ll become a restricted free agent for the last time in his career. Consequently, Hofer’s deal expires at the same time as his peer, Jordan Binnington, indicating that the Blues’ front office views Hofer as the heir apparent.

Since the Blues traded Ville Husso to the Detroit Red Wings ahead of the 2022-23 NHL season, Hofer has worked his way into the backup role in St. Louis. Hofer forced the Blues’ hand that season, managing a 27-15-5 record in 47 games with their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, with a .921 SV% and 2.50 GAA.

His first full season as Binnington’s backup couldn’t have gone much better. Hofer finished the year with a 15-12-1 record in 30 games with a .913 SV%, 2.65 GAA, and 8.2 goals saved above average (GSAA). Even in a backup role, Hofer finished 11th in Calder Trophy voting, the third-highest for a netminder behind Philadelphia Flyer Samuel Ersson and Carolina Hurricane Pyotr Kochetkov.

Despite the team in front of him improving, Hofer’s output remained stagnant during the 2024-25 campaign. He finished the season with a 16-8-3 record in 31 games with a .901 SV%, 2.64 GAA, and 2.8 GSAA. Fortunately, even though his SV% took a slight dip, it was largely only due to a few bad performances, as he finished with a .693 quality start percentage.

As Binnington enters the twilight years of his career, the Blues may find themselves starting Hofer between 35 and 40 games a year, rather than keep him in the low 30s. At any rate, St. Louis has guaranteed themselves a quality goaltending tandem for at least two more years.

Red Wings To Acquire John Gibson From Ducks

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The Detroit Red Wings are set to acquire goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Friedman later added that the return will be goaltender Petr Mrazek and two draft picks. The deal was first reported by NHL.com’s Kevin Weekes. There will be no salary retention, and the acquired draft picks are not part of the 2025 draft, per Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

The Red Wings have confirmed the trade. They will send a 2027 second-round pick and 2026 fourth-round pick to Anaheim alongside Mrazek.

This move stands as a monumental day for the Ducks franchise. Gibson was a cornerstone piece of their club for much of the 2010’s, and earned the lion’s share of starts from the 2016-17 season through the 2023-24 campaign. He set the record for most games played by a Ducks goaltender early into the latter season, taking it away from Jean-Sebastien Giguere. Gibson also ranks second in all-time wins in Ducks history, with 204 – just two behind Giguere’s record.

Gibson was once among the league’s most consistent, and dominant, goalies. He broke into the league as a red-hot rookie, setting a .920 save percentage through 40 games of his rookie season – enough to rank seventh in both Calder Trophy and Vezina Trophy voting. Gibson also took home the William Jennings Trophy with goalie partner Frederik Andersen that season. He went on to post a save percentage north of .915 in each of his first four full years in the NHL – including a career-high .926 through 60 games of the 2017-18 campaign. He also had a statement performance during Anaheim’s run to the 2017 Western Conference Finals, posting a .918 through 16 games.

Gibson continued to play north of 50 games each season through the 2019-20 campaign. In the first six years of his career, he combined for a .918 save percentage and 139-103-33 record through 287 games. But he couldn’t hold onto his consistency through a new decade, and began to slip nearly right as the 2020s rolled around. Gibson posted a .903 in 35 games of the shortened 2020-21 season, and has since recorded three more seasons with a save percentage below .905.

He seemed fully lost at sea last season, when a .888 save percentage through 46 games ultimately resulted in him losing the Ducks’ starting job to up-and-coming prospect Lukas Dostal. Gibson fell firmly into the backup role, and maintained that standing through this season.

But less responsibility may have been the right call for the now-31-year-old Gibson. He surged back to good effect this season, posting a 11-11-2 record and .911 save percentage through 29 games. He shined as a flashy compliment when Dostal was struggling, and gave Anaheim back the consistency in their net that they’ve long been known for.

It’s with that momentum that Gibson will enter the Red Wings’ system. He’s entering a true crowd, with both Cam Talbot and top prospect Sebastian Cossa signed through next season. The Red Wings also have Alex Lyon and Jack Campbell headed for unrestricted free agency. Gibson will step in as the goaltender with the priciest salary and longest term of the bunch – set to carry a $6.4MM cap hit through the next two seasons, while both Talbot and Cossa will need new deals next year. That fact could earn Gibson a starting role headed into the 2025-26 season, though it seems much more reasonable to bet on him being the consistent veteran manning the backup role while Cossa continues to climb into the NHL.

On the flip side, Anaheim will receive veteran Mrazek to fill their vacant backup role. Mrazek was the Chicago Blackhawks’ starter at the onset of the season – a role he’s filled since 2022. He wasn’t much sharp in Chicago, posting a 38-72-9 record and .899 save percentage through 128 games played. To his credit, though, he faced an absolute barrage of shots – averaging 31 shots against each game. Mrazek was dealt to the Red Wings at the Trade Deadline, and stood up to a reduced role much better – with a 2-2-0 record and .902 save percentage in five games. He’s a veteran of 13 NHL seasons and 428 games. In that span, he’s recorded a 180-176-40 record and .906 save percentage. Mrazek seems well beyond his golden days, but should still offer fine play situated behind starter Dostal.

Photo courtesy of Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports.

Penguins Acquire Connor Clifton, Pick 39 From Sabres

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Connor Clifton and the 39th-overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenders Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau.

On the surface, this move comes as quite a surprise, with Buffalo sending a high second-round pick and veteran depth defender for two options that don’t seem assured in the NHL. Clifton joined the Sabres on a three-year, $9.99MM contract last summer. He appeared in 73 games with the club this season, and recorded a fairly moot one goal, 16 points, 45 penalty minutes, and minus-six. It was the first year that Clifton recorded minimal scoring and a negative plus-minus since the 2021-22 season, when he managed 10 points and a minus-two in 60 games with the Boston Bruins. He offered the Sabres a hefty, physical upside this season but wasn’t able to use that to command play on either side of the puck with much confidence.

It’s that fact that could make this a lucrative deal for the Sabres. Timmins appeared in 68 games this season, split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Penguins. It was the first fully healthy season of his NHL career, after he spent the previous five years battling through routine injury or assignments to the minor leagues. With health back on his side, Timmins chipped in 15 points, 30 penalty minutes, and a plus-11 across the full season – a statline that doesn’t fall too far shy of what Clifton achieved in Buffalo. Those marks bring Timmins’ career totals up to 46 points, 64 penalty minutes, and a plus-21 in 159 games. He’s already appeared in games with four different clubs, including the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes. He’ll now head to a sixth club with a wave of health, and look to take a full stride forward in what’s sure to be an important role in Buffalo.

Buffalo will also add minor-league prospect Belliveau in this move. The physical 6-foot-2 defender was once a highly-regarded draft prospect, though he fell to the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft following the QMJHL’s shortened season. He seemed to outperform that draft slot quickly, with double-digit goals and positive plus-minuses in each of his final two seasons in juniors — but Belliveau has struggled to carry his impact into the pro flight. He’s spent the last two seasons predominantly in the ECHL, recording 38 points in 70 games last season and 16 points in 25 games this year. He was also rewarded 22 appearances in the AHL this season, where he managed seven points and a plus-six. Belliveau is a responsible defensive-defenseman who plays well above his 185-pound frame. He’s imposing in the corners and uses his stick to shut down opponents. But with slow feet and the need for more jump, his projection to the NHL could be a long road. The Sabres will hope that their bet on Timmins pays off, as it will be the clear focal point of this deal.

Senators Acquire Jordan Spence From Kings

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The Ottawa Senators are reportedly getting close to acquiring defenseman Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings, per TSN’s Bruce Garrioch. The Los Angeles Kings will receive a 2025 third-round pick – 67th-overall – and a 2026 sixth-round pick in return per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The move has been confirmed by the Senators.

In the minutes leading up to the start of draft day two, Ottawa has pulled off yet another lucrative deal. They acquired the third-round pick moved in this deal from the Nashville Predators on Friday, as part of a package with the 23rd-overall pick to move up to Ottawa’s 21st-oveall slot. The Senators went on to select Logan Hensler at 23, landing a heavy-body and poised defender who should fit perfectly ahead of Spence in the Senators’ future lineup. That makes this acquisition of Spence all the sweeter for Ottawa. For the net cost of 21st overall and a sixth-round pick, they’ll land a top prospect in Hensler, and a high-upside puck-mover in Spence.

Spence climbed into a hardy role in the Kings lineup over the last two seasons, on the back of confident play-driving and gradual improvements to his game away from the puck. Last season marked his first full year in the NHL, and he marked it with 24 points, 12 penalty minutes, and a plus-five through 71 games played. Not to be outdone, Spence returned to the NHL full-time this year and improved his stat line to 28 points, 16 penalty minutes, and a plus-23 in 79 appearances. He’s a crafty and quick defender, though one often undercut by his 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame.

That size has kept Spence an unheralded player for much of his hockey career. He was originally drafted by the Kings in the fourth round of the 2019 NHL Draft, following a year where he scored 49 points in 68 games with the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats. He continued on in the QMJHL for the next two seasons, and didn’t reach point-per-game scoring until he managed 40 points in 22 games of the shortened 2020-21 campaign.

It was on the heels of that surge to scoring that Spence opted to turn pro. He played through his rookie AHL season, and fell one game short of his rookie NHL season, in the 2021-22 season. That year was marked by a productive 42 points in 46 AHL games, but just eight points in 24 NHL games. He returned for much of the same in the following year – netting 45 points in 56 AHL games but just one point in six NHL appearances.

Now, Spence seems firmly set as a routine, full-time NHL fixture. That fact made him a tough asset for the Kings to hold onto, with Drew Doughty and Brandt Clarke holding firm roles in the lineup above Spence. The Senators should be able to reward him with much more playing time – with their right-side only blocked off by Artem Zub and Nick Jensen, two options who move the puck far less than Spence. That setup could be the makings of a breakout year for the flashy defender, though just how well his all-three-zones playmaking will hold up at the NHL level is yet to be seen.

Jets Sign Haydn Fleury To Two-Year Extension

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The Winnipeg Jets have announced a two-year, $1.9MM contract extension for defenseman Haydn Fleury. The deal was first reported by Murat Ates of The Athletic, who shares that it will carry a cap hit of $950K. More specifically, Fleury will be paid $1MM in salary in year-one, and $900K in year two, per PuckPedia. Fleury appeared in just 39 NHL games this season after a mid-season knee injury held him out for much of January and February.

Fleury recorded seven assists, six penalty minutes, and a minus-12 during the regular season. He returned to full health in time for the postseason, and chipped in an additional two assists and eight penalty minutes in eight games. It was, by and large, another quiet season for the 2014 seventh-overall pick. He filled a firm, third-pair role on the Jets roster, and only earned go-to minutes as the result of injury or other’s mistakes. But through his shortened season were flashes of stout improvements to his game away from the puck. Fleury ranked fourth on the Jets blue-line in hits-per-60 minutes this season, with a 4.63 average placing him above booth Neal Pionk (4.49) and Dylan Samberg (2.64). Fleury also recorded the second-highest blocks-per-60 minutes with a 5.40 average, behind only Samberg (5.67).

Those are strong improvements for a player who often looked unable to jump off the page in any one way. Even with a mid-season injury, Fleury’s 39 appearances this year are his most since the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2019-20 season, when he recorded 14 points in 45 games. He’s now appeared solely in the NHL through five of the last six seasons, earning extra-defender roles with each of the Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Seattle Kraken, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He may not be the flashiest player, but Fleury seems a reasonable bet to round out Winnipeg’s blue-line depth. They’ll cement him to that role for the next two seasons with a cost-effective deal.

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