June 29, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matthew Knies has signed a multi-year extension with the team. According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Knies has agreed to a six-year, $46.5 million deal. The 22-year-old was set to become a restricted free agent next week. Following a 35-point rookie campaign, Knies took a significant leap during his sophomore year, finishing the 2024-25 season with 29 goals and 58 points in 78 games. He was third on the team with 182 hits, adding physicality to the first line. Knies' role and his fantasy value should only continue to grow in Toronto.
--Taavi PailkSource: Elliotte Friedman
June 29, 2025
Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux has agreed to a one-year contract extension with the team. He will earn a baseline salary of $2 million, with the potential to earn up to $4.75 million through bonuses. The 37-year-old has spent three seasons with the Senators, recording 193 points (71 goals, 122 assists) in 245 appearances, including 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists) in 81 games during the 2024-25 season. Although Giroux's fantasy value has gradually decreased in recent years, he still remains a top-six forward in Ottawa and should be able to produce 50-plus points again next season if he stays healthy.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 28, 2025
The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired forwards Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Gavin Brindley, a 2027 second-round draft pick, and a 2025 third-round selection. Coyle spent only a few months with the Avalanche, joining from Boston in March. Following a big 60-point year, he had a tough campaign, notching only 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 83 games with the Avalanche and Bruins. Wood's year was ruined by health issues, as he was limited to 37 outings, scoring eight points (four goals, four assists). Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell rates both players highly, and it will be interesting to see their impact in Columbus.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
June 28, 2025
Buffalo Sabres right wing Jack Quinn has signed a two-year, $6.75 million contract extension with the team. The 23-year-old was a pending restricted free agent. Health issues disrupted Quinn's development in 2023-24, but the former top-10 pick is coming off a decent season. Over 74 appearances, Quinn notched 15 goals and 39 points. He has amassed 97 points (39 goals, 58 assists) in 178 career games. While Quinn hasn't quite reached the level expected of him as a high draft pick, he's still a young player, and Buffalo is expected to give him opportunities to succeed.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
June 28, 2025
Vegas Golden Knights left wing Brandon Saad has signed a one-year, $2 million contract extension. Saad joined Vegas on Jan. 31 on a $1.5 million deal after his contract with the St. Louis Blues was mutually terminated. The 32-year-old had a solid few months with the Golden Knights, amassing 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 29 games. Combining his time in St. Louis, Saad finished the campaign with only 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists). However, his late-season performance suggests he could return to being a 40-point scorer in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: Vegas Hockey Now
June 28, 2025
Edmonton Oilers forward Trent Frederic has landed an eight-year, $30.8 million extension with the team. The 27-year-old was only a few days away from becoming an unrestricted free agent. Edmonton acquired Frederic from the Boston Bruins in a three-team trade on March 4 that also involved the New Jersey Devils. Due to an ankle injury, he made only one regular-season appearance with the Oilers. He had 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 57 outings with the Bruins. It was a disappointing campaign for Frederic, but he had an impressive season the year before, logging a career-high 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) and 204 hits in 82 games. Frederic's new deal suggests that the Oilers are confident that he can replicate his 2023-24 form going forward.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 28, 2025
The New York Islanders picked up forward Emil Heineman on Friday in a deal with the Montreal Canadiens, as the team traded away defenseman Noah Dobson. The transaction also included two first-round draft picks. Incredibly, this is the third time Heineman has been traded. He was originally a Florida Panthers draft pick but was traded to Calgary in 2021 in a deal that saw the Panthers acquire Sam Bennett. A year later, Heineman landed in Montreal after the Canadiens shipped out Tyler Toffoli. Heineman had his rookie campaign in 2024-25, recording 10 goals and 18 points with 173 hits. He will likely slot into a middle-six role in New York and may see some power-play time. Five of Heineman's 18 points this season, including three goals, came with the man advantage.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 28, 2025
The Montreal Canadiens have acquired defenseman Noah Dobson in a trade with the New York Islanders. The team parted ways with forward Emil Heineman and a pair of first-round picks in the transaction. It was a sign-and-trade deal for Dobson, who agreed to an eight-year, $76 million contract before the trade. Dobson proved to be too expensive to keep for the Islanders, who selected him 12th overall in the 2018 NHL draft. The right-shot blue-liner recorded 230 points (50 goals, 180 assists) in 388 games with the Islanders, including 70 points (10 goals, 60 assists) in 2023-24. This season, Dobson struggled to reach the same heights as before, settling for only 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) in 71 games. He will aim to bounce back in 2025-26 on an exciting Canadiens blue line that features 2025 Calder Memorial Trophy winner Lane Hutson.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 28, 2025
Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares is set to extend his stay with the team for four more years, having agreed to a $17.52 million contract extension. The veteran star is taking a significant pay cut, as the average annual value of his contract will drop from $11 million to $4.38 million. Tavares enjoyed one of his best seasons as a Maple Leaf in 2024-25, posting 74 points (38 goals, 36 assists) in 75 appearances. Since joining the team, he has managed 222 goals and 493 points in 515 games across seven seasons. Tavares isn't getting any younger -- he will turn 35 in September -- but he still remains a top-notch fantasy producer.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 28, 2025
Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett has signed an eight-year contract extension worth $64 million, nearly doubling the cap hit ($4.425 million) of his previous deal. After winning the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP, Bennett was set to become a hot commodity in free agency. The Panthers will be pleased to get him under a new contract, with general manager Bill Zito calling Bennett a "special player." Bennett, who tallied 22 points (15 goals, seven assists) in 23 playoff games, significantly raised his performance during the postseason, but he also made a strong impact in the regular season. The 29-year-old recorded a career-high 51 points (25 goals, 26 assists) in 76 games. Fantasy managers can expect similar numbers from him in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 28, 2025
The New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Due to a broken collarbone, Schaefer played just 17 games in the OHL this season with the Erie Otters, picking up 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists). But his draft stock remained high, and the 17-year-old became just the fifth defenseman picked No. 1 overall in the NHL draft since 2000. Schaefer is described as an elite skater who can make a big impact at both ends of the ice. With Noah Dobson now in Montreal, Schaefer can quickly make the Islanders blue line his own.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 26, 2025
The Florida Panthers have added Daniil Tarasov to their goaltending department, acquiring him in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team gave up a 2025 fifth-round draft pick in the deal. Tarasov, who finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 7-10-2 record, is a restricted free agent. Florida is set to use him as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup next season. With Bobrovsky on the wrong side of 30, Tarasov may eventually land a starting job with the Panthers. He had a tough time this season, but Tarasov has shown promise in the NHL before. He boasts a career record of 61-19-34.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 26, 2025
The Seattle Kraken have acquired center Frederick Gaudreau from the Minnesota Wild, giving up a fourth-round draft pick in the deal. Gaudreau, who has three years remaining on his contract with an annual average value of $2.1 million, played four seasons with the Wild. He finished the 2024-25 campaign with 37 points (18 goals, 19 assists) in 82 games. "Frederick's a versatile skater who plays a strong two-way game," Kraken general manager Jason Botterill announced. "He gives us depth down the middle and has the ability to produce offensively. He's a player that can be trusted on the defensive side of the puck, especially on the penalty kill. We're excited to welcome him to the team." Seattle will likely use Gaudreau in a bottom-six role. As a result, he won't contribute much to fantasy teams.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 26, 2025
San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic has been placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out the final year of his contract. Vlasic's contract was set to count $7 million against the salary cap next season, and buying him out saves San Jose $2.3 million, while counting $1.2 million extra in 2026-27. The 38-year-old made his NHL debut with the Sharks during the 2006-07 campaign and has spent his entire 19-year career with the franchise. Ray Bourque and Nicklas Lidstrom are the only defensemen in history who have played more NHL games with one team. This season, Vlasic became the NHL's all-time leader with 2,184 blocks. He has recorded 379 points (84 goals, 295 assists) in 1,323 career appearances.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
June 26, 2025
Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn has re-signed with the team for one more year. He agreed to a deal that includes a base salary of $1 million plus up to $3 million in potential performance bonuses. Benn has been a Dallas Star his entire 16-year NHL career, serving as team captain since 2013. He is taking a significant pay cut to stay with the team, as Benn's previous contract had a $9.5 million cap hit. Benn, who turns 36 next month, scored 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists) in 80 games this season, showing he can still be an offensive threat. Next season, Benn will hope to reach 1,000 career points, sitting just 44 points away from the big milestone.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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