Sharks Primed to Target Free-Agent Defensemen to Insulate Youth Core
With the 2026 NHL offseason rapidly approaching, General Manager Mike Grier has positioned the San Jose Sharks as major players in the summer market. The team is loaded with the second-most projected cap flexibility in the entire league ($41.5M), and the Sharks have a remarkably clear runway to shape its roster. As it stands, the Sharks have 17 of 23 active roster spots filled and a wide-open contract bank with just 25 of 50 standard player contracts utilized. Up front, the heavy lifting is already largely completed. Aside from deciding on veteran depth options like 39-year-old unrestricted free agent Ryan Reaves and 26-year-old Pavol Regenda, who is coming off a Group 6 UFA status, the primary forward focus centers on finalizing extensions for key restricted free agents Philipp Kurashev, Collin Graf, and Zack Ostapchuk. Because this forward group is young and cost-controlled, the true intrigue of the summer shifts entirely to the blue line.
The bigger part of the puzzle, however, San Jose’s defensive corps for next season looks incredibly sparse, requires immediate attention. The only locked-in pieces under contract are veteran Dmitry Orlov, who will anchor the top four at 34 years old, alongside highly touted prospects Sam Dickinson and Luca Cagnoni, who appear ready for everyday NHL minutes at 19 and 21 respectively. Apart from that trio, Grier has a complete blank slate. Four major unrestricted free agents are seeking clarity about their future with the Sharks, and the decisions made here will determine whether San Jose utilizes its substantial cap space for internal extensions or pursues high-end talent through trades and the sparse open market.
The primary focus of those internal conversations will undoubtedly revolve around Mario Ferraro. At 27 years old, Ferraro perfectly fits the leadership timeline for a transitioning franchise, and extending him to a term contract should be a priority if Grier wants to insulate his rookie class with proven stability on the back end. On the depth front, 29-year-old Vincent Desharnais is another logical target for retention, offering the exact kind of size and physical snarl that the Pacific Division demands on a short-term, reasonable deal.
The Sharks are expected to move on from their older free-agent blueliners. Nick Leddy, now 35, will likely be allowed to test the open market as the organization transitions to younger blueliners. Similarly, 33-year-old John Klingberg is a significant wildcard after an injury-plagued campaign. While he could theoretically serve as a cheap, short-term option to provide power-play utility, the roster spots are simply too valuable to commit to aging health risks when younger assets need room to develop.
Because the Sharks have tens of millions in space and are well away from any sort of cap crunch, Grier is under no obligation to bring these veterans back out of necessity. Instead, he can shift his gaze toward a highly lucrative unrestricted free agent class to completely accelerate the rebuild.
On the right side, 29-year-old Rasmus Andersson is among the top of the free agent class, offering a pristine mix of top-pairing minutes and transition play that would perfectly complement a rookie like Dickinson. If Grier wants an injection of pure championship pedigree and elite power-play leadership, 36-year-old John Carlson could be on the radar as a premium short-term bridge option, while 32-year-old Jacob Trouba provides a rugged, veteran alternative to entirely reshape the identity of San Jose’s zone.
If the Sharks pivot toward adding sheer size and shutdown stability to insulate their creative rookies, the market offers intriguing depth targets as well. The 33-year-old Jamie Oleksiak brings massive frame and extensive defensive coverage that can lighten the load for a developing blue line, while fellow 33-year-old veteran Connor Murphy offers a reliable, defensive-minded presence capable of eating tough minutes on the penalty-kill.
With elite future assets already in the cupboard and the financial firepower to easily outbid the field or absorb heavy contracts, expect Grier to be incredibly aggressive. The Sharks are fully expected to use their financial leverage to secure at least one of these premier targets, ensuring the next generation of talent has a world-class safety net on the back end.
Wild Name Jacksonville Icemen New ECHL Affiliate
The Minnesota Wild have reshaped the lower tier of their developmental pipeline, officially announcing a multi-year ECHL affiliation agreement with the Jacksonville Icemen beginning with the 2026-27 season.
The Icemen will now serve as the primary ECHL home for Minnesota’s prospects, filtering talent up to the AHL’s Iowa Wild. Jacksonville takes over the role from the Iowa Heartlanders, who recently requested and received approval from the ECHL Board of Governors for a voluntary suspension of operations for the upcoming season.
A voluntary suspension allows a franchise to temporarily pause on-ice operations without forfeiting its league membership. The Heartlanders’ ownership group intends to use the hiatus to evaluate strategic alternatives, seek out potential new investment partners, and restructure the front office to secure a more viable, long-term economic foundation in Coralville. With the Heartlanders stepping away for at least the year, Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin had to look elsewhere to keep the organization’s three-tier development system intact.
In Jacksonville, the Wild land a highly stable partner. The Icemen have led the ECHL in sellouts over the last four seasons at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, providing a vibrant minor league environment for incoming prospects. Jacksonville also brings plenty of experience dealing with the upper ranks, having previously served as the ECHL affiliate for the Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers, and Winnipeg Jets.
For Minnesota, shifting its ECHL pipeline to Florida represents a significant geographic leap from their previous local setup in America’s Heartland. However, partnering with a robust, high-attendance franchise like the Icemen offers a reliable, top-tier development environment for the Wild’s young depth pieces while the Iowa Heartlanders navigate their corporate future.
Western Conference Final Preview
The Western Conference Finals are set, and they feature two teams with championship pedigree, elite top-end talent, and plenty of reasons to believe they’re built for a deep run. The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche will host the Pacific Division-winning Vegas Golden Knights for Game 1 on Wednesday night at Ball Arena, with both teams four wins away from a trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
Paths to the WCF
Colorado handled business in the first two rounds, sweeping the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 in Round 1 before knocking out the Minnesota Wild in Round 2 in just five games, a series that ended in dramatic fashion. Colorado saw themselves down 3-0 at the first intermission of Game 5, but stormed all the way back with Nathan MacKinnon tying it late in regulation and Brett Kulak scoring 3:52 into overtime. The Avalanche are headed to the Western Conference Final for the first time since their 2022 Stanley Cup run.
Vegas took six games to dispatch both of their opponents, defeating the Utah Mammoth 4-2 in Round 1 before grinding out a 4-2 series win over the Anaheim Ducks in Round 2. The Golden Knights’ run has been defined by their offseason and in-season moves: Mitch Marner, acquired in a sign-and-trade from Toronto last July, has been everything Vegas hoped for, midseason additions Rasmus Andersson and Nic Dowd, and head coach John Tortorella, hired with just eight games remaining in the regular season to replace Bruce Cassidy, has the team playing with edge and structure. Vegas finished the regular season 7-0-1 under Tortorella.
Head-to-Head
These two teams have met just once previously in the playoffs, with Vegas winning that 2021 Round 2 series in six games. Colorado, however, holds the recent edge, going 2-0-1 against the Golden Knights in the 2025-26 regular season. Martin Necas led Colorado with six points (three goals, three assists) in those three matchups, while MacKinnon added four. On the Vegas side, Marner and Tomas Hertl each posted four points (one goal, three assists) in the season series.
Key Players
Colorado is led by MacKinnon, who has 13 points (seven goals, six assists) through the first two rounds and is playing at an MVP level. His 1.44 points-per-game pace this postseason is up from his already-elite 1.31 playoff career rate. Martin Necas has chipped in 11 points (one goal, 10 assists), captain Gabriel Landeskog has eight points (three goals, five assists), and defenseman Devon Toews also has eight (two goals, six assists). Cale Makar has scored four goals from the back end.
Vegas, however, has the postseason’s hottest scorer. Marner leads the NHL with 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 12 games, with Jack Eichel right behind, tied for second in playoff scoring with 15 points (one goal, 14 assists). Pavel Dorofeyev leads all goal-scorers in the playoffs with nine, and Brett Howden is second with eight. Captain Mark Stone continues to do what he’s always done, play heavy minutes in all situations, and impact the game well beyond the scoresheet. However, Stone missed the last three games of Round 2 against Anaheim after suffering a lower-body injury in Game 3, and was not on the ice for practice today, as reported by Danny Webster of the Review-Journal. Vegas is hopeful Stone returns for the start of the Conference Final, but that still remains uncertain.
Goaltending
Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood has been the steady hand, going 7-1 with a 2.21 GAA and .914 save percentage in eight games, second-best GAA among remaining playoff goaltenders. Mackenzie Blackwood is 1-0 in three appearances, with a 3.20 GAA and .872 save percentage as the backup option.
For Vegas, Carter Hart has emerged as one of the postseason’s bigger stories. He’s 8-4 with a 2.37 GAA and .915 save percentage and has firmly established himself as Tortorella’s number one.
X-Factors
Depth Scoring (Vegas): The headline numbers belong to Marner and Eichel, but if Vegas is going to get past Colorado, they’ll need even more from their supporting cast. Brett Howden has been a revelation, sitting second in the entire postseason with eight goals, a player nobody outside of Vegas was talking about when the playoffs began, and Tomas Hertl appears to be finding his scoring touch on the third line. Colton Sissons and Cole Smith have also chipped in, combining for nine points through the first two rounds. The challenge now is sustaining it against a deeper, more disciplined opponent. Colorado undoubtedly has the best top-end talent Vegas will see in the playoffs, and if Vegas’s stars are neutralized in any stretch of this series, the depth guys are going to have to step up in a major way to keep pace.
Health (Colorado): The Avalanche enter Game 1 with several key pieces banged up. Cale Makar, Josh Manson, Brent Burns, and Artturi Lehkonen were all listed as day-to-day by head coach Jared Bednar, though Monday’s skate offered some encouragement, with Bednar saying he believes everyone will be available. Even so, the health of this group will likely dictate Colorado’s ceiling in the series. Makar anchors the back end, Lehkonen logs heavy minutes across all situations, and Manson provides much-needed physicality on the blue line, all of which are critical against a heavy Vegas team that punishes opponents through four lines. If the injuries begin to compound for the Avalanche in this series, they could be in trouble.
Wrap Up
It’s Cup-or-bust for both organizations. Colorado is looking to cap a Presidents’ Trophy-winning regular season with a second championship of the decade, while Vegas chases validation for a series of bold, win-now moves designed for this exact moment. Add in two teams that play noticeably different styles, Colorado’s speed and skill against Vegas’s size and structure, and the result is a series with every ingredient needed to deliver one of the most compelling Western Conference Finals in recent memory. Game 1 drops Wednesday night at Ball Arena, with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line. See the rest of the schedule below.
Schedule (via NHL.com)
Game 1: Vegas at Colorado — 8 p.m. ET, Wednesday, May 20 (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
Game 2: Vegas at Colorado — 8 p.m. ET, Friday, May 22 (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
Game 3: Colorado at Vegas — 8 p.m. ET, Sunday, May 24 (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
Game 4: Colorado at Vegas — 9 p.m. ET, Tuesday, May 26 (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
* Game 5: Vegas at Colorado — 8 p.m. ET, Thursday, May 28 (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
* Game 6: Colorado at Vegas — 8 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 30 (ABC, SN, CBC, TVAS)
* Game 7: Vegas at Colorado — 8 p.m. ET, Monday, June 1 (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
* – If necessary
Minnesota Wild Eyeing An Upgrade At Center
During today’s end-of-season press conference, Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin shed some light on his plans for the Wild this offseason. After a second-round exit at the hands of Cup-favorite Colorado, Guerin knows there’s work to be done if Minnesota is going to capture the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Guerin said re-signing Quinn Hughes is “priority one” this summer, as reported by Joe Smith of The Athletic. Guerin also talked about how much Hughes liked it here, how much of an impact he had on this team. This comes just days after the Wild’s superstar said he was “open to” an extension in Minnesota.
Guerin also addressed his desire to upgrade the Wild’s top six this offseason, specifically down the middle. “I won’t sit on my hands,” Guerin said when asked about acquiring a number one center this offseason, as reported by Michael Russo with the Athletic. Guerin being asked about acquiring a center was somewhat anticipated, as it was reported over the weekend that Minnesota made an offer for the Blues top center, Robert Thomas, around the deadline.
Now, aside from Thomas, the only true number one center whose name has started to circulate in trade rumors is Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews. Should the former 69-goal scorer truly become available, Guerin, along with 30 other General Managers, will likely make their bid. However, just because the trade market may not be full of superstar centermen, it does not mean there are no options for the Wild to make some upgrades down the middle. Here are a few options that might be on the market this offseason, according to Daily Faceoff’s Trade Board:
- Vincent Trocheck, NYR: The 32-year-old Rangers center has been mentioned in trade rumors for months, and as previously noted, New York is looking to move on from his contract, three years remaining at a $5.63MM AAV. Trocheck brings exactly the kind of game that fits a playoff-bound team: he’s a reliable two-way center with a strong faceoff record and legitimate playoff experience. While he may not be a true number one option, slotting him into Minnesota’s top six would push everyone down a line and significantly upgrade the Wild’s center depth. The asking price (a first-round pick, top prospect, and additional asset) is steep but not unrealistic for a team desperate to address a weakness. Trochek had 53 points in 67 regular seaosn games for the Rangers this pst season
- Shane Wright, SEA: The former fourth-overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft is a different kind of swing entirely. Wright is just 22 years old and represents a long-term solution rather than a short-term fix, which makes Seattle’s willingness to move him surprising. Acquiring Wright would give Minnesota a young, controllable center to build around alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, though the Kraken’s asking price would likely be large given his age and potential. This is the upside play, a bet on what Wright could become rather than what he is today. Wright had 27 points this past season in 74 games played.
- Mason McTavish, ANA: The former third-overall pick from the 2021 NHL Draft signed a long-term extension with the Ducks last offseason, but the 22-year-old took a step back in his first year on the new deal and has reportedly drawn interest on the trade market as a result. Despite the down year, McTavish still brings the size, physicality, and pedigree that would translate well to the Western Conference. A change of scenery alongside Minnesota’s young core could be exactly what unlocks his game, making him an intriguing buy-low candidate. It would be interesting to see what Anaheim’s asking price for McTavish would be, given his $7MM cap hit combined with a noticeable regression in his production. During the 2025-26 regular season Mctavish tallied 17 goals and 41 points in 75 games.
- Elias Pettersson, VAN: The biggest question mark of the group of potential center targets for the Wild. After being part of the Hughes trade discussions previously, reports out of Vancouver suggest the Canucks may finally be open to moving the 27-year-old Swedish center. Pettersson carries a massive $11.6MM cap hit through 2031-32, which complicates any deal significantly, and his production has dipped significantly since his 102 point season back in 2022-23. That said, if any team has the assets and motivation to take a swing, it’s the Wild. Reuniting Pettersson with Hughes in Minnesota would be an interesting move, though the contract alone makes this a long shot. The question remains if Pettersson is just in desperate need of a change of scenery, or if his best hockey is already behind him.
Guerin says he won’t sit on his hands. Wild fans will be holding him to it. After years of early playoff exits and missed opportunities at the deadline, this offseason represents the clearest chance yet for Minnesota to finally swing big and address the necesarry upgrades to their center group.
Anthony Richard Signs With HC Fribourg-Gottéron
According to a team announcement, the NL’s HC Fribourg-Gottéron has signed forward Anthony Richard to a contract for the 2026-27 season. Richard had spent the last two years playing in the Philadelphia Flyers organization and would have become an unrestricted free agent in a few weeks.
Richard, 29, began his professional career over ten years ago after being selected 100th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators. Despite making his NHL debut with the Predators, Richard primarily played with their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. He topped out with a 24-goal, 47-point performance throughout the 2018-19 campaign.
After a one-year stop in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, Richard signed a one-year, $750K with the Montreal Canadiens for the 2022-23 campaign. He scored two goals and five points in 13 games for the Canadiens, but really made his mark with the AHL’s Laval Rocket. Although he didn’t win any major awards, and Laval didn’t make it far in the playoffs, Richard finished ninth in league scoring with 30 goals and 67 points in 60 games.
Unfortunately, Montreal didn’t retain Richard the following summer, and he landed with their rival, the Boston Bruins. Again, Richard primarily played in the AHL, this time with the Providence Bruins, and had another solid campaign, scoring 25 goals and 55 points in 59 games.
A two-year, $1.55MM ($775K AAV) contract with the Flyers ahead of the 2024-25 season got Richard to where he is today. He continued to be a quality top-six scorer for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, registering 35 goals and 81 points in 108 games across two seasons. Additionally, Richard earned multiple opportunities with Philadelphia last season, scoring four goals and six points in 15 games.
Now, after failing to crack an NHL roster, Richard is taking his talents to Switzerland. Assuming he keeps up a similar scoring pace to the one he had in the AHL, Richard should do quite well overseas. Fribourg-Gottéron did not share the financial details of Richard’s deal, nor the length.
Daniel Vladar Open To Signing Extension With Flyers
Following a standout season between the pipes, the Philadelphia Flyers may have found some much-needed clarity in net. According to Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff, goaltender Dan Vladar expressed a strong desire to sign a long-term extension with Philadelphia during his recent end-of-season media availability.
Vladar, 28, signed a two-year, $6.7 million contract with the Flyers last July 1 and becomes eligible for an extension on that same date this summer. Di Marco notes that while the initial signing raised eyebrows, given Vladar had never played more than 30 games in an NHL season, the former Boston Bruins draft pick silenced critics by becoming the Flyers’ regular-season MVP and posting a .906 save percentage through the playoffs.
Per Di Marco’s team sources, Philadelphia is comfortable extending Vladar if the financials “make sense.” A prime market comparison is Filip Gustavsson’s five-year, $6.8 million AAV contract with Minnesota. While Gustavsson has more career experience, the internal team sentiment believes Philadelphia is open to a matching five-year term, but prefers an AAV slightly south of $6 million, potentially around $5.75 million, and would project well as the salary cap continues to rise. If Vladar hunts for a higher AAV closer to $7 million, Di Marco suggests a shorter, Thatcher Demko-style three-year deal could be a logical middle ground.
Locking up Vladar long-term gives the Flyers an ideal, well-respected veteran partner to eventually transition the crease to top prospects Carson Bjarnason or Yegor Zavragin.
While Vladar’s future looks secure, Di Marco reports that the rest of the Philadelphia crease remains in flux. Backup Samuel Ersson, 26, is coming off a difficult, up-and-down campaign where he posted a career-worst .870 save percentage, leaving management undecided on what direction to take with the Swedish netminder.
If the Flyers pivot away from Ersson, Di Marco notes that Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll is a compelling name to watch. The 27-year-old is caught in a tight three-man crease in Toronto alongside Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby. Because all three require waivers, the Leafs are expected to trade one this summer. Woll owns a career .906 save percentage and has two years remaining on an affordable contract with a $3.66 million AAV, making him an attractive target for a Philadelphia team seeking stability.
Wild’s Filip Gustavsson To Undergo Offseason Hip Surgery
The Minnesota Wild will be facing some immediate uncertainty in the crease this summer. General manager Bill Guerin announced on Monday that goaltender Filip Gustavsson is set to undergo offseason hip surgery as soon as possible.
Guerin added that the team does not yet know if Gustavsson will be cleared in time for training camp, noting that a definitive timeline won’t be established until after the procedure is completed.
The timing of the surgery adds a layer of complexity to the Wild’s goaltending blueprint. Gustavsson, 27, is set to enter the first season of a five-year, $34 million contract extension that runs through the 2030-31 season. Over his 50 regular-season appearances this year, the 6-foot-3 netminder served as Minnesota’s primary option, locking down a 28-15-4 record alongside a 2.69 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage, and four shutouts.
However, despite carrying the workload during the regular season, Gustavsson was largely relegated to the bench during the postseason. He made just a single appearance during the Wild’s second-round exit against the Colorado Avalanche, allowing four goals on 22 shots in a 5-2 Game 2 loss. Instead, Minnesota leaned heavily on highly-touted rookie Jesper Wallstedt down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Through 192 career games across four seasons with the Wild organization, Gustavsson has compiled an admirable 101-61-23 record to go with a .911 save percentage and 15 shutouts. If his recovery stretches into the fall, Wallstedt would almost certainly inherit the undisputed starting duties to open the 2026-27 campaign, with Minnesota potentially needing to search the bargain market for short-term depth.
Playoff Notes: Luukkonen, Veleno, Stone
The Buffalo Sabres have a major decision to make in the crease ahead of tonight’s winner-take-all Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens.
Following a chaotic Game 6 that saw the Sabres erupt for an 8-3 victory to force a deciding match, all eyes are on the net. Starter Alex Lyon suffered a brutal outing on Saturday, getting pulled midway through the first period after surrendering three goals on just four shots. This came on the heels of a shaky Game 5 performance where Lyon allowed five goals on 23 shots.
The early hook proved to be a turning point. Head coach Lindy Ruff turned to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who completely stabilized the crease. Luukkonen turned aside all 18 shots he faced in relief, working as a brick wall while Buffalo’s offense rallied from a 3-1 deficit. While Ruff has yet to officially name his starter for tonight, Luukkonen’s flawless relief appearance makes him the logical candidate to receive the nod with the season on the line.
Additional playoff notes:
- On the other side of the ice, Montreal forward Joe Veleno appears to be tracking toward a return. Veleno was a participant at morning skate and looks available to re-enter the lineup for tonight’s crucial matchup, providing the Canadiens with some valuable bottom-six depth and versatility.
- Out west, the Vegas Golden Knights have some mixed injury news. Forward William Karlsson was spotted on the ice practicing, a highly encouraging sign for his availability moving forward. However, it wasn’t all good news, as both Mark Stone and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon were absent from the practice. Their ongoing absences remain a significant storyline to watch as the postseason progresses.
Blackhawks Shopping Ilya Mikheyev Negotiating Rights
The Chicago Blackhawks are preparing for a potential split with veteran winger Ilya Mikheyev. Speaking on the May 18th edition of the 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Chicago has made the pending unrestricted free agent’s negotiating rights available for trade after the two sides failed to make meaningful progress on a contract extension.
Mikheyev, 31, is coming off a highly productive two-year stint in Chicago after being acquired from Vancouver. He followed up a 20-goal debut campaign with the Blackhawks by posting 18 goals and a career-high 36 points in 77 games during the 2025-26 season. Beyond his offensive contributions, Mikheyev served as a heavily relied upon, speedy defensive forward and a core penalty-kill specialist for head coach Jeff Blashill, helping lift Chicago’s short-handed unit to a surprising second-place finish in the league.
With the Blackhawks still navigating their rebuilding process and focusing heavily on a looming extension for superstar Connor Bedard, general manager Kyle Davidson is looking to secure a late-round draft asset rather than losing the Russian winger for nothing on July 1.
As Mikheyev approaches what will likely be the final major contract of his career, several pathways lie ahead for the veteran forward. A Stanley Cup contender looking to bypass the open-market bidding war could surrender a late-round draft pick to secure his exclusive negotiating rights early, locking him into a multi-year extension before July.
Should he reach July 1st, Mikheyev’s combination of elite 5-on-5 defense, penalty-killing utility, and secondary scoring support will make him a highly coveted middle-six target in a relatively thin free-agent class. Alternatively, teams with abundant salary cap space looking to transition from rebuilding to competing could offer him a premium, short-term average annual value to inject crucial veteran structure and speed into a developing lineup.
Carson Carels Commits To North Dakota
Top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Carson Carels has committed to play NCAA hockey at North Dakota, according to an official announcement from the program. The decision indicates that he will leave the WHL after just two seasons there, meaning the league is set to lose one of its very best defensemen.
Carels, 17, is widely considered to be among the top prospects in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft, and is in the conversation as the draft’s top blueliner. While most rankings have OHL defenseman Chase Reid slightly ahead, some analysts are in favor of Carels, such as Craig Button of TSN.
In terms of Carels’ style, Corey Pronman of The Athletic called him a “powerful, fluid skater” who both “plays with a lot of physicality” and “should generate offense” at the NHL level. He was projected as a “great top-four defenseman who will play significant NHL minutes.”
As previously mentioned, Carels was one of the WHL’s top all-around defensemen last season. Serving as an alternate captain for the Prince George Cougars, Carels scored 20 goals and 73 points in 58 regular-season games, and added 10 points in 10 playoff games. He ended the season tied for fourth place among all WHL blueliners in scoring.
Carels is set to join a North Dakota defense that already boasts NHL-drafted prospects in E.J. Emery (2024 first-round pick, New York Rangers) and Sam Laurila (2025 fifth-round pick, New York Islanders). Interestingly, Carels could end up being a future teammate of Emery, a blueliner he could end up partnered with as soon as next season. Carels is well within range to be picked by the Rangers No. 5 overall at the draft next month, and that’s where Pronman projected him to land in his most recent mock draft.
With today’s commitment, North Dakota could end up having two of the upcoming draft’s top-10 picks on its defense next year. 2025-26 was Keaton Verhoeff‘s freshman season at North Dakota, and he is widely considered to be among the draft’s top defensive prospects. He could go as high as, or even higher than Carels next month. As our Gabriel Foley noted, Carels’ decision gives North Dakota the chance to potentially ice a pairing of two top-ten draft picks from the same draft class as soon as next season.