Examining The Kings’ New-Look Defense
The Kings have been eliminated by the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last four seasons and were expected to make changes this summer as they try to get past the first round. Newly hired general manager Ken Holland moved quickly to address concerns with the defensive unit, making several early summer moves to revamp the group.
Holland has moved on from a couple of twenty-something defensemen to acquire defensively minded veterans in their 30s, which will bring a different dynamic to the back end. However, since the Oilers’ speed exposed the Kings’ slower, heavier parts of the defense, the changes the Kings have made are unlikely to push them past Edmonton if they face each other in the playoffs again.
Los Angeles struggled to deal with the Oilers’ transition game in the playoffs, as well as their puck movement and speed. The faster Oilers were able to expose the Kings, leading to some head-scratching decisions.
They were unable to keep Vladislav Gavrikov, one of the few Kings defenders who could use his active stick and gap control to stop transition plays and zone entries. Gavrikov’s size helped him disrupt the Oilers, allowing him to stay on the right side of the puck and make his presence felt.
Although he didn’t control the puck often, it didn’t matter much when he was playing a shutdown role. Los Angeles will feel the loss of Gavrikov, especially if they face teams with speed in the playoffs next season.
Another move that wasn’t ideal was trading right-shot defenseman Jordan Spence to the Senators for a third and sixth-round pick. Spence was dependable for the Kings in sheltered minutes, but at just 24 years old, he was looking for an elevated role and was blocked by fellow right-shot defenseman Brandt Clarke.
Spence has a lot of potential and could have been a key part of Los Angeles for many years, but the Kings made the decision to send him to Ottawa for an underwhelming return. The trade handcuffed the Kings and forced them into a state of desperation when free agency opened on July 1. The Kings were down two defenders, and that was where their biggest mistake was made.
It wasn’t long into free agency before the Kings made a couple of defensive signings that left many in the hockey world scratching their heads. Los Angeles signed 33-year-old Brian Dumoulin and 31-year-old Cody Ceci to lucrative multi-year deals with AAVs above $4MM.
One of these signings alone wouldn’t have been a big deal, but it’s free agency, and almost everyone overpays, so most would have shrugged it off as part of the business. However, overpaying for two older, slower defenseman who are collectively a downgrade in talent from Gavrikov and Spence could be a problem that haunts the Kings for years.
The main criticism of the deals is that if Los Angeles had kept Gavrikov for the same money he received with the New York Rangers ($7MM annually on a seven-year deal), then the combined salary for him and Spence would have matched what Los Angeles is paying Dumoulin ($4MM annually) and Ceci ($4.5MM annually).
Dumoulin can still disrupt plays in the defensive zone and prevent teams from getting the puck into dangerous areas with his stick, but he doesn’t excel at much else anymore and often takes penalties. His foot speed has slowed down in recent seasons, which isn’t ideal if the Kings face the Oilers again in the playoffs.
For Ceci, he doesn’t excel at much but always manages to persuade coaches to give him plenty of ice time. His performance became an issue for Dallas in the playoffs, especially against Edmonton, where he finished with a -5 rating in five games and recorded a disappointing 46.75% expected goals share at five-on-five.
Combine Ceci and Dumoulin with Joel Edmundson and Drew Doughty, and Los Angeles has the makings of a defense core that is old, slow, and likely to struggle in transition. All these factors could be disastrous if the Kings face the Oilers in the playoffs again or another team with good speed. Doughty remains a solid defenseman, but with an $11MM cap hit and an aging defensive group around him, he will be asked to do too much, which could reduce his productivity.
Edmundson will likely be asked to perform beyond his usual capabilities, which could cause issues if that means placing him in the top two defensive pairs. Although Edmundson is large, physical, and tough to play against near the net, he isn’t well-suited for the transition game or facing opponents with speed and skill. Some might argue that the 32-year-old helps keep the front of the Kings’ net clear, but he certainly allows many scoring chances around it.
Los Angeles entered the offseason with a chance to do something special with their defensive core, but unfortunately, they missed out on the opportunity to improve. The losses of Gavrikov and Spence will sting, but replacing them with Dumoulin and Ceci for essentially the same money will probably be fans’ biggest frustration. The Kings are set to spend $30MM on a defensive core that is much older, slower, and likely not built to take down the Oilers or any other team with a quick forward group.
Photo by Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images
Players Signed To AHL Contracts For 2025-26
While an AHL team’s roster is made up mostly of players on loan from their NHL parent club, they usually have a few players suiting up for them on minor-league contracts. While that player is playing with the prospects and depth names affiliated with an NHL team, they’re in no way contractually tied to the big club and are still technically a free agent in the NHL’s eyes, making them ineligible for a call-up unless they sign an NHL contract.
These can be young players emerging from the college or junior ranks who NHL teams are trying to get a look at in the pro environment before deciding whether to offer them an entry-level deal, or they can be veteran role players with previous NHL experience keeping their career going even though their game isn’t suited for the top level anymore. Teams with an excess of these players will usually assign the vast majority of them down one level to their ECHL affiliate – much like an NHL contract, an AHL deal permits a team to stuff a player in the ECHL but recall them at will.
Nearly one week into free agency, it’s a good time to look at what names teams have on these minor-league deals as they eye potential NHL contracts with the parent club later in the season. Players with an asterisk were previous draft picks by the club but will see their exclusive NHL signing rights expire on Aug. 15. A double asterisk indicates the player’s signing rights are held until June 1, 2026.
Abbotsford Canucks (VAN)
F Jackson Kunz*, F Chase Wouters
Bakersfield Condors (EDM)
F Matt Copponi*, F Seth Griffith, F Ethan Keppen, F Rem Pitlick, F Rhett Pitlick
Belleville Senators (OTT)
F Philippe Daoust, F Keean Washkurak
Bridgeport Islanders (NYI)
F Cameron Berg*, F Max Dorrington, F/D Hunter Drew, F Ross Mitton, F Chris Terry, D Luke Rowe
Calgary Wranglers (CGY)
F Martin Frk, F Alex Gallant
Charlotte Checkers (FLA)
F Liam Arnsby, F Brett Chorske, F Riese Gaber, F Liam McLinskey, F Brian Pinho, F Christophe Tellier, F Nicolas Zabaneh, D Trevor Carrick, D Dennis Cesana, D Colton Huard, D Eamon Powell, D Mitch Vande Sompel, G Michael Simpson
Chicago Wolves (CAR)
F Blake Biondi, F Yanick Turcotte, F Evan Vierling
Cleveland Monsters (CBJ)
F Roman Ahcan, F Riley Bezeau, F Ryland Mosley
Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA)
F Justin Janicke*, F Ian McKinnon
Colorado Eagles (COL)
F Evan Friesen, F Maros Jedlicka, F Rilen Kovacevic, F Jayson Megna, F Jake Wise, D Connor Kelley, D Hank Kempf*, D Garrett Pyke, G Kyle Keyser
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)
F Carson Bantle, F Gabriel Seger, D Jacob Truscott
Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)
F Gavin Hain, F Zakary Karpa*, F Sullivan Mack, D Blake Hillman, D Case McCarthy, D Cooper Moore, D Ryan Siedem
Iowa Wild (MIN)
F Mark Liwiski, F Ryan McGuire, F Ryan Sandelin, D Mike Koster, D Wyatt Newpower, D Will Zmolek, G William Rousseau
Laval Rocket (MTL)
F Vincent Arseneau, F Laurent Dauphin, F Will Dineen, F Joseph Dunlap, F Mark Estapa, F Yegor Goryunov, F Israel Mianscum, F Xavier Simoneau, D Josh Jacobs, D Darick Louis-Jean, D Ryan O’Rourke, D Tobie Paquette-Bisson, D Wyatte Wylie, G Hunter Jones
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)
F Saywer Boulton, F Cooper Marody
Manitoba Moose (WPG)
F Chase Yoder, D Dawson Barteaux, D Ashton Sautner, D Ben Zloty, G Alex Worthington
Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)
F Daniel Carr, F Kyle Marino, F Oasiz Wiesblatt, D Zack Hayes, D Chad Nychuk, G Ethan Haider, G T.J. Semptimphelter
Ontario Reign (LAK)
F Jacob Doty, F Jack Hughes*, D Jack Millar, D Tim Rego
Providence Bruins (BOS)
F Joey Abate, F Brooklyn Kalmikov, F Jake Schmaltz*, D Colin Felix
Rochester Americans (BUF)
F Matteo Constantini*, F Jagger Joshua, F Graham Slaggert, F Brendan Warren, D Noah Laaouan
Rockford IceHogs (CHI)
F Dillon Boucher, F Jackson Cates, F Ryan Gagnier, F Kevin Lombardi, F Marcel Marcel, F Brett Seney, D Cavan Fitzgerald, G Mitchell Weeks
San Diego Gulls (ANA)
F Ryan Carpenter, F Travis Howe, F Matthew Phillips, D Nikolas Brouillard, D Will Francis*, D Roland McKeown
San Jose Barracuda (SJS)
F Donovan Houle, F Lucas Vanroboys, F Anthony Vincent, D John Gormley, D Braden Hache, G Matt Davis
Springfield Thunderbirds (STL)
F Sam Bitten, F Matthew Peca, F Chris Wagner, D Anthony Kehrer
Syracuse Crunch (TBL)
F Brendan Furry, D Chris Harpur, D Tommy Miller, D Matteo Pietroniro
Texas Stars (DAL)
Toronto Marlies (TOR)
F Matthew Barbolini, F Ryan Kirwan, F Logan Shaw, F Landon Sim, D Rhett Parsons, D Chas Sharpe
Tucson Roadrunners (UTA)
F Austin Poganski, G Dylan Wells
Utica Comets (NJD)
F Jack Malone, F Matyas Melovsky**
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (PIT)
F Raivis Ansons, F Jack Beck, F Atley Calvert, F Mathieu De St. Phalle, F Brayden Edwards, F Zach Gallant, F Aaron Huglen, F Gabe Klassen, F Aidan McDonough, F Nolan Renwick, F Zach Urdahl, D David Breazale, D Tommy Budnick, G Taylor Gauthier, G Maxim Pavlenko
Senators Have Quietly Had A Good Summer
The summer is only a few weeks old, but the Ottawa Senators have quietly put together a solid summer so far. The Senators made the playoffs this past season for the first time since their 2017 run to the Eastern Conference Final, and they were short on salary cap space when the off-season started.
Still, that didn’t stop general manager Steve Staios from bringing back some of his veterans and making a couple of smart additions to the bottom of the Senators’ lineup. This strategy closely resembles what Ottawa did last summer when they signed veteran Cup winners David Perron, Nick Cousins, and Michael Amadio, resulting in a deeper, more mature roster.
Ottawa started the offseason by re-signing defenseman Tyler Kleven on a two-year deal worth $1.6MM per season. They then focused on recently acquired forward Fabian Zetterlund, signing him to a three-year contract worth $4.275MM annually.
The Kleven signing may have been a bit of an overpay, but Ottawa secured their 2020 second-round pick on a bridge deal that allows a closer look at a player who made significant progress last season. Kleven isn’t flashy or particularly skilled with the puck, but he performs well defensively and can throw his weight around.
He is well-suited for a bottom-pairing defensive role and is expected to see plenty of ice time next season. AFP Analytics projected Kleven’s value at just over $1MM on a two-year deal, so while the Senators paid a premium for Kleven, they value his contributions to the team.
Zetterlund was another overpay since he was projected to earn just under $4MM annually, but he’s another player the Senators hold high hopes for. The 25-year-old was a surprising addition at the trade deadline and didn’t have an entirely smooth transition to Ottawa, recording just two goals and three assists in 20 games to finish the regular season with the Sens. That said, Zetterlund has back-to-back 40+ point seasons to his name, and the Senators are counting on him taking the next step.
The Senators also re-signed two veteran forwards on very reasonable contracts – Cousins and Claude Giroux. Cousins signed for one year at $825K and should be a low-cost, low-maintenance option for Ottawa’s fourth line.
While Cousins isn’t strong defensively, he’s a good forechecker and brings a bit of offense and physicality to Ottawa’s bottom six. The 31-year-old was projected to earn nearly $1.1MM on a one-year deal, so Ottawa did well to keep his salary as low as they did.
One of Ottawa’s most significant achievements this summer was re-signing the veteran forward Giroux to a one-year deal worth $2MM plus a potential $2.75MM in bonuses. The 37-year-old can still perform at a high level, recording 15 goals and 35 assists in 82 games last season, his third with the Senators.
Giroux was forecasted for a two-year deal around $5.2MM per season, so Ottawa did very well to stay well below that figure, even if Giroux earns all his bonuses. There was a genuine concern about whether Ottawa could re-sign Giroux given their cap space. Still, the Ontario native enjoys playing at home and was willing to accept a significant discount.
Ottawa then shifted its focus to the trade market and acquired right-shot defenseman Jordan Spence. The Senators traded two draft picks – a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick – for the 24-year-old, in what can only be described as a great deal from Ottawa’s perspective.
Spence is on the smaller side (5’11” and 180 lbs), but he is a talented two-way defender who can contribute offensively and maintain solid defensive stats. He played sheltered minutes in Los Angeles with the Kings and is likely to face a more demanding role with Ottawa.
It’s hard to say precisely why Los Angeles moved him, but it’s likely because the Kings lacked space for him in the top four of their defensive unit and may have felt he wasn’t suited for the bottom pairing. This trade could prove to be quite one-sided if Spence develops into a top-four defender for the Senators on the right side. The big question, however, is whether Spence can handle tough, physical minutes against divisional rivals like the Florida Panthers.
Another subtle move Ottawa made was signing veteran center Lars Eller. It seems like the 36-year-old has been in the NHL forever, but he quietly logs 13-16 minutes of stable, unflashy hockey each night.
Eller can still produce offense from the bottom six, though he’s best suited for a fourth-line center role, which is what he should have with the Senators. Ottawa’s depth down the middle looks impressive heading into next season, with Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens on the top lines, Shane Pinto centering the third, and Eller on the fourth. Eller should provide defensive stability for the Senators in their own end and will likely contribute 20-25 points, which is not bad for $1.25MM on a one-year deal.
Finally, the Senators made several depth moves by signing goaltender Hunter Shepard and forwards Olle Lycksell and Arthur Kaliyev. Among these, Kaliyev is the most promising and likely offers the most significant upside.
The 24-year-old has proven to be a valuable NHL player in his brief career, recording over 25 points in consecutive seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. Kaliyev was signed to a one-year, two-way contract and may find his way onto the NHL roster if Ottawa faces injury issues during the regular season.
He has a strong shot, isn’t afraid to use it, and performs reasonably well defensively, particularly in clearing the puck from the defensive zone. He’s a player worth taking a look at if you are Ottawa, especially on a two-way deal.
Overall, Senators fans should be pleased with what the team has achieved this summer. They had a definite need to improve defensively in their bottom-six forward group and to acquire a right-shot defenseman.
They’ve accomplished both goals and remain well below the salary cap limit. Ottawa probably won’t add much more to their roster, but could make some significant moves at the NHL Trade Deadline if they stay well under the cap.
Photo by Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Players Still Eligible For Offer Sheets
July 7: Byram (BUF) and McBain (UTA) were on the receiving end of team-elected arbitration yesterday, so they’re now ineligible for offer sheets.
July 6: Yesterday, the NHLPA announced the 11 players who were eligible for and opted to elect salary arbitration this offseason. While notable for a few reasons, that announcement often goes unheralded when it includes higher-caliber names. That’s because a player electing arbitration makes them ineligible to receive or sign offer sheets, locking them into a new contract with their current team one way or another. Whether that’s via a pre-hearing settlement or an arbitration decision remains to be seen.
The following players are still eligible to sign an offer sheet this offseason because they meet the following criteria:
- Are a restricted free agent (i.e., received a qualifying offer before June 30);
- Did not elect salary arbitration before Saturday’s deadline;
- Are not a 10.2(c) player who does not have enough professional experience for standard RFA eligibility.
Anaheim Ducks: F Mason McTavish, F Judd Caulfield, F Jan Mysak, G Calle Clang
Boston Bruins: F John Farinacci
Buffalo Sabres: D Bowen Byram
Calgary Flames: F Rory Kerins, F Sam Morton, F Connor Zary, D Yan Kuznetsov, D Jeremie Poirier
Carolina Hurricanes: F Skyler Brind’Amour, F Ryan Suzuki, D Domenick Fensore, D Ronan Seeley
Chicago Blackhawks: D Louis Crevier
Colorado Avalanche: none
Columbus Blue Jackets:F Mikael Pyyhtia, D Daemon Hunt
Dallas Stars: F Antonio Stranges
Detroit Red Wings: D Eemil Viro
Edmonton Oilers: none
Florida Panthers: F Oliver Okuliar, F Wilmer Skoog, D Tobias Bjornfot
Los Angeles Kings: none
Minnesota Wild: F Marco Rossi, F Michael Milne
Montreal Canadiens: none
Nashville Predators: F Luke Evangelista
New Jersey Devils: F Thomas Bordeleau
New York Islanders: F Marc Gatcomb, F Adam Beckman, D Travis Mitchell
New York Rangers: F Brendan Brisson, G Dylan Garand
Ottawa Senators: F Xavier Bourgault, F Jan Jenik, D Max Guenette, D Donovan Sebrango
Philadelphia Flyers: D Cameron York
Pittsburgh Penguins: F Vasiliy Ponomarev
San Jose Sharks: F Daniil Gushchin, D Jack Thompson
Seattle Kraken: D Ryker Evans
St. Louis Blues: F Nikita Alexandrov, D Hunter Skinner, G Vadim Zherenko
Tampa Bay Lightning: none
Toronto Maple Leafs: F Roni Hirvonen, D Topi Niemela, D William Villeneuve, G Dennis Hildeby
Utah Mammoth: F Jack McBain
Vancouver Canucks: D Jett Woo, G Nikita Tolopilo
Vegas Golden Knights: F Alexander Holtz, F Raphael Lavoie, F Jonas Rondbjerg, F Cole Schwindt, D Lukas Cormier
Washington Capitals: none
Winnipeg Jets: F Parker Ford, F Rasmus Kupari, D Tyrel Bauer, D Isaak Phillips
Examining The Penguins’ Road Back To Competitiveness
The Penguins have been identified as the one true seller in the NHL this summer and for good reason. They have an aging core that can no longer carry a team, depth that is underwhelming (to say the least), and have arguably been the easiest team to play against from a physical standpoint.
All of that has led general manager Kyle Dubas to pivot into a rebuild that many have forecasted for quite some time. The Penguins made the playoffs for 16 straight seasons but haven’t qualified since 2021-22 and look destined to finish near the bottom of the standings next season.
This has led many to speculate that Sidney Crosby would look to play elsewhere; however, those claims have been disputed by many outlets. For his part, Crosby has balked at these rumours, going so far as to sign a two-year extension to remain in Pittsburgh through what will likely be some painful seasons.
All of this begs the question: When will the Penguins be a competitive team again?
According to Josh Yohe of The Athletic, Pittsburgh has set its sights on next summer as the time to be aggressive buyers. Currently, 2026 looks like a great year to have cap space, with players like Connor McDavid and Cale Makar slated as of right now to become UFAs.
That list of free agents will likely shrink, but there could still be high-end talent under 30 available, which might help the Penguins move beyond their rebuild. As of now, Pittsburgh has over $52MM of available cap space next summer (according to PuckPedia). While this number will decrease over the year, the point remains that they can choose to be major buyers if they wish.
The more likely scenario for the Penguins is that they spend the summer of 2026 adding to their prospect pool with their eight 2026 draft picks (and any additional picks they gain over the next year) or perhaps using those picks and other assets to acquire NHL players. Dubas has made it clear that he’s targeting young, NHL-ready players, and it’s hard to see that approach changing between now and summer 2026.
Two major wild cards will determine how long it takes the Penguins to become a Stanley Cup contender again. The first is where they fall in the 2026 draft order.
If Pittsburgh performs as poorly as many expect, they could win the draft lottery and get the chance to select Gavin McKenna. NHL conspiracy theorists would surely love to dissect that scenario if it were to happen, given that Pittsburgh has had several generational players come through the city via the draft.
The chances of Pittsburgh pulling that off, of course, are nowhere close to a given. That said, there are plenty of solid alternative options with forwards Ivar Stenberg or Ryan Roobroeck.
Neither of these players would have the immediate impact of a McKenna, but they would help the Penguins keep their rebuild on track. Pittsburgh can’t count on winning a lottery to speed up their rebuild, but if they did, it would accelerate the process.
The second major wild card for the Penguins’ rebuild is what happens this summer with the veterans whose names have come up in trade rumors – forwards Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and defenceman Erik Karlsson. Rust has reportedly been a hot commodity, and if Pittsburgh can trigger a bidding war, he could bring back a return that accelerates the team’s journey back to relevance.
The Penguins have made several short-term signings already this summer, including forward Anthony Mantha, who could play in Pittsburgh’s top six should they move on from a winger like Rust. Pittsburgh also has Rakell available, and if they can negotiate a first-round pick for the 32-year-old winger, it would provide another top-tier lottery ticket to help try and draft a future star in Pittsburgh.
Rakell is a difficult trade to forecast, as he is on a bargain contract and capable of scoring 30+ goals. He could be a key piece for a team looking for a winger but missing out on impact players in free agency.
Finally, with Karlsson, the Penguins have a piece that could be very desirable if his cap hit were to fall under $7MM, and less attractive if it exceeds that. Karlsson has long been a polarizing player, but as we recently saw with defenseman Seth Jones, sometimes a player who is overpaid can be more appealing when their cap hit better aligns with their level of play.
Karlsson is no longer a $10MM player, but he can still be very impactful with less responsibility. He maintains his offensive flair, posting 50+ point seasons in both years with the Penguins, and remains excellent at zone exits and transitional play.
If Pittsburgh is willing to retain a significant portion of his cap hit, they could acquire some solid young pieces that will help push them forward in their rebuild. However, if they retain Karlsson, they might struggle to trade him for anything of value, which won’t benefit them long term.
Just like with any rebuild, the Penguins will need a lot of luck for it to go as planned. Having lottery ball luck next year, as well as succeeding with moves to shed veterans, will speed up their rebuild.
If they don’t, it could lead to a rebuild that lasts half a decade or more. As the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers have shown over the past 15 years, top-end draft picks and finishing at the bottom of the standings do not guarantee success, and even when you get lucky with some picks and trades, those players you had high hopes for can fall apart.
The truth is that no one can predict how long the Penguins’ rebuild will take. Still, much of the groundwork for a successful rebuild will be laid over the next 12 months, and the rest will depend on how well the players already in the system develop moving forward.
At this year’s draft, Pittsburgh identified a specific type of player they were seeking and went out of their designated slot for almost the entire draft to acquire players that fit their vision. That strategy went against the consensus and could backfire on Dubas, but it was a brave and gutsy approach, perhaps one of the most unorthodox displays in recent memory.
However, that is what Dubas and the Penguins will need to do if they want to become relevant sooner rather than later – think outside the box, take big chances, and trust that their pro and amateur scouting is accurate about the players they are targeting. 2026 might be the target to turn the corner on the rebuild, but it probably isn’t the year they expect to contend.
Given the time it takes for prospects to adjust to the professional game, a safer bet is for the Penguins to become playoff hopefuls in the 2027-28 season. At that point, it’s hard to say whether Crosby will still be around, but if he is, the Penguins’ young players will have perhaps the best mentor a young NHLer could ever ask for.
Photo by Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
2025 Free Agency Day 1 Recap: Atlantic Division
With July 1 in the rearview, we’re listing every team’s moves from the opening day of free agency and the beginning of the new league year. Below are the bodies of work for the Atlantic Division clubs out of the gate:
Boston Bruins
Signed F Tanner Jeannot – five years, $17MM ($3.4MM cap hit)
Signed F Sean Kuraly – two years, $3.7MM ($1.85MM cap hit)
Signed F Michael Eyssimont – two years, $2.9MM ($1.45MM cap hit)
Signed F Matej Blumel – one year, $875K
Signed F Alex Steeves – one year, $850K
Signed D Jordan Harris – one year, $825K
Signed F Riley Tufte – one year, $775K (two-way)
Signed D Jonathan Aspirot – one year, $775K (two-way)
Signed G Luke Cavallin – one year, $775K (two-way)
Acquired F Viktor Arvidsson from Oilers for 2027 fifth-round pick
Buffalo Sabres
Signed F Ryan McLeod – four years, $20MM ($5MM cap hit)
Signed F Justin Danforth – two years, $3.6MM ($1.8MM cap hit)
Signed G Alex Lyon – two years, $3MM ($1.5MM cap hit)
Signed D Ryan Johnson – three years, $2.33MM ($775K cap hit)
Signed F Tyson Kozak – three years, $2.33MM ($775K cap hit)
Signed F Riley Fiddler-Schultz – two years, $1.73MM ($865K cap hit, entry-level)
Signed D Mason Geertsen – two years, $1.55MM ($775K cap hit, two-way)
Signed F Carson Meyer – two years, $1.55MM ($775K cap hit, two-way)
Signed D Zachary Jones – one year, $900K (two-way)
Signed D Zach Metsa – one year, $775K (two-way)
Acquired 2026 sixth-round pick from Blackhawks for F Sam Lafferty
Detroit Red Wings
Signed F James van Riemsdyk – one year, $1MM
Signed D Jacob Bernard-Docker – one year, $875K
Signed D Ian Mitchell – one year, $775K
Signed F John Leonard – one year, $775K
Florida Panthers
Signed G Kirill Gerasimyuk – two years, $1.75MM ($875K cap hit, entry-level)
Signed G Daniil Tarasov – one year, $1.05MM
Signed F Tomas Nosek – one year, $775K
Signed D Jeff Petry – one year, $775K
Signed F Jack Studnicka – one year, $775K (two-way)
Signed G Brandon Bussi – one year, $775K (two-way)
Signed F Nolan Foote – one year, $775K (two-way)
Montreal Canadiens
Signed G Kaapo Kahkonen – one year, $1.15MM
Signed F Sammy Blais – one year, $775K
Signed D Nathan Clurman – one year, $775K (two-way)
Signed F Alex Belzile – one year, $775K (two-way)
Acquired F Zachary Bolduc from Blues for D Logan Mailloux
Ottawa Senators
Signed F Lars Eller – one year, $1.25MM
Signed F Olle Lycksell – one year, $775K (two-way)
Signed F Wyatt Bongiovanni – one year, $775K (two-way)
Tampa Bay Lightning
Signed F Pontus Holmberg – two years, $3.1MM ($1.55MM cap hit)
Signed F Jakob Pelletier – three years, $2.525MM ($841.67K cap hit)
Signed F Gage Goncalves – two years, $2.4MM ($1.2MM cap hit)
Signed D Simon Lundmark – two years, $1.55MM ($775K cap hit, two-way)
Signed F Tristan Allard – two years, TBA (entry-level)
Signed F Nicholas Abruzzese – one year, $775K (two-way)
Signed F Boris Katchouk – one year, $775K (two-way)
Signed G Ryan Fanti – one year, $775K (two-way)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Signed F Michael Pezzetta – two years, $1.625MM ($812.5K cap hit)
Signed D Dakota Mermis – two years, $1.625MM ($812.5K cap hit)
Signed F Benoit-Olivier Groulx – two years, $1.625MM ($812.5K cap hit)
Signed F Travis Boyd – one year, $775K
Signed F Vinni Lettieri – one year, $775K
Acquired F Nicolas Roy from Golden Knights for F Mitch Marner
Free Agent Focus: Edmonton Oilers
Free agency is less than 48 hours away now, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. There will be several impact players set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Oilers.
Key Restricted Free Agents
D Evan Bouchard – The Oilers only have one player who qualifies for this section but Bouchard is certainly a significant one. No, the 25-year-old didn’t match his output from 2023-24 although that was going to be hard to do after he put up 82 points in 81 games that year. But even with a drop-off in production, he still finished fifth among all NHL blueliners with 67 points (14 goals, 53 assists) in 82 games. In the playoffs, he had 23 points in 22 contests, down from 32 in 25 the year before but still extremely impressive. While Bouchard isn’t known as being an elite defender, he has made strides at that end and has now shown himself to be one of the premier point producers from the back end. Arbitration-eligible this summer, it’s quite possible that a long-term contract for him approaches the $10MM mark.
Other RFAs: F Jacob Perreault, F Noah Philp, G Olivier Rodrigue, F Cameron Wright
Key Unrestricted Free Agents
F Connor Brown – After a rocky first year in Edmonton, Brown took a low-cost one-year deal to stay with them last summer and fared much better, putting up 30 points during the regular season plus nine more in 20 playoff outings. As always, he was a capable penalty killer as well. While his days of being viewed as a secondary scorer may be done now, Brown has shown that he can still be an effective bottom-six piece so a multi-year offer at more than double the $1MM AAV he made this season should be doable.
F Kasperi Kapanen – A midseason waiver claim, Kapanen was okay in a limited role but still managed just 14 points in 67 games on the season. He was better in the playoffs with six points in 12 games but found himself out of the lineup somewhat regularly as well. A veteran of more than 500 NHL games now, the 28-year-old should be able to secure a deal at some point this summer but it could wind up being a little later in free agency at a price tag close to the minimum salary.
D John Klingberg – The 32-year-old is one of the bigger wild cards on the open market this summer. He signed a deal midseason after recovering from hip surgery but didn’t play a lot after missing time due to illness and a late-season stint on LTIR. But in the playoffs, Klingberg was in the lineup for all but three games and held his own in more than 19 minutes a night of playing time. He’s not a top offensive threat as he was in his prime with Dallas but he’s capable of still helping out a bit on that end while his playoff performance will undoubtedly bolster his market heading into free agency, especially as a coveted right-shot player. A big-money contract isn’t happening but he might be able to beat the $1.755MM he received when he was a free agent a few months ago.
F Corey Perry – Perry very quietly tallied 19 goals this season and is averaging 15.5 per year over the last four seasons while doing so playing almost exclusively in the bottom six. He then went and added 10 more in 22 playoff contests. Yes, he’s 40 but he has shown an ability to adapt and still contribute which will give him a strong market. If he wants to continue to try to chase another Stanley Cup, he’ll probably have to keep settling for something in the $1MM range plus some bonuses. But if he’s open to expanding his options past that, doubling that amount should be possible.
F Jeff Skinner – After being bought out by Buffalo, Skinner took a one-year, $3MM deal to give Edmonton some more proven secondary scoring while ideally bolstering his market for 2025. That didn’t quite happen. He managed just 16 goals and 13 assists and found himself a scratch at times during the regular season and quite frequently during the playoffs. His track record is still good enough that there will be a market for his services this summer but it might wind up being another one-year deal at a bit of a dip from this season.
Other UFAs: D Ronald Attard, F Drake Caggiula (signed in Switzerland), D Connor Carrick (signed in Switzerland), G Collin Delia, D Travis Dermott, D Philip Kemp, F Lane Pederson, F Derek Ryan
Projected Cap Space
Following a busy week that included Evander Kane being traded to Vancouver and re-signing Trent Frederic to a surprising eight-year contract, the Oilers find themselves with a little over $12MM in cap space. The bulk of that will be needed to get Bouchard under contract while they’ll want to shore up their depth as well. That’s doable enough but if GM Stan Bowman wants to make a bigger splash, he’ll have to find a way to free up some cap space first.
Photos courtesy of Charles LeClaire (Bouchard) and Sam Navarro (Klingberg)-Imagn Images. Contract info courtesy of PuckPedia.
Offseason Checklist: Florida Panthers
The offseason has arrived with the draft now complete and free agency fast approaching. Accordingly, it’s time to look at what each team needs to accomplish this summer. We wrap up our series with a look at the Stanley Cup-winning Panthers.
Late in the regular season, things weren’t looking great for Florida. The team was banged up and underachieving, slipping to third in the Atlantic Division, finishing just one point ahead of Ottawa who occupied the first Wild Card spot in the East. However, they once again showed that they were a team built for the playoffs, taking care of business to win the Cup for the second straight year. Now, GM Bill Zito has some work to do in the coming days to keep his team intact as much as possible.
Bridge For Samoskevich
While Florida has several pending unrestricted free agents (that we’ll look at in more detail shortly), they have one restricted free agent of some significance in winger Mackie Samoskevich. The 22-year-old is coming off his first full NHL season and needs a new contract although he qualifies as a 10.2 (c) player and is therefore not eligible for an offer sheet. That helps take the pressure off as there won’t be an inflationary offer coming in that could mess up the rest of their plans.
The 22-year-old played in 72 games with the Panthers this season, notching a solid 15 goals and 16 assists despite only averaging 13:19 per game. However, he was used only sparingly in the playoffs, dressing for just four outings, only one of those coming after the first round. With just seven other regular season games to his name from 2023-24, this is a profile that screams bridge contract.
If the Panthers want to leave as much flexibility as possible for next season, a one-year deal might only check in around the $1.25MM range. Alternatively, a two-year pact would likely push the AAV closer to $1.5MM per season. With no true pressure points, this is a case that could drag on a bit but there’s value in getting something done sooner rather than later so they know how much they have to spend on their core free agents.
Keep Key Free Agents
One of Florida’s ‘big three’ potential unrestricted free agents is off the market with the team announcing on Friday that center and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sam Bennett had signed an eight-year, $64MM contract to remain with the Panthers. That leaves them with $11MM in cap space, per PuckPedia, and two key players to try to keep, defenseman Aaron Ekblad and winger Brad Marchand.
Ekblad has been a fixture on the back end for the Panthers since they made him the first overall selection back in 2014. He has been a full-time NHL player ever since and ranks second to only Aleksander Barkov for games played in franchise history. Between missing a few games due to injury and a 20-game late-season suspension for a violation of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program, Ekblad is coming off a quieter year by his standards but he still had 33 points in 56 games while logging 23:31 per night of ice time. He’s still capable of playing on the top pairing and being an all-situations player for several more years. But with a lot of mileage already, is Florida willing to give him a max-term deal? Meanwhile, Ekblad appears to be in a position to command something around the $7.5MM he made on his expiring eight-year contract as the top right-shot option on a market largely bereft of impactful players on that side which gives him a lot of leverage in talks.
As for Marchand, this was not a situation that either side would be in. When he was acquired at the trade deadline, the expectation was that he’d be a good secondary contributor and then probably move on. But Marchand wound up being an instrumental part of their Cup run, chipping in with 10 goals and 10 assists in 23 games despite primarily playing in Florida’s third line. Coming off a 51-point regular season, his stock is now quite high as well to the point where a raise on the $6.125MM he made on his set-to-expire contract is now doable, something that seemed very unlikely just a few months ago.
Zito has made it clear he wants to keep both of these players but the math simply doesn’t work. One is an option but if they want to keep Ekblad and Marchand in the fold, they’re going to have to get creative and also move a player or two out. Less than 72 hours away from the start of free agency, he’ll have to move fast.
Goalie Work
There’s work to do on a few fronts between the pipes for Florida this summer. None of them necessarily qualify as significantly pressing but will require action at some point.
The first involves starting extension talks with Sergei Bobrovsky. When Florida dealt Spencer Knight in the Seth Jones deal (leading some to believe Jones would replace Ekblad on the back end long-term), their in-house replacement for Bobrovsky went away. Now, instead of potentially handing him the crease in 2026-27, working out a new deal for the 36-year-old seems like the route they’re going to try to take as a short-term solution. It’s fair to say that the price tag won’t come close to the $10MM he’s making now but a two-year pact around the $6MM or so range would buy Zito a little more time to find a longer-term replacement. The sooner they get that deal secured, the more confidence they can have about taking on money for 2026-27. But it’s not necessarily something that has to be done over the next few months.
Florida got ahead of what was the next item on this list when they acquired goaltender Daniil Tarasov from Columbus earlier this week. It’s expected he’ll take the place of Vitek Vanecek, who was acquired at the deadline to take Knight’s vacated spot, as Bobrovsky’s backup next season. Now, they need to get him under contract. He’s owed a qualifying offer of $1.26MM but the offer also carries arbitration rights, something they’d likely prefer to avoid. With that in mind, it’s likely that they’d like to get something done soon or close enough where they could non-tender him and then sign him after that, a strategy that teams have started to employ more often in recent years.
The other thing they need to do is land a veteran third-stringer. That was Chris Driedger’s role for most of the year before he was traded for Kaapo Kahkonen who played a big role in AHL Charlotte getting to the Calder Cup Finals. They have prospect Cooper Black signed for one more year and he did quite well with the Checkers, albeit in limited action. They’ll likely want to give him more action next season so a veteran who can split starts and also be called up to be the backup in a pinch in the NHL is the type of player they’ll likely want. There will be several of those available so they’ll just have to ensure that they’re able to get a deal done with one of them.
Add Defensive Depth
At the moment, the Panthers only have five NHL blueliners under contract for next season. One of those is Uvis Balinskis who was largely a regular during the regular season but was a healthy scratch 18 times in the playoffs. Ekblad returning would make a big difference and shift the focus toward adding some injury insurance and depth above all else.
Nate Schmidt was one of the players signed last year to serve that depth role and he fared quite well to the point where he’ll either have to take a below-market deal to remain with the Panthers or move on. At this point, the goal should be to try to find someone who can fill that type of role on the third pairing (16-17 minutes a night) for around that price tag to, again, maximize their spending room on their top players. An extra one of those players would also be handy in an ideal world.
Internally, Tobias Bjornfot is someone who has been a depth defender but as a pending RFA with arbitration rights and 134 career NHL games, he’s a non-tender candidate to avoid any risk of a higher-than-desired award. He’s the only reserve list defender with some NHL experience although Mike Benning has shown some promise and could be in the mix for a recall at some point. With that in mind, a veteran defender who could start with the Checkers and be injury insurance would also be useful.
Photo courtesy of Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images.
2025 NHL Draft Results By Team
The 2025 NHL Draft is now complete. Check out how each team did accruing talent and filling needs with each of their selections this weekend:
Anaheim Ducks
1-10 – F Roger McQueen, Brandon (WHL)
2-45 – F Eric Nilson, Djurgården (Sweden U20)
2-60 – D Lasse Boelius, Ässät (Finland U20)
3-72 – F Noah Read, London (OHL)
4-101 – D Drew Schock, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
4-104 – G Elijah Neuenschwander, Fribourg-Gottéron (Switzerland U21)
5-136 – D Alexis Mathieu, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
5-159 – F Émile Guité, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
6-168 – D Anthony Allain-Samaké, Sioux City (USHL)
7-200 – F Brady Turko, Brandon (WHL)
Boston Bruins
1-7 – F James Hagens, Boston College (Hockey East)
2-51 – F William Moore, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
2-61 – D Liam Pettersson, Växjö (Sweden U20)
3-79 – F Cooper Simpson, Shakopee (USHS-MN)
4-100 – D Vashek Blanár, Troja-Ljungby (Sweden U18)
5-133 – F Cole Chandler, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
6-165 – F Kirill Yemelyanov, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
Buffalo Sabres
1-9 – D Radim Mrtka, Seattle (WHL)
3-71 – D David Bedkowski, Owen Sound (OHL)
4-103 – F Matous Jan Kucharcik, Slavia Praha (Czechia2)
4-116 – G Samuel Meloche, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
5-135 – D Noah Laberge, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
6-167 – F Ashton Schultz, Chicago (USHL)
7-195 – F Melvin Novotny, Leksand (Sweden U20)
7-199 – G Yevgeni Prokhorov, Dinamo-Shinnik Bobruysk (MHL)
7-219 – F Ryan Rucinski, Youngstown (USHL)
Calgary Flames
1-18 – F Cole Reschny, Victoria (WHL)
1-32 – F Cullen Potter, Arizona State (NCHC)
2-54 – F Theo Stockselius, Djurgården (Sweden U20)
3-80 – D Mace’o Phillips, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
5-144 – F Ethan Wyttenbach, Sioux Falls (USHL)
6-176 – F Aidan Lane, St. Andrew’s (Canada U18 AAA)
7-207 – D Jakob Leander, HV71 (Sweden U20)
7-211 – F Yan Matveiko, CSKA (MHL)
Carolina Hurricanes
2-41 – G Semyon Frolov, Spartak (MHL)
2-49 – F Charlie Cerrato, Penn State (Big 10)
2-62 – F Ivan Ryabkin, Muskegon (USHL)
3-67 – D Kurban Limatov, Dynamo Moscow (MHL)
3-87 – D Roman Bausov, Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
6-183 – F Viggo Nordlund, Skellefteå (Sweden U20)
7-221 – F Filip Ekberg, Ottawa (OHL)
Chicago Blackhawks
1-3 – F Anton Frondell, Djurgården (HockeyAllsvenskan)
1-25 – F Vaclav Nestrasil, Muskegon (USHL)
1-29 – F Mason West, Edina (USHS-MN)
3-66 – F Nathan Behm, Kamloops (WHL)
4-98 – F Julius Sumpf, Moncton (QMJHL)
4-107 – F Parker Holmes, Brantford (OHL)
6-162 – D Ashton Cumby, Seattle (WHL)
7-194 – G Ilya Kanarsky, AKM Tula (MHL)
Colorado Avalanche
3-77 – D Francesco Dell’Elce, Massachusetts (Hockey East)
4-118 – D Linus Funck, Luleå (Sweden U20)
7-214 – F Nolan Roed, Tri-City (USHL)
Columbus Blue Jackets
1-14 – D Jackson Smith, Tri-City (WHL)
1-20 – G Pyotr Andreyanov, CSKA (MHL)
3-76 – D Malte Vass, Färjestad (Sweden U20)
5-160 – F Owen Griffin, Oshawa (OHL)
6-173 – D Victor Hedin Raftheim, Brynäs (Sweden U20)
7-198 – F Jérémy Loranger, Sherwood Park (BCHL)
Dallas Stars
3-94 – F Cameron Schmidt, Vancouver (WHL)
4-126 – F Brandon Gorzynski, Calgary (WHL)
5-146 – F Atte Joki, Lukko (Finland U20)
5-158 – G Måns Goos, Färjestad (Sweden U20)
6-190 – F Dawson Sharkey, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
7-222 – F Charlie Paquette, Guelph (OHL)
Detroit Red Wings
1-13 – F Carter Bear, Everett (WHL)
2-44 – F Eddie Genborg, Linköping (Sweden U20)
3-75 – G Michal Pradel, Tri-City (USHL)
4-109 – F Brent Solomon, Champlin Park (USHS-MN)
4-119 – F Michal Svrcek, Brynäs IF (Sweden U20)
5-140 – D Nikita Tyurin, Spartak Moscow (MHL)
6-172 – D Will Murphy, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
7-204 – F Grayden Robertson-Palmer, Phillips Academy (USHS-MA)
Edmonton Oilers
3-83 – F Tommy Lafrenière, Kamloops (WHL)
4-117 – F David Lewandowski, Saskatoon (WHL)
5-131 – D Asher Barnett, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
6-191 – G Daniel Salonen, Lukko (Finland U20)
7-223 – F Aidan Park, Green Bay (USHL)
Florida Panthers
4-112 – F Mads Kongsbak Klyvø, Frölunda (Sweden U20)
4-128 – F Shea Busch, Everett (WHL)
5-129 – F Shamar Moses, North Bay (OHL)
6-192 – F Arvid Drott, Djurgården (Sweden U20)
7-197 – D Brendan Dunphy, Wenatchee (WHL)
7-224 – G Yegor Midlak, Spartak Moscow (MHL)
Los Angeles Kings
1-31 – D Henry Brzustewicz, London (OHL)
2-59 – F Vojtech Cihar, Karlovy Vary (Czechia)
3-88 – F Kristian Epperson, Saginaw (OHL)
4-120 – D Caeden Herrington, Lincoln (USHL)
4-125 – F Jimmy Lombardi, Flint (OHL)
5-152 – G Petteri Rimpinen, Kiekko-Espoo (Liiga)
6-184 – F Jan Chovan, Tappara (Finland U20)
7-196 – F Brendan McMorrow, Waterloo (USHL)
7-216 – D Will Sharpe, Kelowna (WHL)
Minnesota Wild
2-52 – D Theodor Hallquisth, Örebro (Sweden U20)
4-102 – F Adam Benák, Youngstown (USHL)
4-121 – F Lirim Amidovski, North Bay (OHL)
4-123 – F Carter Klippenstein, Brandon (WHL)
5-141 – D Justin Kipkie, Victoria (WHL)
Montreal Canadiens
2-34 – F Alexander Zharovsky, Ufa (MHL)
3-96 – F Hayden Paupanekis, Kelowna (WHL)
3-81 – D Bryce Pickford, Medicine Hat (WHL)
3-82 – G Arseni Radkov, Tyumen (MHL)
4-113 – F L.J. Mooney, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
5-145 – G Alexis Cournoyer, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
6-177 – D Carlos Händel, Halifax (QMJHL)
6-189 – D Andrew MacNiel, Kitchener (OHL)
7-209 – D Maxon Vig, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
Nashville Predators
1-5 – F Brady Martin, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
1-21 – D Cameron Reid, Kitchener (OHL)
1-26 – F Ryker Lee, Madison (USHL)
2-35 – D Jacob Rombach, Lincoln (USHL)
2-58 – G Jack Ivankovic, Brampton (OHL)
4-122 – D Alex Huang, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
6-163 – D Daniel Nieminen, Pelicans (Liiga)
New Jersey Devils
2-50 – F Conrad Fondrk, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
2-63 – F Benjamin Kevan, Des Moines (USHL)
3-90 – F Mason Moe, Madison (USHL)
4-99 – G Trenten Bennett, Owen Sound (OHL)
4-114 – F Gustav Hillström, Brynäs (Sweden U20)
6-161 – F David Rozsíval, Liberec (Czechia U20)
6-178 – F Sigge Holmgren, Brynäs (Sweden U20)
New York Islanders
1-1 – D Matthew Schaefer, Erie (OHL)
1-16 – F Victor Eklund, Djurgården (HockeyAllsvenskan)
1-17 – D Kashawn Aitcheson, Barrie (OHL)
2-42 – F Daniil Prokhorov, Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
3-74 – F Luca Romano, Kitchener (OHL)
4-106 – F Tomas Poletin, Pelicans (Finland U20)
5-138 – D Sam Laurila, Fargo (USHL)
6-170 – G Burke Hood, Vancouver (WHL)
7-202 – F Jacob Kvasnicka, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
New York Rangers
2-43 – F Malcolm Spence, Erie (OHL)
3-70 – D Sean Barnhill, Dubuque (USHL)
3-89 – D Artyom Gonchar, Magnitogorsk (MHL)
4-111 – F Mikkel Eriksen, Färjestad (Sweden U20)
5-139 – D Zeb Lindgren, Skellefteå (Sweden U20)
6-166 – F Samuel Jung, Kärpät (Finland U20)
6-171 – D Evan Passmore, Barrie (OHL)
7-203 – F Felix Färhammar, Örebro (Sweden U20)
Ottawa Senators
1-23 – D Logan Hensler, Wisconsin (Big 10)
3-93 – F Blake Vanek, Stillwater (USHS-MN)
4-97 – G Lucas Beckman, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
5-149 – F Dmitri Isayev, Yekaterinburg (MHL)
6-181 – F Bruno Idzan, Lincoln (USHL)
7-213 – G Andrei Trofimov, Magnitogorsk (MHL)
Philadelphia Flyers
1-6 – F Porter Martone, Brampton (OHL)
1-12 – F Jack Nesbitt, Windsor (OHL)
2-38 – D Carter Amico, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
2-40 – F Jack Murtagh, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
2-48 – F Shane Vansaghi, Michigan State (Big 10)
2-57 – F Matthew Gard, Red Deer (WHL)
5-132 – F Max Westergård, Frölunda (Sweden U20)
5-157 – D Luke Vlooswyk, Red Deer (WHL)
6-164 – F Nathan Quinn, Quebec (QMJHL)
Pittsburgh Penguins
1-11 – F Benjamin Kindel, Calgary (WHL)
1-22 – F Bill Zonnon, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
1-24 – F William Horcoff, Michigan (Big 10)
2-39 – D Peyton Kettles, Swift Current (WHL)
3-73 – D Charlie Trethewey, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
3-84 – G Gabriel D’Aigle, Victoriaville (QMJHL)
3-91 – D Brady Peddle, Waterloo (USHL)
4-105 – F Travis Hayes, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
5-130 – F Ryan Miller, Portland (WHL)
5-148 – D Quinn Beauchesne, Guelph (OHL)
5-154 – F Jordan Charron, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
6-169 – F Carter Sanderson, Muskegon (USHL)
7-201 – F Kale Dach, Sherwood Park (BCHL)
San Jose Sharks
1-2 – F Michael Misa, Saginaw (OHL)
1-30 – G Joshua Ravensbergen, Prince George (WHL)
2-33 – D Haoxi Wang, Oshawa (OHL)
2-53 – F Cole McKinney, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
3-95 – F Teddy Mutryn, Chicago (USHL)
4-115 – D Ilyas Magomedsultanov, Yaroslavl (MHL)
4-124 – D Zack Sharp, Western Michigan (NCHC)
5-150 – F Max Heise, Penticton (BCHL)
7-210 – F Richard Gallant, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
Seattle Kraken
1-8 – F Jake O’Brien, Brantford (OHL)
2-36 – D Blake Fiddler, Edmonton (WHL)
3-68 – D Will Reynolds, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
5-134 – D Maxim Agafonov, Ufa (MHL)
7-205 – D Karl Annborn, HV71 (Sweden U20)
7-218 – F Loke Krantz, Linköping (Sweden U20)
St. Louis Blues
1-19 – F Justin Carbonneau, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
5-147 – F Mikhail Fyodorov, Magnitogorsk (MHL)
6-179 – G Love Härenstam, Skellefteå (Sweden U20)
Tampa Bay Lightning
2-56 – F Ethan Czata, Niagara (OHL)
4-108 – F Benjamin Rautiainen, Tappara (Liiga)
4-127 – F Aiden Foster, Prince George (WHL)
5-151 – D Everett Baldwin, St. George’s (USHS-RI)
7-193 – G Caleb Heil, Madison (USHL)
7-206 – F Roman Luttsev, Yaroslavl (MHL)
7-212 – D Grant Spada, Guelph (OHL)
7-215 – F Marco Mignosa, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
Toronto Maple Leafs
2-64 – F Tinus Luc Koblar, Leksand (Sweden U20)
3-86 – F Tyler Hopkins, Kingston (OHL)
5-137 – F William Belle, U.S. U18 (NTDP)
5-153 – F Harry Nansi, Owen Sound (OHL)
6-185 – D Rylan Fellinger, Flint (OHL)
7-217 – F Matthew Hlacar, Kitchener (OHL)
Utah Mammoth
1-4 – F Caleb Desnoyers, Moncton (QMJHL)
2-46 – D Max Psenicka, Portland (WHL)
3-78 – F Stepan Hoch, Ceske Budojevice (Czechia U20)
4-110 – F Yegor Borikov, Minsk (KHL)
5-142 – G Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko, Ufa (MHL)
6-174 – D Ludvig Johnson, Zug (ML)
6-182 – D Reko Alanko, Jokerit (Finland U18)
Vancouver Canucks
1-15 – F Braeden Cootes, Seattle (WHL)
2-47 – G Alexei Medvedev, London (OHL)
3-65 – F Kieren Dervin, St. Andrew’s (Canada U18 AAA)
5-143 – F Wilson Björck, Djurgården (Sweden U20)
6-175 – F Gabe Chiarot, Brampton (OHL)
7-207 – F Matthew Lansing, Waterloo (USHL)
Vegas Golden Knights
2-55 – F Jakob Ihs-Wozniak, Luleå (Sweden U20)
3-85 – F Mateo Nobert, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
6-186 – F Alex Weiermair, Portland (WHL)
6-187 – D Gustav Sjöqvist, AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan)
Washington Capitals
1-27 – F Lynden Lakovic, Moose Jaw (WHL)
2-37 – F Milton Gästrin, MoDo (Sweden U20)
3-96 – F Maxim Schäfer, Berlin (DEL)
5-155 – F Jackson Crowder, Chicago (USHL)
6-180 – D Aron Dahlqvist, Brynäs (Sweden U20)
Winnipeg Jets
1-28 – D Sascha Boumedienne, Boston University (Hockey East)
3-92 – F Owen Martin, Spokane (WHL)
5-156 – F Viktor Klingsell, Skellefteå (Sweden U20)
6-188 – D Edison Engle, Dubuque (USHL)
7-220 – F Jacob Cloutier, Saginaw (OHL)
2025 NHL Draft Pick Tracker
June 28: Rounds 2 through 7 start at 11:00 a.m. Central. Follow along with the picks at Pro Hockey Rumors. If you’re looking for a directory of draft pick swaps today, follow our offseason trade tracker.
June 27: The 2025 NHL Draft at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles is set to begin momentarily. We’re providing in-depth coverage on all the happenings tonight and Saturday for Rounds 2 through 7, but if you’re looking for a quick reference list of who’s been picked, we’ve got you covered. This tracker will be updated live throughout tonight and tomorrow.
We’re trying something new this year. Instead of a live chat on Friday or Saturday, PHR’s Josh Erickson will be active in the comment section on this piece, chiming in on picks and responding to questions. Hopefully, this will allow for more open-ended conversations and engagement.
As the first round progresses, you can check out how well our Gabriel Foley did at projecting the picks with his 2025 Mock Draft.
First Round
- New York Islanders – D Matthew Schaefer / Erie (OHL)
- San Jose Sharks – C Michael Misa / Saginaw (OHL)
- Chicago Blackhawks – C Anton Frondell / Djurgården (Sweden-2)
- Utah Mammoth – C Caleb Desnoyers / Moncton (QMJHL)
- Nashville Predators – C Brady Martin / Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
- Philadelphia Flyers – RW Porter Martone / Brampton (OHL)
- Boston Bruins – C James Hagens / Boston College (Hockey East)
- Seattle Kraken – C Jake O’Brien / Brantford (OHL)
- Buffalo Sabres – D Radim Mrtka / Seattle (WHL)
- Anaheim Ducks – C Roger McQueen / Brandon (WHL)
- Pittsburgh Penguins – C Benjamin Kindel / Calgary (WHL)
- Philadelphia Flyers (from NYR) – C Jack Nesbitt / Windsor (OHL)
- Detroit Red Wings – LW Carter Bear / Everett (WHL)
- Columbus Blue Jackets – D Jackson Smith / Tri-City (WHL)
- Vancouver Canucks – C Braeden Cootes / Seattle (WHL)
- New York Islanders (from CGY) – LW Victor Eklund / Djurgården (Sweden-2)
- New York Islanders (from MTL) – D Kashawn Aitcheson / Barrie (OHL)
- Calgary Flames (from NJD) – C Cole Reschny / Victoria (WHL)
- St. Louis Blues – RW Justin Carbonneau / Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (from MIN) – G Pyotr Andreyanov / CSKA Moscow-Jr. (MHL)
- Nashville Predators (from OTT) – D Cameron Reid / Kitchener (OHL)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (from COL) – LW Bill Zonnon / Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
- Ottawa Senators (from TBL) – D Logan Hensler / Wisconsin (Big 10)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (from LAK) – C William Horcoff / Michigan (Big 10)
- Chicago Blackhawks (from TOR) – RW Václav Nestrašil / Muskegon (USHL)
- Nashville Predators (from VGK) – RW Ryker Lee / Madison (USHL)
- Washington Capitals – LW Lynden Lakovic / Moose Jaw (WHL)
- Winnipeg Jets – D Sascha Boumedienne / Boston University (Hockey East)
- Chicago Blackhawks (from CAR) – C Mason West / Edina (USHS-MN)
- San Jose Sharks (from DAL) – G Joshua Ravensbergen / Prince George (WHL)
- Los Angeles Kings (from EDM) – D Henry Brzustewicz / London (OHL)
- Calgary Flames (from FLA) – LW Cullen Potter / Arizona State (NCHC)
Second Round
33. San Jose Sharks – D Haoxi (Simon) Wang / Oshawa (OHL)
34. Montreal Canadiens (from CHI) – RW Alexander Zharovsky / Ufa-Jr. (MHL)
35. Nashville Predators – D Jacob Rombach / Lincoln (USHL)
36. Seattle Kraken (from PHI) – D Blake Fiddler / Edmonton (WHL)
37. Washington Capitals (from BOS) – C Milton Gästrin / MoDo-Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
38. Philadelphia Flyers (from SEA) – D Carter Amico / U.S. U18 (NTDP)
39. Pittsburgh Penguins (from BUF) – D Peyton Kettles / Swift Current (WHL)
40. Philadelphia Flyers (from ANA) – LW Jack Murtagh / U.S. U18 (NTDP)
41. Carolina Hurricanes (from PIT) – G Semyon Frolov / Spartak Moscow-Jr. (MHL)
42. New York Islanders – RW Daniil Prokhorov / Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
43. New York Rangers – LW Malcolm Spence / Erie (OHL)
44. Detroit Red Wings – RW Eddie Genborg / Linköping-Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
45. Anaheim Ducks (from CBJ) – C Eric Nilson / Djurgården-Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
46. Utah Mammoth – D Max Psenicka / Portland (WHL)
47. Vancouver Canucks – G Aleksei Medvedev / London (OHL)
48. Philadelphia Flyers (from CGY) – RW Shane Vansaghi / Michigan State (Big 10)
49. Carolina Hurricanes (from MTL) – C Charlie Cerrato / Penn State (Big 10)
50. New Jersey Devils – C Conrad Fondrk / U.S. U18 (NTDP)
51. Boston Bruins (from STL) – C William Moore / U.S. U18 (NTDP)
52. Minnesota Wild – D Theodor Hallquisth / Örebro-Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
53. San Jose Sharks (from OTT) – C Cole McKinney / U.S. U18 (NTDP)
54. Calgary Flames (from COL) – C Theo Stockselius / Djurgården-Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
55. Vegas Golden Knights (from TBL) – RW Jakob Ihs-Wozniak / Luleå-Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
56. Tampa Bay Lightning (from LAK) – C Ethan Czata / Niagara (OHL)
57. Philadelphia Flyers (from TOR) – C Matthew Gard / Red Deer (WHL)
58. Nashville Predators (from VGK) – G Jack Ivankovic / Brampton (OHL)
59. Los Angeles Kings (from WSH) – LW Vojtech Cihar / Karlovy Vary (Czechia)
60. Anaheim Ducks (from WPG) – D Lasse Boelius / Ässät-Jr. (Finland-Jr.)
61. Boston Bruins (from CAR) – D Liam Pettersson / Växjö-Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)
62. Carolina Hurricanes (from DAL) – C Ivan Ryabkin / Muskegon (USHL)
63. New Jersey Devils (from EDM) – RW Ben Kevan / Des Moines (USHL)
64. Toronto Maple Leafs (from FLA) – C Tinus Luc Koblar / Leksand-Jr. (Sweden-Jr.)