Offseason Checklist: Pittsburgh Penguins
The offseason has arrived for half of the league’s teams that aren’t taking part in the playoffs, plus those who have already been eliminated. Accordingly, it’s time to examine what they will need to accomplish over the coming months. Next up is a look at Pittsburgh.
No one expected the Pittsburgh Penguins to make the playoffs this year, but thanks to some sly front-office work by Kyle Dubas and company, the team hit on most of their moves and skated into the playoffs. It wasn’t a long playoff run, but it was likely enough to show Dubas and the Penguins’ management team that the roster they have now isn’t far from competing in the Eastern Conference. Despite Pittsburgh being a nice story, the team is still quite old, and most of their key players are on the wrong side of 30, which means they need to find young stars to move into top roles on the roster. With Dubas at the helm, the Penguins could be poised for a big summer.
Add A Top Four Defenseman
Pittsburgh relied on a ragtag top-four defensive unit last year, leaning heavily on Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, and Parker Wotherspoon, occasionally using Ryan Shea, Brett Kulak, and Samuel Girard to close the year. While Wotherspoon and Karlsson were an excellent pairing, Girard and Letang struggled and probably aren’t best suited for second-pairing duty on a team with playoff aspirations. Letang is best suited for a third-pairing role, or, if he is forced into top-four duty, he needs a defensively responsible, safe partner like Kulak was.
It will be interesting to see whether the Penguins circle back on Kulak this summer, but given Dubas’ mandate to build a younger roster, it’s hard to imagine him pursuing a 32-year-old projected to get a three-year deal this offseason. The Penguins need a top-four defender this summer, preferably one in his mid-20s. Pittsburgh management is high on prospect Harrison Brunicke, but it’s tough to envision him taking on that assignment as a rookie.
It’s likely the Dubas will need to look outside the organization for help on this front, and in terms of unrestricted free agents, there isn’t much available that would fit what the Penguins are looking for. Mario Ferraro is an option if Pittsburgh were looking for a defensive defenseman capable of filling a top-four role, but he may not be the optimal choice. Although he is a decent puck carrier and, at 27 years old, fits the Penguins’ timeline, his contract is projected to be north of $5MM annually on a four-year deal, and that number could go up should a bidding war start. The Penguins already have one contract on the books for left-handed defensive defenseman Ryan Graves, and it is arguably the worst deal in Penguins history (although Jack Johnson’s is up there as well). Graves was signed on the first day of free agency in 2023, and Dubas likely learned his lesson from chasing high-priced defensive rearguards in free agency.
All signs point to the trade market as the best option for Pittsburgh, and they have plenty of assets they could move, including draft picks and prospects. Bowen Byram of Buffalo would be a possible target for the Penguins, but he reportedly likes Buffalo, and the Sabres would like to keep him long term. At 24 years of age, Byram is uber-talented and offers many of the intangibles teams are looking for. However, in the years that followed the 2022 Stanley Cup, he struggled to put it all together, leaving a sizeable gap between his skill set and his on-ice play. This past year, he was much better, setting a career high in points with 42 in 82 games. Despite all of this, Byram might be a target for the Penguins to steer clear of given the trade costs and the financial costs of his future contract.
Braden Schneider of the New York Rangers and Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils are two more defensemen who could be on the move this offseason, but it’s hard to envision the Rangers and Devils sending young, emerging defenders to a division rival. The Rangers are the likelier of the two to do so, having sent K’Andre Miller to the Hurricanes last summer in a blockbuster deal. Schneider would be a gamble for Pittsburgh, as he hasn’t quite taken the big step the Rangers were hoping he could take, but at this point, he could probably serve as Girard’s partner on a second pairing. There are major warts to Schneider’s game, and whatever he gets paid on his next contract will exceed his actual impact on the ice. Schneider is neither poised nor skilled with the puck, which is a problem for a team paying him $6MM, which is what a long-term deal will look like right now. That being said, in Pittsburgh, head coach Dan Muse’s style of play might benefit Schneider, as it relies more on short, higher-percentage passing rather than long breakout passes.
Nemec’s warts are on the defensive side, but he has a ton of offensive upside. If Pittsburgh were to acquire him to play in their top four, they would also need to find a defensive left-shot partner to support Nemec as he figures out his play in his own end. Given that Girard and Letang are not that type, the Penguins are unlikely to pursue the 22-year-old.
Finally, there is Olen Zellweger, a fantastic transition defender for the Anaheim Ducks who might fall victim to the numbers game out West. The smooth-skating puck mover is far from a finished product and needs work on both sides of the puck. This leaves him third on Anaheim’s depth chart, behind Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov. With a pending cap crunch in Anaheim, he might be squeezed out. The issue for Pittsburgh is that Zellweger is undersized and is almost a carbon copy of Girard, albeit quite a bit younger. It’s possible the Penguins could acquire him and move Girard to the third pairing, but pairing Zellweger with Letang feels like a recipe for disaster, given Girard and Letang’s results from this past year.
Find A 2C
The Penguins have decent depth down the middle of the ice, with Sidney Crosby centering the first line, followed by Thomas Novak, Benjamin Kindel, and Blake Lizotte. The weak link in that chain is on the second line, where Novak isn’t an ideal fit and would be better suited to a bottom-six role. Kindel is probably a bit ripe for a 2C role, but he likely will move into it in the next couple of seasons. The Penguins also have Evgeni Malkin remaining in the fold, but asking a 40-year-old with two bad knees to play second-line center for 82 games is a ridiculous ask. A second-line center would give Pittsburgh a formidable top six and either push Novak into a role better suited to his skill set or allow the Penguins to move him for other assets.
It’s easy to talk about acquiring a top-six center, but much harder to do so, especially for Dubas, who isn’t going to target older players and would much rather grab a younger one. The cost to acquire this type of player will be exorbitant, as many teams are trying to beef up the middle of the ice on their own teams. Some folks will float the name of Vincent Trocheck because of his connection to the city of Pittsburgh, but given that he is 32, it doesn’t fit the Penguins’ long-term plans.
Two St. Louis Blues players come to mind, with Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou both mentioned in trade discussions. For the Penguins, either player would make sense given their age, contract status, and talent level, but Thomas would probably be the better fit. The 26-year-old has been a point-per-game player for the better part of five seasons and could slot into the Penguins’ depth chart behind Crosby and play with Malkin and Egor Chinakhov. The issue for Pittsburgh would be the cost, which might start with Kindel, a non-starter if you are the Penguins. That makes this trade unlikely, but if Thomas’ market falls and Pittsburgh could use other prospects and draft picks to make a move, you have to imagine that Dubas would be in on Thomas. Kyrou should be easier to acquire, given that he is a few years older than Thomas and struggled last season. But those two years might be enough to push Dubas to look elsewhere rather than pursue an expensive, underperforming 28-year-old.
Speaking of an expensive, underperforming 28-year-old, Auston Matthews is a name forever tied to Dubas after their time together in Toronto. Matthews has had a tumultuous few seasons in Toronto, and it’s fair to wonder whether it’s time for him and the Maple Leafs to get together and find a new place for him to play. For their part, both the team and Matthews have said they want to continue the relationship, but with two years left on his contract and a poor showing last season, things could change in a hurry. If Toronto were to make Matthews available, Pittsburgh would be one of the more logical landing spots for the former Hart Trophy winner. The Penguins have the assets to make a trade and the cap space to absorb Matthews’ $13.25MM cap hit. But does Dubas have the will to give up his best future assets for a player pushing 30? It’s hard to say, but given the past relationship, it’s not completely out of the question. Matthews would solve some problems in Pittsburgh, and becoming just one of the guys might be best for him, but does the team have enough around him to win if they trade away many of their future top picks and prospects?
Figure Out Erik Karlsson’s Future
Last summer, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Karlsson would be dealt, but the Penguins held on to him, and he was their most important player this season, willing them into the playoffs when Malkin and Crosby missed time in late February and March. The 36-year-old has one year left on his contract, counting $10MM against the Penguins cap (and an additional $1.5MM against the San Jose Sharks cap), and will need a new contract if the Penguins hope to keep him beyond this season. What a new contract will look like remains to be seen, but AFP Analytics has him pegged for a three-year extension worth $6.628MM per season. Karlsson had 15 goals and 51 assists in 75 games this year and significantly cut down on turnovers while playing some of the best defense of his career. Pittsburgh may opt to wait things out on an extension, the way they did with Malkin, but there is one other option on the table, although it’s a limited one.
The Penguins could try to shop Karlsson as they did last summer, but given his age, cap hit, and no-movement clause, it will not be an easy trade to make. It’s hard to say how many teams Karlsson would be open to moving to, but it wouldn’t be many, and he appears to enjoy playing with Crosby and company. There is also the fact that Pittsburgh doesn’t have anything close to a Karlsson in the pipeline. Letang is their next-best option, and he struggled last season and probably needs a lighter workload.
The best move for the Penguins this summer is likely to stand pat with Karlsson and look to extend him during the season if his play remains strong. Trading him away would create too big a hole in the lineup, and extending him too soon could lock Pittsburgh into a regrettable long-term deal with a player approaching 40.
Get Younger
The Penguins’ lineup has become considerably younger in recent seasons, but their top players remain on the wrong side of 30. In fact, Pittsburgh’s top six scorers were all over 30, and their seventh-best scorer (Novak) is 29. It’s a glaring issue in the Penguins’ retool that they haven’t found high-end prospects or young players to mix in with their aging stars, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t found talented impact players. Chinakhov looks like a rising star, and if he can build on last season’s success, he could become a cornerstone piece. The same could be said for Kindel, whose abilities seem to have no limits. Those two make up a solid part of the core, but neither has the feel of a franchise player, though their development path will ultimately decide that.
Among the Penguins’ prospects, goaltender Sergei Murashov could become a superstar and is likely to be an NHL regular next season alongside several other Pittsburgh prospects, such as Rutger McGroarty, Avery Hayes, and perhaps Tristan Broz. That is a nice starting point for the Penguins’ prospect pool, but it’s still missing those top-end options.
Dubas’ biggest long-term need is the one that will be the toughest to acquire: a player he can build his entire team around. It’s going to be difficult because the Penguins are seemingly too good right now to bottom out and get a top draft pick, and other teams are pushing hard to lock up young talent long term. That doesn’t mean future impact players won’t become available; it just means that Dubas, Wes Clark and company will need to do extra due diligence to find a young impact player who has slipped through the cracks at another organization. Easier said than done, but that is why Dubas is one of the highest-paid executives in the NHL.
Photo by Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Kings Sign Aatu Jamsen To One-Year Extension
The Kings took care of one of their pending restricted free agents on Friday. The team announced that they’ve signed forward Aatu Jamsen to a one-year, two-way extension for next season. The deal will pay $850K at the NHL level.
The 23-year-old was a seventh-round pick by Los Angeles back in 2020, going 190th overall. He took the long route toward signing as he spent the next four seasons playing with Pelicans in his native Finland before signing ten days before his signing rights would have been relinquished. Over that time, his best season offensively came back in 2023-24 when he had 14 goals and 18 assists in 43 games.
Jamsen hasn’t had quite the same level of offensive success in North America, however. Last season, he put up seven goals and four assists in 36 games, missing multiple months due to injuries. This year was a healthier one as he suited up in 59 contests where he notched 16 goals and 12 helpers. That was enough to earn him an extended look for next season.
Jamsen has one season of waiver exemption remaining so he won’t need to pass through unclaimed to return to AHL Ontario. It’s probable that he’ll be going back to the Reign over battling for a potential roster spot with the big club. Instead, the goal will likely be to perform well enough to get a chance to make his NHL debut at some point in the 2026-27 campaign.
Free Agent Focus: Los Angeles Kings
Free agency is now less than a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. Even with the UFA crop being thinned out in recent months, there will be some quality veterans set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Kings.
Key Restricted Free Agents
D Brandt Clarke – If there were any remaining questions about Clarke’s ability to become a top-four defenseman, those have completely subsided. The former first-round pick had an impressive season with the Kings, scoring eight goals and 40 points with a +11 rating in 82 games. It’s not terribly more production than what he had last season, but he proved he could handle nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game. Given that Clarke is the only defenseman in Los Angeles who has yet to enter his prime, it would make the most sense to give Clarke a long-term deal this summer to ensure the Kings have a defenseman to build a defensive corps around.
Other RFAs: F Martin Chromiak, F Francesco Pinelli
Key Unrestricted Free Agents
F Scott Laughton – There wasn’t much hope in Laughton after the Kings acquired him from the Maple Leafs at the trade deadline, given his struggles with Toronto this year. However, Laughton seemingly rediscovered his game in Los Angeles, scoring five goals and eight points in 21 games down the stretch, with a 59.4% faceoff rating while averaging over 15 minutes of ice time per game. Laughton expressed a desire to remain with the Kings at the end-of-season media availability, and the Kings likely won’t have any issue retaining him for a bottom-six role.
F Andrei Kuzmenko – Although Laughton has found a new home with the Kings, Kuzmenko has seemingly lost his. Limited by injuries, the 30-year-old Russian registered only 13 goals and 25 points in 52 games this season. Toward the end of May, Eric Stephens of The Athletic reported that Los Angeles is likely to move on from Kuzmenko this offseason, since he no longer has a spot in the top six. He’s an incredibly streaky scorer, but can provide some offense in a middle-six role. Regardless, he’s likely to join his fifth organization in as many seasons.
Other UFAs: F Mathieu Joseph, F Jeff Malott, D Jacob Moverare, G Pheonix Copley, F Glenn Gawdin, F Logan Brown, F Jan Jenik, F Nikita Alexandrov, D Kyle Burroughs
Projected Cap Space
No pressure, but this offseason has the chance to be a franchise-defining one for the Kings. Yes, the team has a priority to retain Clarke for as long as possible, but they also have an Anže Kopitar-shaped hole down the middle. The team has $18.3MM in cap space, which should leave plenty left over to fill that need. It’s not clear whether Los Angeles is confident in Quinton Byfield assuming that role just yet, so the Kings will likely have to use their available dollars on the trade market to add an impact center this summer.
Photos courtesy of Bob Frid (Clarke) and Griffin Hooper (Laughton) of Imagn Images. Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.
Blues Sign Georgii Romanov To Two-Year Extension
The St. Louis Blues took care of a free agent this afternoon, re-upping goaltender Georgii Romanov on a two-year, two-way contract extension. The deal carries an AAV of $875k at the NHL level.
Undrafted out of Russia, Romanov was picked out by the Sharks in 2023, signing an entry level contract. Despite playing in just three KHL games to that point, otherwise holding the crease in the VHL, the 6’5″ netminder played in 29 games for the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL in 2023-24 and even made two NHL appearances, allowing just one goal in 59 minutes.
Continuing to get a share of starts for the Barracuda in the following season, alongside Yaroslav Askarov, Romanov posted a solid .905 save percentage. The young Russian was again thrust into the highest level, as the fifth goaltender to spend time in San Jose’s crease during the 2024-25 campaign. Romanov lost all six of his starts, not coming away with a win, but had a solid 3.89 goals-against-average facing a barrage on the 50-loss team, numbers on par with NHL mainstays of the time, Vítek Vaněček and Alexander Georgiev.
With Askarov expectedly taking the spotlight, Romanov departed San Jose last summer, settling for a PTO with the Devils. Not landing a contract, he was then scooped up by St. Louis in October. Taking 28 games as opposed to Vadim Zherenko‘s 42 for the Springfield Thunderbirds, Romanov rewarded the organization with tremendous play in the postseason, getting hot with a .939 save percentage and two shutouts in 11 playoff games.
As Zherenko is a group six free agent this summer, Romanov’s path to #1 for the Thunderbirds and third in the organization is wide open. At age 26, he has flashed enough potential to have real late-blooming NHL upside, and Blues fans should expect him to make his debut with the club at some point next season. As the franchise navigates their youth movement, possibly moving on from Jordan Binnington, the Russian’s continued progression could soften the blow of losing Colten Ellis on waivers to Buffalo.
Snapshots: Canucks, McNabb, Babcock
This afternoon the Vancouver Canucks shared that Daren Hermiston has been named Director of Player Personnel and Player Development.
An NHLPA Certified Player Agent who represented players across the NHL as well as lower leagues, Hermiston had held such a role since 2009, as a member of THE.TEAM company. According to PuckPedia, his clients include Canucks forward Arshdeep Bains, along with several prospects such as Harrison Brunicke of the Penguins.
Before his time as an agent, the native of Kamloops, British Columbia studied Business Administration at Thompson Rivers University. Hermiston’s addition is the latest among several notable changes in the Canucks front office. After finishing last in the NHL, they’ve internally promoted Ryan Johnson to general manager, Manny Malhotra to head coach, and both Henrik and Daniel Sedin have moved up from their development roles.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Vegas head coach John Tortorella did not provide an update on Brayden McNabb other than that he has traveled back with the team, relayed by Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. A lack of transparency on the matter is no surprise at this time of year, especially coming from Tortorella and his Golden Knights. Even lineup decisions aside though, it is a relief to hear that McNabb is at least out of the hospital, after catching a rising shot square to the face in a scary injury early in last night’s game. Ending his night after just 5:39, from there the Golden Knights rolled with four defensemen much of the night, seldom using Dylan Coghlan, which certainly played a factor in Carolina’s eventual overtime win. Averaging just one second shy of 20 minutes a night in their playoff run so far, if McNabb’s injury is too severe to return with facial protection in tomorrow’s Game 3, Ben Hutton figures to be the next man up as Tortorella would continue to lean heavily on his top defenders.
- The Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL named Michael Babcock their new head coach, the league announced. The 31-year-old had been an assistant coach with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls (Ducks) for the past season. Son of Mike Babcock, he was a product of the Little Caesar’s program, playing in the USHL and spending four years with Merrimack College. Joining the coaching ranks as an assistant under his father at the University of Saskatchewan in 2021, Babcock advanced to the NHL level, coaching development/skills for the Senators and Blues before his first gig behind an AHL bench in 2025-26. Now set to take on his head coaching journey, Babcock is the sixth head coach in Brantford history, and the youngest to do so for the club. Meanwhile, San Diego will move forward seeking a replacement shortly.
Hall Of Fame NHL Executive Cliff Fletcher Passes Away
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that legendary former NHL general manager Cliff Fletcher passed away at age 90.
A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Fletcher brought the Calgary Flames a Stanley Cup in 1989. Moving on to Toronto two years later, he was also known as the architect of the Maple Leafs 1990s revival. Starting out as a scout with the Canadiens in 1956, the Quebec native went on to work seven decades in the NHL, most recently serving as a Senior Advisor in Toronto until 2024. The legend was a beloved figure in the game, known for his tremendous class and passion.
Promoted to Assistant General Manager of the expansion Blues in 1966, departing his hometown Habs after one decade, Fletcher held that role in St. Louis for six seasons. During that period, the Blues impressively made the Stanley Cup Final three times in a row, although they came up short each time. Clearly making an immediate impact there, he caught the attention of another new franchise, the Atlanta Flames, who named him their inaugural general manager in 1972. Fletcher was a staple of the organization for the next 19 seasons, working the team through its relocation to Calgary, Alberta for the 1980-81 season. Fletcher selected Hall of Fame defenseman Al MacInnis 15th overall a year later, an icon of the team for the next decade-plus.
Once in Calgary, and with an immediate star on the back end with MacInnis, Fletcher’s team hit their stride. The Flames hung banners for multiple divisional titles and two Presidents’ Trophies, going on to make their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 1986 although coming up short to the Canadiens. Just three seasons later, the Flames returned, taking home the Stanley Cup and avenging their prior defeat by taking down Montreal in six games, sending legendary captain Lanny McDonald out on an unforgettable high note. Still to this day their only title, Fletcher’s Flames offered six eventual Hall of Famers, with Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Vernon, Joe Mullen, and Doug Gilmour also in the fold.
Another notable name connected to Fletcher, Russian forward Sergei Priakin, chosen by him in the 1988 draft, has the distinction of being the first player permitted to skate in the NHL by the Soviet Hockey Federation.
Moving on to Toronto two seasons later, Fletcher quickly turned things around for the Leafs as well. Jumping aboard in what was one of their darkest times in franchise history, Fletcher brought along Gilmour from his former squad in a 1992 blockbuster trade. Fletcher later named Pat Burns head coach for the next campaign as well. The impact was immediate, as Gilmour broke out with 127 points as a superstar, as the Leafs set all-time bests in wins and points. Toronto made the Conference Finals the next two seasons, coming up short, but it was territory they hadn’t reached since the late 1970s.
Seeking a splash, Fletcher made another bold move in 1994, trading Wendel Clark to the Nordiques for Mats Sundin in what was a highly publicized, shocking trade, as Gilmour was named captain. Never quite getting over the hump, he would step down from his role with Toronto three seasons later, but not before dealing Gilmour to the New Jersey Devils as the Maple Leafs ushered in a new era led by his acquisition of Sundin.
Fletcher then caught on as Senior Advisor of the Tampa Bay Lightning from 1998-2000, as well as a seven year stint with the Phoenix Coyotes as Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations up to 2007.
His time with Toronto wasn’t over by any means, returning as interim general manager, taking over for John Ferguson Jr. and holding things down until Brian Burke assumed the role in November 2008. With his days as general manager behind him at age 73, Fletcher stayed on with the organization for another 15 years as Senior Advisor.
A member of the 2004 Hockey Hall of Fame class, Fletcher’s son, Chuck, has also made his mark as an executive in the NHL, working with the Panthers, Ducks, Penguins, Wild, Flyers, and Devils. Just last May it was announced that he’d be departing New Jersey after serving as Senior Advisor.
Both MacInnis and Burke went on to share their sympathies of Fletcher’s passing on social media, along with an official statement from the Calgary Flames. Finally, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also released a statement.
We at Pro Hockey Rumors offer our condolences to Cliff’s friends, family, and loved ones.
Predators Hire Rob Blake As Executive Vice President Of Hockey Operations
This afternoon the Nashville Predators shared that Rob Blake has been brought aboard as Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.
The Hall of Fame defenseman last served as Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings from 2017-2025 before mutually agreeing to part ways in May 2025. He’ll now join the newly appointed Chris McFarland (General Manager and President of Hockey Operations) in the Music City. According to TSN’s Pierre Lebrun, McFarland had discussed with Blake the idea of joining forces with the Avalanche next season, a team where he played from 2000-2006. Yet now, based on recent developments, they’ll do so with the Predators instead.
As outlined in the team’s press release, Blake will support McFarland across all areas of hockey operations, including team and staff strategies, free agency and player management, drafting, and more.
In a fall 2025 interview, Blake discussed what he’d learned from his time with Los Angeles with Pierre Lebrun of The Athletic, describing his accountability in walking away and letting the Kings start fresh after their fourth straight first round playoff defeat. A longtime star of the franchise as a player, it was a tough ending to pass things on to Ken Holland, but fully intent then on another NHL front office role, the door has opened again this summer in Nashville.
The 56-year-old got started as Director of Player Personnel with Los Angeles in 2011, soon promoted to Assistant General Manager where things were rolling as the Kings won two Stanley Cups. Advancing to General Manager in 2017, replacing Dean Lombardi, Blake had Los Angeles in a great spot four years ago. Starting with an aging core from the previous era, Blake moved on from the likes of Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, and Jake Muzzin. Returning to the playoffs in 2022 and putting up a great fight against the Oilers, the former defenseman had simultaneously assembled one of the best prospect pools in the entire league, led by Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke. There was much reason for optimism, as Blake opened another window for icons Anže Kopitar and Drew Doughty.
Unfortunately, Los Angeles never quite took another step despite notable additions of Kevin Fiala and Pierre Luc-Dubois. In the case of the latter, things soured quickly, as Dubois was traded away just one year into his eight year pact. Never getting past the first round of the playoffs, Blake was prompted to step away, ending his time with a respectable 309 – 238 – 71 record.
Now finding himself back into another role, Blake won’t quite be calling all the shots, working alongside the former Avalanche general manager in McFarland. Still, one can’t help but notice the parallels between the Kings standing back in 2017, compared to where the Predators are today.
The duo of McFarland and Blake must work through a roster mainly built for “win now” mode, despite missing the playoffs the last two seasons. Former general manager Barry Trotz‘s additions, the likes of Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos stand out as clear contenders to find a fresh start for eventually. It will be fascinating to see how they also approach the future for longtime stars such as Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg. Trotz was able to assemble one of the deepest prospect pools Nashville has had in their history, but they still lack the high-end talent which has alluded the franchise for practically their entire history. Inaugural GM David Poile along with Trotz avoided a dreaded bottoming out of sorts, but the idea could be more alluring to the new regime.
For Predators fans, today’s news is exciting in that two figures with Stanley Cups as executives will work in tandem to navigate the crossroads with an entirely fresh mindset. Just last week their general manager search was dragging on, full of uncertainty, and now two highly qualified executives are into the fold. Set to take the stage at 10th overall in just three weeks, there are major decisions for McFarland and Blake to make immediately on what the objective is for the 2026-27 season.
Marcus Johansson Signs In Sweden
Longtime NHL forward Marcus Johansson has signed with Färjestad BK of the SHL, the team announced today, departing the Minnesota Wild. The news was confirmed by Michael Russo of The Athletic.
One decade since his breakout 24 goal campaign, the 35-year-old has bounced around several teams since then as a moderate contributor. Still, he had become a valuable piece for Minnesota over the past four seasons, somewhat quietly putting together a strong 2025-26 where he notched 49 points in 75 games. That output is good for his second best in 16 seasons.
By no means walking away from North America due to his ability at the NHL level, the development is a bit surprising. Although speculation, it suggests that the Wild’s offseason priorities align elsewhere, with the veteran opting to return to his native country on a high note, rather than start over on what could have become his seventh NHL club.
Chosen 24th overall by the Capitals in the 2009 draft, Johansson’s 1,058 regular season NHL appearances stand as ninth best of the class, also ranking tenth among such peers in points (566).
A name synonymous with Washington throughout recent memory, he was dealt to New Jersey during the 2017 offseason, unfortunately missing out on their Stanley Cup the following spring. One of those selections became Martin Fehérváry, a minute-eating shutdown defender who remains a key piece of the Capitals today.
Unable to replicate his breakout 58 point campaign in Newark, the forward was on the move again at the trade deadline, off to Boston where he found his stride as a key third liner. The winger posted 11 points on the Bruins’ playoff run, highlighted by his game-winning goal in the deciding first round series versus Toronto, as they went all the way to Game 7 of the Finals before falling to St. Louis.
Cashing in from his playoff efforts, Johansson inked a two-year contract with Buffalo worth $4.5MM per season. Only making it through one year with the Sabres, where he put up 30 points in 60 games, the next fall he was on the move again. Traded to the Wild for Eric Staal, it was a deal with salary in mind, and finding a fresh start for each veteran. He didn’t make much of an impact with Minnesota, moving on after 14 points in 36 games and signing a one year contract with the expansion Seattle Kraken for $1.5 million. Nobody then would have guessed that he’d ever have more to offer in the state of hockey years later.
Becoming a journeyman, he was traded by Seattle back to Washington at the 2022 trade deadline, but his Caps were sent packing by Florida in six games. The Capitals weren’t the only team intent on a reunion, as that summer he signed back with the Wild, where he’s been ever since. Johansson excelled on a line with Matt Boldy, keeping up his strong regular season play with three tallies against Colorado in the second round.
Affectionately known by fans as “MoJo”, Johansson was traded in-season three times during his career, a player always having value as a middle-six forward. At the same time, all the changes likely played a part in his decision to seek stability back home. It serves as a return to his original club, as a member of Färjestad from 2008-10, winning a league championship in 2009 before embarking on his long NHL career.
Johansson also represented his nation on the highest international stage, a member of Team Sweden in the Olympic Games both in 2014 and this past February. He took home silver 12 years ago, while skating in two games for the Swedes in Milan, coming away scoreless.
Coming back to his original Swedish club, Johansson will mentor Flyers prospect Jack Berglund, joining former NHLers such as Radim Zohorna and Victor Ejdsell. It’s rare that a player of his caliber enters the league at this point, and Johansson should immediately be a top SHL scorer, challenging the likes of Skelleftea forward Oscar Lindberg, another player with NHL experience who took the honors this year with 67 points in 52 games. Färjestad finished fifth in the league this season, sent packing by Rogle in the quarterfinals, and the addition of a forward who was getting second line minutes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs just last month will have huge implications for their club.
Meanwhile, assuming this is it for Johansson in the NHL, the Swede put together one of the best careers out of 2009 draftees, and opened the scoring of Game 5 against the Avalanche, in what was likely his last NHL contest.
Image Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Islanders Sign Marshall Warren To One-Year Extension
The New York Islanders have announced that defenseman Marshall Warren has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the club. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 25-year-old Long Island native was set to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. The two-year entry-level contract Warren signed in April 2024 was set to expire July 1, and the Islanders had to decide whether they wanted to retain Warren in their organization moving forward. Notably, Warren was an addition made by former GM Lou Lamoriello, meaning he does not have any ties to new GM Mathieu Darche.
That Darche has elected to commit to Warren for another season suggests they likely still see a path for him to have an NHL career, or at least serve as high-level depth.
The 5’11”, 195-pound left-shot defenseman has played two full years of professional hockey. He was a four-year NCAA player at Boston College before becoming a graduate transfer for the Michigan Wolverines. As an AHL rookie, Warren was able to hold onto a regular lineup spot and score 17 points in 53 games for the AHL’s weakest team.
Warren took a sizable step forward in 2025-26, scoring 32 points in 56 games for Bridgeport while advancing into a top-four role with significant responsibilities on the penalty kill. His improvements at the AHL level cleared the way for him to make his NHL debut, and Warren ended up skating in eight games for the Islanders, scoring three points.
In both years of his entry-level contract Warren received a $50K signing bonus and a league-minimum $775K NHL salary. He had an AHL salary of $70K in 2023-24, and $75K in 2024-25.
While the financial terms of this contract have not yet been reported, it’s likely that Warren’s extension will contain a similar league-minimum NHL salary (now at $850K for 2026-27). One would have to imagine, given the growth that Warren showed last season, he will have earned a raise at the AHL level beyond the $70K range he was in for his entry-level contract.
Canadiens’ Cole Caufield Wins Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
A second member of the Montreal Canadiens’ first line has won an NHL award today. The league announced that Cole Caufield has been voted the winner of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is presented annually to the player who exhibits a high standard of sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct, and playing ability.
In April, Caufield was named a finalist for the award alongside Los Angeles Kings center Anže Kopitar and Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson. He collected 45 first-place votes from the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and 776 points. Kopitar, who finished second, collected 38 first-place votes and 602 points. Kopitar, who is now retired, is a three-time winner of the Trophy, while Sanderson has not won it but has received votes twice before in his career.
Caufield is the first Canadien to win the Lady Byng since Swedish forward Mats Naslund took home the award in 1988. The only other Canadien to win the Trophy is Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Toe Blake.
The 2019 first-round pick does have some other connections to past winners of the award, both of whom were immensely skilled and productive scoring wingers despite lacking prototypical NHL size.
Caufield’s coach Martin St. Louis won the Lady Byng in 2014, and has overseen Caufield’s development into one of the league’s premier goal scorers.
Caufield was also a former international teammate and close friend of the late Johnny Gaudreau, who won the award in 2017. Caufield called Gaudreau his “hero” and changed his jersey number from 22 to 13 in September 2024 to honor Gaudreau’s memory. Now, he joins Gaudreau as a winner of the Lady Byng.
Although the Lady Byng is an award with criteria for winning that is inherently subjective, it’s difficult to argue that Caufield is not an eminently deserving winner. The 25-year-old has always been a lethal goal scorer, dating back to his days at the U.S. National Team Development Program, and never was that more apparent than his second and final season playing college hockey, when he scored 30 goals in 31 games and won the Hobey Baker Award.
But after he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery during the 2022-23 campaign, there was some worry that the shoulder issues might keep him from ever reaching such heights as a goal scorer at the NHL level. In the season following his injury, Caufield scored just 28 goals – a respectable total, but far from fulfilling the lofty expectations placed on him. The following season, though, Caufield began reminding the league why he was such a highly-rated goal-scoring prospect. He potted a career-high 37 goals in 2024-25, setting up his career year in 2025-26.
Caufield finished the 2025-26 season with 51 goals, falling short of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy by just two tallies. But Caufield did score more goals against a goalie than MacKinnon, who led the league with eight empty-net goals. So while he did not finish the season with a Rocket Richard Trophy, he has not left 2025-26 empty-handed. He became the first Canadiens forward to score 50 goals since 1990, joining an illustrious group of players including Hall of Fame inductees Guy Lafleur, Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion, Steve Shutt, and Richard.
He was able to reach those heights as a goal scorer (and playmaker, finishing with 37 assists and 88 total points) while maintaining a play style that falls in line with the spirit of the award. Caufield finished the season with just 14 penalty minutes, and has not reached even 18 penalty minutes in a single regular season for the entirety of his career. He finished 2025-26 with the most goals, and second-most points (behind Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor) of any player registering fewer than 20 penalty minutes.
Photos courtesy of Stan Szeto-Imagn Images