NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: June 28, 2026, 5:30 PM ET

NHL Draft and Offseason Moves Dominate Headlines

The NHL offseason is in full swing with the annual draft concluding and a flurry of trades and signings reshaping rosters. The Buffalo Sabres made a significant move, acquiring defenseman Olen Zellweger from the Anaheim Ducks for prospect Anton Wahlberg and a second-round pick landed Zellweger. The Toronto Maple Leafs, meanwhile, are facing major decisions after firing coach Craig Berube fire Berube, while the New York Rangers are revamping their forward corps by sending Brett Berard to the Canadiens for defenseman William Trudeau trade Berard. Goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa was also on the move, with the Detroit Red Wings dealing him to the Mammoth for the 23rd overall pick deals Cossa.

Draft Highlights and GM Report Cards

The 2026 NHL Entry Draft saw teams adding future talent, with report cards now emerging to evaluate their selections. The San Jose Sharks made history by drafting 7-foot-1 defenseman Alexander Karmanov, the tallest player ever selected select Karmanov. The Pittsburgh Penguins opted for a family-first approach, drafting twins Marcus and Liam Ruck draft both Ruck twins. ESPN's comprehensive draft tracker every pick and GM report cards grade all 32 are available, detailing which teams added value and which missed opportunities. Fantasy hockey managers are already eyeing top prospects for their upcoming drafts, with specific attention being paid to potential future stars which 2026 picks to draft.

Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Contenders

As the Stanley Cup Playoffs heat up, simulations and predictions are offering insights into potential matchups and outcomes. Computer simulations from CBS Sports are providing picks for key games, including matchups between the Golden Knights and Avalanche Vegas vs. Avs Game 1 picks, Vegas vs. Avs Game 2 picks, and the Hurricanes and Canadiens Carolina vs. Montreal Game 5 picks. Predictions for the conference finals are also available conference finals picks, offering a glimpse into which teams are poised to advance.

Addressing the Stanley Cup Drought and Playoff Narratives

The long-standing Stanley Cup drought for Canadian teams continues, with the Canadiens' recent elimination extending it to 33 years Canada's drought reaches 33 years. This playoff run also reignited discussions about the "Presidents' Trophy curse," though some analysts argue it's simply the inherent difficulty of winning the championship no Presidents' Trophy curse. Mitch Marner's performance in the playoffs has been a notable storyline, with his reputation being notably reshaped by his play Marner rewrites reputation.

Player Movement and Contract Signings

Beyond the draft, player movement through trades and free agency signings is shaping the league. The Carolina Hurricanes acquired the rights to defenseman John Carlson from the Anaheim Ducks acquire Carlson rights, while the Boston Bruins reportedly secured winger JJ Peterka from the Mammoth get winger Peterka. The New York Rangers bolstered their offense by landing RFA Pavel Dorofeyev from the Golden Knights in a trade involving multiple first-round picks land RFA Dorofeyev. In defensive news, the Anaheim Ducks traded Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues for two first-round picks send McTavish Blues, and the Blues also acquired defenseman Brandon Carlo from the Maple Leafs for draft picks acquire Carlo.

Notable Re-Signings and Contract Extensions

Several teams have secured key players with new contracts. The Los Angeles Kings re-signed defenseman Brandt Clarke to a five-year, $7.4 million annual deal re-sign Clarke. The Colorado Avalanche addressed their defensive depth by re-signing Brett Kulak and Brent Burns re-sign Kulak and Burns. Defenseman Jordan Spence is set to remain with the Senators on a four-year, $20 million contract signing Spence, and Tony DeAngelo is returning to the Islanders on a two-year deal worth an reported $4.5 million per year returning Islanders.

Injuries and Hall of Fame Watch

The injury bug has bitten the Carolina Hurricanes, with leading scorer Seth Jarvis expected to miss 4-6 months due to shoulder surgery, potentially impacting their start to the season surgery to shelve Jarvis. speculation is already mounting about who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2027, with the 2026 class recently announced Hockey Hall Fame 2027.

Coaching Carousel and Roster Reshuffles

The coaching carousel has seen some significant moves, with Kris Knoblauch fired by the Edmonton Oilers despite leading them to two consecutive Cup Finals fire Knoblauch. The Avalanche also continued their roster reshaping by trading Valeri Nichushkin to the Blue Jackets trade Nichushkin. In the Premier Hockey Federation, Olympian Hilary Knight extended her contract with PWHL Detroit for two years, securing her through the 2028-29 season Knight extends deal.

Draft Pick Rankings and Player Comparisons

The top of the NHL Draft order is always a subject of intense scrutiny, with Gavin McKenna widely expected to be the Maple Leafs' No. 1 overall pick ranking No. Comparisons are being drawn between McKenna and past generational talents like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, setting high expectations for his NHL career.

Miscellaneous Notes and Trade Grades

Beyond the major transactions, various other moves and analyses are shaping the league's narrative. Trade grades for all NHL draft week swaps are available, offering assessments of each team's dealings trade grades for swaps. A curious recruiting claim from Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin regarding diversity and recruiting struggles was also reported, though its direct relevance to NHL hockey is unclear Kiffin wasn't truthful.