NHL Hockey 3h Briefing
×Last updated: July 20, 2026, 8:30 PM ET
NHL Contract Signings & Player Movement
The Philadelphia Flyers have been active in securing their future, as they re-signed forward Trevor Zegras to a four-year contract espn.com. Defenseman Jamie Drysdale also agreed to terms on a four-year deal for $26 million with the Flyers espn.com. In Winnipeg, the Jets avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a five-year, $30 million contract espn.com. The St. Louis Blues inked forward Connor McMichael to a significant six-year contract espn.com.
Front Office Shake-ups and Offseason Buzz
Steve Yzerman espn.com as the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the NHL's offseason trade season is heating up, with grades released espn.com for various significant player swaps. Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard expressed his desire for Patrick Kane to return to the team, calling it an "incredible" prospect for the Blackhawks espn.com.
League Schedule Expansion
The National Hockey League has released its 2026-27 regular-season schedule, which will feature an expansion of the campaign from 82 to 84 games espn.com. This longer season is expected to intensify existing rivalries across the league.