NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: June 25, 2026, 2:31 PM ET

NHL Trade & Draft Buzz

The NHL offseason is heating up with significant player movement and draft preparations dominating headlines. The Blackhawks have acquired defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway from the Sabres in exchange for the No. 4 and No. 45 picks in Friday's NHL draft, along with defenseman L truncatedwith defenseman . Byram, who was acquired in a trade on Tuesday night, is stepping into the role of the Blackhawks' No. 1 defenseman as he's been preparing for this opportunity. Meanwhile, the Sabres appear to be moving on from veteran forward Alex Tuch, with GM Jarmo Kekalainen stating that little progress has been made in re-signing him and the team expects to lose him to free agency in the upcoming free agent period.

In another significant move, the Capitals have landed veteran winger Jordan Kyrou from the Blues. This acquisition cost the Capitals Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin, and the No. 16 pick in Friday's NHL draft. The Senators also made a draft-day trade, acquiring left winger William Eklund, prospect Kasper Halttunen, and the rights to prospect Brandon Svoboda from the Sharks for the No. 9 pick in the draft this week. The Devils, meanwhile, have dealt the rights to pending restricted free agents Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to the Flames, receiving two first-round picks and a second-round selection in return for the pair.

As the first round of the NHL draft approaches on Friday, final predictions are solidifying. While the top two picks appear to be locked in, the projections for subsequent selections vary, with updated rankings lists available for consideration before the draft commences. Reporters are also passing along the latest intel from around the league, with discussions about potential trades and offer sheets for players like Robertson continuing ahead of Friday's proceedings.

Coaching & Front Office Moves

The coaching carousel continues to spin with the Edmonton Oilers officially naming Mike Babcock as their new head coach on Tuesday. Babcock, who last coached the Maple Leafs before his dismissal in 2019, is expected to uphold a "certain level of decorum" in his new role, according to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman during a recent statement. However, some observers see the Oilers' decision to hire Babcock as "inviting disaster" given his past coaching tenure.

On the front office side, former Stanley Cup winner Pascal Dupuis has been hired as the Islanders' director of player development, the team announced Tuesday following their recent organizational review. In the women's game, the Walter Cup champion Montreal Victoire have signed Canadian Olympian Emma Maltais to a two-year contract, adding another decorated player to their lineup following their championship victory.

Hall of Fame & Player Transactions

The Hockey Hall of Fame is with lists being compiled for future induction classes. While the 2026 class has just been announced, attention is already turning to next year's potential inductees for 2027. Notably, Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, who led his team to a Stanley Cup title last week and captained them to a championship in 2006 as a player, was not included in the 2026 class despite his achievements. In a remarkable coincidence, Keith Tkachuk was elected into the Hall of Fame on Monday, less than 24 hours after his sons, Brady and Matthew, became teammates on the Florida Panthers following Brady's trade from Ottawa. Brady Tkachuk stated that playing with his brother Matthew was not the primary reason for his trade request to join the Panthers where he is now reunited with Matthew.

League Expansion & Future Outlook

The NHL is reportedly exploring expansion possibilities, with sources indicating that Austin and Houston in Texas are potential targets for the league's next expansion phase as early as next year. This move would further solidify the league's presence in the southern United States.