Riley Nash Announces Retirement
Longtime depth center Riley Nash has retired from the NHL, he told Tyler Lowey of Castanet Kamloops.
Nash, 36, was an unrestricted free agent after spending 2024-25 under contract with the Rangers. He didn’t play at all last season while rehabbing what he told Lowey were a “variety of knee injuries” he sustained during the previous year while on assignment to AHL Hartford, spending his final professional season on the non-roster list.
“With three wonderful young kids and the way my body has behaved over the past few years, it was time to take a step back as an older guy and let others chase their dream the same way I did,” he told Lowey. “I consider myself very fortunate to have played in front of my kids over the last few years. They helped me regain the passion and love for the sport I had as a kid. Now was the right time to step away.”
The 6’2″, 187-lb pivot was the No. 21 overall selection in the 2007 draft by the Oilers, although he elected not to sign with one of the two clubs from his native Alberta. After winning an ECAC championship with Cornell in his junior campaign in 2009-10, he saw his signing rights flipped to the Hurricanes for a second-round pick.
Nash signed with Carolina a few weeks later. While he ended up having a true journeyman’s career, he did have some stability early on in the Hurricanes organization. He spent six seasons there, seeing NHL ice in the latter five, recording 31 goals, 50 assists, and 81 points in 242 games before reaching free agency in 2016.
Nash went on to see NHL ice for the Bruins, Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs, Jets, Lightning, Coyotes, and Rangers. He spent nearly a decade as a full-time AHL piece, going from 2013-14 to 2020-21 without seeing a minor-league assignment, frequently anchoring third and fourth lines. His best season came on a high-powered Bruins squad in 2017-18, setting career-highs across the board with 15 goals, 26 assists, 41 points, and a +16 rating while averaging 15:25 per game.
He spent the last few seasons of his career as a complementary AHL piece, serving as an alternate captain for the Charlotte Checkers in 2022-23 before spending his final healthy campaign with the Rangers’ affiliate in Hartford in 2023-24.
Nash concludes his pro career with 628 NHL appearances, scoring 63 goals, 113 assists and 176 points with a -11 rating in 13:09 of ice time per contest. He also scored 193 points in 312 AHL games in parts of seven seasons.
All of us at PHR wish Nash the best in retirement.
Eleven Players Elect Salary Arbitration
Eleven players across the NHL have elected for salary arbitration, per the NHLPA.
Those names include:
- F Morgan Barron (Winnipeg Jets)
- G Lukas Dostal (Anaheim Ducks)
- D Drew Helleson (Anaheim Ducks)
- F Kaapo Kakko (Seattle Kraken)
- F Nicholas Robertson (Toronto Maple Leafs)
- D Dylan Samberg (Winnipeg Jets)
- G Arvid Soderblom (Chicago Blackhawks)
- D Jayden Struble (Montreal Canadiens)
- D Conor Timmins (Buffalo Sabres)
- F Maxim Tsyplakov (New York Islanders)
- F Gabriel Vilardi (Winnipeg Jets)
The deadline for second club-elected arbitration is Sunday at 5 p.m., with arbitration hearings scheduled from July 20 to August 4. Two seasons ago, 23 players filed for arbitration, and last summer, that number dropped to 14 — a downward trend that continues this year.
As a reminder, not every player is expected to head to a hearing, as negotiations will continue leading into July 20. However, each player who elects for salary arbitration is now prohibited from negotiating with other teams or signing an offer sheet.
Jets Sign Gustav Nyquist
The Winnipeg Jets have agreed to terms on a one-year, $3.25MM contract with winger Gustav Nyquist. The deal was first reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Nyquist, 35, spent last season split between the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild. His year began in a top-six role with the Predators where he managed nine goals and 21 points in 57 games. But, like many Predators veterans, Nyquist struggled to prevent the barrage on defense, and wound up being traded at the Trade Deadline in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick. He finished his year with seven points in 22 games with the Wild.
On the season, Nyquist combined for just 28 points and a minus-24 in 79 games played. That number is a sharp, sharp fall from the career-year he posted on the Predators last season. He formed a formidable pairing with playmaking center Ryan O’Reilly on the 2023-24 Predators, and reached a career-high 75 points in 81 games while operating from a second-line role. His 52 assists on the season fell 14 higher than his previous career-high. It was an electric performance, with Nyquist reaching new heights at an age where many players often consider retirement.
That flash of upside will earn Nyquist a 14th NHL season with Winnipeg next year. He’s a perennial scorer, and has reached the 50-point mark in three of his last six seasons. In the years he fell short of the mark, Nyquist still managed a serviceable 42, 27, and 28 points respectively. Across his full career in the NHL – which spans back to the 2011-12 season in Detroit – Nyquist has averaged 20 goals and 50 points per 82 games played. That average falls to 16 goals and 46 points when looking at 2021-22 and beyond.
Nyquist recorded a 10.7 shooting percentage last year, one percent lower than his career average and nearly five percent lower than the mark he reached in his career year. That could set him up for a boost in scoring next season. He’ll have every chance to reach new heights, likely set on filling the top-six role vacated by Nikolaj Ehlers — assuming Ehlers doesn’t re-sign. He may need to compete with Alex Iafallo, Nino Niederreiter, and Cole Koepke for minutes next to Jonathan Toews, who will make his return to the league in a middle-six center role with the Jets.
Jets Sign Walker Duehr, Samuel Fagemo, Isaac Poulter To Two-Way Deals
The Jets announced they’ve signed forwards Walker Duehr, Samuel Fagemo, and goaltender Isaac Poulter to two-way contracts with league-minimum cap hits. They also confirmed previously reported two-way deals for defenseman Kale Clague and winger Phillip Di Giuseppe.
All five players receive $775K cap hits on one-year deals. Clague, Duehr, and Poulter received $475K AHL salaries, Di Giuseppe received a $450K AHL salary, and Fagemo received a $375K AHL salary, per PuckPedia.
The signings of Duehr and Fagemo help Winnipeg replace some of the fringe NHL forward depth they lost when RFA Rasmus Kupari signed overseas. The latter, while being the cheapest, is a high-upside pickup.
Fagemo, 25, was a Group VI UFA after spending all of 2024-25 in the minors with the Kings. He scored 29 goals in 67 games for the Ontario Reign to give him 132 in 268 AHL contests, the most in the league since he turned pro six years ago. For whatever reason, the 2019 second-round pick by L.A. just hasn’t managed to convert that elite minor-league offense into consistent NHL minutes. He only has 21 career games at the top level with Los Angeles and Nashville, posting three goals and an assist while averaging just 9:29 of ice time per game.
He may get an NHL job on a team that appears set to lose a pair of wingers in Nikolaj Ehlers and Mason Appleton to free agency as well, although neither has signed a new deal as of yet. The forwards they’ve added thus far in free agency include Cole Koepke, Tanner Pearson, and Jonathan Toews.
Duehr, 27, split last season between the Flames and Sharks after being claimed off waivers. The South Dakota native has topped out as a fine fourth-line piece, totaling 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points with a -14 rating in 92 games for Calgary and San Jose over the past three seasons. He’ll look to compete for a depth spot on Winnipeg’s NHL roster after spending more time than he’d like to in the AHL last year, scoring 28 points in 36 minor-league games with the Flames’ and Sharks’ affiliates.
Poulter will presumably be the third-string goalie on Winnipeg’s depth chart behind Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie, replacing Chris Driedger, who signed in Russia. The netminder turns 24 in September and spent his first three professional seasons in the Devils organization, ultimately going non-tendered on Monday to become a UFA. He made 36 appearances for AHL Utica last season, recording a 2.86 GAA, .898 SV%, one shutout, and a 16-13-7 record.
Nikolaj Ehlers Expected To Sign Today
July 2: Ehlers’ stay on the open market isn’t expected to last more than a few more hours. He’s down to a few teams and will make his decision at some point Wednesday, Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic says.
July 1: Entering today, the top free agent on the board was now-former Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers. He’s due for a big payday after teams looking to land an impact winger in the form of Mitch Marner, who’s off to Vegas in a sign-and-trade, or Brock Boeser, who’s staying in Vancouver on a seven-year deal, failed.
Many pegged Carolina as the favorite to land Ehlers entering today. They’ll certainly have more competition now with other teams looking to circle back and regroup after their day-one activities, but they still have immense spending flexibility with $19MM in cap space and no other moves to make, even after today’s pickup of K’Andre Miller.
As Ehlers likely takes another day – maybe even longer – to mull offers, the Hurricanes did confirm they’ve been in contact with Ehlers’ camp and are “waiting to see where that goes,” general manager Eric Tulsky told reporters Tuesday evening (including the team’s Walt Ruff). ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported earlier in the day that the Capitals and Lightning were also in contact with Ehlers’ camp, but nothing will be imminent until tomorrow at the soonest.
Ehlers would really need to prefer going to Tampa or Washington to make that a reality. Neither has the cap space to pay him his market value, surely over $8MM per season at this stage on a seven-year deal, and would need to make corresponding moves to make him fit in. Carolina has both a pressing need for him, a system that plays to his analytically inclined game, and the cap space to address his financial needs out of the gate.
Beyond that, his list of realistic destinations might be limited. There will be other teams like the Maple Leafs who may want to create room and add him as an impact top-line piece in the absence of Marner.
Still, Toronto – or any other Canadian team, for that matter – is likely not on Ehlers’ radar, considering his newfound ability to be picky about where he ends up thanks to how the market broke in his favor. He prefers a warmer and less intense market than Winnipeg, Frank Seravalli said on today’s coverage of free agency from B/R Open Ice.
Two-Way Deals: 7/1/25
As major signings come in around the NHL today with the 2025-26 league year beginning, teams are shoring up their minor-league depth as well by signing players to two-way contracts. We’re keeping track of those signings today in this article, which will be continuously updated. Deals are one year unless otherwise noted.
Boston Bruins
F Riley Tufte ($775K NHL) – Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub
D Jonathan Aspirot ($775K NHL) – Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub
G Luke Cavallin ($775K NHL) – Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub
Buffalo Sabres
F Riley Fiddler-Schultz ($865K NHL/$90K SB/$35K PB/$85K AHL) – PuckPedia // two years, entry-level
F Carson Meyer ($775K NHL/$350K AHL Y1 – $375K AHL Y2) – PuckPedia // two years
D Mason Geertsen ($775K NHL/$425K AHL) – Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet // two years
D Zachary Jones ($900K NHL/$550K AHL) – PuckPedia
D Zach Metsa ($775K NHL/$250K AHL/$325K gt’d) – PuckPedia
Calgary Flames
D Nick Cicek ($775K NHL) – team release
Carolina Hurricanes
G Amir Miftakhov ($775K NHL/$100K AHL/$240K gt’d) – PuckPedia
Chicago Blackhawks
F Dominic Toninato ($850K NHL) – team release // two years
Colorado Avalanche
F T.J. Tynan (unknown) – team release
D Jack Ahcan (unknown) – team release
D Ronald Attard ($775K NHL/$450K AHL/$500K gt’d) – PuckPedia
Columbus Blue Jackets
F Owen Sillinger (unknown) – team release
D Christian Jaros (unknown) – team release
Dallas Stars
D Niilopekka Muhonen (unknown) – team release // three years, entry-level
Edmonton Oilers
D Riley Stillman ($775K NHL/$475K AHL) – PuckPedia // two years
G Matt Tomkins ($775K NHL/$400K AHL/$450 Y2 gt’d) – PuckPedia // two years
Florida Panthers
F Nolan Foote ($775K NHL/$150K AHL/$250K gt’d) – PuckPedia
F Jack Studnicka ($775K NHL/$450K AHL) – Chris Johnston of TSN/The Athletic
G Brandon Bussi ($775K NHL/$400K AHL) – PuckPedia
G Kirill Gerasimyuk (unknown) – team release // two years, entry-level
Los Angeles Kings
F Cole Guttman ($775K NHL/$450K Y1 – $475K Y2 AHL/$475K gt’d Y1 – $500K gt’d Y2) – PuckPedia // two years
Minnesota Wild
F Tyler Pitlick ($775K NHL/$300K Y1 – $350K Y2 AHL/$325K gt’d Y1 – $375K gt’d Y2) – PuckPedia // two years
D Ben Gleason ($800K NHL/$475K AHL) – PuckPedia
Montreal Canadiens
F Alex Belzile (unknown) – team release
D Nathan Clurman ($775K NHL/$125K AHL/$140K gt’d) – PuckPedia
New Jersey Devils
D Calen Addison ($775K NHL/$325K AHL/$400K gt’d) – PuckPedia
F Angus Crookshank ($775K NHL/$425K AHL/$475K gt’d) – PuckPedia // two years, one-way in 2026-27
New York Islanders
F Matthew Highmore (unknown) – team release
D Ethan Bear ($775K NHL/$325K AHL/$425K gt’d) – PuckPedia
D Cole McWard (unknown) – team release
New York Rangers
D Derrick Pouliot ($775K NHL/$400K AHL/$425K gt’d Y1 – $450K gt’d Y2) – PuckPedia // two years
Ottawa Senators
F Wyatt Bongiovanni ($775K NHL/$160K AHL) – PuckPedia
F Olle Lycksell ($775K NHL/$450K AHL/$500K gt’d) – Darren Dreger of TSN
Philadelphia Flyers
F Lane Pederson ($775K NHL/$525K AHL) – PuckPedia
San Jose Sharks
F Jimmy Huntington (unknown) – team release
F Samuel Laberge (unknown) – team release
F Colin White ($775K NHL/$425K AHL/$475K gt’d) – PuckPedia
D Cole Clayton (unknown) – team release
St. Louis Blues
F Matt Luff ($775K NHL/$400K AHL) – PuckPedia
Tampa Bay Lightning
F Nicholas Abruzzese (unknown) – team release
F Tristan Allard (unknown) – team release // two years, entry-level
F Boris Katchouk (unknown) – team release
D Simon Lundmark ($775K NHL/$250K AHL/$350K gt’d) – PuckPedia // two years
G Ryan Fanti ($775K NHL/$80K AHL) – PuckPedia
Utah Mammoth
F Kailer Yamamoto ($775K NHL/$500K AHL) – PuckPedia
D Scott Perunovich ($775K NHL/$400K AHL/$500K gt’d) – PuckPedia
Vancouver Canucks
F Joseph LaBate ($775K NHL/$350K AHL) – PuckPedia
F Mackenzie MacEachern ($775K NHL/$575K AHL) – PuckPedia // two years
D Jimmy Schuldt ($775K NHL/$500K AHL) – PuckPedia // two years
Winnipeg Jets
F Phillip Di Giuseppe ($775K NHL/$450K AHL) – PuckPedia
D Kale Clague (unknown) – Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet
Jets To Sign Cole Koepke, Tanner Pearson
The Jets are signing UFA winger Cole Koepke, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. It’s a one-year deal worth $1MM, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger. They’ve also signed winger Tanner Pearson to an identical one-by-one contract, per Dreger.
Koepke comes to Manitoba on the heels of his first full year in the NHL. Despite spending the first two years of his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Koepke signed on as a depth forward last summer with the Boston Bruins.
Carving out a role on the team’s fourth line, Koepke turned into a consistent player for the Bruins. He scored 10 goals and 17 points in 73 games with a +1 rating, averaging 11:15 of ice time per night with 177 hits.
Unfortunately, his scoring output was largely isolated to the first month of the regular season. In October, Koepke scored three goals and seven points with a +10 rating in the Bruins’ first 11 games while only tallying seven goals and 10 points with a -9 rating over his remaining 62 games. Given this situation, it’s hard to picture Koepke playing anywhere other than the fourth line with the Jets.
Meanwhile, the team added some tertiary scoring to their bottom-six in Pearson. After scoring six goals and 18 points in 68 games in his last year with the Vancouver Canucks and one season with the Montreal Canadiens combined, Pearson had a quality bounceback year with the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2024-25 campaign.
Largely playing in the team’s bottom-six, Pearson scored 12 goals and 27 points in 78 contests with a +4 rating. Winnipeg didn’t have very many problems putting the puck in the net last year, but they’re in a position where they’ll need to replace the production lost by Nikolaj Ehlers by committee.
PHR’s Brennan McClain contributed significantly to this article.
Perfetti Changes Agents
- Now eligible to sign a contract extension, Jets forward Cole Perfetti will have new representation doing so. Murat Ates of The Athletic relays (Twitter link) that the 23-year-old is now being repped by CAA after previously being with KO Sports. Perfetti is coming off a career year after putting up 18 goals and 32 assists last season. He has one year remaining on his bridge deal which carries a cap charge of $3.25MM AAV. Perfetti will be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent next summer.
Jets Expected To Pursue Brock Boeser
The Winnipeg Jets have reportedly zeroed in on their desired replacement for winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who’s expected to become an unrestricted free agent tomorrow afternoon. According to TSN’s Chris Johnston on his aptly named Chris Johnston Show, the Jets are aggressively pursuing Brock Boeser.
It’ll be interesting to see how Boeser is deployed should he eventually sign with Winnipeg. The Jets have no reason to move Gabriel Vilardi from the team’s first line, so Boeser may join Cole Perfetti and either Jonathan Toews or Vladislav Namestnikov on the second line. If he’s unable to keep his average ice time consistent, it’ll be challenging to continue the same goal-scoring pace he enjoyed with Vancouver.
Jets Sign Haydn Fleury To Two-Year Extension
The Winnipeg Jets have announced a two-year, $1.9MM contract extension for defenseman Haydn Fleury. The deal was first reported by Murat Ates of The Athletic, who shares that it will carry a cap hit of $950K. More specifically, Fleury will be paid $1MM in salary in year-one, and $900K in year two, per PuckPedia. Fleury appeared in just 39 NHL games this season after a mid-season knee injury held him out for much of January and February.
Fleury recorded seven assists, six penalty minutes, and a minus-12 during the regular season. He returned to full health in time for the postseason, and chipped in an additional two assists and eight penalty minutes in eight games. It was, by and large, another quiet season for the 2014 seventh-overall pick. He filled a firm, third-pair role on the Jets roster, and only earned go-to minutes as the result of injury or other’s mistakes. But through his shortened season were flashes of stout improvements to his game away from the puck. Fleury ranked fourth on the Jets blue-line in hits-per-60 minutes this season, with a 4.63 average placing him above booth Neal Pionk (4.49) and Dylan Samberg (2.64). Fleury also recorded the second-highest blocks-per-60 minutes with a 5.40 average, behind only Samberg (5.67).
Those are strong improvements for a player who often looked unable to jump off the page in any one way. Even with a mid-season injury, Fleury’s 39 appearances this year are his most since the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2019-20 season, when he recorded 14 points in 45 games. He’s now appeared solely in the NHL through five of the last six seasons, earning extra-defender roles with each of the Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, Seattle Kraken, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He may not be the flashiest player, but Fleury seems a reasonable bet to round out Winnipeg’s blue-line depth. They’ll cement him to that role for the next two seasons with a cost-effective deal.