Blues Sign Georgii Romanov To Two-Year Extension
The St. Louis Blues took care of a free agent this afternoon, re-upping goaltender Georgii Romanov on a two-year, two-way contract extension. The deal carries an AAV of $875k at the NHL level.
Undrafted out of Russia, Romanov was picked out by the Sharks in 2023, signing an entry level contract. Despite playing in just three KHL games to that point, otherwise holding the crease in the VHL, the 6’5″ netminder played in 29 games for the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL in 2023-24 and even made two NHL appearances, allowing just one goal in 59 minutes.
Continuing to get a share of starts for the Barracuda in the following season, alongside Yaroslav Askarov, Romanov posted a solid .905 save percentage. The young Russian was again thrust into the highest level, as the fifth goaltender to spend time in San Jose’s crease during the 2024-25 campaign. Romanov lost all six of his starts, not coming away with a win, but had a solid 3.89 goals-against-average facing a barrage on the 50-loss team, numbers on par with NHL mainstays of the time, Vítek Vaněček and Alexander Georgiev.
With Askarov expectedly taking the spotlight, Romanov departed San Jose last summer, settling for a PTO with the Devils. Not landing a contract, he was then scooped up by St. Louis in October. Taking 28 games as opposed to Vadim Zherenko‘s 42 for the Springfield Thunderbirds, Romanov rewarded the organization with tremendous play in the postseason, getting hot with a .939 save percentage and two shutouts in 11 playoff games.
As Zherenko is a group six free agent this summer, Romanov’s path to #1 for the Thunderbirds and third in the organization is wide open. At age 26, he has flashed enough potential to have real late-blooming NHL upside, and Blues fans should expect him to make his debut with the club at some point next season. As the franchise navigates their youth movement, possibly moving on from Jordan Binnington, the Russian’s continued progression could soften the blow of losing Colten Ellis on waivers to Buffalo.
Marcus Johansson Signs In Sweden
Longtime NHL forward Marcus Johansson has signed with Färjestad BK of the SHL, the team announced today, departing the Minnesota Wild. The news was confirmed by Michael Russo of The Athletic.
One decade since his breakout 24 goal campaign, the 35-year-old has bounced around several teams since then as a moderate contributor. Still, he had become a valuable piece for Minnesota over the past four seasons, somewhat quietly putting together a strong 2025-26 where he notched 49 points in 75 games. That output is good for his second best in 16 seasons.
By no means walking away from North America due to his ability at the NHL level, the development is a bit surprising. Although speculation, it suggests that the Wild’s offseason priorities align elsewhere, with the veteran opting to return to his native country on a high note, rather than start over on what could have become his seventh NHL club.
Chosen 24th overall by the Capitals in the 2009 draft, Johansson’s 1,058 regular season NHL appearances stand as ninth best of the class, also ranking tenth among such peers in points (566).
A name synonymous with Washington throughout recent memory, he was dealt to New Jersey during the 2017 offseason, unfortunately missing out on their Stanley Cup the following spring. One of those selections became Martin Fehérváry, a minute-eating shutdown defender who remains a key piece of the Capitals today.
Unable to replicate his breakout 58 point campaign in Newark, the forward was on the move again at the trade deadline, off to Boston where he found his stride as a key third liner. The winger posted 11 points on the Bruins’ playoff run, highlighted by his game-winning goal in the deciding first round series versus Toronto, as they went all the way to Game 7 of the Finals before falling to St. Louis.
Cashing in from his playoff efforts, Johansson inked a two-year contract with Buffalo worth $4.5MM per season. Only making it through one year with the Sabres, where he put up 30 points in 60 games, the next fall he was on the move again. Traded to the Wild for Eric Staal, it was a deal with salary in mind, and finding a fresh start for each veteran. He didn’t make much of an impact with Minnesota, moving on after 14 points in 36 games and signing a one year contract with the expansion Seattle Kraken for $1.5 million. Nobody then would have guessed that he’d ever have more to offer in the state of hockey years later.
Becoming a journeyman, he was traded by Seattle back to Washington at the 2022 trade deadline, but his Caps were sent packing by Florida in six games. The Capitals weren’t the only team intent on a reunion, as that summer he signed back with the Wild, where he’s been ever since. Johansson excelled on a line with Matt Boldy, keeping up his strong regular season play with three tallies against Colorado in the second round.
Affectionately known by fans as “MoJo”, Johansson was traded in-season three times during his career, a player always having value as a middle-six forward. At the same time, all the changes likely played a part in his decision to seek stability back home. It serves as a return to his original club, as a member of Färjestad from 2008-10, winning a league championship in 2009 before embarking on his long NHL career.
Johansson also represented his nation on the highest international stage, a member of Team Sweden in the Olympic Games both in 2014 and this past February. He took home silver 12 years ago, while skating in two games for the Swedes in Milan, coming away scoreless.
Coming back to his original Swedish club, Johansson will mentor Flyers prospect Jack Berglund, joining former NHLers such as Radim Zohorna and Victor Ejdsell. It’s rare that a player of his caliber enters the league at this point, and Johansson should immediately be a top SHL scorer, challenging the likes of Skelleftea forward Oscar Lindberg, another player with NHL experience who took the honors this year with 67 points in 52 games. Färjestad finished fifth in the league this season, sent packing by Rogle in the quarterfinals, and the addition of a forward who was getting second line minutes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs just last month will have huge implications for their club.
Meanwhile, assuming this is it for Johansson in the NHL, the Swede put together one of the best careers out of 2009 draftees, and opened the scoring of Game 5 against the Avalanche, in what was likely his last NHL contest.
Image Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Flyers Sign Jacob Gaucher To One-Year Contract
According to a report from PuckPedia, the Philadelphia Flyers have signed forward Jacob Gaucher to a one-year, $850K contract for the 2026-27 season. Gaucher was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights.
Gaucher, 25, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Flyers back in 2024. The Longueuil, Quebec native spent most of his QMJHL days with the Val-d’Or Foreurs before spending his final season with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar while also serving as the team’s captain.
Unfortunately, Gaucher didn’t produce enough in the QMJHL to warrant a draft selection. He scored 35 goals and 68 points in 66 games during his final season in 2021-22, but he already turned 21 by that point.
In fact, it wasn’t until a successful campaign in the ECHL that any team became interested in giving him an NHL contract. Before the 2022-23 season, Gaucher signed an AHL deal with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, yet he spent the entire year with the Reading Royals, scoring 22 goals and 61 points in 71 games with a +22 rating.
After that year, the Flyers felt comfortable giving him a two-year, two-way contract, but he’s still spent much of his time in the AHL since. He’s been a solid secondary scorer, registering 48 goals and 90 points in 198 games with the Phantoms, but has zero points to show for in eight NHL contests with the Flyers.
His next contract should offer him a similar role. The Phantoms didn’t have the best season, finishing four points shy of a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs, but Gaucher finished fourth on the team in scoring, and the organization likely has an interest in retaining the handful of players that performed well this season.
Canucks Sign Ilya Safonov To One-Year Contract
According to a team announcement, the Vancouver Canucks have signed forward Ilya Safonov to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 NHL season. According to PuckPedia, Safonov will earn an $850K salary at the NHL level and an $87.5K salary in the AHL. Additionally, he’s owed $100K in the form of a signing bonus.
Safonov, 25, was drafted 172nd overall in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. For a few years, it appeared that Safonov might remain in Russia for his professional career, and the Blackhawks traded his signing rights to the Canucks last year for future considerations.
After an impressive 2022-23 season with the KHL’s Ak Bars Kazan, where he registered 19 goals and 37 points in 64 games, Safonov had a pair of down years. He barely exceeded his scoring output from the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 20 goals and 42 points in 118 games with a +20 rating.
However, the Murmansk, Russia native got back on track this year, scoring 16 goals and 33 points in 68 games with a +18 rating. In the Gagarin Cup playoffs, he tacked on two goals and nine points in 20 games, helping Ak Bars Kazan to the Gagarin Cup Final.
Given how the Canucks are constructed heading into the 2026-27 season, Safonov should be afforded every opportunity to make the team’s roster out of training camp. He’s a natural center, but could potentially move to the wing if it gives him more ice time at the NHL level. Regardless, whether it be in Vancouver or with the Abbotsford Canucks, Safonov will be playing in North America next season.
Central Notes: Sakic, Koivu, Holmes
Following today’s news that General Manager Chris MacFarland would be leaving the Colorado Avalanche to join their division rival, the Nashville Predators, speculation began regarding who would take over as the team’s General Manager in Denver. As it turns out, the search for a new General Manager only took a few minutes.
According to Bailey Curtis of DNVR Avalanche, the Avalanche sent out a public relations memo indicating that President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic would resume his role as the team’s General Manager. The franchise legend has already served as the team’s General Manager for eight years, and is largely credited with building the Colorado team that won the Stanley Cup in 2022. Although he retained his right to have the final call on roster decisions, Sakic hasn’t formally held the title since the Avalanche hired MacFarland in 2022.
Still, the memo didn’t indicate that it would be a long-term arrangement. It specifically stated that Sakic would be the General Manager through the 2026 NHL Draft and the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign. Colorado could wait until next offseason to promote from within, or hire a General Manager from outside the organization next year.
Additional notes from the Central Division:
- Long-time captain for the Minnesota Wild, Mikko Koivu, is returning to the Central Division — just not with Minnesota. According to a team announcement, the St. Louis Blues have hired Koivu to serve as a European development consultant. The Blues’ press release indicated that Koviu will assist with development plans for European prospects drafted by St. Louis. He has been working as an assistant and development coach for the Finnish Liiga’s TPS, alongside his older brother, Saku Koivu.
- A Chicago Blackhawks prospect is on the move in the OHL. According to a league announcement, the Sarnia Sting have acquired forward Parker Holmes from the Brantford Bulldogs for a 2028 third-round pick and a 2028 sixth-round pick. Holmes was taken with the 107th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Blackhawks, and scored six goals and 17 points in 49 games for the Bulldogs this past season.
Minor Transactions: 06/01/2026
Today has been a busy day in the wider hockey world, in large part due to the fact that KHL contracts expire May 31. That made today effectively the first day of KHL free agency. This was reflected in the handful of KHL prospects signing their ELC’s earlier today, including New Jersey Devils first-rounder Anton Silayev. It also has led to numerous additional player moves.
Here, we’ll recap all of the notable transactions from the wider hockey world, largely focusing on player movement in the top professional leagues of Europe, involving several former NHL players:
- There was a swap of quality young forward talent in the KHL today, as SKA St. Petersburg acquired 23-year-old scorer Vasily Atanasov from Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in exchange for two-time KHL Rookie of the Month Matvei Polyakov. Depth defenseman Arseny Varlakov also went from Torpedo to SKA in the deal. Polyakov is fresh off a breakout rookie season for SKA, scoring 16 goals and 29 points in 63 games. Atanasov, who is under contract through the 2027-28 season, has been a lineup regular for Torpedo since 2022-23. His best season came in 2023-24, when he scored 19 goals and 49 points in 46 games. In two seasons since, Atanasov has 38 goals and 71 points in 121 games. There have been credible reports in the past that Atanasov was receiving NHL interest, but he elected to remain in the KHL. Now, he’ll continue his KHL career playing for a different franchise.
- 2016 Philadelphia Flyers first-round pick German Rubtsov agreed on a three-year contract extension with the KHL’s Spartak Moscow, the team announced today. Rubtsov, 27, has been with the Spartak organization for the last four years. He was once a prized Flyers prospect but struggled to adapt to the North American professional game and played just three seasons in the Flyers’ system. But while Rubtsov failed to develop into an NHL player for Philadelphia, he has been a developmental success story for Spartak. He was a low-scoring forward playing in the second-tier VHL in 2022-23, and the following year, he scored just 10 points in 51 games as a full-time KHLer in Moscow. But he showed some signs of growth in 2024-25, scoring 13 goals and 25 points for Spartak. Then, he had a breakout 2025-26 season, potting 14 goals and 30 points in 50 KHL games, while winning 51.7% of his draws. His breakout has been rewarded with a new contract extension that will keep Rubtsov in Moscow until the summer of 2029.
- Former Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, and Calgary Flames defenseman Nikita Nesterov signed a two-year contract extension with CSKA Moscow. Nesterov has been a staple of the CSKA teams of the last half-decade, playing for the team from 2017-18 through 2019-20, and then 2021-22 through this past season. In 2022, he was named CSKA’s captain. While Nesterov’s attempt to return to the NHL with the Flames in 2020 lasted just 38 games, he’s been a quality KHL blueliner in Moscow. He’s a five-time KHL all-star and led his club to back-to-back Gagarin Cup titles in 2022 and 2023.
- After two seasons playing minor-league hockey in North America, 2019 fourth-round pick Case McCarthy has elected to continue his career overseas. McCarthy signed a contract with the Stavanger Oilers, one of the top franchises in the Metal Ligaen, Norway’s professional hockey league. McCarthy’s professional career began in the spring of 2024, when he signed an ATO and two-year AHL contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack. McCarthy was finishing up a five-season career at Boston University, serving as captain as a senior. He played in two games for Hartford that spring, and for the last two seasons he has occupied a place on the AHL/ECHL bubble, getting into 27 AHL contests and 37 games in the third tier. He is likely to get a significant boost in playing time in Norway compared to what he received in his first two years of pro hockey.
- Derek Barach, a consistent 20-goal, 40-point scorer in the KHL, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow. Barach was a point-per-game college forward during his time at Mercyhurst University, scoring 144 points in 150 career NCAA games. Those performances earned him a shot in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters, but after scoring 31 points in 93 games across two AHL teams, Barach signed in the Finnish Liiga in the summer of 2021. He found instant success in Europe, scoring 18 goals and 32 points in 56 games for Ässät Pori in the 2021-22 season. He had a successful two-year run in Finland before signing in the KHL for 2023-24, with Vityaz Moscow Region. He has kept up his form from Liiga in the KHL, and has 118 points in 198 career KHL games. This past season, he scored 21 goals and 40 points for Metallurg Magnitogorsk, a season that earned him a deal with CSKA.
- 2020 San Jose Sharks second-round pick Tristen Robins has signed a deal with the SHL’s IF Björklöven, ending his career in the Czech Extraliga after one season. The 24-year-old was a star WHL scorer who showed real promise in his rookie AHL campaign, scoring 17 goals and 38 points in 64 games for the 2022-23 San Jose Barracuda. But Robins struggled to be as productive in each of the following two seasons, paving the way for him to sign with Rytíři Kladno in Czechia last summer. He had a strong 2025-26 season, scoring 18 goals and 35 points in 45 games, and will hope to build on that momentum next season in the SHL.
- Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Darren Dietz has signed a two-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk in the KHL. The 32-year-old defenseman spent last season with Dinamo Minsk, where he played in a top-four capacity and scored 23 points in 56 games. While Dietz’s North American career lasted just four years and consisted of 13 games in the NHL and 218 in the AHL, he has been a star for more than a half-decade. Dietz was named the KHL’s best defenseman in his second season in the league, scoring 53 points in 62 games in 2018-19. Since then, he’s racked up honors including KHL all-star and two Gagarin Cup titles.
Panthers Sign Matvei Shuravin To Entry-Level Contract
According to an announcement from his agent, Dan Milstein, defenseman Matvei Shuravin has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers. The entry-level deal is expected to begin in the 2026-27 campaign.
Shuravin, 20, was drafted with the 97th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Panthers. He was coming off a season primarily spent with the MHL’s Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, tallying seven assists in 22 games. In 11 games with the KHL’s CSKA Moskva, Shuravin scored two assists.
His post-draft season was spent again with the MHL’s Krasnaya Armiya Moskva, where his offensive prowess appeared to blossom. After registering single-digit scoring totals the year before, Shuravin finished the 2024-25 campaign with four goals and 24 points in 38 games with a +26 rating.
Unfortunately, Shuravin had little stability this past season. The Moscow, Russia native skated in 21 games for CSKA Moskva (KHL), 12 games for Zvezda Moskva (VHL), and 15 games for Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL). He failed to register more than three points in any of the leagues.
The Panthers’ desire to sign him is likely two-fold. After a season marred by injuries, Florida is prioritizing depth this offseason. Shuravin was an easy target considering he is physically ready for North American hockey, and the organization already held his signing rights.
Additionally, the team may believe that better stability could help get Shuravin’s development back on track. He’s unlikely to make the Panthers’ opening night roster out of training camp, and assuming the team has fewer injuries next year, he should be able to spend most of, if not the entire year, with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.
Lightning Acquire Rights To Jack Pridham
1:30 p.m.: As alluded to earlier, Pridham is expected to name a new NCAA commitment in the coming days, which would extend the Lightning’s ability to sign him by an additional two years. According to Sean Shapiro of EliteProspects, Pridham appears headed to the University of Denver, the reigning National Champions, to continue his development.
10:17 a.m.: The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired the rights of forward prospect Jack Pridham from the Chicago Blackhawks. The 20-year-old Pridham was not expected to sign with Chicago before the 5 P.M. deadline on June 1st, which would have terminated Chicago’s holds over his player rights after a third-round selection in 2024. Tampa Bay has sent a 2027 third-round pick back to Chicago in exchange for Pridham’s rights.
Additionally, the Lightning announced that Pridham will announce an NCAA commitment in the coming days, which will extend his NHL rights until his graduation or departure from school. That will give Tampa Bay plenty of time to decide if they would like to ink Pridham to an entry-level deal. The young forward was previously committed to Boston University; a commitment that he has since rescinded.
Pridham took home the CHL’s Memorial Cup with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers on the eve of his trade to Tampa Bay. He was a true star for Kitchener all season long, racking up a team-leading 46 goals and 90 points in 65 regular season games. That dominance continued into the postseason, when Pridham totaled 17 points in 18 games – fourth-most on the team. The performance was an exciting step forward after Pridham’s OHL debut last season. He scored 54 points, split evenly, in 48 games of his first OHL season after spending just over one season in the BCHL.
The young forward has long used his strong, 6-foot-2 frame to battle for space and protect the puck. This season, he added an encouraging layer of speed to his game, and found more space operating off of stellar additions to the Rangers lineup, including fellow Bolts prospect Sam O’Reilly, who won the OHL’s regular-season MVP, playoffs MVP, and Memorial Cup MVP. The two-way center, and two-time Memorial Cup-winner, put in a lot of the hard-work needed to open space for scorers like Pridham.
Now, Tampa Bay will hope the duo can one day rediscover their spark in the NHL. First, Pridham will pursue a career in college hockey. He will stand as, perhaps, the top available recruit and could be a strong addition to the Boston circuit, Big Ten, or a trailblazer in the NCHC. Pridham is the son of former Toronto Maple Leafs’ assistant general manager Brandon Pridham. That NHL experience should drive the younger Pridham towards big goals, though his ability to reach them will be rooted in his ability to keep the scoring rolling through a step up in competition next season.
Avalanche Sign Nikita Novosyolov To Entry-Level Contract
The Colorado Avalanche have made quick work in adding to their goaltending depth. According to a team announcement, the Avalanche have signed netminder Nikita Novosyolov to a two-year, entry-level contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Novosyolov, 21, had no affiliation with the Avalanche before today’s signing. The Krasnoturyinsk, Russia native had never been drafted and had primarily been playing in the VHL for the past two years.
Still, there’s every indication that the young netminder would have spent next year in the KHL had he not signed with Colorado. Novosyolov is coming off an impressive season with the VHL’s Gornyak-UGMK, managing a 22-10-8 record in 40 games with a .932 SV% and 2.10 GAA, including three shutouts.
It would be one thing if the 2025-26 campaign just looked like a flash in the pan, but it’s remarkably similar to his 2024-25 production, and in more games. During the 2024-25 season, again with the Gornyak-UGMK, Novosyolov finished with a 14-4-5 record in 25 games with a .934 SV% and 2.24 GAA.
Unfortunately, Novosyolov doesn’t have a clear pathway to minutes, even with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. The Avalanche are already set between the pipes next season with the combination of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, whereas the Eagles have Ilya Nabokov and Trent Miner. However, in the likely event of injury, Novosyolov should have some AHL playing time next year.
Blues Sign Will Cranley To One-Year Extension
The St. Louis Blues have signed goaltender Will Cranley to a one-year, two-way contract extension. Cranley spent last season as the third-string netminder for the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds. He has slowly risen the ranks of the pro circuit since making his ECHL debut in 2023, three years after the Blues selected him in the sixth-round of the 2020 NHL Draft.
Cranley racked up six wins and a .892 save percentage in 10 AHL games last season. He posted much more encouraging numbers in the ECHL, where he totaled 14 wins and a .915 Sv% in 18 games during the regular season. Despite those strong numbers, Cranley was not included in Florida’s race to the ECHL’s Eastern Conference Finals. While that limited his postseason appearances to part of one start with Springfield, it also served as a small bode of confidence in Cranley’s spot in the AHL.
After racking up 34 wins and a .896 save percentage in 74 career ECHL games, Cranley seems well-set for a full-time promotion next season. He will compete with Vadim Zherenko and Georgi Romanov for starts in Springfield’s crease. Zherenko posted the best statline of the bunch last season, with 17 wins and a .902 Sv% in 42 games. Romanov recorded nine wins and a .896 Sv% in 28 games. His numbers should be surmountable for the 24-year-old Cranley, though Zherenko appears set to hold onto the starting role for the foreseeable future.