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NHL Hockey 3 Days

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24 articles summarized · Last updated: LATEST

Last updated: June 25, 2026, 5:31 AM ET

NHL Trade & Draft Frenzy

The NHL draft is set to begin Friday, and teams are making significant moves to reshape their rosters. The Chicago Blackhawks acquired defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway from the Buffalo Sabres, sending the No. 4 and No. 45 picks in this year's draft, along with defenseman a player to be named later, to Buffalo. Byram, now set to step into a No. 1 defenseman role for Chicago, stated he has "been preparing for opportunity like this". In other major trades, the Washington Capitals landed veteran winger Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin, and the No. 16 draft selection. The Ottawa Senators also made a splash, acquiring William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks for the No. 9 overall pick. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres appear poised to lose forward Alex Tuch to free agency, as General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen indicated "little progress in talks to re-sign" him and expects "he's moving on". The New Jersey Devils also traded the rights to pending restricted free agent defenseman Simon Nemec and winger Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames for two first-round draft choices and a second-round pick.

Coaching Carousel & Front Office Moves

A flurry of activity has seen established coaches find new homes and front office personnel shift positions. Mike Babcock, previously fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019, was officially named the next head coach of the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman commented that while there was no basis for preventing the Oilers from hiring Babcock, the coach is expected to uphold "a certain level of decorum". Concerns about this decision were voiced, with one report suggesting the Oilers are "inviting disaster by hiring Mike Babcock". In a different front office move, former Stanley Cup winner Pascal Dupuis has been hired as the Islanders' director of player development. The Utah Mammoth also announced significant additions to