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Penguins Sign Mikhail Ilyin To Entry-Level Contract

June 1, 2025 at 6:31 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

The Penguins have reached an agreement with one of their prospects, announcing on Saturday that they signed Mikhail Ilyin to a three-year, entry-level contract.  PuckPedia reports that the agreement will carry a cap hit of $851,667.

The 20-year-old winger was a fifth-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2023, being selected 142nd overall.  At the time, he had primarily played at Russia’s MHL level but in 2023-24, that changed as he put up 12 goals and 17 assists in 64 games with KHL Severstal Cherepovets with his only MHL playing time coming in the playoffs.

This year, it was more of the same.  Ilyin played in 65 games with Severstal and while his goal total dipped to seven, he improved in the assist department as he collected 23 of those.  He played just twice in the MHL, notching four helpers.

It would be surprising if Ilyin was in the plans to play regularly in Pittsburgh in 2025-26.  It’s not often that Russian players play regularly in the AHL either at this stage of their career so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ilyin loaned back to Cherepovets for next season.

Pittsburgh Penguins| Transactions Mikhail Ilyin

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Prospect Jackson Smith Set To Commit To Penn State

June 1, 2025 at 5:53 pm CDT | by Paul Griser 3 Comments

Defensive prospect Jackson Smith, one of the top prospects heading into the NHL draft, is set to commit to Penn State, per Scott Wheeler of The Athletic. While Wheeler notes that the signing isn’t “done done,” he added that Jackson is set to visit the Nittany Lions following the draft combine, which starts this week.

Wheeler also confirmed that Smith, 18, had visited other schools before choosing the WHL route this past season, and noted that this year’s recruitment process has taken place through virtual meetings. While Smith feels Penn State could be a good fit, he may return to the WHL next season before joining Penn State in 2026-27, Wheeler adds.

With the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, Smith posted 11 goals and 54 points in games this season, showcasing his offensive upside. He added five points in seven games at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship this spring, helping Canada to a gold medal. While Matthew Schaefer may be the consensus number one defender available in the draft, Smith may slot right behind him, with the University of Wisconsin’s Logan Hensler and fellow WHLer Radim Mrtka also in the mix. What may set Smith apart from his peers is his ability to make an impact at both ends of the ice, according to Max Bultman of The Athletic.

As Bultman notes, Smith has the size (six-foot-three, 190 pounds), skating ability, and two-way potential to make him a top-10 pick later this month. Smith’s former coach, ex-NHLer Stu Barnes, compares his style of play to that of Dallas Stars standout Thomas Harley. Said Barnes, “You try to, with these young guys, give them maybe somebody that they can look to at the next level and see what could be, and I think Thomas Harley’s a great comparison.” Barnes himself was a former lottery pick, going fourth overall in the 1989 draft to the Winnipeg Jets.

2025 NHL Draft| NCAA

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LA Kings Sign Defenseman Kirill Kirsanov To Entry-Level Deal

June 1, 2025 at 4:34 pm CDT | by Paul Griser 2 Comments

The Los Angeles Kings have signed 22-year-old defenseman Kirill Kirsanov to a two-year entry-level deal, the team announced today. Kirsanov, the team’s third-round selection in the 2021 draft, spent last season split between the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the KHL and the Torpedo-Gorky NN in the VHL (Russia’s top developmental league). His contract will run through the 2026-27 season.

At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Kirsanov already has the physical traits NHL teams covet and profiles more as a prototypical defensive-minded blueliner than an offensive one. In 34 games in the KHL last season, he posted three goals and seven points to go along with eight penalty minutes and a plus-five rating. He scored seven points in 28 VHL regular season games and added five points in 19 playoff games for Torpedo-Gorky NN, who would go on to win their first VHL Championship in club history.

The Kings appear to have most of their defensive spots locked up for next season with Drew Doughty, Mikey Anderson, Joel Edmundson, Jordan Spence, and Brandt Clarke all set to return, and Kyle Burroughs and Jacob Moverare also in the mix. While Kirsanov will more than likely begin his North American career in the AHL, his development will be crucial for a team facing several question marks on the blue line in the not-too-distant future. Spence and Clarke both have one year remaining on their current contracts and are due for significant raises, while Moverare and Burroughs are also entering the final year of their deals. If Kirsanov can put all the pieces together, he could push for an NHL spot sooner rather than later.

Los Angeles Kings Kirill Kirsanov

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Goalie Jack Ivankovic Commits to University of Michigan

June 1, 2025 at 3:19 pm CDT | by Paul Griser 1 Comment

One of the top goaltending prospects heading into the NHL draft has found a home in the NCAA, as Jack Ivankovic has committed to the University of Michigan, per Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff. The 18-year-old Ontario native spent last season in the OHL with the Brampton Steelheads, where he compiled a 25-12-5 record to go with a .903 save percentage and two shutouts. He shined at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship this spring, where he went 6-0 with a .961 save percentage, leading Canada to a gold medal. Ivankovic also helped Canada hoist the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

If Ivankovic heads to Michigan, he’ll get the best of both worlds, joining a strong program while also having a chance to compete as a freshman. Despite his listed size at 5-foot-11, Ivankovic has positioned himself as a first-round option ahead of the draft. The Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis sees Ivankovic as potentially the next Dustin Wolf, a fellow undersized goaltender who has flourished despite his perceived physical disadvantages.

As Ellis notes, despite Wolf going 41-15-4 with seven shutouts and a .936 save percentage for the WHL’s Everett Silvertips ahead of the 2019 draft, he slid all the way to the Calgary Flames’ 214th overall pick, largely due to his six-foot, 166-pound frame. Since being drafted, Wolf has done nothing but excel all the way up to the NHL, where he currently finds himself as a Calder Cup Finalist after going 29-16-8 on the season with a .910 save percentage and three shutouts. His 29 wins were 14 more than any other rookie netminder on the season.

So, can Ivankovic make a rise similar to the one Wolf has achieved? That’s the debate NHL front offices face, but a team thin on goaltending prospects might be eager to take a chance on Ivankovic late in the first round.

2025 NHL Draft

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Alexander Petrovic Clears Waivers, Assigned To AHL

June 1, 2025 at 1:20 pm CDT | by Gabriel Foley Leave a Comment

1:20 PM: Petrovic cleared waivers and has been assigned to AHL Texas, the team announced.  Dallas also reassigned goaltender Ben Kraws to Texas.

11:49 AM: The Dallas Stars aren’t done managing their rosters just yet. They’ve placed defenseman Alexander Petrovic on waivers for purpose of assignment to the minor leagues, per PuckPedia. Petrovic appeared in 17 of Dallas’ 18 postseason games. He recorded two points, four penalty minutes, and a minus-one while operating from a bottom-pair role.

Petrovic had only played in five NHL games before the start of the postseason. He spent the rest of his season with the AHL’s Texas Stars – netting 25 points, 66 penalty minutes, and a plus-eight through 58 games. It was a step up in production from the 22 points, 40 penalty minutes, and minus-six Petrovic recorded in 70 games last season. Dallas brought him on their postseason run for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs as well, though he didn’t manage any scoring in seven playoff games.

The 6-foot-5, 211-pound Petrovic is a seasoned-in vet of the pro leagues. He had an extended run in the NHL from 2014 to 2019, but found more footing in a minor-league role starting in the 2019-20 season. Petrovic moved to Texas in the 2021-22 season and has become a staple of the minor-league Stars’ blue-line. He’ll get a chance to return to his top-end role now that Dallas has been eliminated from Stanley Cup contention.

The Texas Stars are currently down 2-0 to the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL’s Western Conference Finals. It’s been a tight-fought series, with Game 1 settled in overtime and Game 2 decided by a 1-0 scoreline. It’s also getting chippier by the moment, and adding the hard-hitting presence of Petrovic could be the piece that tilts things back in Texas’ favor.

Dallas Stars| Transactions| Waivers Alexander Petrovic

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Stars’ DeBoer, Oettinger Haven’t Spoken Since Elimination

June 1, 2025 at 1:15 pm CDT | by Paul Griser 12 Comments

Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer told reporters he hasn’t spoken to all-star goalie Jake Oettinger since pulling him early in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final — a revelation that left TSN Hockey analyst and former NHL goaltender Martin Biron puzzled.

The 26-year-old Oettinger opened the playoffs on a strong note but struggled against the Oilers, fading as the series wore on. His postseason came to a sudden end in Game 5, when he surrendered goals on the first two shots in a 6–3 loss that knocked the Stars out. DeBoer noted that the coaching staff discussed potentially sitting Oettinger for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, citing his heavy playoff workload and the fact that he was dealing with an “upper-respiratory thing.” Despite all of this, Baron still finds it strange that DeBoer didn’t seek to discuss the situation with his star goaltender.

“My first reaction is that it’s mind-boggling. I get that you’re not going to talk to him Thursday night after the game. And Friday, no one is in the office. But Saturday morning, you know you’re going to talk to the media. So, you need to have that conversation and clear the air. Then you can address the media. I don’t know what they were thinking. And I think this is on Pete DeBoer and the organization. Jake Oettinger isn’t going to knock on the door and ask to talk. Imagine if Scott Arniel doesn’t go and talk to Connor Hellebuyck in this type of situation. Or if Jon Cooper doesn’t go and talk to Andrei Vasilevskiy in a situation like this. That would never happen,” Biron said.

For his part, Oettinger told reporters Saturday that while he was surprised to be pulled so early in Game 5, he understood the decision, noting that if he had made a save on either of the first two shots, he likely would have stayed in the game. Oettinger, who noted the illness he was dealing with didn’t hinder his performance, said he will use the setback as a learning opportunity and even joked about how often he was shown on the jumbotron after being pulled. “I don’t know why they kept showing me. I hadn’t even moved in like 30 minutes,” he joked.

He would go on to add, “It sucks. It’s embarrassing. Any time you get pulled, whether it’s the playoffs or regular season, you just want to get off the ice and crawl under your bed and not talk to anyone. But especially in a moment like that, it’s embarrassing.”

When asked directly whether he had any concerns about his relationship with DeBoer moving forward, Oettinger again chose to focus on his own performance rather than address his dynamic with the coach.

“I think for me it’s just the whole experience is something I’m going to learn from, and it’s just going to help me grow and be a better person and a better goalie. My job is to stop the puck, and I feel like I’m one of the best in the world when I’m playing well. So that’s all I’m going to focus on. All the extra stuff is just extra stuff. If I go out there next year and I’m the best goalie in the world, then this stuff doesn’t matter. One of (the media) could be coaching, and it wouldn’t matter,” he said.

Dallas Stars Jake Oettinger

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Free Agent Focus: Colorado Avalanche

June 1, 2025 at 10:18 am CDT | by Gabriel Foley Leave a Comment

Free agency is just over a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players 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 Colorado Avalanche.

Key Restricted Free Agents

D Sam Malinski – Malinski is Colorado’s only RFA to play considerable NHL time this season. It was his rookie year in the league, and Colorado opted to strap Malinski to the third-pair for nearly the whole year. He handled the role well, netting 15 points and a plus-eight in 76 games despite averaging just 16 minutes of ice time. He also ranked third in blocked shots, behind top defenders Cale Makar and Samuel Girard. That’s an impressive stat line for the young Malinski, and one that maintained his momentum after posting 10 points and a plus-three in 23 games last season. He’ll be a must-sign option for the Avalanche, even if it’s only to continue forward in a quaint role. Malinski should only come at the cost of a few years in term and a few million in salary.

D John Ludvig – Ludvig only appeared in eight NHL games this season, and his two assists and minus-four won’t be marks to remember. The rest of his season was spent in a top-four role with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, where he posted 12 points and a plus-five in 31 regular season games – then stepped up with four points in nine postseason games. He’s a lumbering defender who supports all three lanes well enough. Those traits earned him 33 games on the Pittsburgh Penguins roster last season – but on an Avalanche team with a higher demand, it’s unclear exactly where Ludvig’s upside falls. Colorado will get a chance to declare their faith in him this summer, while also shoring up their left-defense depth at a cheap cost.

Other RFAs: F Sampo Ranta, F Matthew Stienburg, F Jean-Luc Foudy, F William Dufour, F Jason Polin, D Sergei Boikov, G Kevin Mandolese, G Trent Miner

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Brock Nelson – The Avalanche’s off-season could be based around their ability to re-sign veteran Brock Nelson. The team traded a king’s ransom for the 12-year pro at the Trade Deadline, and seemed to land a strong return when he scored 13 points in 19 regular season games. But Nelson managed just four assists in Colorado’s seven playoff games. He didn’t shine in the bright lights, and rumors in weeks since have swung both ways on his potential to re-sign. It seems mutual interest in staying with the Avalanche is growing, though it might cost the team the bulk of their remaining cap space. Nelson did finish the year with a stout 26 goals and 56 points in 80 games, and managed seasons above 30 goals and 60 points in each of the last three years. A full year in Colorado could bring out that high-end scoring once again, and make a lofty deal worth the price.

D Ryan Lindgren – Views were mixed when Lindgren came over from the New York Rangers at the Trade Deadline. He stepped up as another shutdown option near the bottom of Colorado’s depth chart, and fluctuated between as little as 16 minutes and as much as 23 minutes per game depending on game flow. But he finished his first stint in Colorado with just three points and a minus-one in 18 games. Lindgern did step up in the playoffs – with three points and a plus-five in seven games – but the sentiment on whether he should stick around could still swing either way. He’s a defense-first role player who can be trusted to block shots and throw hits. That’s a strong style to fold into the lineup – but too high of an asking price could lead to a split between Lindgren and the Avalanche this summer.

F Jonathan Drouin – Drouin has 30 goals and 93 points in 122 games with the Avalanche, spanning the last two seasons. That’s an 82-game average of 20 goals and 63 points, which would surpass any stat lines he’s posted so far. Drouin belongs in Colorado, and saw his production soar from 29 points to a career-high 56 points when he moved from the Canadiens to the Avalanche in 2023. But his season this year was marred by injury, holding Drouin to 37 points in 43 games. That’s still a productive year, and should be enough to earn a new deal – especially as Colorado looks to shore up their left-wing depth behind the uncertain Gabriel Landeskog.

F Jimmy Vesey – Colorado acquired Vesey and defender Ryan Lindgren from the New York Rangers at the Trade Deadline. Vesey quickly fell into the rut of healthy scratches in the Western Conference, and managed just two points in 10 games with the Avalanche before the end of the season. He wasn’t tapped at all in the playoffs, and posted minimal stats across the board in the minutes he did play. Vesey finished the year with a combined eight points in 43 games, far below the 26 points he scored in 80 games last year. He’s fallen into the hole of fourth-line forward – but could still have a glimmer of scoring upside. That could be enough to entice a team on the open market, but it doesn’t seem that team will be Colorado.

F Joel Kiviranta – Kiviranta received the most complete NHL role of his career this season. Despite tons of flux in Colorado’s top-end, their bottom-six wasn’t disturbed all too much – and Kiviranta was left to perform as the scorer on the team’s fourth-line. He fit the role well, netting 16 goals and 23 points in 79 games – all career-highs – despite averaging third-line minutes and no special teams. But he also shot at a 19-percent success rate – a drastic spike after his last three seasons fell below 10-percent. It’s clear by now that Kiviranta is a shooting-dependent scorer who can’t be tasked with much role. With the first double-digit goal-scoring of his career, he could convince the Avalanche to maintain him in their bottom-six on a cheap deal – but they run the risk of ending up with a forward they’ll soon need to swap out.

D Erik Johnson – Johnson learned that there’s no place like home this season. After three years in the Eastern Conference – one in Buffalo and two in Philadelphia – Johnson was eagerly dealt back to the Avalanche at the Trade Deadline. The move allowed the veteran to pursue one more Stanley Cup run with the team he’s spent 14 years with – but their hopes fell short at the hands of the Dallas Stars in the second round. Now, it’s the offseason, and Johnson must face the question of retirement after contributing just five points in 36 total games this season. He’s freshly 37 years old and seems to have a bright future in NHL coaching or management at the ready. This could be the summer that the 2006 first-overall selection opts to hang them up. If not, he’ll likely return on a league-minimum deal and continue to handle shutdown roles in Colorado.

Other UFAs: D Tucker Poolman, F Chris Wagner, F TJ Tynan, F Matthew Phillips, F Jere Innala, D Calle Rosen, D Jack Ahcan, G Adam Scheel (Group-6 UFA)

Projected Cap Space

Colorado is entering the off-season with just $8.7MM in projected cap space. That is peanuts in the NHL, and could be eaten up very quick by the mix of Malinski, Lindgren, and Drouin re-signing. Colorado could also opt to spent the bulk of it on locking down Nelson, though they’d be left at an impasse with many of their remaining free agents. Pending a major cap-clearing trade, Colorado is in store for a summer of budgeting – though a few lucrative signings is all they need to return for another strong season.

Photo courtesy of Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images. Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.

Colorado Avalanche| Free Agent Focus 2025| Pro Hockey Rumors Originals

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Luostarinen, Lundell Set To Play Game 1 For Panthers

May 31, 2025 at 8:29 pm CDT | by Paul Griser 15 Comments

Forwards Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell missed Saturday’s practice for the Florida Panthers, but coach Paul Maurice said afterward that both are expected to play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, per George Richards of NHL.com. Maurice did, however, note that forward A.J. Greer’s availability may be in question.

“I think the only question mark is Greer. We will list him as day-to-day. The other guys are fine. They’ll be back on the ice tomorrow when we do a little bit of an optional,” Maurice said.

Greer and Luostarinen were both injured in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Hurricanes. There was no explanation given for Lundell’s absence from practice, but he played a key role in closing out the Hurricanes, scoring a goal in the Panthers’ 5–3 win in Game 5, while also winning 62 percent of his faceoffs. Lundell put up a career-high 45 points in the regular season and has added five goals and 12 points during the playoffs.

In his first season with the team, Greer has made a significant impact despite averaging just 9:36 of ice time per game. He appeared in 81 regular-season games, posting 17 points while leading the team with 222 hits. The physical forward has added two goals and three points during the playoffs.

Luostarinen has elevated his game in the playoffs, recording 13 points in 18 games after tallying just 24 points in 80 regular-season games. His availability for Game 1 is a major boost for the Panthers, especially given that he ranks second on the team this postseason in hits (71) and leads all forwards with 19 blocked shots.

Florida Panthers A.J. Greer| Anton Lundell| Eetu Luostarinen

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Dallas Notes: Benn, Hintz, Lundkvist, Oettinger

May 31, 2025 at 7:49 pm CDT | by Paul Griser 10 Comments

For the first time in his career, longtime Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn is heading for free agency. That said, Benn told reporters he intends to play next season — and plans to do so with the Stars, per Taylor Baird of NHL.com.

The Stars’ captain said, “I’m going into the summer planning on playing next year. I don’t see myself going anywhere else. This is all I know. Hopefully, we can figure something out.”

Benn has played all 1,192 of his games in Dallas. The soon-to-be 36-year-old ranks second only to franchise legend Mike Modano in several key categories, including games played, points, goals, and shots on goal. He also secured the franchise’s only Art Ross Trophy when he posted 87 points during the 2014-15 season.

This past season, Benn proved he can still contribute in a bottom-six role, finishing with a respectable 16 goals and 49 points. However, his production dipped in the postseason, where he managed just three points in 18 games.

Elsewhere with the Stars:

  • GM Jim Nill confirmed that forward Roope Hintz sustained a foot fracture after being slashed by Edmonton Oilers’ defenseman Darnell Nurse in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final, according to Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News. The injury kept Hintz out of Game 3, and while he was on the ice for Games 4 and 5, the injury limited the defensively responsible forward. The slash was originally called a major penalty; however, the referees later downgraded it to a minor, much to the frustration of coach Pete DeBoer. Nill also confirmed that defenseman Nils Lundkvist was recently cleared by his surgeon for full contact in practice. Lundkvist underwent shoulder surgery in February that was originally labeled as a season-ending procedure. However, DeBoer noted at the start of the playoffs that Lundkvist could have potentially returned if the Stars made a deep enough run. While Lundkvist ultimately wasn’t able to return, it appears he’ll have a clean bill of health heading into next season.
  • DeBoer also noted that the coaching staff discussed potentially sitting goalie Jake Oettinger for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, citing his heavy playoff workload (more than any other goalie) and the fact that he was dealing with an “upper-respiratory thing,” per Assimakopoulos. The 26-year-old started strong in the playoffs but cooled off considerably against the Oilers. His postseason ended abruptly in Game 5, when he allowed two goals on the first two shots he faced in a 6–3 loss that eliminated the Stars.

Dallas Stars Jake Oettinger| Jamie Benn| Nils Lundkvist| Roope Hintz

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Free Agent Focus: Chicago Blackhawks

May 31, 2025 at 6:22 pm CDT | by Paul Griser 30 Comments

Free agency is just over a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players 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 Blackhawks.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Philipp Kurashev – As the Blackhawks continue to navigate through a rebuild, holding onto a 25-year-old forward with a 50-plus point season on his résumé makes plenty of sense, and that’s exactly what they have in soon-to-be restricted free agent Philipp Kurashev. But after a breakout 54-point campaign in 2023–24, Kurashev took a step back this past season, managing just 14 points in 51 games. So, who is the real Kurashev? And what is his value to the Blackhawks, or potentially other teams? These are the questions the Blackhawks’ front office must answer as they weigh his next contract.

D Wyatt Kaiser – No pending free agent, restricted or unrestricted, may be more important to the Blackhawks than Wyatt Kaiser, who took a clear step forward this past season. The 2020 third-round pick appeared in a career-high 57 games, recording four goals and eight points, and finishing third on the team with 93 blocked shots. Just as notable, his even plus-minus rating was the best among all Blackhawks defensemen and second-best on the roster overall, behind only forward Ilya Mikheyev’s plus-four. At just 22 years old, Kaiser may be the kind of defenseman the Blackhawks look to sign long-term as they aim to solidify their blue line for the Connor Bedard era.

G Arvid Soderblom – Despite being buried on the depth chart heading into the last season, Soderblom ended the season with more games between the pipes than any Blackhawks goalie. With Laurent Brossoit missing the season with a meniscus tear, and veteran Petr Mrázek being traded at the deadline, Soderblom saw action in 36 contests, compiling a 10-18-7 record to go with a .898 save percentage. While those numbers are unflattering by league standards, Soderblom statistically outperformed Mrazek and Spencer Knight, who came over in a blockbuster trade that sent Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers. Knight appeared in 15 games for the Blackhawks, finishing with a 5-8-2 record and .893 save percentage. While the Blackhawks may like the idea of keeping Soderblom in the mix, they already have $7.8MM committed to Brossoit and Knight next season. If Soderblom is now viewed in the league circles as a legitimate backup, another team could step in with a solid offer.

Other RFAs: D Louis Crevier, D Victor Soderstrom, F Antti Saarela, F Aku Raty, F Jalen Luypen

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

D Alec Martinez – On April 13, the day of the Blackhawks’ last home game of the season, Martinez announced that he would be retiring following the season. A three-time Stanley Cup champion, the 37-year-old was signed last offseason to a one-year, $4 million deal to bring leadership and experience to a young Chicago lineup. And while it’s difficult to measure the impact of his presence in the locker room, Martinez’s on-ice performance left much to be desired. He finished the year with 12 points and a minus-15 rating in 44 games. Martinez will finish his career with 862 games played, 289 points, and, of course, those three Stanley Cups.

F Pat Maroon – Similar to Martinez, veteran Pat Maroon is hanging up his skates after a 14-year career. Back in March, Maroon announced he would be retiring, citing a desire to start a new chapter with his family. He signed a one-year, $1.3MM contract with the team in free agency last summer, and like Martinez, was brought in to provide mentorship and leadership. In 68 games on the season, Marron totaled five goals and 19 points in a bottom-six role. He’ll finish his career with 323 points in 848 games. Like Martinez, he can also boast three Stanley Cups (winning in three consecutive years with the St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning).

F Ryan Donato – Donato, coming off a career-best season with 31 goals and 62 points, is among the top centers headed for unrestricted free agency. If the Blackhawks hope to keep him, they’ll likely have to fend off interest from around the league. At the trade deadline, the Blackhawks held discussions with Donato about a possible contract extension and did not end up dealing him for future assets. Scott Powers of The Athletic reports (subscription link) that the deal the team put on the table was a three-year offer worth somewhere around $4MM per season, essentially doubling his expiring contract. Donato did exactly what any player on an expiring contract hopes to do — post career-best numbers and set himself up for a sizable payday. The reported $4MM per season may not be a large enough figure to keep Donato in Chicago.

Other UFAs: F Andreas Athanasiou, F Zach Sanford, F Brett Seney, F Cole Guttman

Projected Cap Space

General manager Kyle Davidson will have plenty of financial flexibility this summer, as the team has nearly $30MM in cap space, per PuckPedia. If the team is serious about keeping Donato and Kaiser in Chicago long-term, their new contracts would certainly put a dent into that space, but would still leave Davidson with ample flexibility to pursue additional free agents.

2025 Free Agency| Chicago Blackhawks| Free Agent Focus 2025

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