NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: June 27, 2026, 2:32 PM ET

NHL Draft Day Deals and Roster Shuffles

The NHL draft kicked off with significant player movement as teams solidified their rosters and looked to the future. The Toronto Maple Leafs used the first overall pick to select Penn State winger Gavin McKenna select McKenna at No. 1, a move that had been widely anticipated McKenna compares to Crosby. The draft also saw a flurry of trades, with the St. Louis Blues making multiple moves. They acquired defenseman Brandon Carlo from the Maple Leafs for two third-round picks acquire Carlo Leafs, and then traded center Mason McTavish to the Ducks for the Nos. 15 and 29 selections in Friday's draft send McTavish Blues. The Buffalo Sabres also made a notable acquisition, landing defenseman Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for prospect forward Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick land Ducks' Zellweger.

Defensive Realignments and Contract Extensions

Several teams focused on bolstering their defensive corps through trades and contract signings. The New York Rangers added forward Pavel Dorofeyev from the Golden Knights, the latter's leading scorer last season land RFA Dorofeyev, while simultaneously sending forward Brett Berard to the Canadiens for defenseman William Trudeau trade Berard Habs. The Avalanche addressed their blue line by re-signing veteran defensemen Brett Kulak and Brent Burns re-sign Kulak and Burns. In Ottawa, defenseman Jordan Spence inked a four-year, $20 million contract with the Senators signing Spence 4-year, $20M, a move that comes after he helped the team navigate injuries last season. The Islanders brought back defenseman Tony DeAngelo on a two-year deal reportedly worth $4.5 million annually returning Islanders 2-year deal.

Prospect Movement and Goaltender Transactions

Prospect movement was also a theme in the day's transactions. The Detroit Red Wings traded goaltender Sebastian Cossa, one of their top prospects, to the Utah Mammoth for the 23rd pick in the draft deal top goalie prospect. The Boston Bruins reportedly acquired winger JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth, a year after they originally traded for him Bruins get winger Peterka. Meanwhile, Bowen Byram is stepping into a prominent role for the Blackhawks as their No. 1 defenseman following his acquisition from the Sabres earlier in the week Byram: Preparing for opportunity.

Forward Signings and Injury Concerns

Forward transactions and injury news also impacted team outlooks. The Florida Panthers acquired Garnet Hathaway from the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, adding grit to their lineup as A.J. Greer is expected to depart in free agency acquire gritty Hathaway. The Buffalo Sabres signed forward Zach Benson to a seven-year, $52.5 million contract following his strong playoff performance sign Benson to 7yr $52.5M. However, the Carolina Hurricanes are facing a significant blow with leading scorer Seth Jarvis expected to miss four to six months due to shoulder surgery, potentially sidelining him for the start of their Stanley Cup defense shoulder surgery likely. Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen indicated that veteran forward Alex Tuch is likely to move on in free agency due to a lack of progress on a new contract veteran Tuch: 'Think he's.

Women's Professional Hockey News

In women's professional hockey, Olympian Hilary Knight signed a two-year contract extension with PWHL Detroit, securing her through the 2028-29 season Olympian Knight extends deal. Separately, Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin revealed she played through significant knee injuries, including a torn ACL and meniscus, during her team's PWHL championship run Poulin played torn ACL.

Draft Day Analysis and Future Outlook

The NHL draft is a critical event for team building, and this year's event saw a mix of established players moving and top prospects being selected. The final mock drafts projected specific team fits for prospects beyond the top selections mock draft: Final predictions, offering insights into potential team strategies. The comprehensive draft tracker provided scouting notes and analysis for all 32 first-round selections NHL draft tracker: Scouting, detailing each team's picks and their potential impact. The 2026 NHL Draft results and first-round order were also being tracked 2026 NHL Draft tracker. The Avalanche also continued their roster reshaping by trading longtime winger Valeri Nichushkin to the Blue Jackets on Thursday Avs continue revamp, trade. The Kings, meanwhile, re-signed defenseman Brandt Clarke to a five-year deal worth $7.4 million annually after he had a career year re-sign defenseman Clarke.