Snapshots: Bedard, Fantilli, Sharpe, Pantelas
The five-year term on Connor Bedard’s new $75MM contract with Chicago raised some eyebrows as it only bought the Blackhawks one extra year of team control. Typically, in those situations, a team will prefer a shorter-term pact to give them another shot at a long-term agreement down the road. Bedard’s agent Don Meehan indicated to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times that while the team did pursue a longer-term agreement with their top player, they didn’t want to do a short-term agreement. Instead, they wanted some continuity and stability to send a signal both internally and externally, which they feel they get with this contract. Meehan also indicated that Bedard is taking an aggressive form of rehab in the hopes of getting back from his shoulder surgery before the projected four-month timeline that carries into November.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- With Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet matched and Bedard’s contract now done, the RFA center market shifts to Blue Jackets middleman Adam Fantilli. GM Don Waddell is doing his best to deter an offer sheet from coming to his youngster as he told Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch that they are prepared to match any offer sheet that comes his way. The 21-year-old had 24 goals and 35 assists in 81 games last season, his most productive year yet. They also have over $23MM in cap room, per PuckPedia, although goalie Jet Greaves and center Cole Sillinger both need new deals as well.
- Kings prospect Will Sharpe has a new team for the upcoming season. The blueliner announced on his Instagram page that he will play for St. Cloud State University next season. Sharpe was a seventh-round pick in 2025 and split last season between WHL Kelowna and Vancouver, notching five goals and 24 assists in 59 games. That actually represented a drop-off in production from the year before when he had 44 points in 66 contests. By going to the NCAA, Sharpe’s signing timeline is extended; had he not made the switch, Los Angeles would have had until June 1st to sign him.
- The opening for Sharpe to make the jump to the NCAA came on the heels of another Kings prospect deciding to make a change, relays Postmedia’s Steve Ewen. Originally expected to attend St. Cloud State this season, Giorgos Pantelas decided to stay in the WHL instead. The 18-year-old indicated that he’d go to school unless he was traded to Penticton, notes Perry Bergson of The Brandon Sun. Pantelas was a fifth-round pick last month, going 153rd overall. The defenseman had 37 points in 68 games last season with WHL Brandon.
Snapshots: Kealty, Jaskin, Hillstrom
The San Jose Sharks announced the hire of former Nashville Predators assistant GM and director of scouting Jeff Kealty as the team’s newest assistant GM. In the announcement, the Sharks said Kealty will oversee the team’s professional scouting staff and assist GM Mike Grier in all aspects of hockey operations. Kealty has an amateur scouting background, having taken a lead role in the Predators’ amateur scouting operations for both former GM David Poile and former GM Barry Trotz. The Sharks’ amateur scouting, however, is currently run by Chris Morehouse.
But while Kealty will be officially tasked with overseeing professional scouting, one must assume he will also have a presence of some kind in the team’s amateur scouting process. During his time with the Predators, Nashville was able to unearth some real gems in the draft, including 2008 second-round pick Roman Josi and 2009 fourth-rounder Mattias Ekholm. In joining the Sharks, Kealty will be reunited with one of his recent top draft selections: Yaroslav Askarov. The No. 11 overall pick of the 2020 draft was traded by the Predators to San Jose in August 2024. Kealty’s hockey operations work extends beyond scouting and into the international arena, as he was GM of the U.S. Men’s National Team for the IIHF Men’s World Championships in 2025. There, he constructed the roster that would win a gold medal, the country’s first at the tournament since 1933.
Other notes from around the hockey world:
- Former St. Louis Blues and Arizona Coyotes forward Dmitrij Jaskin has signed a deal with the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons, confirming his exit from Ak Bars Kazan after three seasons with the club. Jaskin, who made over $3MM on his most recent NHL contract, has been in the KHL since the 2022-23 season. A star scorer in the league, Jaskin captained Ak Bars in the 2024-25 season and that season scored 35 goals and 54 points. This past year, he managed 18 goals and 32 points. The two-time KHL MVP will join a Shanghai team seeking to make the postseason for just the second time in franchise history, and the first time since the club’s inaugural 2016-17 campaign.
- 2025 New Jersey Devils draft pick Gustav Hillström has signed a one-year contract extension with his SHL club, Brynäs IF. The 19-year-old was selected in the fourth round, No. 114 overall, at last year’s draft and had a solid 2025-26 season, setting a new career-high in games played at the SHL level. This one-year extension will keep Hillström in the SHL through the 2027-28 season, at which point he and the Devils may need to decide whether a move to North America is appropriate.
Snapshots: Hellebuyck, Bellemare, Poirier, Cicek
One of the prominent names featured in recent trade speculation has been Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. While a deal didn’t come to fruition at the draft, Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press feels a trade this summer remains extremely likely. With long-time playing partner Eric Comrie moving on in free agency and Stuart Skinner (a player who has made 50 or more appearances in four straight years) coming in, Winnipeg now has a bit of security if they opt to move the three-time Vezina winner. Buffalo was a speculated landing spot back at the draft while McIntyre believes that San Jose could be a suitable destination. While they have Yaroslav Askarov in the fold, their pivot to more of a win-now approach could make someone like Hellebuyck appealing while they have the cap space to fit him in. Hellebuyck hasn’t formally asked for a trade but that won’t stop the speculation about a possible move from continuing.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- While Pierre-Edouard Bellemare’s playing days are over, his days in the NHL aren’t. The Lightning announced earlier this week that they’ve hired the former center as a Player Development Specialist. It’s a return to Tampa Bay for Bellemare, who played in 153 games with them between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Specifically, he will be working with their forward prospects while also spending time working in AHL Syracuse.
- After being non-tendered by Dallas last month, defenseman Jeremie Poirier has found his next team. Adler Mannheim of the DEL announced that they’ve signed the 24-year-old to a one-year contract. Poirier started the season with Calgary but was traded back in February. Between the two organizations, he had 16 points in 51 games last season but also had two years of 40-plus points in Calgary’s system before then.
- Blueliner Nick Cicek has found his next team. Earlier this week, Championat’s Anton Panchenko relayed that the defender has signed a one-year deal with KHL Shanghai. The 26-year-old last saw NHL action in 2022-23 when he played in 16 games with San Jose. Since then, Cicek has spent time in both the AHL and DEL. Last season, he played in 70 games with AHL Calgary, recording 25 points and 119 penalty minutes.
Snapshots: Ducks, Stephens, Jets ECHL Affiliate
It seems like the hits will just keep coming in Anaheim this summer. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier’s price tag could be as much as a $15MM AAV, as he said on today’s episode of The Sheet with Jeff Marek.
Surely in no mood to sell himself short after a team-leading 41-goal campaign at just age 22, the forward is in for a huge payday, although he’s not offer sheet eligible. Even just a few weeks ago, the idea of Anaheim having to choose between him or the dynamic 21-year-old center Leo Carlsson would seem impossible, but Philadelphia’s five-year $90 million offer sheet ($18MM AAV) has wrecked any hopes of a smooth July in Anaheim.
The clock is ticking, as general manager Pat Verbeek has just until this Friday to decide whether to match the record-setting offer. Assuming he does, the Ducks will be left with just over $9 million in cap room, still not enough to take care of Gauthier barring something unexpected. Even if Verbeek is able to move out a contract such as Frank Vatrano’s $4.5MM, one of three high-cost veterans along with Chris Kreider and Alex Killorn, there’s still hardly any breathing room, not to mention that the Ducks lost four big pieces on the back end, 35-year-old Nick Jensen being the only addition so far.
One has to ask, how did things turn so quickly for a playoff team who had so much cap room? It’s all hindsight now, but Verbeek did himself no favors in negotiation with Carlsson. The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported that the Swede was looking for around $15MM earlier this summer, if not even less, an AAV which is now long gone as a possibility. Anaheim would take in four first round picks if they somehow let Carlsson walk away, a massive haul which could acquire another star caliber player via trade. With the picks themselves though, it’s highly unlikely they’d land another player of his talent without lottery luck. Whatever is in store for the Ducks in the next 48 hours will be fascinating to watch unfold.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Center Mitchell Stephens has re-signed with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in an AHL contract for two years, the team announced. A 2015 second-round selection of Tampa Bay, the now 29-year-old won a Stanley Cup in 2020 with the Bolts, making stops in Detroit, Montreal, and finally Seattle (Coachella Valley’s NHL franchise) in the past five years. With 123 NHL games under his belt, the Ontario native has 19 points. Stephens has landed at the AHL level as a solid contributor, recording 27 points in 69 games for the Firebirds this past season, good for ninth best on the team. His two-way acumen is especially impactful at the AHL level.
- The Winnipeg Jets announced a new ECHL affiliate, the Bloomington Bison. Unlike their AHL team the Manitoba Moose who share the same home arena, the Bison aren’t quite neighbors, located in Illinois. An ECHL expansion team founded in 2024, the club started out with an affiliation of the New York Rangers, going 37-30-2 last season and qualifying for the postseason. Any Bison player or opponent faces a long road to the highest level, but that’s not to say it doesn’t happen. According to the league, 36 ECHL alumni players were on Stanley Cup rosters, and one cannot forget Brandon Bussi’s performance, the Carolina goaltender having played four games with the Maine Mariners in 2022-23.
Snapshots: Flyers, Carlsson, Bulldogs
Despite Philadelphia Flyers GM Danny Briere telling the media last week that his team might “take a little bit of a step back” in terms of competitiveness next season, the team’s stunning signing of Anaheim Ducks star Leo Carlsson to an $18MM AAV offer sheet signals the team “may not believe internally that they’re as far from contending” as they publicly indicate, writes Kevin Kurz of the Athletic. While the Flyers’ attempt to sign Carlsson is, in the end, unlikely to be successful, it does indicate where the organization sees itself in terms of its wider competitive timeline.
The Flyers took a sizable step forward under head coach Rick Tocchet last season, reaching the playoffs and defeating their arch-rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, in a first-round playoff series. While the team was swept away by the eventual champion Carolina Hurricanes in the second round, the combination of the team’s existing core (including Travis Sanheim, Daniel Vladar, and Travis Konecny, among others) with some ascending young talent (such as Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov) proved to be a potent one. According to Kurz, the Flyers know “the roster is still missing a major piece or two” before they can legitimately compete for a Stanley Cup, but the Carlsson offer sheet shows just how creative, and aggressive the club is willing to be in order to make that kind of major addition.
Other notes from around the hockey world:
- Despite the fact that Carlsson’s offer sheet has made the young pivot the NHL’s highest paid player, the Ducks have no choice but to match the Flyers’ hostile offer, writes Eric Stephens of The Athletic. It has been previously reported that Ducks GM Pat Verbeek communicated clearly that he would match any offer sheet of Carlsson, but given just how expensive Carlsson’s offer is (the center is an exceptional, valuable player but few would say he is truly worth $18MM AAV at this stage), some have raised the question as to whether the Ducks are best served matching the offer. But according to Stephens, while such a contract might hurt, “the alternative is worse.” If the Ducks cut Carlsson loose, they will be left with an improving young team lacking the most important and scarce lineup building block: a true No. 1 center, and without any clear avenues to acquire a replacement.
- The OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs announced that recent Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Brian Burke has been added as a senior advisor to the team’s hockey operations department. Burke, who enjoyed a legendary career as an NHL executive, winning a Stanley Cup as GM of the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, has most recently served as Executive Director of the PWHL’s players’ association, for two years from 2023 to 2025. He most recently worked for a team in 2023, when he was the president of hockey operations of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Snapshots, Carlsson, McTavish, Merkulov
With one offer sheet already signed, some are wondering if there will be others coming. Some teams are trying to guard against the possibility, including the Ducks. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that Anaheim has told some teams that they will match any offer sheet given to center Leo Carlsson and that they elected to not be overly active in free agency to ensure they have the cap space to do so. The 21-year-old had his best season yet in 2025-26, putting up 29 goals and 38 assists in 70 games, taking big strides toward living up to his second-overall draft slot in 2023. Projected to be an all-around top center, he’s well on his way to doing so and is in line to command a max-term deal with a double-digit AAV. By telling teams he’ll match whatever is offered, GM Pat Verbeek is trying to ensure he’s the person to give Carlsson that contract at his terms. History suggests that this could make talks drag on well into the summer.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- The Flames made a serious pitch to acquire Mason McTavish from Anaheim last week, reports Sportsnet’s Eric Francis (Twitter link). However, they weren’t able to beat the offer from St. Louis of the 15th and 29th overall picks. Calgary had the sixth overall selection and understandably wasn’t willing to put that in the offer but while they had the 30th pick, they weren’t able to put something similar in value to the 15th selection. After parting with multiple picks to add Simon Nemec, the Flames aren’t attempting to escalate their rebuild but rather add some younger players who will be in their primes as they come out of it, something that would have been the case with McTavish.
- Unrestricted free agent forward Georgii Merkulov has received overseas interest but is holding out hope of landing an NHL contract, relays Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal (Twitter link). The 25-year-old has seen action with Boston in each of the last three seasons but that only spans 11 games, where he has one assist. Merkulov has averaged 60 points per season over the last three years in the minors with AHL Providence so he should be able to garner interest on a two-way deal somewhere, especially since he doesn’t count toward veteran status in the AHL just yet.
Snapshots: Larkin, Stars Injuries, Flames, Carlile
Speaking after today’s draft (video link), Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman spoke publicly for the first time about Dylan Larkin’s trade request. He certainly didn’t commit to moving the center, stating that “My job as the manager of the Detroit Red Wings is always to do what is in the best interest of the Detroit Red Wings, and I will act accordingly to that. I cannot make any guarantees, or did not make any guarantees, that that request could or would be met.” Larkin is believed to have given Detroit a very limited list of teams he’d be willing to be traded to while the team is also wanting comparable-level talent in return instead of draft picks and futures. That will only further complicate those discussions. Yzerman is known to be patient so it could very well take a while for Larkin’s request to be met.
Elsewhere around the NHL:
- In his post-draft presser (video link), Stars GM Jim Nill provided a pair of updates on his injured centers. Radek Faksa (foot) underwent a second surgery and the belief is that he’ll be ready for training camp. The veteran was injured during their opening-round series loss to Minnesota. Meanwhile, pivot Tyler Seguin (ACL surgery) is continuing through his recovery and the hope is that he’ll be ready for training camp. Seguin sustained the injury in early December. With Dallas needing to trim salary, the injury uncertainty for these two could make it harder to move one of them in the coming days or weeks.
- Speaking today after the draft (video link), Flames GM Craig Conroy provided an update on injured winger Jonathan Huberdeau. The veteran is back skating after undergoing hip resurfacing surgery in the spring and noted that he’s now pain-free for the first time in quite some time. Huberdeau has a lot of work to do in his rehab to be ready for training camp but it looks like he’ll be in good shape for the fall. Conroy also noted that he doesn’t expect to re-sign any of Calgary’s pending unrestricted free agents, a list that includes forwards Victor Olofsson, Justin Kirkland, and Ryan Lomberg, along with defenseman Jake Bean.
- The Lightning are in discussions to try to re-sign pending unrestricted defenseman Declan Carlile, notes Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). The 26-year-old played in 42 games for Tampa Bay this past season but it wasn’t enough for him to avoid reaching Group Six UFA status. Carlile had three points in those outings and averaged a little under 15 minutes per game. He’s one of the better Group Six players available so it might cost a bit more than the minimum salary (the rate most players in that type of free agency sign for) to keep him in the fold and not have him test the open market next week.
Snapshots: Philp, Ward, Mougenel, Gard
Rather than test the open market when free agency opens up on Wednesday, Noah Philp has already found his new team and league. SHL HV71 announced that they’ve inked the center to a one-year deal plus an option. The 27-year-old played in 17 NHL games this season, split between Edmonton and Carolina, who claimed him off waivers back in late December. He had three points in those outings while winning over 56% of his faceoffs. However, the Hurricanes were ultimately able to pass him through waivers a month later and he played in the AHL with Chicago the rest of the way. Philp picked up 17 points in 29 games down the stretch and added 14 more in 21 playoff appearances and will now try his hand playing overseas for the first time next season.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- Long-time NHL veteran Joel Ward has been named head coach of AHL Henderson, per a team announcement. Ward had 304 points in 726 NHL games over parts of 11 seasons and has been coaching in the Golden Knights organization since 2020. He started out as an assistant with the Silver Knights for three seasons and then moved up to hold the same role with Vegas for the past three years. Ward takes over for Ryan Craig, who was promoted to head coach of the Golden Knights earlier this month.
- The Canucks will be looking outside their organization to fill one of their assistant coaching roles. Frank Seravalli of Victory+ and Hockey 24/7 reports (Twitter link) that Ryan Mougenel is expected to join Manny Malhotra’s staff in Vancouver. Mougenel has served as the head coach with the AHLs Providence Bruins for the last five seasons and won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach back in April.
- Flyers prospect Matthew Gard has made his college commitment. The center announced on his Instagram page that he will play at Michigan State University starting in the 2027-28 campaign. Gard was a second-round pick last year, going 57th overall and split this season between WHL Red Deer and Seattle where he had 17 goals and 16 assists in 55 games. He’ll remain with the Thunderbirds for the upcoming campaign. Because of the transfer for 2027-28, Philadelphia’s signing rights for Gard will be extended.
Snapshots: Robertson, Trocheck, Dyck
Now armed with two tradable first-round picks including a top-ten selection (to go along with the 32nd pick which can’t be moved), the Senators are making a big push for Stars winger Jason Robertson, reports David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period (Twitter link). Robertson’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the month and based on where his market is likely to go, his next deal will cost more than what Dallas has in cap room. While GM Jim Nill said yesterday that talks are going “good” and that there is no rush to get something done, this also isn’t the type of negotiation that will get dragged out thanks to his arbitration eligibility. If Dallas ultimately can’t get something done and has to pivot to a futures-based return, the Senators (who have more than ample cap flexibility now) could present an intriguing package with those two first-round selections as part of the return. Robertson had 45 goals and 51 assists in 82 games this season.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- Rangers center Vincent Trocheck has made it known previously that his desire would be get traded to another team in the East if New York moves him. It appears his stance has softened on that a little. On the latest Chris Johnston Show (video link), the TSN and The Athletic reporter noted that Trocheck is now willing to consider a couple of teams in the Western Conference. Widely thought to be on the move at the trade deadline, the Rangers opted to hold onto the 32-year-old, presumably thinking they’d have a better shot at maximizing the return with an offseason move. With more teams potentially in play now thanks to an extended yes list, they may be proven right.
- After the Toronto Marlies won the Calder Cup, the Maple Leafs will be losing one of their organizational coaches. Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province relays that WHL Vancouver will hire Marlies assistant Michael Dyck as their head coach and GM in the near future. Dyck spent three seasons with the Marlies and will be returning to a familiar environment as he was an assistant with the Giants for five years before departing for Toronto.
Snapshots: Brodzinski, Blackhawks, Gallagher, Golden Knights
Over the past few years, forward Jonny Brodzinski has worked his way from being an AHL recall to a regular on the roster for the Rangers. However, it appears his time with the franchise is coming to an end. The 32-year-old is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and The Athletic’s Peter Baugh relays (subscription link) that the expectation is that Brodzinski will sign elsewhere this summer. Brodzinski has spent the last six years in New York, moving from a productive minor leaguer to a capable bottom-six piece who has put up 54 points in 163 games over the past three seasons. But with the Rangers likely wanting to give some of their younger players a look in the lineup, it would make sense for Brodzinski’s roster spot to go to one of those.
Elsewhere around the NHL:
- The buyout window is a week away so teams are starting to make their plans on that front. It appears that the Blackhawks won’t be among the teams executing one as GM Kyle Davidson told reporters including Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times that he doesn’t plan to use one. Veteran winger Andre Burakovsky seemed like a potentially viable candidate with one year left at $5.5MM and only managed one goal and three assists in the final 37 games of the season. Instead, he’ll either be moved as salary ballast over the offseason or be back with Chicago in the fall.
- In an appearance on Donnie and Dhali (video link), Gerry Johansson, the agent for Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher, confirmed he had spoken with the Canucks about being a landing spot for his client. He acknowledged that Vancouver does have interest in the 34-year-old but also noted that there are a lot of moving parts. Gallagher, who indicated last week that he expects to be moved this offseason, has one year left on his contract with a $6.5MM AAV. Speculatively, the moving parts could be the team trying to move out some money either as part of the swap or in a separate move. While they have ample cap space for next season, their status as a rebuilding team will likely see them operating with a budget well below the Upper Limit of the salary cap, making Gallagher’s price tag a little harder to fit in.
- The Golden Knights were without a pair of defensemen at practice today. com’s Dan Rosen noted that Noah Hanifin and Brayden McNabb didn’t take part in today’s skate. McNabb’s absence is certainly understandable given that he’s only a few days removed from being taken to the hospital after taking a shot to the face but Hanifin’s absence is a little less certain, though likely for maintenance. At this point, there’s no reason to think that either player won’t be an option for Tuesday’s fourth game of the Stanley Cup Final.