NHL Hockey 3 Days

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

NHL Draft & Offseason Moves

The NHL draft kicked off Friday with the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting winger Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick, a move that was widely anticipated as per final mock drafts. McKenna, an 18-year-old Penn State product, joins an elite group of recent No. 1 selections like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid in draft rankings. The Anaheim Ducks were active early, trading center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues for two first-round picks, Nos. 15 and, as they continue a rebuild. In another significant prospect move, the Detroit Red Wings sent goaltender Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth for the 23rd overall selection. The New York Rangers bolstered their forward group by acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights, who was the latter's leading scorer last season. In a separate transaction, the Rangers also traded forward Brett Berard to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman William Trudeau.

Defense & Contract Extensions

Defensemen were a focal point for several teams as the offseason ramped up. The Los Angeles Kings secured defenseman Brandt Clarke on a five-year contract extension worth $7.4 million annually after his career-best season. In Colorado, the Avalanche addressed their blue line by re-signing Brett Kulak and Brent Burns to new deals. The Ottawa Senators are set to sign defenseman Jordan Spence to a four-year, $20 million contract following his contributions during injury-plagued seasons. Meanwhile, the New York Islanders brought back defenseman Tony DeAngelo on a two-year deal reportedly worth $4.5 million per season.

Player Trades & Roster Shuffles

Several teams continued to reshape their rosters through trades. The Colorado Avalanche traded winger Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, signaling a significant shift after a disappointing playoff exit. The Buffalo Sabres were involved in multiple transactions, first acquiring Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for prospect Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick. The Sabres also appear to be moving on from veteran forward Alex Tuch, with GM Jarmo Kekalainen stating there has been little progress in re-signing him and expecting his departure. The Utah Mammoth traded winger JJ Peterka to the Boston Bruins, marking his second team in as many years after a previous trade. The Florida Panthers acquired Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers, adding grit to their lineup. Bowen Byram is expected to step into a primary role as the Chicago Blackhawks' No. 1 defenseman after his acquisition from the Buffalo Sabres earlier in the week.

Women's Professional Hockey League News

In the newly formed Women's Professional Hockey League, Olympian Hilary Knight signed a two-year contract extension with PWHL Detroit, securing her services through the 2028-29 season. In a remarkable display of dedication, Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin revealed that she played through a torn ACL and meniscus in her right knee during the PWHL championship series leading her team to victory. The Buffalo Sabres also signed forward Zach Benson to a substantial seven-year, $52.5 million contract following his breakout playoff performance.

Injury Setback

A significant blow was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes as leading scorer Seth Jarvis is expected to miss four to six months due to shoulder surgery. This setback will likely sideline the winger, who is a key linemate for Sebastian Aho, for the start of their Stanley Cup defense.