NHL Hockey 24 Hours

Last updated: July 16, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

NHL Season and Signings Heat Up

The National Hockey League on Thursday, announcing an expansion of the regular season to 84 games. The Carolina Hurricanes on September 29, hosting the Florida Panthers to officially start the season. In player news, the Winnipeg Jets reached an agreement with center Cole Perfetti on a five-year, $30 million contract, avoiding salary arbitration. The Philadelphia Flyers re-signed Trevor Zegras to a four-year deal worth an average of $9.125 million annually. Additionally, the New Jersey Devils signed forward Anthony Mantha to a two-year contract valued at $9.5 million.

Team Management and Future Prospects

Steve Yzerman as the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres have hired veteran NHL executive John Davidson as a senior advisor. On the player front, San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, who is eligible for an extension a hometown discount to aid the team. Celebrini, at age the youngest cover athlete for EA Sports' NHL series. The Washington Capitals organization has focused on keeping Alex Ovechkin in D.C. for his entire career, a goal stemming from his 2004 draft. The NHL's summer trade season is with various significant swaps.