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15 articles summarized · Last updated: LATEST

Last updated: June 27, 2026, 5:33 AM ET

NHL Draft & Player Movement

The NHL draft kicked off Friday with the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting winger Gavin McKenna first overall, a move that was widely anticipated. McKenna, joins an elite club of top picks, with some analysts comparing his potential to that of Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. The draft floor was active with significant trades, including the Anaheim Ducks sending young center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues for two first-round picks, Nos. 15 and 29. The Detroit Red Wings also made a notable prospect move, dealing goaltender Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth for the 23rd selection in this year's draft Cossa was a top prospect.

In further draft-day maneuvering, the New York Rangers bolstered their forward group by acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights. Dorofeyev, was the Golden Knights' leading goal scorer last season. The Utah Mammoth were also involved in a deal sending winger JJ Peterka to the Boston Bruins Peterka is on the move again. The Buffalo Sabres continued to retool their blue line, acquiring Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for prospect Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick Zellweger lands in Buffalo. The Rangers also kicked off their offseason by trading forward Brett Berard to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman William Trudeau Berard heads to Montreal.

Contract Signings & Roster Moves

Beyond draft-day trades, several teams addressed their rosters through contract extensions. The Los Angeles Kings locked up defenseman Brandt Clarke with a five-year deal worth $7.4 million annually following a career-best season. In Colorado, the Avalanche secured their defensive corps by re-signing both Brett Kulak and Brent Burns Kulak and Burns stay in Denver. The Ottawa Senators are set to sign defenseman Jordan Spence to a four-year, $20 million contract, a move that comes after Spence played a key role in surmounting injury issues for the team last season Spence earns new deal. Tony DeAngelo is returning to the New York Islanders on a two-year contract reportedly worth $4.5 million per year DeAngelo returns to Long Island.

However, the Carolina Hurricanes face a significant early blow as leading goal scorer Seth Jarvis is likely to miss 4-6 months after undergoing shoulder surgery. This absence will impact the team's ability to defend their Stanley Cup title at the start of the upcoming season, particularly his role alongside center Sebastian Aho. The NHL draft itself spans Friday and Saturday, with detailed analysis available for all selections, including the top 32 picks, providing scouting notes and team fit assessments for the league's newest talent.