RADIO
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
John Carlson Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Lightning
Defenseman John Carlson has signed a two-year, $17 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Last week, the Anaheim Ducks traded Carlson's rights to the Carolina Hurricanes, but he couldn't reach a deal with the 2026 Stanley Cup champions. Instead, he will join another Eastern Conference powerhouse. While Carlson will turn 37 next season, his game has aged well. In 2025-26, Carlson recorded 60 points (14 goals, 46 assists) in 71 games, marking the fifth-best offensive output of his 17-year NHL career. Due to the presence of Victor Hedman, Carlson's numbers will likely drop, but he should still enjoy a strong fantasy season.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Oliver Bjorkstrand Joins Rangers on One-Year Pact
Winger Oliver Bjorkstrand has joined the New York Rangers on a one-year, $4.5 million contract. He was an unrestricted free agent after completing a five-year deal that had a $5.4 million cap hit. Bjorkstrand was a 20-goal scorer in each of his first four seasons of the deal, but he suffered a drop in form last term. In 80 appearances with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Bjorkstrand put up only 12 goals and 32 points. He could potentially have a larger role in New York, making him a bounce-back candidate. It's been only two seasons since Bjorkstrand posted his career-high of 59 points.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Dan Vladar Inks Five-Year Extension With Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar has signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension. He has one more season remaining on a two-year, $6.7 million contract, but the team has decided to reward Vladar after a very good 2025-26 campaign. "Dan exceeded expectations last year," general manager Daniel Briere said. "Not just on the ice but also off the ice too. Tremendous leader, tremendous human being. The way he interacted in the room with the guys, the way he found a way to get them going and wanted more. ... It's more than his play on the ice." Vladar made a career-high 51 starts, going 29-14-7. While he failed to record a shutout, the 28-year-old Czechia netminder allowed only 2.42 goals with a .906 save percentage. Vladar's .937 save percentage at five-on-five was tied for the league lead. He'll be a popular pick in fantasy drafts in the fall.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Eetu Luostarinen Signs Eight-Year, $40 Million Extension With Panthers
Florida Panthers forward Eetu Luostarinen has received a major pay bump, signing an eight-year, $40 million contract extension with the team. He will finish a three-year, $9 million deal in 2026-27. The 27-year-old Finnish forward has skated six seasons with the Panthers, notching 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 73 appearances last term. He also had 107 SOG and 121 hits. Luostarinen has been used throughout the lineup, fitting in seamlessly and making solid contributions at both ends of the ice, though his fantasy value isn't very high.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Nicholas Paul Shipped to Toronto
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired forward Nicholas Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday in exchange for goaltender Dennis Hildeby, a 2027 fourth-round pick, and a 2028 third-round pick. Paul returns to Ontario after starting his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators. The Lightning decided to cut ties with Paul after his performance declined in 2025-26. Coming off back-to-back 40-point campaigns, Paul managed only 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 51 games. Paul has three years remaining on his contract, which carries a $3.15 million cap hit. The 31-year-old doesn't have much fantasy value, but he could do a decent job for the Maple Leafs on the third line.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Viktor Arvidsson Moves to Detroit
Winger Viktor Arvidsson signed a two-year, $10 million pact with the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. The Swedish veteran will start a fourth season with a fourth different team. He spent the 2025-26 campaign in Boston, scoring 25 goals and 54 points in 69 games. It was an impressive bounce-back season for Arvidsson, who managed just 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 67 outings with the Edmonton Oilers the previous year. Arvidsson has scored over 200 goals during his 14-year NHL career and could be a top-six option for the Red Wings, making him worth watching for fantasy managers.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
