NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: June 27, 2026, 11:33 AM ET

NHL DRAFT AND OFFSEASON MOVES

The NHL draft kicked off Friday with the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick, a move that was widely anticipated and puts the Penn State winger in company with past No. 1 selections like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid ranking McKenna. The draft saw significant player movement, with the Anaheim Ducks trading center Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues for the Nos. 15 and 29 selections in the first round Ducks send McTavish. In net, the Detroit Red Wings dealt top goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth for the 23rd pick Detroit deals goalie prospect. The New York Rangers bolstered their forward group by acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights Rangers land RFA Dorofeyev, while also sending Brett Berard to the Montreal Canadiens for defenseman William Trudeau Rangers start offseason. The Buffalo Sabres were active, acquiring Olen Zellweger from the Ducks for prospect Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick Sabres land Zellweger, and also signed forward Zach Benson to a seven-year, $52.5 million contract following his breakout playoff performance Sabres sign Benson.

DEFENSEMEN AND CONTRACTS

Several teams addressed their blue lines through trades and contract extensions. The Los Angeles Kings secured defenseman Brandt Clarke with a five-year deal worth $7.4 million annually after a career year Kings re-sign defenseman Clarke. The Ottawa Senators are set to sign defenseman Jordan Spence to a four-year, $20 million contract, recognizing his contribution during a season of injuries Senators signing Spence. Tony DeAngelo is returning to the New York Islanders on a two-year contract reportedly worth $4.5 million per year DeAngelo returning Islanders. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche continued to reshape their defense by re-signing both Brett Kulak and Brent Burns Avalanche re-sign Kulak Burns. The Chicago Blackhawks have named Bowen Byram as their No. 1 defenseman following his acquisition from the Sabres earlier in the week Byram stepping in.

ROSTER SHIFTS AND TEAM REBUILDING

The Carolina Hurricanes are facing a significant blow with leading goal scorer Seth Jarvis likely sidelined for four to six months following shoulder surgery, potentially impacting the start of their Stanley Cup defense Shoulder surgery to shelve Jarvis. The Avalanche also made a notable trade, sending longtime winger Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets as they continue to retool after a disappointing playoff exit Avs trade Nichushkin. The Boston Bruins acquired winger JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth, marking a quick turnaround for Peterka who was traded to Utah just a year prior Bruins get winger Peterka. The Florida Panthers added grit to their lineup by acquiring Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers, anticipating the potential departure of A.J. Greer in free agency Panthers acquire Hathaway. The Buffalo Sabres general manager indicated that veteran forward Alex Tuch is likely to move on in free agency, with little progress made on extension talks Sabres veteran Tuch.

PWHL NEWS AND PLAYER COMMITMENTS

In the Premier Hockey Federation, five-time Olympian Hilary Knight signed a two-year contract extension with PWHL Detroit, securing her commitment through the 2028-29 season Olympian Knight extends deal. Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin revealed that she played through a torn ACL and meniscus during the PWHL championship game, demonstrating remarkable resilience in leading her team to victory Poulin played torn ACL.

NHL DRAFT TRACKER AND ANALYSIS

The 2026 NHL Draft commenced on Friday, featuring a series of selections and player evaluations. Detailed analysis for the top 32 picks, along with scouting notes and team fit assessments, were provided as the draft unfolded over Friday and Saturday NHL draft tracker. Mock drafts offered final predictions for the first round, with the top two picks appearing set but considerable uncertainty surrounding subsequent selections NHL mock draft. The draft results and first-round order were being tracked in real-time 2026 NHL Draft tracker.