Connor Bedard Hopes Patrick Kane Will Return To Blackhawks
Two teams remain in the running for future Hall-of-Fame winger Patrick Kane. Now 37 years old, Kane’s next contract will likely be his last – and he hopes to spend it on a homecoming. That could be with the Buffalo Sabres, the club that Kane grew up watching from upstate New York, or it could be with the Chicago Blackhawks, where his career blossomed en route to three Stanley Cup wins. Current Blackhawks star Connor Bedard has made it clear that he is hoping for the latter. In a press scrum captured by Scott Powers of The Athletic, the freshly-signed Bedard said:
I hope so… I can’t imagine his first game back at the UC, the reaction he’d get and how much juice that would bring not only to our team but our fans as well… You talk about the legacy aspect of it, but as a team, it would make us a way better team. He’s still an amazing player.
Closing out his career in Chicago would only feel right for Kane. He became a superstar almost immediately after Chicago drafted him with the first-overall pick in 2007. Kane scored 21 goals and 72 points in his rookie year, in tandem with fellow rookie and premier playmaker Jonathan Toews. Together, the two formed one of the most complete duos in NHL history – with Kane offering sharp goal-scoring and high-finesse skills while Toews served as the setup man and two-way star. Their presence helped Chicago strongarm the Western Conference for much of the 2010s, with a dominance that peaked with Stanley Cup wins in 2010, 2013, and 2015.
Kane was a routine point-per-game scorer in that stretch, though he routinely missed 15-to-20 games each season due to injury. He played a full season in 2015-16 and made the most of his prime year, finishing second in the NHL with 46 goals and first in the league with 106 points. Kane crossed the century mark again three seasons later, netting 44 goals and 110 points in 81 games of the 2018-19 season. His pair of 100-point seasons stand as Kane’s career-years, though he crossed 70 points in 10 seasons and 80 points in six seasons.
Kane has remained a cornerstone of his team’s offense into his late-30s. He scored 41 assists and 57 points in just 67 games with the Detroit Red Wings last season. That production continued Kane’s run of strong scoring in Detroit. He has scored 163 points in 189 games with the Red Wings, or an average of 71 points per 82 games, through three seasons.
As has become well-known across the hockey world, Kane’s offense comes with major tradeoffs on defense. He has recorded 2.77 expected goals-against per 60 minutes of ice time since joining the Red Wings in 2023. That mark ranks as the 56th-worst in the NHL in that span, on a list that ends with Bedard himself. The Blackhawks don’t need to kneecap their defense any further after allowing the fifth-most goals in the NHL last season. Then again, Kane’s presence could bolster the top-six, while allowing young prospects like Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov the chance to ease into their roles. Kane’s defensive deficiencies won’t be unfamiliar to the Blackhawks – but the value he could bring with a return to the United Center, in terms of mentorship and fan service, could outweigh the negatives in a year where the Hawks likely won’t push for playoff contention.
The Largest NHL Cap Hits Signed In The 2026 Offseason
Every year, with the NHL Salary Cap rising, articles like these will constantly highlight the growth of hockey. Players are looking to make more money, and teams are avoiding sticker shock in the moment of inking the deal.
As major free agents have put pen to paper, and some remain in play to receive their payday. Most notably, UFA’s Patrick Kane, Anthony Mantha, and Vladimir Tarasenko remain open to veteran NHL contracts, and RFAs Jason Robertson and Adam Fantilli, all need new deals too and may even join this list.
So far, we’ve seen over 200 NHL contracts signed. Today, we will examine this offseason’s largest contracts signed by analyzing which players have the largest cap hit out of the signings made in the summer of 2026. Considering players can (and have) inked extensions ahead of their status for the 2027-28 season, we’ll include those deals in as well.
1. Leo Carlsson — 5 years, $18MM AAV ($90.00MM), Anaheim Ducks
I think a lot of us expected a large sum of money to head to Carlsson’s bank account; however, I don’t think any of us saw him ending up first on this list. The former No. 2 overall pick in 2023 received a lucrative offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers, which the Anaheim Ducks matched. With Verbeek retaining the young Swedish phenom, it’ll be interesting when we look back on the drama from this past week, and the gamble to use 17.3% of Anaheim’s cap hit on the 21-year-old, and how it impacted the Ducks and the NHL.
2. Connor Bedard — 5 years, $15MM AAV (75.00MM), Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago had to open its checkbooks this offseason but paid less money than Anaheim did for the player taken after his No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NHL draft. One of the NHL’s brightest young superstars and the poster boy of the next generation of Blackhawks will make less money than Carlsson despite scoring around 60 more points than him. Nonetheless, Bedard is third in the NHL among the highest-paid players and will be a free agent again just before his prime at age 26. It should make the Hawks happy that situationally, their star man is committed to the Windy City.
3. Bowen Byram — 6 years, $12.5MM AAV (75.00MM), Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks found their No. 1 defenseman, but it cost them a hefty price to do so, which included trading away the 2026 fourth-overall pick. Byram wanted to be the go-to man on the blue line for an NHL club, and this fits for Chicago. The funny way to put this is that in 2027-28, when the contract kicks in, Byram will have the same income as Connor McDavid and a higher annual paycheck than his former Sabres teammate, Rasmus Dahlin. Last season was the former No. 4 overall pick’s best season offensively, but Chicago is hoping that he’ll elevate that production with the keys to the backend.
4. Nico Hischier — 5 years, $11.7MM AAV ($58.5MM), New Jersey Devils
The Devils wanted to extend their captain this offseason, and they checked that box. The 2017 first overall pick was entering the final season of a seven-year, $50.75MM deal signed with New Jersey back in 2019. Now, the Devils will keep their 27-year-old top-line center through the 2031-32 season while giving him around an 65% salary increase. Rightfully so for one of three Devils to score over 300 points up to today (1st. Jesper Bratt, 418 points and 2nd. Jack Hughes, 407 points), that’s an integral piece to retain towards the ultimate goal.
5. Pavel Dorofeyev — 7 years, $11.0MM AAV ($77.00MM), New York Rangers
The Rangers have lost some key pieces over the course of 2026. Their retool should see a bump from Dorofeyev, who is receiving a lucrative pay raise from his former contracts that paid below $2MM AAV. New York has made him the second-highest earning rostered player for 2026-27, behind fellow countryman Igor Shesterkin. They hope that the 25-year-old Russian can build on his two 30+ goal campaigns and seamlessly fit in a new scene. Ideally, considering his deep playoff experience and elite scoring touch, he’s a huge core piece that’ll have to shine on Broadway.
6. Alex Tuch — 8 years, $10.5MM AAV ($84.00MM), Washington Capitals
It was pretty obvious that Tuch was the biggest UFA name on the market. The consideration of whether to keep the veteran forward was one of the Sabres’ biggest decisions after making the playoffs for the first time in a while. Alas, letting go of a hometown player with the contract Washington is paying is the direction the Sabres went. Tuch will make a lot of money until his age 38 season, but for a tenacious forward who’s proven to perform in previous playoff stints, he’s a key forward Washington could use.
7. Ivan Demidov — 8 years, 9.15MM AAV ($73.2MM), Montreal Canadiens
The youngest player on this list will be a Hab for a long time. The 20-year-old Russian winger won’t need another contract until 2035, and at the cap hit he signed for, GM Kent Hughes was probably ecstatic knowing he inked Demidov to this deal after the Flyers went ahead and reset the market entirely. When this contract takes effect in 2027-28, as of this writing, the former fifth-overall pick will be around the 40th-highest-paid player in the NHL. Chances are, if his sophomore season saw above 60 points in production, who knows what Demidov will produce in his prime based on that trajectory.
8. Trevor Zegras — 4 years, 9.125MM AAV ($36.5MM), Philadelphia Flyers
The former No. 9 overall pick in 2019 just became the Flyers highest paid-player this offseason, beating Travis Konecny‘s $8.75MM AAV. After filing for arbitration, the 25-year-old extends his time in Philadelphia after being traded there by the Anaheim Ducks in the summer of 2025. His 26 goals for 67 points in 81 games elevated the Flyers into a playoff position, all of which were career-high tallies in his first year in a different shade of orange. The young American star is locked down until 2030 as part of Philadelphia’s build-up into what they hope to be an extension and growth of contending with a young group for the playoffs within the East.
9. John Carlson — 2 years, 8.5MM AAV ($17.00MM), Tampa Bay Lightning
The veteran is headed to a sure playoff contender, an environment he’s been in his whole career. Carlson wanted to remain out east after being dealt to the Ducks, and given the Lightning’s unwillingness to pay Raddysh on their right side for the long term, they opted for the more sure bet of an established former Stanley Cup winner. Having J.J. Moser and Erik Cernak on the right side as well will round out one of the league’s more formidable blue lines with Carlson in the fold. Don’t forget he’s one of three 35+ aged defensemen, along with Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh.
10. Rasmus Andersson — 7 years, $8.5MM AAV ($59.5MM), Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights are probably very happy bringing Andersson back into the fold, especially after dealing away two top-64 draft picks and Zach Whitecloud to Calgary at the deadline. As the top right defenseman UFA available, with Darren Raddysh signed and traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Andersson cashed in. What the Golden Knights can hope for is a bounce back from what many considered a lackluster playoff performance, registering six assists en route to a Stanley Cup Runner-up finish. Right defensemen with an offensive touch are available on the market once in a blue moon, and for a player who has provided 10+ goals and 50 points, it’s a reasonable payment until 2033.
Previously listed in Top 10:
11. Darren Raddysh — 8 years, $8.5MM AAV ($68.00MM), Toronto Maple Leafs
12. Jacob Trouba — 4 years, $8.25MM AAV ($33.00MM), San Jose Sharks
Accurate as of July 20, 10:28 AM ET, (h/t Puckpedia.com Player Dashboard: signings filtered since June 10, 2026)
Photo Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports, Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
Snapshots: Bedard, Fantilli, Sharpe, Pantelas
The five-year term on Connor Bedard’s new $75MM contract with Chicago raised some eyebrows as it only bought the Blackhawks one extra year of team control. Typically, in those situations, a team will prefer a shorter-term pact to give them another shot at a long-term agreement down the road. Bedard’s agent Don Meehan indicated to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times that while the team did pursue a longer-term agreement with their top player, they didn’t want to do a short-term agreement. Instead, they wanted some continuity and stability to send a signal both internally and externally, which they feel they get with this contract. Meehan also indicated that Bedard is taking an aggressive form of rehab in the hopes of getting back from his shoulder surgery before the projected four-month timeline that carries into November.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- With Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet matched and Bedard’s contract now done, the RFA center market shifts to Blue Jackets middleman Adam Fantilli. GM Don Waddell is doing his best to deter an offer sheet from coming to his youngster as he told Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch that they are prepared to match any offer sheet that comes his way. The 21-year-old had 24 goals and 35 assists in 81 games last season, his most productive year yet. They also have over $23MM in cap room, per PuckPedia, although goalie Jet Greaves and center Cole Sillinger both need new deals as well.
- Kings prospect Will Sharpe has a new team for the upcoming season. The blueliner announced on his Instagram page that he will play for St. Cloud State University next season. Sharpe was a seventh-round pick in 2025 and split last season between WHL Kelowna and Vancouver, notching five goals and 24 assists in 59 games. That actually represented a drop-off in production from the year before when he had 44 points in 66 contests. By going to the NCAA, Sharpe’s signing timeline is extended; had he not made the switch, Los Angeles would have had until June 1st to sign him.
- The opening for Sharpe to make the jump to the NCAA came on the heels of another Kings prospect deciding to make a change, relays Postmedia’s Steve Ewen. Originally expected to attend St. Cloud State this season, Giorgos Pantelas decided to stay in the WHL instead. The 18-year-old indicated that he’d go to school unless he was traded to Penticton, notes Perry Bergson of The Brandon Sun. Pantelas was a fifth-round pick last month, going 153rd overall. The defenseman had 37 points in 68 games last season with WHL Brandon.
Blackhawks Re-Sign Connor Bedard
There will be no long holdout into training camp for Chicago’s top player. The team announced that they’ve re-signed restricted free agent center Connor Bedard to a five-year deal that carries an AAV of $15MM.
GM Kyle Davidson released the following statement on the signing:
Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL. He utilizes all aspects of his game to not only be a constant threat, but to make the players around him better every time he steps on the ice. Connor’s strong work ethic and determination to always improve his game has set an extraordinary standard for our young core, and we’re excited for the incredible impact he’ll have in this next chapter of Blackhawks hockey.
A short while later, the team over at PuckPedia revealed the year-by-year breakdown of Bedard’s new contract:
| Year | NHL Salary | Signing Bonus | Trade Protection |
| 2026-27 | $7.2MM | $9.8MM | NA |
| 2027-28 | $6.2MM | $9.8MM | NA |
| 2028-29 | $5.2MM | $9.8MM | NA |
| 2029-30 | $4.2MM | $9.8MM | NA |
| 2030-31 | $3.2MM | $9.8MM | Full NMC |
Bedard was the first overall selection by the Blackhawks back in 2023 following a stellar junior career with WHL Regina. He put up 71 goals and 72 assists in 57 games in his draft-eligible year, leading to the belief that he could become a legitimate generational superstar at the NHL level.
Over his entry-level contract, Bedard has shown some flashes of high-end offensive skill although he doesn’t have the supporting cast around him for him to really take off just yet either. The 21-year-old had 61 points in 68 games in his rookie season, earning him the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. He followed that up with 68 points in his sophomore year while playing in all 82 games.
Last season, Bedard took another step forward. He set new career bests in goals (30), assists (45), and points (75) despite missing 13 games due to a shoulder injury and illness. That was enough for him to lead the Blackhawks in scoring for the third straight year. He also saw his playing time increase to just under 21 minutes per night as new head coach Jeff Blashill leaned on him heavily. As far as platform seasons go, it was a solid one.
Bedard may be hard-pressed to beat his point total by a significant amount this coming season. He suffered a shoulder injury earlier this month during offseason training, one that required surgery and a recovery period of four months. With the regular season now starting in September to accompany the expanded schedule, he’s likely to miss the first six weeks of the season. Depending on when he returns, he’s likely to miss 18 to 25 games as a result of the injury.
Clearly, the injury didn’t have much effect on contract discussions. The $15MM AAV makes him the third-highest-paid player in the league in that regard, behind only Minnesota winger Kirill Kaprizov and Anaheim center Leo Carlsson. Kaprizov wasn’t a direct comparable given that he was a pending unrestricted free agent but the contract handed out by Philadelphia via an offer sheet (one the Ducks matched) almost certainly played a role in discussions. Carlsson, of course, was the second overall pick in Bedard’s draft class and had a strong platform year himself. Without trying to provide enough of a poison pill to deter an offer-sheeting team from matching as the Flyers did with Carlsson, Chicago was able to get something done well below Carlsson’s $18MM price tag.
This contract covers Bedard’s four RFA-eligible seasons as well as one year of UFA eligibility. Accordingly, he will only be eligible for trade protection in the 2030-31 season.
More notably, this contract also seemingly sets the window for the Blackhawks to get themselves back into contention. Bedard is now set to become eligible to test the open market as a 26-year-old, where he should be in the prime of his career while setting himself up for a more lucrative payday at that time. If Chicago wants to keep its top player around at that time, they’ll probably need to be much further along in their competitive window than they were over Bedard’s first three professional campaigns. But that’s a concern for GM Kyle Davidson for another day. For today, he can be happy about having his franchise player locked up for the next half-decade.
Photo courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
Connor Bedard Out Four Months After Surgery
The Chicago Blackhawks will be without their best player to open the 2026-27 campaign. According to a team announcement, forward Connor Bedard is expected to miss four months following successful surgery on his left shoulder. Near the beginning of the offseason, Bedard suffered the injury during a freak accident in training.
Given the approximate recovery timeline provided by the Blackhawks, that puts Bedard’s return in mid-November. It’s worth mentioning that the NHL will have an 84-game regular season starting next year, which means Bedard will miss more games than he would have if the season had started later.
Chicago knows all too well what the loss of Bedard will bring. Through the first 31 games of the 2025-26 campaign, although they weren’t incredibly competitive, the Blackhawks had put together a respectable 13-12-6 record. The reason that 31 games is such an important cut-off is that Bedard was injured in their December 12th matchup, their 31st game of the season.
In that situation, Bedard suffered another freak injury in the faceoff dot against Brayden Schenn, then with the St. Louis Blues. It was an injury to the other shoulder and cost Bedard four weeks of his 2025-26 season. Chicago ended December with a 1-6-1 record without Bedard, losing all their momentum.
Assuming he remains healthy after returning from surgery, Bedard will likely fail to clear the 70-game played threshold for a third time. Despite playing in all 82 games his sophomore year, Bedard finished with 68 in his rookie season and 69 last year due to injuries.
Now, without their best point producer to begin the 2026-27 season, Bedard’s injury likely means that Frank Nazar will move to the team’s top line. Additionally, the Blackhawks do have youngster Anton Frondell, who will likely slot in down the middle of the team’s second line.
Frondell had a great showing toward the end of the 2025-26 campaign, but that’s still a lot of responsibility to put on a young center, especially if Chicago is looking to have a Sharks-style return to competitiveness this season. Regardless, the Blackhawks have some clarity on Bedard’s injury and timeline, and they can now look to iron out the rest of their opening night roster during training camp.
The Penguins Need To Find Their Next Superstar
It’s been decades since the Pittsburgh Penguins’ fanbase wondered who their next superstar would be, as they’ve been spoiled for 40 years by the likes of Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin. This question, though, is on the minds of many Penguins fans and is clearly something Kyle Dubas sees as a problem, especially given that he is eyeing the future and has rebuilt the Penguins’ prospect pool into a respectable one in just two short years. What he lacks, though, is the hardest thing to acquire, and that is the next great superstar to pull on a Penguins jersey. At the moment, there is no clear path for the Penguins to get that player who can define an era of Pittsburgh hockey.
Every successful run of Penguins hockey has been built around the aforementioned superstars. Lemieux saved the Penguins (more than once), Jagr and Francis followed, and so did the titles. Then Crosby and Malkin ushered in a new era of championship hockey, and Pittsburgh’s dominance continued. But they haven’t been a true Cup contender in nearly a decade, and history suggests they need their next star sooner rather than later. That was supposed to happen in this year’s draft with a bottom-five finish in the standings, but the Penguins surprisingly made the playoffs, which sent them back in the draft to pick 22nd.
Stockpiling young talent has been a recent phenomenon for the Penguins, but the time for stockpiling is over, and at some point Dubas has to turn quantity into quality. That’s why so many media outlets and fans have been clamouring for Dubas to make a big splash and acquire Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson. Is Robertson the guy, though? He certainly fits the part as a mid-20s star who can do it all offensively. But just how much will the Penguins be willing to give up, and is he the guy to build around? Only time will tell, but he won’t come cheap, and he will get paid if the Penguins trade for him. As good as Robertson is, he doesn’t feel like the right superstar for the Penguins.
Dubas has done well via trade, bringing in young talent, but the likeliest path to nabbing a future NHL superstar is through the draft. Unless the Penguins finish lower in the standings and get some lottery luck, it might not even be possible. But not all superstars arrive through the draft, and plenty have been traded for. Despite the heater Dubas was on over the past year, it doesn’t feel as though he’s found his superstar yet.
The Penguins have some good pieces, such as Harrison Brunicke, Benjamin Kindel, Rutger McGroarty and Tanner Howe, but none look like superstars unless they dramatically exceed expectations. Even recently acquired and extended Egor Chinakhov looks like a gamer, but it’s hard to believe he is going to morph into a superstar, even though he has an incredible shot.
There is one option for the Penguins that has long been a third rail in NHL circles, and that is the offer sheet. The Penguins are well positioned to offer sheet just about any NHL player in the next year or two, but it would come at an exorbitant cost, and there is a ton of risk involved. But given what Dubas has built and how well he has drafted so far, would giving up four first-round picks to acquire Connor Bedard be worth it? It sure seems that way if there is no other option. Given that the team still employs Crosby and company, they don’t feel like a lottery team anytime soon, which means Dubas is limited in his options to get his next star. It’s also possible that if the Penguins successfully gave up their next four first-round picks but got a superstar in return, those picks could all be late first-round picks.
Another truth about the Penguins is that they haven’t exactly drafted well in the first round when they have used their own pick in the past 10 years. Sure, their 2025 first-round pick was great, and Kindel looks like he should be a terrific NHLer for a long time, but this is a team that also took Owen Pickering, Samuel Poulin and Brayden Yager with their three previous first-round picks, and those players aren’t exactly knocking down the door to get into the NHL. Mid- to late-first-round picks, like most draft picks, are lottery tickets; sure, they have better odds of winning than later picks, but there are no guarantees they turn into full-fledged pro players, while grabbing a player like Bedard or an Adam Fantilli guarantees you get an NHL star right away. It could be a worthwhile gamble for Pittsburgh.
Rebuilding a roster is not easy; retooling is even harder. While Dubas’ work has been admirable, his most difficult task has yet to be completed, and it may require a move so risky that it could set the entire Penguins’ retool back 5- 10 years. It is likely the move that will define Dubas’ tenure in Pittsburgh more than any of the good trades or the good drafting. Pittsburgh has long been an NHL franchise built on drafting generational talent, but this next era of Penguins hockey could be defined by a superstar that was acquired in a different manner, that is if they continue to field a competitive team during the last years of Crosby and Malkin’s NHL careers.
Connor Bedard Suffers Upper-Body Injury In Offseason Training
Blackhawks center Connor Bedard is currently a restricted free agent and now has some bad news to contend with. It’s nothing to do with the contract front, but rather with an injury. As first reported by Blackhawks Up’s Ryan McGregor (Twitter link), Bedard sustained an apparent shoulder injury during offseason training earlier this week.
Notably, the injury appears to be to his left arm. Last season, Bedard sustained a right-shoulder injury, one that kept him out of the lineup for a dozen games and was very limited in taking faceoffs for a while after returning. At a minimum, at least this is not a recurrence of that injury.
A team spokesperson told Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers of The Athletic that there are no definitive updates on the injury as of yet. There isn’t expected to be any official word on the extent of the injury until at least Monday.
Despite the extended absence last season, the 21-year-old put up his best offensive performance in 2025-26. Bedard had 30 goals and 45 assists in 69 games played, setting new benchmarks in both offensive categories while winning the team’s scoring race by 17 points.
Of course, it’s widely expected that the 2023 first overall selection has another level or two to get to from an offensive standpoint. Those expectations will be factored into his next contract, one that is expected to be one of the richest post-entry-level deals in league history. AFP Analytics projected an eight-year deal would come in a little under $12.5MM per season while Friday’s offer sheet to Leo Carlsson, picked one spot behind Bedard in the draft, could ultimately move the goalposts on Bedard’s next agreement.
Assuming this isn’t a long-term injury that will keep him out of the lineup for a significant portion of next season, this injury shouldn’t have much bearing on those contract talks. But any sort of extended period of being unable to do on-ice work certainly isn’t ideal for Bedard or the Blackhawks as they look to emerge from their long rebuild and make a push to try to get back into the playoff picture next season.
Central Notes: Bedard, Kerfoot, Nichushkin
The Blackhawks have a big-ticket contract this summer with center Connor Bedard in need of a new deal. It doesn’t appear as if talks are going well thus far as Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times relays that it doesn’t sound like they’ve made much progress in those discussions. The top pick in 2023 is coming off his best season so far, one that saw him pick up 30 goals and 45 assists in 69 games but it’s widely expected that his best years are still to come. Accordingly, the two sides are going to be building a deal that pays him with the expectation of those big seasons. Pope speculates that the AAV could land between $13MM and $16MM depending on the term of the agreement. An eight-year deal can be signed until mid-September but Bedard’s camp could push for a shorter-term contract to allow him to sign a bigger one down the road.
More from the Central:
- The Mammoth are hoping to re-sign pending unrestricted free agent Alexander Kerfoot, reports David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. At this point, discussions aren’t believed to be close but they’re still in talks. The 31-year-old is coming off an injury-riddled campaign that saw him play in a career-low 34 games where he had seven goals and six assists. Kerfoot’s output has ticked down a bit as of late but he still has two seasons of at least 45 points out of the last five while his positional versatility adds some value as well. He’s coming off a deal that saw him make $3MM and given the demand for centers this summer, Kerfoot could potentially beat that if he makes it to the open market.
- Having already moved out Ross Colton to open up some cap space, Sean Keeler of The Denver Post suggests that the Avalanche’s next move should be to deal winger Valeri Nichushkin. The 31-year-old has been a quality top-six winger when he’s at his best but between injuries and time in the Player Assistance Program, availability has been an issue for him while he’s coming off an underwhelming performance in the playoffs after putting up 49 points in 72 games during the regular season. Nichushkin has four years left on his contract at $6.125MM per year and moving him out would open up a lot more flexibility for GM Joe Sakic to work with. However, it would also create an opening to fill in their top six and Nichushkin’s overall track record is good enough to drum up some interest.
Central Notes: Bedard, Fowler, Jiricek
With Connor Bedard set to become a restricted free agent on July 1st, talks on a new deal are well underway, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period recently reported on the DFO Rundown (video link). At this point, he noted that they’re examining both max-term options (eight years until mid-September, then seven years after that) or a bridge deal that would still have him under club control at its expiration. In that scenario, the contract couldn’t be any longer than three years. Bedard, the number one pick in 2023, had 30 goals and 45 assists in 69 games this season for the Blackhawks. Given his production so far and anticipated trajectory, AFP Analytics pegs a three-year bridge deal checking in at a $9.38MM AAV while a max-term eight-year agreement landing him $12.36MM per season. With the big jumps coming to the Upper Limit, Bedard could plausibly try to command more than that to forego his first four seasons of UFA eligibility.
Elsewhere in the Central:
- When Cam Fowler was traded to the Blues and signed an extension, he hoped to be getting out of a rebuild situation and onto more of a win-now club. However, with St. Louis now rebuilding or at least retooling, he finds himself in a very similar situation to his time in Anaheim, observes Matthew DeFranks of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (subscription link). The 34-year-old is beginning a new three-year, $18.3MM deal next season and he could very well become a trade candidate before too long. While Fowler has full trade protection, a chance to go to a team with aspirations of short-term success might be enticing enough for him to consider it.
- If Fowler winds up staying with the Blues, he’ll be asked to play a mentorship role for some of their young blueliners. One of those could be Adam Jiricek, who will be a full-time pro next season for the first time. Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic spoke with Jiricek’s junior coach (long-time NHL rearguard Jay McKee), who noted that Jiricek should warrant a long look in training camp and could be ready to play at the top level next season. The 19-year-old was the 16th pick in 2019 and had a dominant year with OHL Brantford, amassing 59 points in 55 regular season games and 22 more in 15 playoff contests. He’s now getting his feet wet with AHL Springfield, jumping right into their lineup as they look to move on to the Eastern Conference Finals tonight.
Snapshots: Stanley, Jarry, Bedard
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley‘s status for game six tonight against the Boston Bruins is questionable as he manages an illness, reports The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn. Stanley missed Sabres practice on Thursday but Ruff said he was feeling better then compared to how he felt on Wednesday. If he isn’t able to dress in tonight’s game, Michael Kesselring would likely get the call.
Kesselring, 26, would be making his playoff debut if he ends up dressing for the Sabres tonight. A key piece of the team’s return in exchange for forward JJ Peterka, Kesselring spent most of 2025-26 sidelined by injury. He played in just 34 games and his unavailability is part of what prompted Buffalo to acquire two defensemen at the trade deadline. He had a strong season the year prior in Utah, though, and there is hope he can rediscover that form with a stretch of good health. If Kesselring does play, his entrance into the lineup would mean the Sabres would be staffing their third pairing with two right-shot defensemen, the other being Conor Timmins.
Other notes from around the NHL:
- The Edmonton Oilers will be under a significant amount of pressure to upgrade their roster this summer after a disappointing first-round exit, and an area likely to receive considerable attention is their goaltending. Neither veteran Tristan Jarry nor Connor Ingram inspired much confidence, and The Athletic’s Chris Johnston and Sean Gentille wrote that “it wouldn’t be surprising if Edmonton looked to move on” from Jarry. The 31-year-old, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins early in 2025-26, has two years remaining on his deal at $5.375MM AAV. Finding a taker for Jarry could prove difficult at that cap hit, as he posted an .858 save percentage in 19 games in Edmonton. A buyout wouldn’t yield significant cap savings.
- Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard won’t play for Team Canada at the upcoming IIHF Men’s World Championships, reports Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Bedard reportedly wanted to represent his home country at the tournament but was told the “best thing” would be for him to focus on rehabbing his injury. Bedard missed time in December and January with a shoulder injury. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick, who turns 21 in July, scored 30 goals and 75 points in 69 games this season.