Poll: Who Will Win The 2026 Conn Smythe?
The 2026 Stanley Cup Finals could wrap up as soon as Sunday night, with the Carolina Hurricanes holding a 3-2 advantage over the Vegas Golden Knights. Both teams have been led to the finals by standout stars, building a strong pool of Conn Smythe Trophy candidates no matter who wins the Cup.
A strong performance in the Finals is the best way to stick in voters’ minds and no player has stood out more than Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal. The 38 year old has scored six goals and seven points in five games this series. That is more than Staal had scored through the entirety of the first three rounds – when he notched five points in 13 games. Playing under the lead of head coach Rod Brind’Amour – who spearheaded Carolina’s last Cup win in 2006 – Staal has found his next gear at exactly the right time.
But – Brind’Amour didn’t win the Conn Smythe in 2006, and Staal lacks scoring across the full postseason. A better standout could be playoff scoring leader Mitch Marner, who has blossomed into a playoff star in his first postseason run with the Golden Knights. He has recorded eight different multi-point games, including two four-point performances, en route to 29 points in just 21 playoff games. Marner has looked a cut above the rest for the last two months. That standing – marked by his lofty scoring – could be enough to earn Marner the Conn Smythe regardless of the series outcome. Connor McDavid was bestowed that honor in 2024, though he finished those playoffs with an incredible 42 points in 25 games. Marner’s chances would rise significantly should Vegas mount a comeback – one that would likely be led by his electric offense.
If the trophy does land in Carolina, MVP could go to any member of the Hurricanes best line: Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake, and Logan Stankoven. The trio has clicked perfectly in the postseason. Hall and Blake lead the Hurricanes in playoff scoring with 18 points in as many games, while Stankoven ranks fourth with 15 points. Brind’Amour has leaned on this line to dig Carolina out of the defensive end and double-shift in important moments of the game. Their impact allowed the explosive styles of Nikolaj Ehlers, Seth Jarvis, and Sebastian Aho to shine. Opponents simply can’t cover all of Carolina’s top performers – and that begins with the hard-nosed impact made by each of Hall, Blake, and Stankoven.
There appeared to be a clear Conn Smythe option in Carolina’s net, before the Stanley Cup Finals. Starter Frederik Andersen was in the midst of a stellar postseason after recording 12 wins and a .931 save percentage through 13 games of the first three series. But the wheels fell off in the Finals, where Andersen recorded a .815 save percentage in 162 minutes before being pulled partway through Game 3. Rookie replacement Brandon Bussi has stood out in two-and-a-half games since. He has set a .908 save percentage and could very well end up the piece that pushed the Hurricanes over the line. That may not be enough to earn Bussi MVP consideration, though his emergence has certainly pulled down Andersen’s odds.
The top-notch, two-way impact of Mark Stone and Jack Eichel, or even the solid performances before the Finals from Vegas starter Carter Hart, could also push voters to consider their choices. A Vegas win on Sunday night could respark the debate, too, offering one more chance for players to make their case for the award. With the season set to reach its peak, who do you think will take home playoff MVP?
Who Will Win The 2026 Conn Smythe Trophy?
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Jordan Staal, CAR 55% (734)
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Mitch Marner, VGK 28% (377)
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Taylor Hall, CAR 7% (94)
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Other (Comment Below) 6% (84)
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Jackson Blake, CAR 3% (42)
Total votes: 1,331
Morning Notes: Larkin, Kuefler, Hurricanes
Dylan Larkin is believed to be entertaining three popular trade destinations after requesting a move from the Detroit Red Wings. Not being on his initial list won’t stop other teams from calling on the top center, though. Always involved in trade buzz, the Dallas Stars are believed to have checked in on Larkin’s trade price per EliteProspects’ Sean Shapiro.
In what would feel like the antithesis to Mike Modano‘s heralded move to Detroit in 2010 in many ways, Dallas could muster a package rich enough to land Detroit’s star forward of the last decade. Larkin has routinely rivaled 70 points, with strong defensive performances, over each of the last five seasons. His consistency – and potential for even more in a strong offense – will make him an expensive asset for the rebuilding Red Wings. Dallas may need to part with promising youngsters like Lian Bichsel, Thomas Harley, or Emil Hemming in the name of bolstering Detroit’s future. In return, they would land a strong successor for the aging Tyler Seguin and Matt Duchene. Larkin is signed to a manageable $8.7MM cap hit through the 2030-31 season, which would align with potential-battery mate Roope Hintz‘s contract.
Larkin would need to approve of any trade but Dallas proved their ability to pull off blockbusters with their acquisiton of Mikko Rantanen. They will be a notable team to follow as the saga around Larkin’s move grows.
Other notes from around the league:
- The New York Islanders have signed AHL forward Daylan Kuefler to a two-year, two-way contract extension per NHL.com’s Stefen Rosner. The deal will carry an $850K salary in the NHL and $105K salary in the AHL in year-one, then grow to a $900K salary in the NHL and $125K salary in the AHL in year-two per Rosner. $290K of that salary will be guaranteed. This deal marks a tidy bit of assurance for the third-year pro. This year marked Kuefler’s first full season with the Bridgeport Islanders. He finished the season with 25 points and 64 penalty minutes in 67 games. He will likely hang onto a depth role in the AHL lineup as he grows into a leading role on the newly-unveiled Hamilton Hammers.
- Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen took the practice sheet and was announced as “available” for Game 5, per ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski. Despite that, the Hurricanes seem set to keep Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov as their tandem after a Game 4 win. Bussi has stopped 36 of the 40 shots he has faced since replacing Andersen partway through Game 3. The decision came after Andersen paved over the first three rounds, marked by 13 wins and a .910 save percentage in 16 games. It seems the hot hand will hold favor in the Hurricanes net, though. Until Bussi struggles, Andersen’s action may be limited to the practice sheet.
Hurricanes’ Goaltending Picture Shifts As Bussi Pushes For Game 5 Start
The Carolina Hurricanes’ goaltending situation remains one of the biggest storylines of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, with the crease decision for Game 5 carrying major implications as the series returns to Raleigh tied at 2-2.
As first reported by Emily Kaplan of ESPN, the Hurricanes made a bold move in Game 4, healthy scratching veteran Frederik Andersen in favor of Brandon Bussi. Bussi delivered in his first playoff start, helping Carolina even the series with a road victory.
Andersen, 36, had been rock-solid through the first three rounds, entering the Final with an incredible 12-1 postseason record while leading the Hurricanes past Ottawa, Philadelphia, and Montreal.
However, the Golden Knights’ heavy forecheck, interior pressure, and ability to force him out of position exposed vulnerabilities in the first three games of the series. His performance dipped noticeably, prompting the coaching staff to make a change. Kaplan’s reporting confirmed the scratch was performance-driven, with no injury concerns.
Bussi, 27, emerged as one of the NHL’s feel-good stories in the regular season, posting a 31-6-2 record in 39 appearances. The goaltender had seen limited postseason action until the Final but made a strong impression in relief during Game 3, stopping 18 of 19 shots. His Game 4 start and solid outing have now pushed him firmly into the conversation as the legitimate starting goaltender the rest of the way.
With the series knotted at 2-2, head coach Rod Brind’Amour faces a high-stakes choice between his three goaltenders. With Bussi fresh off a strong relief appearance and a Game 4 win, the younger netminder brings energy, athleticism, and regular-season dominance. Should he turn back to Anderson, the body of work this postseason (despite the series struggles) still commands respect. Then there is Pyotr Kochetkov who served as Bussi’s backup in Game 4 despite his own lengthy absence. His availability adds another layer of fluidity, though he remains the long-shot option.
Brind’Amour has not yet committed to a Game 5 starter, and as reported by Hurricanes beat writer Walt Ruff, all signs are leading toward indicates the call will be made “at some point.”
Brandon Bussi Gets The Start In Game Four
Brandon Bussi will make his first career playoff start tonight in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, per Renaud Lavoie with TVASports, as the Carolina Hurricanes turn to their rookie netminder with the series hanging in the balance. The Vegas Golden Knights lead the series two games to one, with puck drop for Game 4 set for 7 p.m. CT at T-Mobile Arena.
It’s a remarkable spot for a 27-year-old who began the season as insurance. Undrafted and a career AHLer until this year, Bussi signed with Florida on July 1 before Carolina claimed him off waivers on October 5. When Pyotr Kochetkov‘s lower-body injury limited him to nine games, Bussi seized the net, going 31-6-2 with a 2.47 GAA and .895 save percentage across a team-high 39 starts.
Still, he hadn’t seen a second of playoff action until Saturday, and he made it count. Entering Game 3 down 4-0, Bussi stopped the first 18 shots he faced, including a Mitch Marner penalty shot, while Carolina ripped off four straight third-period goals (three in a Cup Final-record 39 seconds) to force overtime. Shea Theodore‘s double-OT winner, a bank off the end boards and Bussi’s pad, was the only blemish.
The decision says as much about Frederik Andersen as it does about Bussi. After a dominant 12-1 run through three rounds with a 1.41 GAA, the 36-year-old has been tagged for 12 goals on 65 shots in this series, a 4.44 GAA and .815 save percentage. Andersen also took a hit to the head in Game 3 and didn’t skate Monday in what the team called a maintenance day.
Rod Brind’Amour kept his decision quiet until the last possible moment. Now the suspense shifts to whether Bussi can help the Canes tie the series at two.
Snapshots: Bussi, Carrier, Radkov
After last night’s remarkable comeback to force overtime in Game 3, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour avoided committing to either of Frederik Andersen or Brandon Bussi for Tuesday’s crucial Game 4 in Vegas, noted by Cory Lavalette of North State Journal. A decision will be made after tomorrow’s practice.
Down 4-0 going into the third period, Brind’Amour put in Bussi, the first Stanley Cup Playoff experience for the 27-year-old who hadn’t seen any game action in nearly two months. If nothing else, it was in the interest of getting some rest for the veteran Andersen and looking ahead to the next contest. Instead, the Canes stormed back with Bussi making several big saves. It was a theme consistent with what has been a year to remember for Bussi, claimed off waivers from Florida in the fall as an unknown name who made his NHL debut in October on the way to 31 wins in the regular season.
Ultimately coming up short in overtime was a damper on the case for Bussi, but to be fair, it was a fluky goal which gave the Golden Knights the double-overtime win. Otherwise, the 6’4″ netminder turned away 18 shots up to that point. Down 2-1 in the series, by no means are the Hurricanes on the precipice of defeat just yet, but Brind’Amour faces a crossroads between a fresh but unproven up-and-comer or the 36-year-old who offers a .910 save percentage with 13 wins in the postseason, where the grind of the playoffs has taken a toll.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Sticking with the Hurricanes, Brind’Amour offered no update on William Carrier, but he is “hopeful” the forward will be good to go on Tuesday, relayed by Chip Alexander of Raleigh News & Observer. The former Golden Knight played just 6:51 last night due to an apparent upper-body injury. Losing someone so early into what became a five-period game is never ideal, but the fourth liner is averaging just over 10 minutes of ice time throughout the postseason. In his 16 playoff games thus far, Carrier has four assists. If he’s unable to play on Tuesday, Brind’Amour has two well rested but polar opposite forwards to choose from; Jesperi Kotkaniemi or Nicolas Deslauriers. Kotkaniemi hasn’t played at all in the playoffs, recording just nine points in 42 games on the season. Deslauriers made just one appearance during the run, Game 4 of the first round against Ottawa. It would be a nice story for the 35-year-old to get into a Finals game, with just six playoff games under his belt so far. Yet as an enforcer, he’d hardly make a difference in Brind’Amour’s ability to roll lines, facing a 3-1 deficit if they can’t nab a win.
- Montreal Canadiens prospect Arseni Radkov was traded to the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the QMJHL, per the team. Draft pick compensation is headed to the Saint John Sea Dogs, of whom Radkov played 17 games. Chosen by the Habs in the third round of the 2025 draft (82nd overall), Radkov had committed to the University of Massachusetts, however the news indicates he’ll run it back in the QMJHL after an up-and-down debut North American season. Starting with Blainville-Boisbriand, Radkov was traded to Saint John after posting a .894 save percentage. His statistics didn’t improve after the trade, as the Sea Dogs were dispatched in the first round of the postseason by the top seeded Moncton Wildcats, boasing top Utah prospect Caleb Desnoyers. The 6’4″ 18-year-old will look to turn the page with a fresh start in Val-d’Or, chosen by the Canadiens with a pick acquired from New Jersey in exchange for fellow goaltender Jake Allen.
Hurricanes Sign Brandon Bussi To Three-Year Extension
The Hurricanes announced they’ve signed goaltender Brandon Bussi to a three-year extension. The deal is worth $1.9MM annually for a total value of $5.7MM. He was set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but the new deal will keep him under contract with Carolina through the 2028-29 campaign. He’ll earn a $850K salary and $150K signing bonus in 2026-27, a $1MM salary and $850K signing bonus in 2027-28, and a $1MM salary with a $1.85MM signing bonus in the last year, per PuckPedia. He’ll also carry a 10-team no-trade clause in 2028-29.
Bussi, 27, has had a dream start to his NHL career. Claimed off waivers from the Panthers at the beginning of the season to serve as the third-stringer behind Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov, the undrafted free agent has since emerged as the Canes’ clear starting option in what’s been a tumultuous season for the rest of their crease.
While the Western Michigan product had a strong AHL track record entering the year, he didn’t have a single NHL start to his name. He’s now made 27 of them with a raucous 23-3-1 record, putting up a .906 SV% and 2.16 GAA with two shutouts. Just before the break, he broke into the top 10 in the league in terms of goals saved above expected with 11.0, per MoneyPuck.
With the struggling Andersen set to ride off into the open market this summer and Kochetkov likely done for the year with a hip injury, Carolina has a ton invested in Bussi being able to keep up that level of play. With no blue-chip prospects ready to succeed Andersen as the starter and no high-end long-term options set to be available in free agency, the Canes needed some insurance past this season as well. Retaining Bussi at such a marginal cap hit gives them that insurance with virtually no risk, even if his numbers regress and he settles back in as more of a No. 2/3 option.
Bussi’s strong career minor-league numbers suggest he’s got a good chance of being able to keep this up, though. Signed by the Bruins as an undrafted free agent in 2022, he was an AHL All-Star as a rookie while putting up a .924 SV% and 22-5-4 record in 32 games for Providence. He remained in the Boston organization until reaching unrestricted free agent status last summer, landing a two-way deal with the Panthers before being lost on waivers in training camp. In four AHL seasons before hitting the open market, he made 111 appearances with a 2.61 GAA, .915 SV%, eight shutouts, and a 63-31-13 record.
His lack of NHL experience was always going to make it hard for him to land an eye-popping cap hit on his next deal, though. Reports emerged last month that the Canes were working to get him extended. The few reasonable comparables for Bussi’s camp in the last several years all topped out in the high $1MM range on a short-term multi-year deal, so this one doesn’t push the envelope by very much.
It’s nonetheless a shrewd signing by general manager Eric Tulsky, who’s essentially given Carolina a worst-case scenario of Bussi and Kochetkov as next season’s tandem if Andersen walks and they don’t pursue an external replacement via trade or free agency. Bussi will be 31 years old when his deal is up, joining a potential 2029 UFA goalie class of Thatcher Demko, Spencer Knight, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Linus Ullmark.
Hurricanes Working To Extend Brandon Bussi
Most of the smoke around first-year goalies this season has rightfully come against the youngest ones – Yaroslav Askarov, Arturs Silovs, and Jesper Wallstedt featuring at the top of the class. One of the brightest stories, though, has come in Carolina.
27-year-old Brandon Bussi started the season as the Hurricanes’ third-string option with no NHL experience. He was claimed off waivers from the Panthers, who had signed him to a two-way deal just this past offseason, to serve as insurance for a banged-up Pyotr Kochetkov.
Fast forward past the halfway mark, and the former AHL standout in the Bruins’ system would likely be Carolina’s Game 1 starter if the playoffs started tomorrow. He’s now wrestled away the lion’s share of playing time from the struggling Frederik Andersen and, with Kochetkov likely done for the season, there’s little in-house challenge for him as the No. 1 option.
His raw numbers are good but not great. Behind one of the league’s elite possession systems in Carolina, they don’t need to be. His .904 SV% and 2.20 GAA in 22 starts have been enough to propel the Canes to a raucous 18-3-1 record when he’s between the pipes. That’s worked out to 7.4 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck, 18th in the league. Among goalies with at least 20 games played, his 0.332 GSAx/60 ranks 12th.
That promising breakout story, plus Andersen’s pending unrestricted free agency and unlikelihood of returning, has the Canes deep in talks to get a contract extension worked out for Bussi, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports. “Everything that I’ve been told is that things are positive and it looks like it will get there,” Pagnotta said. “I would imagine, in the foreseeable future, Brandon Bussi will be extended with the Hurricanes, so good news on that front.”
What that deal may look like is hard to pin down. Initially signed by Boston as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan in 2022, he’s only ever been on entry-level or two-way deals, with the latter all carrying league-minimum cap hits. A one-way deal worth at least seven figures is a given. Whether Carolina pushes for a multi-year deal remains to be seen, but with no young goalies in the system making a real push for NHL ice time, it’s likely they envision he and Kochetkov as their tandem for the foreseeable future, barring an external upgrade – although Kochetkov could be a UFA himself in 2027.
His age makes it hard to imagine his extension being a particularly rich one. The last real comparable is Alex Lyon landing a two-year, $1.8MM contract from the Red Wings in free agency in 2023, following his age-30 breakout as a legit NHL option with the Panthers. It’s a richer goalie market now, but seeing Bussi land more than $2MM annually on a two-year pact would be a sharp departure from usual trends.
Carolina Hurricanes Claim Brandon Bussi
The Carolina Hurricanes have claimed netminder Brandon Bussi off of waivers from the Florida Panthers, according to a team announcement. The Hurricanes also announced a corresponding move, placing goalie Cayden Primeau on waivers for the purposes of reassignment to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.
On paper the Hurricanes’ NHL tandem of Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov appears set in stone, and makes this move something of a surprise. It’s possible the Hurricanes made this claim with an eye to goaltending depth in the AHL, but with Primeau already in place as the organizational number-three (assuming he clears waivers) there doesn’t appear to be a significant need to add Bussi.
As a result, at this point, the clearest explanation for this waiver claim is that it is insurance, similar to how the Sabres signed Alexandar Georgiev before an injury to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was ever reported.
With that said, in the case that there is not an un-reported injury that prompted this waiver claim, there is another potential explanation that relates to the current state of the Hurricanes’ goalie depth:
Taking a wider-view look at the Hurricanes’ situation in net overall, the situation behind Primeau in Chicago (assuming he clears waivers) is somewhat more wide open. The Wolves currently roster three goalies below Primeau on the depth chart: Ruslan Khazheyev, Amir Miftakhov, and Nikita Quapp. The trio, combined, have just 42 games worth of AHL experience, and just one Khazheyev, played in the AHL last season. (.876 save percentage in 20 games played)
Quapp, 22, spent 2024-25 with Düsseldorf in the German DEL, and is entering his first pro season in North America. Miftakhov, 25, was stellar in 2024-25 with the KHL’s Ak Bars Kazan (.927 save percentage in 30 games) but has not played in North America since his 2021-22 split between the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch and ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears.
So, with that in mind, the reasoning behind this waiver claim becomes a bit clearer. Assuming there is no at-this-point unreported injury to either of the two Hurricanes’ starters, and assuming the Hurricanes do not have an appetite to carry three goalies on their roster for an extended period (they’ll need to because of this claim, at least for Monday), it seems as though Bussi could end up on waivers at some point in the short-term future.
If this waiver claim was indeed made with an eye to reinforcing the Wolves due to the trio of young goalies’ relative inexperience at the AHL level, it is understandable that the club would elect to claim Bussi. As things currently stand, the Hurricanes are one claim of Primeau, or one Primeau injury, from having to rely on that aforementioned trio to provide all of the goaltending for AHL Chicago. While it’s possible one (or more) of that trio is more than up to the task of playing a heavy workload without much prior AHL experience, the Hurricanes can’t be blamed if they have some uneasiness considering that prospect.
So, with this claim of Bussi, they have given themselves an opportunity to protect Chicago from that potential scenario. The 27-year-old Bussi is an ideal candidate for this kind of waiver claim for multiple reasons. First and foremost, he has no NHL experience, so he would not be the kind of goalie a team in need of NHL reinforcement in net would be expected to claim. That increases the odds Bussi will pass through waivers should the Hurricanes attempt to send him down.
Additionally, the Florida Panthers’ AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, are still left with four netminders under contract after Bussi’s claim. Although none of Cooper Black, Kirill Gerasimyuk, Evan Cormier, or Michael Simpson are particularly experienced at the AHL level, the sheer volume of netminders set to compete for a role in the crease in Charlotte would, theoretically, decrease the odds that Florida will try to re-claim Bussi should Carolina try to sneak him through waivers.
If one of those goalies has been particularly impressive in the training camp/preseason process and looks poised to steal a greater role in the AHL than the Panthers previously expected, those odds of a re-claim from the Panthers would decrease further still.
Bussi’s stellar performance in the AHL thus far in his career (.915 save percentage across 111 games) does complicate those odds, but if the Hurricanes have room to keep him on their NHL roster through Monday, it may be worth the chance of trying to place him back on waivers in order to reinforce Chicago. Based on their claim today, it appears the Hurricanes might agree.
This entire AHL explanation could be rendered meaningless if one of the Hurricanes’ NHL goalies is injured, of course, or if the Hurricanes surprisingly decide they want to carry three goalies.
Waivers: 10/4/25
With a little over 48 hours remaining before season-opening rosters need to be submitted to the league, it’s expected to be a very busy weekend on the waiver wire. Not surprisingly, it’s another big list of players on waivers today as 17 players have been put there, per PuckPedia. Meanwhile, all 12 players on waivers yesterday passed through unclaimed, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman (Twitter link). Here’s today’s list of players on the wire:
Dallas Stars
F Cameron Hughes
D Vladislav Kolyachonok
Florida Panthers
D Tobias Bjornfot
G Brandon Bussi
New Jersey Devils
F Thomas Bordeleau
F Angus Crookshank
F Brian Halonen
F Zack MacEwen
D Colton White
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
D Alexander Alexeyev
D Ryan Graves
F Rafael Harvey-Pinard
F Bokondji Imama
F Samuel Poulin
San Jose Sharks
Utah Hockey Club
Graves is the headliner in today’s class, primarily due to his contract which has four years left on it. We covered his situation in more detail earlier today.
Among the rest of the players, Bjornfot is no stranger to being in this situation but he has been claimed twice before. He spent most of last season in the minors with Florida but did get into 14 games with the Panthers and has 134 games at the top level under his belt. Alexeyev played sparingly last season with Washington not wanting to risk losing him for nothing on waivers but it appears that Pittsburgh doesn’t have that same level of hesitance. Meanwhile, Kolyachonok was claimed off waivers by the Penguins back in February before being flipped to Dallas over the summer so it’s possible another team might have their eye on him as well. Gilbert signed with the Flyers this summer after splitting last season between Ottawa and Buffalo but while the thought was that he’d at least be able to land a seventh role, that isn’t the case.
As for the forwards, San Jose’s White is by far the most experienced with 323 NHL appearances. However, he has primarily been an AHL player in recent years and it’s likely that he will clear and be assigned to the Barracuda. Poulin was a 2019 first-round pick but hasn’t seen much time with the Penguins, including just seven games last season. But at 24, he’s young enough to potentially be of interest to a team that wants to take a longer look at him. Bordeleau held his own in 27 games with the Sharks in 2023-24 but only played once for them last season before being moved in July in a swap of AHL players. But like Poulin, he’s young enough (23) to potentially draw attention.
These players will be on waivers until 1:00 PM CT on Sunday.
Two-Way Deals: 7/1/25
As major signings come in around the NHL today with the 2025-26 league year beginning, teams are shoring up their minor-league depth as well by signing players to two-way contracts. We’re keeping track of those signings today in this article, which will be continuously updated. Deals are one year unless otherwise noted.
Boston Bruins
F Riley Tufte ($775K NHL) – Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub
D Jonathan Aspirot ($775K NHL) – Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub
G Luke Cavallin ($775K NHL) – Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub
Buffalo Sabres
F Riley Fiddler-Schultz ($865K NHL/$90K SB/$35K PB/$85K AHL) – PuckPedia // two years, entry-level
F Carson Meyer ($775K NHL/$350K AHL Y1 – $375K AHL Y2) – PuckPedia // two years
D Mason Geertsen ($775K NHL/$425K AHL) – Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet // two years
D Zachary Jones ($900K NHL/$550K AHL) – PuckPedia
D Zach Metsa ($775K NHL/$250K AHL/$325K gt’d) – PuckPedia
Calgary Flames
D Nick Cicek ($775K NHL) – team release
Carolina Hurricanes
G Amir Miftakhov ($775K NHL/$100K AHL/$240K gt’d) – PuckPedia
Chicago Blackhawks
F Dominic Toninato ($850K NHL) – team release // two years
Colorado Avalanche
F T.J. Tynan (unknown) – team release
D Jack Ahcan (unknown) – team release
D Ronald Attard ($775K NHL/$450K AHL/$500K gt’d) – PuckPedia
Columbus Blue Jackets
F Owen Sillinger (unknown) – team release
D Christian Jaros (unknown) – team release
Dallas Stars
D Niilopekka Muhonen (unknown) – team release // three years, entry-level
Edmonton Oilers
D Riley Stillman ($775K NHL/$475K AHL) – PuckPedia // two years
G Matt Tomkins ($775K NHL/$400K AHL/$450 Y2 gt’d) – PuckPedia // two years
Florida Panthers
F Nolan Foote ($775K NHL/$150K AHL/$250K gt’d) – PuckPedia
F Jack Studnicka ($775K NHL/$450K AHL) – Chris Johnston of TSN/The Athletic
G Brandon Bussi ($775K NHL/$400K AHL) – PuckPedia
G Kirill Gerasimyuk (unknown) – team release // two years, entry-level
Los Angeles Kings
F Cole Guttman ($775K NHL/$450K Y1 – $475K Y2 AHL/$475K gt’d Y1 – $500K gt’d Y2) – PuckPedia // two years
Minnesota Wild
F Tyler Pitlick ($775K NHL/$300K Y1 – $350K Y2 AHL/$325K gt’d Y1 – $375K gt’d Y2) – PuckPedia // two years
D Ben Gleason ($800K NHL/$475K AHL) – PuckPedia
Montreal Canadiens
F Alex Belzile (unknown) – team release
D Nathan Clurman ($775K NHL/$125K AHL/$140K gt’d) – PuckPedia
New Jersey Devils
D Calen Addison ($775K NHL/$325K AHL/$400K gt’d) – PuckPedia
F Angus Crookshank ($775K NHL/$425K AHL/$475K gt’d) – PuckPedia // two years, one-way in 2026-27
New York Islanders
F Matthew Highmore (unknown) – team release
D Ethan Bear ($775K NHL/$325K AHL/$425K gt’d) – PuckPedia
D Cole McWard (unknown) – team release
New York Rangers
D Derrick Pouliot ($775K NHL/$400K AHL/$425K gt’d Y1 – $450K gt’d Y2) – PuckPedia // two years
Ottawa Senators
F Wyatt Bongiovanni ($775K NHL/$160K AHL) – PuckPedia
F Olle Lycksell ($775K NHL/$450K AHL/$500K gt’d) – Darren Dreger of TSN
Philadelphia Flyers
F Lane Pederson ($775K NHL/$525K AHL) – PuckPedia
San Jose Sharks
F Jimmy Huntington (unknown) – team release
F Samuel Laberge (unknown) – team release
F Colin White ($775K NHL/$425K AHL/$475K gt’d) – PuckPedia
D Cole Clayton (unknown) – team release
St. Louis Blues
F Matt Luff ($775K NHL/$400K AHL) – PuckPedia
Tampa Bay Lightning
F Nicholas Abruzzese (unknown) – team release
F Tristan Allard (unknown) – team release // two years, entry-level
F Boris Katchouk (unknown) – team release
D Simon Lundmark ($775K NHL/$250K AHL/$350K gt’d) – PuckPedia // two years
G Ryan Fanti ($775K NHL/$80K AHL) – PuckPedia
Utah Mammoth
F Kailer Yamamoto ($775K NHL/$500K AHL) – PuckPedia
D Scott Perunovich ($775K NHL/$400K AHL/$500K gt’d) – PuckPedia
Vancouver Canucks
F Joseph LaBate ($775K NHL/$350K AHL) – PuckPedia
F Mackenzie MacEachern ($775K NHL/$575K AHL) – PuckPedia // two years
D Jimmy Schuldt ($775K NHL/$500K AHL) – PuckPedia // two years
Winnipeg Jets
F Phillip Di Giuseppe ($775K NHL/$450K AHL) – PuckPedia
D Kale Clague (unknown) – Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet