Islanders Re-Sign Marc Gatcomb
The Islanders have re-signed forward Marc Gatcomb to a one-year deal, per a club announcement. The restricted free agent lands a $900K commitment on a one-way deal, per PuckPedia, the first of his NHL career.
Gatcomb, who turns 26 later this month, lands the commitment after making his NHL debut in 2024-25. A minor-league depth signing by the Isles last summer, he ended up logging much more NHL ice than anyone expected, making 39 appearances and becoming a fourth-line fixture late in the season after his initial January call-up.
The 6’2″, 195-lb winger was one of the Islanders’ more physical forwards, ranking second on the team with 149 hits despite his limited game log and ice time. He averaged 9:47 per game but did manage eight goals, finishing at a likely unsustainable 19.5% clip.
Gatcomb, a Massachusetts native, has only ever signed NHL contracts with the Islanders. He was initially an undrafted free agent signing by Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, in 2022 out of UConn. He scored 12 goals, 16 assists, and 28 points in 112 games for the club in parts of three seasons before landing a two-way deal with the Isles last summer.
After also recording nine goals and 17 points in 35 AHL games for Bridgeport last season – respectable totals on the league’s worst club – Gatcomb’s focus turns toward making an NHL roster out of camp for the first time. He faces an uphill battle after the team added Jonathan Drouin and Maxim Shabanov to its forward group in free agency and acquired Emil Heineman from the Canadiens in the Noah Dobson trade, but there’s an opening for him to snag a spot as a No. 12/13/14 forward if he can leapfrog someone like Shabanov or fringe winger Pierre Engvall in camp.
The Islanders have six contract slots remaining after signing Gatcomb, per PuckPedia. One of those will eventually go to RFA winger Maxim Tsyplakov, who was among the 11 players who elected salary arbitration yesterday.
Players Still Eligible For Offer Sheets
July 7: Byram (BUF) and McBain (UTA) were on the receiving end of team-elected arbitration yesterday, so they’re now ineligible for offer sheets.
July 6: Yesterday, the NHLPA announced the 11 players who were eligible for and opted to elect salary arbitration this offseason. While notable for a few reasons, that announcement often goes unheralded when it includes higher-caliber names. That’s because a player electing arbitration makes them ineligible to receive or sign offer sheets, locking them into a new contract with their current team one way or another. Whether that’s via a pre-hearing settlement or an arbitration decision remains to be seen.
The following players are still eligible to sign an offer sheet this offseason because they meet the following criteria:
- Are a restricted free agent (i.e., received a qualifying offer before June 30);
- Did not elect salary arbitration before Saturday’s deadline;
- Are not a 10.2(c) player who does not have enough professional experience for standard RFA eligibility.
Anaheim Ducks: F Mason McTavish, F Judd Caulfield, F Jan Mysak, G Calle Clang
Boston Bruins: F John Farinacci
Buffalo Sabres: D Bowen Byram
Calgary Flames: F Rory Kerins, F Sam Morton, F Connor Zary, D Yan Kuznetsov, D Jeremie Poirier
Carolina Hurricanes: F Skyler Brind’Amour, F Ryan Suzuki, D Domenick Fensore, D Ronan Seeley
Chicago Blackhawks: D Louis Crevier
Colorado Avalanche: none
Columbus Blue Jackets:F Mikael Pyyhtia, D Daemon Hunt
Dallas Stars: F Antonio Stranges
Detroit Red Wings: D Eemil Viro
Edmonton Oilers: none
Florida Panthers: F Oliver Okuliar, F Wilmer Skoog, D Tobias Bjornfot
Los Angeles Kings: none
Minnesota Wild: F Marco Rossi, F Michael Milne
Montreal Canadiens: none
Nashville Predators: F Luke Evangelista
New Jersey Devils: F Thomas Bordeleau
New York Islanders: F Marc Gatcomb, F Adam Beckman, D Travis Mitchell
New York Rangers: F Brendan Brisson, G Dylan Garand
Ottawa Senators: F Xavier Bourgault, F Jan Jenik, D Max Guenette, D Donovan Sebrango
Philadelphia Flyers: D Cameron York
Pittsburgh Penguins: F Vasiliy Ponomarev
San Jose Sharks: F Daniil Gushchin, D Jack Thompson
Seattle Kraken: D Ryker Evans
St. Louis Blues: F Nikita Alexandrov, D Hunter Skinner, G Vadim Zherenko
Tampa Bay Lightning: none
Toronto Maple Leafs: F Roni Hirvonen, D Topi Niemela, D William Villeneuve, G Dennis Hildeby
Utah Mammoth: F Jack McBain
Vancouver Canucks: D Jett Woo, G Nikita Tolopilo
Vegas Golden Knights: F Alexander Holtz, F Raphael Lavoie, F Jonas Rondbjerg, F Cole Schwindt, D Lukas Cormier
Washington Capitals: none
Winnipeg Jets: F Parker Ford, F Rasmus Kupari, D Tyrel Bauer, D Isaak Phillips
Canadiens Sign Jakub Dobes To Two-Year Contract
The Canadiens have re-signed restricted free agent goaltender Jakub Dobes to a two-year, $1.93MM contract, the team announced today in a press release. The deal will carry a $965K cap hit. Dobes was still eligible for an offer sheet after not filing for arbitration yesterday, but instead came to a quick agreement with Montreal.
Dobes, a fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft, spent two seasons with Ohio State as their starter before signing his entry-level deal near the end of the 2022-23 campaign. The 6’4″, 201-lb Czech netminder was one of the Big 10’s top goalies in that span, earning both All-Rookie and First All-Star Team honors in 2021-22 after a standout 2.26 GAA and .934 SV% in 35 games after making the jump from the Tier I junior United States Hockey League.
The Ostrava native spent his first professional season as the full-time starter for AHL Laval in 2023-24, adjusting to the next level relatively well with a 2.93 GAA, .906 SV%, one shutout, and a 24-18-6 record in 51 games, tying for the league lead in appearances despite not carrying a minute of professional experience entering the season.
When NHL backup Cayden Primeau struggled out of the gate last season, posting a .836 SV% and 4.70 GAA in 11 games through the first two months of the 2024-25 campaign behind Sam Montembeault, he was waived around Christmas and Dobes was brought up from Laval in his place. The 24-year-old spent the rest of the season as Montembeault’s full-time backup, looking like a true NHL-caliber goalie in the process. He didn’t storm out of the gates but was certainly an above-average No. 2 option, logging a 7-4-3 record, .909 SV%, 2.74 GAA, one shutout, and eight quality starts in 16 appearances.
While Dobes is presumably the favorite to win the backup job in camp this fall, they haven’t handed it to him on a silver platter. The club also signed veteran option Kaapo Kähkönen to a one-year, $1.15MM contract when free agency opened. While he spent most of last season in the minors, he has 140 games of NHL experience and was an everyday NHLer as recently as 2023-24. He and Dobes will make for the Habs’ most intriguing roster spot battle when training camp opens in over two months.
A two-year deal for Dobes walks him to his last summer of RFA eligibility, so the Canadiens won’t be able to control his signing rights again after their next round of contract negotiations.
Image courtesy of Sergei Belski-Imagn Images.
Capitals Sign Hendrix Lapierre To One-Year Deal
The Washington Capitals and forward Hendrix Lapierre have agreed to the one-year, $850K contract, per PuckPedia. The 23-year-old will be eligible for restricted free agency next offseason, and his minimum qualifying offer then would be $892,500.
Lapierre appeared in 27 games last season for the Capitals, producing zero goals, eight assists, and a minus-three rating while averaging 9:48 of ice time per game. He fared much better in 32 games for the AHL’s Hershey Bears, scoring seven goals and 32 points.
Drafted by Washington with the 22nd overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft, Lapierre has posted nine goals and 22 points through 84 NHL games. Known for his stick handling and play-making abilities, Lapierre was viewed as a top prospect heading into the draft, but injury concerns allowed him to slip out of the top 20.
While he hasn’t found his footing in the NHL, he has tallied 79 points in 113 AHL games and gained valuable experience as part of two Calder Cup-winning teams for Hershey (2022-23 and 2023-24). What’s more, he earned the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP in 2023-24 after recording seven goals and 22 points in 20 games.
Lapierre will likely compete for a bottom-six spot in training camp, or at the very least, provide the Capitals with a reliable depth option in the AHL. If he hopes to make the team, he’ll likely need to improve his faceoff percentage, which sits at a paltry 37.4% for his career.
Sharks Interested In Adding Top-Nine Winger
The San Jose Sharks and general manager Mike Grier may not be done this offseason, as the team remains interested in adding to its forward group, per Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now.
Grier was busy to start free agency, signing blueliners Dmitry Orlov, Nick Leddy, and John Klingberg, as well as forwards Philipp Kurashev and Adam Gaudette. However, adding another winger appears to be at the top of Grier’s priority list now.
In a video link provided by the team’s website, Grier said, “We’ll probably keep our eyes open. We could probably use a top-nine winger, if something like that comes available. If not, we’re more than happy to see how things play out this summer and see where the kids are when camp starts.”
Along those lines, Peng noted his belief that the Sharks at least kicked the tires on free agent wingers Brock Boeser and Nikolaj Ehlers. However, the remaining available wingers aren’t in the same tier, meaning Grier may need to explore the trade market if he’s intent on acquiring a forward of that caliber. Grier noted that with the Sharks’ current cap space ($23.9 million, per PuckPedia), the team is a top call for agents seeking deals for their free-agent clients or for other teams exploring trade options. Staying patient may be the best strategy for finding the depth scorer they need.
Grier also touched on what next season may hold for second-overall pick Michael Misa, just days after Director of Player Development Todd Marchant stated Misa would be given every opportunity to make the team. While Grier stopped short of making any bold predictions or claims, he did note that Misa’s return to the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit or the NCAA should not be viewed as a failure on Misa’s part.
“If that is the case, our development coaches will give them things to work on. And at the same time, you can always work on your leadership skills. Misa was a captain there as a young 18-year-old. And if he happens to go back there, there’s a good chance he’ll be captain (again),” he said.
When asked whether the team had a preference on where Misa would play next season if he doesn’t make the NHL roster, Grier said those discussions will take place in the coming weeks and added that Misa’s comfort level will be the biggest factor. For his part, Misa expressed his intention to play in San Jose next season immediately after being drafted with the second overall pick, saying, “That’s where my head is at.”
Mark Letestu Named Head Coach of AHL’s Colorado Eagles
Mark Letestu, a veteran of 11 NHL seasons, has been named head coach of the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, per a release from the Colorado Avalanche.
Lestestu, 40, spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. In that time, the Monsters recorded a record of 136-117-23-16 and qualified for the playoffs each of the last two seasons. Letestu also coached one season in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) as an assistant during the 2012-13 season.
In the team release, Lestestu noted how grateful and excited he was for the opportunity. He said:
“I am excited and ready for this challenge to lead their AHL franchise. Thank you to the Kroenke family, Joe Sakic, Chris MacFarland and Kevin McDonald for their trust in me, as well as a big thank you to Martin Lind, Ryan Bach and the entire Eagles organization. Most importantly thanks to my family for all of their support throughout my playing career and now my coaching career. I can’t wait to get the season going.”
Letestu, played collegiately at Western Michigan University during the 2006-07 season and ranked 14th in points among all NCAA skaters. This led the forward to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an undrafted free agent in March of 2007. He spent four seasons in the minors before making his NHL debut with the Penguins during the 2009-10 season. He also spent time with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets. His best season came in 2016–17 with the Oilers, when he recorded a career-high 16 goals and 35 points, and added five goals and 11 points in 13 playoff games. Through 567 career NHL games, Letestu scored 93 goals and 210 points. Always a threat on penalty kills, he added 10 career shorthanded goals.
Eleven Players Elect Salary Arbitration
Eleven players across the NHL have elected for salary arbitration, per the NHLPA.
Those names include:
- F Morgan Barron (Winnipeg Jets)
- G Lukas Dostal (Anaheim Ducks)
- D Drew Helleson (Anaheim Ducks)
- F Kaapo Kakko (Seattle Kraken)
- F Nicholas Robertson (Toronto Maple Leafs)
- D Dylan Samberg (Winnipeg Jets)
- G Arvid Soderblom (Chicago Blackhawks)
- D Jayden Struble (Montreal Canadiens)
- D Conor Timmins (Buffalo Sabres)
- F Maxim Tsyplakov (New York Islanders)
- F Gabriel Vilardi (Winnipeg Jets)
The deadline for second club-elected arbitration is Sunday at 5 p.m., with arbitration hearings scheduled from July 20 to August 4. Two seasons ago, 23 players filed for arbitration, and last summer, that number dropped to 14 — a downward trend that continues this year.
As a reminder, not every player is expected to head to a hearing, as negotiations will continue leading into July 20. However, each player who elects for salary arbitration is now prohibited from negotiating with other teams or signing an offer sheet.
Lyndon Byers Passes Away At 61
Lyndon Byers, who spent parts of 10 seasons in the NHL, has passed away at the age of 61, per an NHL release.
Byers was selected in the second round (39th overall) by the Boston Bruins. He spent all but one season in the Boston organization, appearing in 261 games for the Bruins over parts of nine seasons. His final NHL campaign came in 1992–93, when he played in 18 games for the San Jose Sharks.
In 279 career games, the tough and physical Byers recorded just 28 goals and 71 points, but amassed 1,081 penalty minutes. As the NHL release notes, his 959 penalty minutes with the Bruins still ranks 11th on their all-time list. Two of his Boston teams (1988 and 1990) would reach the Stanley Cup Final.
“The Boston Bruins are deeply saddened by the passing of Lyndon Byers. Lyndon was a fan favorite across his nine seasons in the Black & Gold thanks to his rugged, rough-and-tumble style and was a key cog on the B’s teams that made trips to the Stanley Cup Final in 1988 and 1990,” the team said in a statement Saturday.
Following his playing career, Byers spent over 20 years as a radio personality in the Boston area. He is survived by his wife and son. We at PHR offer our condolences to his family and loved ones.
“A son of Nipawin, Saskatchewan, Lyndon became a true Bostonian and we will miss him dearly. He is forever a part of our Bruins family,” the statement read.
Golden Knights Looking To Trade Ben Hutton
While the Golden Knights will be without Alex Pietrangelo moving forward, it appears that another defender could be on the move as well. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that Vegas is trying to move defenseman Ben Hutton.
The 32-year-old has spent the last four seasons with Vegas after signing with them as a depth option early in the 2021-22 season. After that first year, he has signed a pair of two-year contracts with his current deal having one year left at an affordable price tag of $975K.
Unfortunately for Hutton, his role last season saw him become a sparingly used depth piece. While he did miss 16 games with an upper-body injury, he was a healthy scratch in 55 others as he played in just 11 games during the regular season. He had a pair of assists in those outings along with 19 blocks in a little over 13 minutes of ice time per game. Hutton also didn’t see any action in the playoffs.
For his career, Hutton has played in 520 career NHL games with five different teams, spanning over parts of ten seasons. The bulk of that came with Vancouver when he was used in a top-four role for good chunks of the four years he spent with them. He has 124 points and 670 blocks in those outings with an ATOI of over 18 minutes per game, largely skewed from his time with the Canucks. Over his four seasons in Vegas, Hutton has averaged 15:38 per game, more reflective of the sixth defender role he has held when he has been in the lineup.
As things stand, Hutton figures to be the seventh defenseman once again for the Golden Knights heading into next season so it appears that Vegas is trying to find a new team that could give him a better opportunity. But there are several blueliners still in free agency that could conceivably take away some potential landing spots for Hutton in the coming weeks so it wouldn’t be surprising if he ultimately makes it to training camp still with Vegas.
At the moment, the Golden Knights are about $6.8MM over the cap, per PuckPedia. That amount includes Pietrangelo’s $8.8MM cap charge which will land on LTIR, meaning that they have around $2MM of flexibility to work with. Moving Hutton and replacing him with a player at the league minimum would only add $200K of extra room but every bit of cap wiggle room would help. Now, the only question is whether a team is willing to trade for Hutton or if he ultimately lands on waivers in the fall if they can’t find a trade for him and want to create that small increase in cap space.
Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye
The Kraken have re-signed a key depth forward. The team announced that they’ve inked winger Tye Kartye to a two-year contract worth $1.25MM per season. He would have been eligible to file for arbitration by today’s 4:00 PM CT deadline.
The 24-year-old signed with Seattle as an undrafted free agent back in 2022, a move that has worked out well for both sides. Kartye played his junior hockey with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds and a 45-goal, 79-point campaign in 2021-22 was enough for the Kraken to give him an entry-level deal.
In the first season of that contract, Kartye played exclusively with AHL Coachella Valley during the regular season where he notched an impressive 28 goals and 29 assists in 72 games. That was enough to earn him a recall to the Kraken for the playoffs where Kartye was an important secondary contributor, picking up five points in ten outings with Seattle along with 44 hits in his first taste of NHL action. He was then returned to the Firebirds for their postseason run, adding eight points in 18 appearances.
His playoff showing was enough to make Kartye an NHL regular since then. In 2023-24, he got into 77 games with the Kraken, tallying 11 goals and nine assists while he threw a team-high 229 hits in just under 12 minutes per game of playing time. However, offense was a little harder to come by last season as he managed just six goals and seven helpers in 63 outings while his ice time dropped below ten minutes per night.
With that drop in production and playing time, it’s not a surprise that both sides opted for a short-term bridge deal. Kartye will still be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent when this contract expires although 2027 will be his final summer of RFA eligibility.
Seattle still has some work to do on the RFA front as winger Kaapo Kakko and defenseman Ryker Evans need new contracts. Kakko is arbitration-eligible while Evans isn’t eligible to file this summer.