NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: June 26, 2026, 8:31 PM ET

NHL DRAFT & FREE AGENCY MOVES

The NHL draft commenced Friday with the Toronto Maple Leafs making the widely anticipated selection of Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick selected McKenna. McKenna, an 18-year-old winger from Penn State, was the consensus top prospect after a strong performance leading up to the draft draft tracker. The Buffalo Sabres were active early, acquiring defenseman Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for prospect forward Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick landed Zellweger. Later, the Chicago Blackhawks made a significant acquisition, trading for defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway from the Sabres in a package that included the No. 4 and No. 45 selections in the current draft, plus defenseman L acquired Byram and Greenway.

DEFENSEMEN SIGNINGS & TRADES

In a series of moves addressing defensive depth, several teams finalized contract extensions and trades. The Los Angeles Kings re-signed defenseman Brandt Clarke to a substantial five-year contract extension worth $7.4 million annually, following a career-best season re-signed Clarke. The Ottawa Senators moved to secure their blue line by signing defenseman Jordan Spence to a four-year deal totaling $20 million, a move that comes after Spence helped the team navigate injury issues last season signing Spence. The New York Islanders also bolstered their defense by bringing back Tony DeAngelo on a two-year contract, reportedly worth $4.5 million per year returning DeAngelo. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche addressed their defensive corps by re-signing both Brett Kulak and Brent Burns re-sign Kulak and Burns.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER MOVES & RESTRUCTURES

Team rosters continued to shift with key offensive players involved in trades and contract negotiations. The Boston Bruins acquired winger JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth, marking a swift move for the winger who was traded to Utah just a year prior Bruins get Peterka. The Colorado Avalanche continued their roster reshaping by trading longtime winger Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday trade Nichushkin. The Florida Panthers made a strategic addition, acquiring Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers to maintain their physical presence, especially with A.J. Greer expected to depart in free agency acquire Hathaway. The Buffalo Sabres also finalized a significant long-term deal with Zach Benson, signing the forward to a seven-year contract worth $52.5 million after his standout playoff performance sign Benson. The New York Rangers initiated their offseason by trading forward Brett Berard to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman William Trudeau trade Berard.

OTHER LEAGUE NEWS

Beyond the NHL draft and free agency period, other league developments occurred. The Chicago Blackhawks have designated Bowen Byram as their No. 1 defenseman following his acquisition from the Sabres, a role he stated he has been preparing for Byram prepared for opportunity. Buffalo Sabres General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen indicated that forward Alex Tuch is likely to move on in free agency, citing a lack of progress in contract talks expecting Tuch's departure. In the PWHL, five-time Olympian Hilary Knight signed a two-year contract extension with the new PWHL Detroit team, securing her through the 2028-29 season Knight extends deal. Notably, Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin revealed she played through a torn ACL and meniscus for the PWHL championship, demonstrating remarkable resilience Poulin played on torn ACL.