NHL Hockey 3 Days

Last updated: July 21, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

NHL Signings and Trades

The Winnipeg Jets have secured center Cole Perfetti on a five-year, $30 million deal, avoiding arbitration as reported. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers are busy, re-signing forward Trevor Zegras to a four-year contract worth an average of $9.125 million annually according to sources, and also agreeing to terms with defenseman Jamie Drysdale on a four-year, $26 million contract as announced. The St. Louis Blues have inked forward Connor McMichael to a six-year, $40.5 million deal.

Team and Player News

Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard expressed his desire for winger Patrick Kane to return to the team where he began his career in a media session. In a surprising move, Steve Yzerman has abruptly stepped down as general manager of the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. The NHL has released its 2026-27 schedule, featuring an expansion to 84 games per team on Thursday. ESPN's trade grades are available for significant offseason swaps involving players like Trocheck and Nurse as the market heats up.

Prospect Development

ESPN attended the NHL Broadcast Training Camp in New York, seeking to identify the next generation of hockey analysts. Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks are now focused on the next steps following his massive five-year, $75 million contract extension as the real work begins.