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8 articles summarized · Last updated: LATEST

Last updated: June 24, 2026, 5:31 PM ET

NHL DRAFT BUZZ & TRADE ACTIVITY

Teams are actively reshaping their rosters ahead of the NHL Entry Draft, with significant trades altering the draft order and team compositions. The Chicago Blackhawks acquired defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway from the Buffalo Sabres, sending their No. 4 and No. 45 draft picks, along with defenseman prospect prospect Isaac Howard, to Buffalo. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals landed veteran winger Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues in a deal that sent Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin, and the No. 16 overall pick to St. Louis. The Ottawa Senators also made a move, acquiring left winger William Eklund and prospect Kasper Halttunen from the San Jose Sharks for the No. 9 selection in the upcoming draft. The New Jersey Devils, in a separate maneuver, traded the rights to Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames for two first-round choices and a second-round pick.

FREE AGENCY AND COACHING

With the NHL Entry Draft on the horizon, teams are also preparing for the free agency period, with some already anticipating potential departures. Buffalo Sabres General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen stated that he expects veteran forward Alex Tuch to explore free agency due to a lack of progress on contract negotiations suggesting Tuch is moving on. In coaching news, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the hiring of Mike Babcock by the Edmonton Oilers, indicating that while the league had no grounds to prevent the hire, the veteran coach is expected to maintain a certain level of decorum.

WOMEN'S HOCKEY & DRAFT PROSPECTS

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) continues to attract top talent, with the Walter Cup champion Montreal Victoire announcing the signing of Olympian Emma Maltais to a two-year contract adding Canadian Olympian Maltais. On the draft front, ESPN released its final big board for the 2026 NHL Draft, ranking prospects like Macklin Celebrini and Anton Stenberg as potential first-round selections as the draft begins Friday final 2026 draft big board released.