NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: June 28, 2026, 8:35 AM ET

NHL Draft and Offseason Moves

The NHL offseason is in full swing, marked by the conclusion of the 2026 NHL draft and a flurry of trades and signings. The San Jose Sharks made history by selecting 7-foot-1 defenseman Alexander Karmanov making him the tallest player ever drafted. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres made a significant move, acquiring Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks for prospect Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick securing a top prospect. In another notable transaction, the Detroit Red Wings traded goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa to Utah for the 23rd overall pick moving a top prospect. The draft also saw the Pittsburgh Penguins draft twins Marcus and Liam Ruck drafting both Ruck twins, while the Maple Leafs are widely expected to select Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick Gavin McKenna likely first.

General managers are being graded on their draft and trade activities, with some teams adding significant value while others faltered. The Sabres are being lauded for their moves, including signing Zach Benson to a seven-year, $52.5 million contract following his breakout playoff performance signing Zach Benson. The Rangers bolstered their offense by acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from the Golden Knights for multiple first-round picks acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev, and the Bruins added winger JJ Peterka via Mammoth acquiring JJ Peterka. Conversely, the Anaheim Ducks sent Mason McTavish to the Blues for two first-round selections trading Mason McTavish, and the Maple Leafs traded defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Blues for two third-round picks trading Brandon Carlo. The Avalanche continued their roster retooling by trading Valeri Nichushkin to the Blue Jackets trading Valeri Nichushkin.

Player Transactions and Contract Extensions

Beyond the draft, several key players have signed new contracts or been involved in significant trades. The Kings re-signed defenseman Brandt Clarke to a five-year, $7.4 million annual contract after his career year re-signing Brandt Clarke. In Ottawa, defenseman Jordan Spence agreed to a four-year, $20 million deal signing Jordan Spence, while the Islanders brought back Tony DeAngelo on a two-year contract worth an estimated $4.5 million per year returning Islanders. The Avalanche addressed their defense by re-signing Brett Kulak and Brent Burns re-signing defensemen. The Hurricanes, however, are bracing for a significant absence as Seth Jarvis is expected to miss 4-6 months due to shoulder surgery, jeopardizing his availability for the start of their Stanley Cup defense Jarvis to miss start.

Coaching Changes and Playoff Post-Mortems

The offseason has also seen significant coaching changes following disappointing playoff exits. The Oilers have fired Kris Knoblauch, who had led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in both 2024 and 2025 Oilers fire Knoblauch. Similarly, the Maple Leafs have dismissed Craig Berube, leaving the team facing another major organizational decision Maple Leafs fire Berube. The notion of a "Presidents' Trophy curse" is being debunked, with analysts suggesting the difficulty lies simply in winning the Stanley Cup rather than any specific award jinx no Presidents' Trophy curse. Canada's Stanley Cup drought has now extended to 33 years following the Canadiens' elimination Canada's Cup drought continues.

Simulation and Prediction Corner

As the conference finals approach, computer simulations are offering insights into potential outcomes. Ten thousand simulations predict the outcome of upcoming matchups in the Golden Knights vs. Avs series Golden Knights vs. Avs predictions and the Hurricanes vs. Canadiens Game 5 Hurricanes vs. Canadiens prediction. These simulations also weighed in on the Canadiens vs. Sabres Game, providing picks from their extensive analysis Canadiens vs. Sabres picks. Expert predictions for the conference finals are also available, offering a glimpse into which teams are favored to advance conference finals predictions.

PWHL Updates

In the Premier Hockey Federation, Olympian Hilary Knight has extended her contract with PWHL Detroit for two years, securing her through the 2028-29 season Knight extends deal. Meanwhile, Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin revealed she played through a torn ACL and meniscus during the PWHL championship, demonstrating remarkable resilience Poulin played torn ACL.