RADIO
Gavin McKenna Signs Entry-Level Contract With Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Gavin McKenna signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday. This year's top draft pick inked the maximum rookie contract of $3.225 million. McKenna will join the NHL after a big year with Penn State. With 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 35 games, he was the fifth-highest scorer in the NCAA and ranked second with 1.46 points per game. McKenna donned a Maple Leafs jersey for the first time on Thursday as the team's development camp began. In Toronto, McKenna has landed in a perfect situation. He should be a top-six regular during his maiden campaign and get plenty of power-play time.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Jamie Benn Ready for Year 18 With Stars
Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn will return for his 18th NHL season in 2026-27. The Stars captain became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but the team announced on Friday that Benn had signed a new one-year, $850,000 contract. He can earn an additional $1.15 million in performance-based bonuses. Benn has spent his entire NHL career in Dallas, winning the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top scorer in 2015. His usage and production dropped significantly last season, as Benn finished with 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in 60 appearances. He wasn't available for his season debut until mid-November due to a collapsed lung. Benn's fantasy value is at its lowest point, but he should still be a solid bottom-six contributor for the Stars.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Leo Carlsson Receives Huge Offer Sheet From Flyers
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson received a five-year, $90 million offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday. The Ducks have until July 10 to match the offer. If they do not match it, the team will receive four first-round draft picks as compensation. Based on the contract's average annual value, Carlsson is set to become the NHL's highest-paid player. Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl currently holds the highest cap hit in the league at $14 million. Carlsson became a restricted free agent on July 1 after completing a three-year, entry-level contract. He took a big leap in 2025-26, posting a career-high 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists) in 70 games. In 201 career games, Carlsson has put up 141 points (61 goals, 80 assists).
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Maxim Shabanov Looks for Fresh Start With Wild
The Minnesota Wild have signed right wing Maxim Shabanov to a one-year, $1.6 million contract. He was available as a free agent after completing a one-year, entry-level contract with the New York Islanders. Shabanov, who was a scoring machine in the KHL, struggled to make an impact during his first NHL campaign. In 44 outings, he scored just five goals and had 18 points. Shabanov will probably get better opportunities to make an impact with the Wild, but he's still a risky bet for fantasy managers.
Source: Minnesota Wild PR
Source: Minnesota Wild PR
David Rittich Joins Devils on One-Year Contract
Goaltender David Rittich has agreed to a one-year, $1 million pact with the New Jersey Devils. The 33-year-old Czechia native will join his seventh NHL franchise. In 2025-26, he did a good job as Ilya Sorokin's backup with the New York Islanders, going 14-10-3 and allowing 2.76 goals with a .894 save percentage. With the Devils, Rittich will have a chance to carve out a starting role. The team shipped its previous starter, Jacob Markstrom, to Florida last week. Rittich will face competition from Jake Allen and Nico Daws.
Source: New Jersey Devils PR
Source: New Jersey Devils PR
Jakub Dobes Earns Three-Year Extension From Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes has signed a three-year contract extension worth just over $16 million. The new deal will start with the 2027-28 season, giving Dobes a $5,357,575 cap hit. Last term, Dobes emerged as Montreal's No. 1, posting a 29-10-4 regular-season record. He allowed 2.78 goals with a .901 save percentage. The 25-year-old also performed admirably during the playoffs, helping his team reach the Eastern Conference Finals. With fewer than 60 career starts under his belt, Dobes is still likely to have some growing pains, but he has shown the potential to become a top-tier fantasy netminder.
Source: Montreal Canadiens PR
Source: Montreal Canadiens PR
Jacob Middleton Heads to Calgary
The Calgary Flames have acquired defenseman Jacob Middleton from the Minnesota Wild. He was brought in along with a 2027 third-round pick, a 2028 fourth-round pick, and a 2029 second-round pick in exchange for forward Blake Coleman and defenseman Olli Maatta. Middleton has just finished the first season of a four-year, $17.4 million contract. After back-to-back 20-point campaigns, he finished with 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 75 games. His numbers across the board dropped due to reduced playing time. In Calgary, Middleton will have a chance to re-establish himself as a top-four piece.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Wild Acquire Blake Coleman
Winger Blake Coleman was traded to the Minnesota Wild by the Calgary Flames on Thursday. Defenseman Olli Maatta also moved to Minnesota in exchange for defenseman Jake Middleton, a 2027 third-round pick, a 2028 fourth-round pick, and a 2029 second-round pick. The Flames will retain 50 percent of Coleman's $4.9 million annual salary. Coleman joined Calgary in 2021 after becoming a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He finished the 2025-26 campaign with 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists), 176 SOG, and 152 hits in 69 games. Minnesota has lost several forwards this offseason, and Coleman looks like a great pickup. He'll be in contention for a top-six role and should be fueled by the fact that he's on an expiring contract.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Connor Bedard Injures Left Shoulder in Practice
Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard suffered an apparent shoulder injury during Thursday's practice. During a three-on-three drill, he lost his balance and crashed into the boards. As he stood up, Bedard clutched his right shoulder and eventually left the ice. Although the offseason has just begun and Bedard has plenty of time to recover before the next campaign, this is still concerning. The 20-year-old star dealt with a right shoulder injury in 2025-26, missing about a month. Now he may be forced to spend part of his offseason nursing an injury to his other shoulder. Before being knocked out of the lineup in December, Bedard was among the NHL's top scorers. He finished his third NHL campaign with a career-high 75 points (30 goals, 45 assists) in 69 games. Bedard became a restricted free agent on July 1.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Alex Ovechkin Signs Up for 22nd Season
Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin will return for his 22nd NHL season, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports. On July 1, he became an unrestricted free agent after his five-year, $47.5 million contract expired. 11 weeks before his 41st birthday, Ovechkin agreed to a new one-year deal with the Capitals. He will earn $1 million in salary, a $4.75 million games-played bonus (10 games), and a $3.25 million signing bonus. Despite having more than 20 years of wear and tear, Ovechkin played in all 82 games last season. He recorded a fifth consecutive 30-goal campaign and had 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists). With additional help on offense, including Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou, Ovechkin should remain productive in 2026-27.
Source: Tom Gulitti
Source: Tom Gulitti
Zach Werenski Sticking With Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski isn't going anywhere despite being heavily linked to a trade this offseason. "I want to win and I want to do that in Columbus," Werenski said in a statement. "As I've thought about things and discussed everything with my wife and family, we want to be in Columbus. It has been my home for the past 10 years and I have always been proud to be a Blue Jacket. We have the best fans in the NHL. I love my teammates and coaches and I'm looking forward to doing everything I can to get us back in the playoffs to compete for a Stanley Cup. Don and I are completely aligned on that and are excited about what's to come with our team." The 2026 Norris Trophy winner has two years left on his contract. Werenski has developed into a fantasy stud in Columbus and could become just the sixth defenseman in NHL history to record three consecutive 80-point campaigns next season.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Jaden Schwartz Signs Three-Year Deal With Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have bolstered their offense by signing Jaden Schwartz, ESPN's Ryan S. Clarke reports. He signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract with the team as an unrestricted free agent. Recently, Colorado traded away Ross Colton and Valeri Nichushkin, leaving several holes to fill on the frontline. Schwartz can help offset some of the offense lost. He's had durability issues in recent years, but Schwartz can make an impact as a scorer and playmaker. In 50 appearances with the Seattle Kraken last season, he contributed 11 goals and 15 assists.
Source: Ryan S. Clark
Source: Ryan S. Clark
Corey Perry Returns to L.A.
Right wing Corey Perry will start another season with the Los Angeles Kings, returning to the team on a one-year, $1 million contract. He can earn an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses. Perry also started the 2025-26 campaign with the Kings, but he was shipped to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the trade deadline for a second-round pick. For a player who turned 41 in May, Perry had a strong year, with 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) in 72 games. The 2011 MVP has scored more points in only one season this decade. In 2026-27, Perry will aim to reach 1,000 career points. He currently sits on 972 points (465 goals, 507 assists) through 1,464 career games.
Source: Los Angeles Kings
Source: Los Angeles Kings
Lightning Sign Ilya Mikheyev to Four-Year Contract
Winger Ilya Mikheyev has linked up with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a four-year, $15.4 million contract. He joins a contender after spending two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. Last term, Mikheyev had his best NHL campaign, amassing 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) in 77 games. Impressively, he held a positive plus/minus on a team that finished with the second-worst record in the league. Mikheyev is a versatile forward who can do various jobs for the Lightning, though he's unlikely to spend much time in the top six. For that reason, his real-life value outweighs his fantasy hockey appeal.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Stuart Skinner Moves to Winnipeg on Two-Year Deal
Goaltender Stuart Skinner agreed to a two-year deal worth $7.5 million with the Winnipeg Jets as an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday. The former Oiler will return to Canada after finishing the 2025-26 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Skinner had a 23-17-9 record in his sixth NHL campaign, allowing 2.92 goals with a .888 save percentage and two shutouts. With longtime No. 1 Connor Hellebuyck likely leaving the Jets this offseason, Skinner could have the opportunity to secure the starting job in Winnipeg. However, his inconsistent play makes him hard to trust in fantasy hockey.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
