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
Rangers Acquire, Extend Pavel Dorofeyev
June 30th: The Rangers have officially registered Dorofeyev’s new seven-year, $77MM extension with the organization. Vince E. Mercogliano of The Athletic added that Dorofeyev will have a full no-movement clause in the final five years of the deal (he’s not eligible for protection in the first two years), and a partial no-trade clause in the final two years. Essentially, the Rangers will never have the option of placing Dorofeyev on waivers or demoting him throughout the life of the contract, but will have the option of trading him to his preferred destination in the final two years of the deal should they want to.
June 26th: According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the New York Rangers are finalizing a deal to acquire Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights. Dorofeyev is expected to become a restricted free agent in a few short days with arbitration rights. Furthermore, Mollie Walker of the New York Post shared that the Golden Knights will receive Dallas’ 2026 first-round pick (26th overall), Buffalo’s 2026 third-round pick (92nd overall), and a top-10 protected 2028 first-round pick.
This move will soon come with a long-term extension for the scoring winger. Dorofeyev and the Rangers are working on a seven-year deal in the range of $77MM, or $11MM per season, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Dorofeyev becomes the latest consequence of the Golden Knights’ lack of cap space. Vegas only has $4.6MM available as they head into the offseason, and with the team reportedly prioritizing an extension with Rasmus Andersson, there was little chance of being able to afford Dorofeyev, too.
Make no mistake, the expectation is that Dorofeyev will get paid this summer. After primarily serving as a high-level AHL talent and secondary scorer in the NHL level, the former third-round pick burst onto the scene during the 2024-25 campaign. In an explosive showing of offense, Dorofeyev scored 35 goals and 52 points in 82 games for the Golden Knights with a +2 rating.
Although some believed that it was just a one-year showing of offense, Dorofeyev followed it up with another impressive season, scoring 37 goals and 64 points in 82 games this past season.
However, as impressive as Dorofeyev’s scoring output has been, there are some reasons for pause. Of his 72 goals the past two years, nearly half of them have come on the powerplay. That’s not to say that Dorofeyev isn’t good at scoring goals, but if he goes on a cold streak with a man advantage, his production could crater.
Still, even though they had a disappointing regular season, the Rangers’ powerplay wasn’t the issue. Assistant coach David Quinn continued as a special teams guru, stewarding New York’s powerplay to a 24.65% success rate, good for fifth in the league.
If Dorofeyev ends up being on the Rangers’ first powerplay unit, and there’s no reason to think he won’t, the team shouldn’t have any issues with his production.
Now, for Vegas. In this case, discussing the return package does not apply. There are few teams more averse to keeping draft capital than the Golden Knights.
Perpetually in win-now mode, the odds are high that the Golden Knights won’t keep any of these draft selections and use them to procure Dorofeyev’s replacement on the trade market. Still, 30-goal scorers don’t go on trees, and especially ones cheap enough for Vegas to afford. Simply put, the abnormally aggressive Golden Knights likely have another move or two up their sleeves.
Photo courtesy of Bob Frid of Imagn Images.
These RFAs Will Fetch Surprising Contracts This Summer
The UFA class this summer is looking rather sparse at this point, which will put pressure on teams to lock up their restricted free agents, particularly if they are eligible to sign an offer sheet. While Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson will get much of the chatter among the RFA class, there are a handful of lesser-known players who are on the cusp of signing eye-popping contracts over the next few months. These candidates are largely under the radar for the more casual fan, but they have put in the work to secure a healthy payday this summer. The rising salary cap, coupled with a lack of UFAs, is going to give arbitration-eligible RFAs unprecedented leverage, and it will be on full display this summer.
The Vegas Golden Knights are on a heater in the postseason, thanks to their stars, including Mitch Marner. However, one lesser-known contributor is forward Pavel Dorofeyev, who is finishing a season in which he made just $1.835MM. The 25-year-old just had a career year, posting 37 goals and 27 assists in 82 games, after tallying 52 points in 82 games a year ago. Dorofeyev is a potential offer sheet candidate, given the Golden Knights’ precarious cap position this offseason, his age, and his recent run of success. An offer of $9.5MM per season isn’t out of the question for Dorofeyev, and if Vegas didn’t match, they would receive a first, second, and third-round draft pick.
Would a team be willing to pay that much for Dorofeyev’s services? It’s entirely possible, given the thin free-agent market and the sheer number of teams sitting on absurd amounts of cap space for the first time in years. Couple those factors with GMs in several markets fighting to keep their jobs, and you have a recipe for some wild RFA contracts. But a $9.5MM AAV for Dorofeyev isn’t out of the question, and projections from AFP Analytics have come in around $9MM annually on a long-term deal. Goal scorers almost always get paid (see Brock Boeser), and with Dorofeyev entering his prime, someone somewhere will pay handsomely if Vegas can’t or won’t.
Another forward who is sure to get paid this summer is Connor McMichael of the Washington Capitals. The 25-year-old was a late first-round pick (25th overall) in 2019 and took his time developing, but has become a bona fide middle-six forward over the last two years after establishing himself as a full-time NHLer at 23. McMichael took a step back offensively this season, dropping from 57 points to 46, with much of the decline coming from a nearly five-percentage-point drop in shooting percentage. AFP has McMichael receiving just shy of $6.5MM on a six-year deal if he signs long term, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility given his offensive production over the last two years. McMichael might have more to give as he continues to approach his prime, which could add an additional bit of intrigue to a contract negotiation that could come with some sticker shock when it concludes.
Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti took a major step back this season in offensive production, dropping from 50 points to just 32, although his PPG drop wasn’t as dramatic given the time he missed. Perfetti was an obvious long-term extension candidate a year ago, but after this year’s setback, he could be looking at a bridge deal of one year, in the $4MM to $4.5MM range. However, given his age (24) and talent, it would not be shocking to see him signed long-term if the Jets (or another team) feel they could buy low and get him at a discount before he breaks out. AFP Analytics has him tabbed for a long-term AAV of $6.395MM, a number that would send shockwaves around the NHL. However, that price tag is the cost of buying upside, and teams have done it before and had it work, making it a real possibility.
Next, we head to Florida to examine the case of Panthers forward Mackie Samoskevich, who is set to join a long list of Florida players who have cashed in on their success over the last few seasons. Coming off his second full NHL season, the 23-year-old isn’t going to get big money long term, but he will likely receive a bridge deal worth around $3MM per season, which should get some people’s attention. Last summer, Samoskevich took a one-year deal at the league minimum ($775K), but this summer will be a very different story. The Panthers have some business to attend to in the crease, as both their goalies are UFAs, but they do have a decent amount of cap space, so it’s unlikely that Samoskevich is moved out.
One look at Braden Schneider’s offensive stats and the casual observer might not believe he is due for a big payday, but he is. It’s typical for defensive defensemen are often overlooked as they don’t appear on the scoresheet or draw headlines in the media. But NHL teams pay a premium for defenders who can take on tough defensive assignments against their opponents’ top players, and that’s what the New York Rangers rearguard is capable of. Whether Schneider can actually do that is up for healthy debate, as it pits the analytics crew against the eye-test crowd. But debate or not, the 24-year-old is getting paid this summer. AFP Analytics has him at a $4MM AAV on a short-term deal and $6MM if he goes long term, both numbers that will have some folks mouthing the word, “Wow.”
Lastly, we come to Ottawa Senators defenseman Jordan Spence, who is also due a large payday that will surely surprise some people. Spence quietly had a terrific first season in Ottawa and is projected by AFP Analytics to receive either a one-year deal worth just over $3MM or a longer-term deal for nearly $5MM. That number is eye-popping, but given the rising cap, Spence’s untapped potential, and his previous work, $5MM isn’t outrageous, even though it is surprising. Spence’s contract could be one that wakes fans up to the new economic reality in the NHL, where defenders who can play the minutes he can will be receiving north of $5MM fairly regularly. There are some unique circumstances with Spence. He is a right-handed offensive defenseman who can play up and down the defensive unit. He drives play offensively and has sparkling underlying numbers.
This list isn’t exhaustive, as there are a handful of other players who will receive eye-popping extensions as RFAs, including the likes of Jet Greaves and Peyton Krebs. In terms of projecting things out, these seem to be the most obvious candidates to get big raises this offseason, but there are always surprises, and given the plethora of teams with money this offseason, some wild numbers will surely be thrown around.
Evening Notes: Frondell, Perfetti, Dorofeyev
The Chicago Blackhawks aren’t concerned about the long-term effects of a scary-looking injury to top prospect Anton Frondell. The top Swedish winger got his hand caught in a bench door during Team Sweden’s Friday matchup against Team Italy at the IIHF Men’s World Championship. He missed Sweden’s Saturday matchup with a subsequent injury that is not believed to be serious, per Scott Powers of The Athletic.
Frondell has kept his hot season rolling at the World Championship with two points in as many games. He has performed at a top level in competition across the world this season – netting 28 points in 43 SHL games, nine points in his first 12 NHL games, and eight points in seven games at the 2026 World Junior Championship. No decision has been made on Frondell’s availability for the remainder of the summer tournament, which could leave a major hole in Sweden’s roster.
Other notes from around the hockey world:
- The Winnipeg Jets face an interesting task in re-signing middle-six winger Cole Perfetti this summer. The former 10th-overall pick scored 18 goals and 50 points in the 2024-25 season but fell back to 12 goals and 32 points in 68 games this season. That places him in an interesting spot next to many of his peers from the 2020 and 2021 NHL Draft class, as pointed out by Murat Ates of The Athletic. While Perfetti’s struggles to frequently pop up on the scoresheet could keep him from matching the long-term contracts of players like Matthew Coronato, Matthew Knies, and Alexis Lafreniere – he could find a starting point in negotiations in the six-year, $7.5MM recently signed by Winnipeg’s Gabriel Vilardi. While that deal serves as a ceiling, Ates points out that Winnipeg’s bidding could begin in the realm of $5.5MM. Splitting the gap between the two numbers, and leaning on the term garnered by peers, would put Perfetti’s next deal in the realm of four-to-six years and $6MM-to-$6.5MM in cap hit. That cap hit would dedicate roughly half of Winnipeg’s projected $13.628MM in cap space this summer to their top restricted free-agent – which should leave just enough room to also re-sign Jonathan Toews, Isak Rosen, and Eric Comrie.
- Another RFA to watch this summer will be Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev, who has exploded onto the scene this season with 37 goals and 64 points in the regular season and 10 goals and 14 points in 14 playoff games. That sudden boom – and Dorofeyev’s seamless fill-in for captain Mark Stone over Vegas’ last five games – could quickly be proving Dorofeyev’s ability as a true, top-six scorer. Teams around the league will pay attention to that as Dorofeyev heads towards restricted-free agency per Shayna Goldman of The Athletic. Vegas is only projected to wield $11MM in cap space this summer, per PuckPedia, with Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad, and Rasmus Andersson all set to hit the open market. The 25-year-old Dorofyev would certainly be top priority among that list but could command the majority of their savings after a breakout year. If Vegas gets cold feet, the young sniper could be a great option for teams looking to add an immediate impact. Goldman projects both Dorofeyev and Andersson could command as much as $9MM in cap hit, which would pull Vegas nearly $7MM over budget with multiple lineup holes still to fill. After the St. Louis Blues’ success with their offer sheet of winger Dylan Holloway, could a team see similar potential in the cap-strapped Golden Knights’ handling of Dorofeyev?
Vegas’ Projected Offseason Crossroads
The Vegas Golden Knights have never been a franchise to shy away from high-stakes roster construction, but the 2026 offseason presents a financial labyrinth that will test the front office’s renowned creativity. As the organization is currently pushing for a second Stanley Cup, they find themselves in a precarious position with an offseason projection of $4.6 million in cap space and only 16 players currently under contract. The primary challenge lies in the collision between a dwindling budget and the soaring market value of their 2025-26 regular season leading goal-scorer, Pavel Dorofeyev.
At just 25 years old, Dorofeyev has cemented himself as one of the key youth centerpieces of the Vegas attack after a campaign where he notched a team-high 37 goals. While his 64 points was fourth on the team, it is that high-end goal-scoring touch that makes him a restricted free agent of utmost importance. Even on a team-friendly discount, Dorofeyev could command at least $7.5 million annually.
Vegas faces critical decisions regarding several veteran contributors who are set to hit the open market. This group includes 35-year-old Reilly Smith and 33-year-old Brandon Saad, alongside gritty depth players Colton Sissons (32) and Cole Smith (30). While this veteran experience has long been a hallmark of the Golden Knights’ identity, these players could quickly become unaffordable pieces. Management must now decide if they can afford to re-invest in this veteran presence or if the cost of locking in Dorofeyev as a cornerstone necessitates letting these familiar faces walk in favor of younger, cheaper talent.
The defensive side of the puck offers little to no relief, as half of the blue line remains unsigned and headed toward free agency this summer. The Golden Knights are staring at the potential departure of three significant unrestricted free agents: Rasmus Andersson, Jeremy Lauzon, and Ben Hutton. Andersson and Lauzon, both 29, represent the prime of the Vegas defensive corps, and their status as impending free agents puts the front office in a corner. Replacing their top-four minutes on a shoestring budget is a near-impossible task if they reach the open market. If the team moves to aggressively outbid competitors to keep their defense intact, the idea of re-signing Dorofeyev gets even more complicated; conversely, prioritizing the young sniper may necessitate a complete and risky overhaul of the defensive pairings as these veterans depart.
Ultimately, the 2026 offseason will be a defining chapter for the Golden Knights’ “win-now” philosophy. Solving the Dorofeyev dilemma is not just about one contract, but about the cascading effect that signing a premier goal-scorer has on the ability to field four lines and three defensive pairs. To remain under the cap while icing a championship-caliber squad, the front office will likely be forced into the kind of aggressive salary-shedding trades that have become a bit of a franchise trademark. Whether they can successfully navigate this crunch without gutting their depth remains the biggest question in the NHL’s Western Conference.
Evening Notes: Yakemchuk, Dorofeyev, Marchment
Earlier today, Senators top prospect Carter Yakemchuk left mid-game in the AHL due to injury, as reported by Alex Adams of Sportsnet, who also provided the video clip. The defenseman, coming around the corner in his own end, made a routine pass to start the breakout when Bridgeport enforcer Hunter Drew finished a hard check. Such an impact sent Yakemchuk spilling awkwardly into the boards, and he did not return.
Drafted by Ottawa seventh overall in 2024, the 6’3” defenseman is the team’s top prospect, posting an impressive 18 points in 27 games for Belleville in his first professional season. On the other hand, Drew, 27, was a sixth round selection by Anaheim in 2018, appearing in two NHL games in 2021-22, but since then has been a full-time AHLer, even switching from a defenseman to a forward as a professional. Drew regularly surpasses the 100+ annual penalty minute mark, and after taking out a young star, naturally, his actions drew the ire of Belleville.
Further details have not been confirmed on Yakemchuk’s status, but the Alberta native figures to be a huge part of Ottawa’s future. It was already noted in late November that he is likely untouchable in trade discussions, and hopefully as long as he is able to avoid serious injury, the 20-year-old could soon earn a call up and provide a needed boost to the Sens’ right side defense.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Vegas forward Pavel Dorofeyev left last night’s win over Columbus, not returning for the third period, as reported by Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (Twitter link). The 25-year-old is one of the game’s more unsung top scorers, since breaking out last season with 35 goals. He has maintained such levels so far this year with 13 in 31 games, doing all of it at an absurd value, $1.8MM, with pending RFA status at season’s end. No additional updates on Dorofeyev have come yet, with the Knights out of action until next Wednesday, but if he is set to miss time, the winger’s elite power play production will especially be missed. Eight of his 13 goals have been buried on the man advantage.
- Ahead of tonight’s game versus Buffalo, the Seattle Kraken announced that forward Mason Marchment will not play, however it is noted as due to illness, rather than injury. The 30-year-old was an intriguing cap-dump addition by Seattle last summer given his production with Dallas, but the scoring touch has fallen off a bit since then. Marchment found the back of the net twice on Friday, but prior to that, he had just two goals in 26 games. The power forward is drawing trade interest as a pending UFA, but with a $4.5MM cap hit and a modified no trade clause, such a move may require creativity. In Marchment’s absence, 22-year-old Jacob Melanson enters the lineup for his second NHL game. Melanson was drafted in the fifth round by Seattle and projects as a future bottom six winger.
Knights Without Dorofeyev For Game 2, Pietrangelo Possible To Return
9:50 PM: Pietrangelo is in the lineup, skating on the team’s second pairing alongside Nicolas Hague, per Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
9:20 PM: The Vegas Golden Knights will be without winger Pavel Dorofeyev for their Game 2 matchup against the Oilers, while defender Alex Pietrangelo will be a game time decision, per Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
Dorofeyev has been out of the lineup since sustaining an injury in Game 5 of their opening-round matchup against the Minnesota Wild. His injury remains undisclosed and remains day-to-day. The 24-year-old burst onto the scene this season, scoring 35 goals while playing all 82 regular season games. He surpassed his previous career high in goals by 22 and more than doubled his personal best in points. In the first-round series, he recorded a goal and an assist over five games. His goal scoring prowess would be a welcomed return for the Golden Knights, especially considering the Oilers lead all playoff teams with 4.43 goals per game.
Pietrangelo is currently battling an illness, but head coach Bruce Cassidy said the veteran has a chance to play and that the team would be making a game-time call on his participation. In 71 games on the season, Pietrangelo posted four goals, 33 points, a plus-11 rating, and 139 blocked shots. Perhaps most importantly, the veteran of more than 1,000 career games also averaged a hefty 22:24 of ice time per game, eating valuable minutes on the back end. The two-time Stanley Cup champ (including one with Vegas) was off to a hot start in the playoffs as well, posting a goal and two assist in six games, while again averaging more than 22 minutes of ice time per night. His return to the lineup is equally important as Dorofeyev’s when it comes to matching up against the star-studded Oilers.
Pacific Notes: Gavrikov, Kuzmenko, Jeannot, Dorofeyev
Yesterday, the Los Angeles Kings mutually parted ways with their former General Manager, Rob Blake. Despite this change, the team is reportedly looking to secure contract extensions for defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and forward Andrei Kuzmenko, who are set to become unrestricted free agents this summer (Tweet Link).
Gavrikov has emerged as a top-four option in the Kings’ defense, especially during the Kings’ period without Drew Doughty during the 2024-25 season. In early January, the Kings’ defensive leader in +/- and blocked shots expressed his desire for a long-term contract, saying, “When I got to L.A., I needed time to decide if my family and I wanted to stay. That’s why we agreed on a short-term contract with the Kings. Now we know what we want, and we can sign a long-term deal here.” The most recent comparable for Gavrikov is the six-year, $33.3MM contract extension defenseman Kaiden Guhle signed with the Montreal Canadiens last July.
Meanwhile, Kuzmenko was acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers in March 2025, with the Flyers retaining 50% of his salary. Known for his net-front presence and power-play contributions, he performed positively in Los Angeles, scoring five goals and 17 points in 22 games. Due to his inconsistent play over the past year, it is challenging to estimate Kuzmenko’s asking price for his next contract.
Other Pacific Division notes:
- According to John Hoven of Mayor’s Manor, the Los Angeles Kings have not yet initiated extension negotiations with forward Tanner Jeannot. Despite facing injury concerns, Jeannot had a better season than the previous year, scoring six goals and recording 13 points in 67 games, along with 211 hits. If he requests a salary close to his current $2.665 million or lower, there should be mutual interest between him and Los Angeles for an extension in a fourth-line role.
- Pavel Dorofeyev will not be in the lineup for the Vegas Golden Knights tonight due to an injury sustained in Game 5 of their opening-round matchup against the Minnesota Wild, causing him to miss the remainder of that game and Game 6 (Tweet Link). His status is considered day-to-day as the team monitors his recovery. Despite losing their fourth-highest-scoring forward from the regular season, the Golden Knights still possess ample depth on the wing.
Snapshots: Robertson, Dorofeyev, Bastian, Okposo
A key Stars winger is getting closer to returning to their lineup. Head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters including Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News that Jason Robertson has been upgraded from being out week-to-week to out day-to-day. The 25-year-old had his third straight season of at least 80 points this year, hitting the mark exactly but suffered a leg injury in the final game of the regular season. Robertson has been skating away from the team alongside injured blueliner Nils Lundkvist (who is still a long way from returning from shoulder surgery) and it appears he is progressing well in his recovery.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- The Golden Knights were without winger Pavel Dorofeyev for tonight’s game against Minnesota and he is listed as day-to-day, relays Jesse Granger of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 24-year-old had a breakout year, tallying 35 goals in the regular season but left Tuesday’s game late due to an undisclosed injury. Victor Olofsson returned to the lineup to take Dorofeyev’s spot on the wing.
- Speaking with reporters today (video link), Devils winger Nathan Bastian addressed his upcoming free agency. Eligible to test the open market for the first time, the 27-year-old indicated that his preference is to remain with New Jersey. However, coming off a down year that saw him record just 10 points in 59 games, he might have to take a small dip in pay from his $1.35MM current deal to do so. The team only has around $12MM in cap room for next season per PuckPedia with defenseman Luke Hughes likely to take a big chunk of that. Accordingly, the Devils may need to keep their final few roster spots closer to the minimum salary and with Bastian logging under 11 minutes a night for the last two years, he likely falls in that category.
- The NHLPA announced that they have hired long-time NHL winger Kyle Okposo as a Business Development and Player Engagement Advisor. Okposo played in over 1,000 career NHL games over parts of 17 seasons, recording 242 goals and 372 assists before ending his career after winning the Stanley Cup with Florida. This won’t be Okposo’s first time working with the NHLPA as he was part of their Executive Board while playing and was also on the Executive Director Search Committee that eventually led to Marty Walsh being hired.
Western Injury Notes: Lyubushkin, Heiskanen, Dorofeyev
Stars coach Pete DeBoer shared positive updates on the status of Ilya Lyubushkin, per Lia Assimakopoulos of the Dallas Morning News.
DeBoer noted that Lyubushkin’s absence at practice today was simply a maintenance day and that the veteran will be good to go for Thursday’s pivot Game Six matchup against the Avalanche. Lyubushkin contributed an assist and two blocked shots in the Stars’ 6-2 Game Five victory, which game them a 3-2 series lead. The 30-year-old has averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time per game during the series, so his availability moving forward is welcomed news for Dallas.
Other injury news from around the Western Conference:
- DeBoer also provided an update on Miro Heiskanen, noting that the defender is getting closer to a return and will continue traveling with the club. Heiskanen is considered on a day-to-day recovery timeline after already returning to the ice for practice. The all-star rejoined practice on April 19 for the first time since sustaining a knee injury in January.
- Vegas Golden Knights Forward Pavel Dorofeyev (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision for tomorrow’s Game Six matchup against the Minnesota Wild, per an NHL release. Coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters today that the team will monitor how Dorofeyev feels in the morning, as the team did not skate today. If Dorofeyev can’t go, Cassidy discussed the team having a few options to replace him in the lineup, including Victor Olofsson, who played the first three games of the series. Dorofeyev made a significant impact this season, emerging as one of the league’s breakout stars. He burst onto the scene with an impressive offensive performance, finding the back of the net 35 times and surpassing all of his previous career highs by a wide margin. His return to the lineup will be a key factor to the team’s success in this series and beyond.