July 19, 2025
Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi has inked a six-year, $45 million contract extension. The Kingston, Ontario native is receiving a huge pay increase after previously being on a two-year, $6.88 million deal. Vilardi has fully earned it, as the 25-year-old has notched 97 points (27 goals, 34 assists) in 118 contests since arriving in Winnipeg in 2023. During the 2024-25 season, Vilardi was Winnipeg's third-highest goal-scorer with 27 markers and had 61 points in 71 games. He will continue to be a regular on the top line and the power play next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 18, 2025
Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Yegor Chinakhov does not see a future for himself in Ohio and has requested a trade. Chinakhov's agent, Shumi Babaev, posted a statement on his behalf on social media Thursday. "I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade," Chinakhov said in the post. "I would like to move to a different location. Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here." First-year head coach Dean Evason scratched Chinakhov several times last season after he returned from a back injury. With health issues constantly affecting him, Chinakhov has made only 175 appearances in four seasons. In 2024-25, he played in 30 games, scoring seven goals and 15 points. The Blue Jackets signed Yegor Chinakhov to a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension last offseason.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 18, 2025
Forward Dakota Joshua will start next season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old was traded by the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick. The Canucks sent him packing after Joshua endured a difficult 2024-25 campaign. He missed the start of the season while undergoing treatment for testicular cancer and was limited to 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 57 appearances. Joshua had managed over 50 points across the previous two seasons. The Ohio State University also likes to get physical, averaging 3.15 hits per game in his NHL career. If he gets back to top form in Toronto, Joshua's fantasy stock could start rising quickly.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 18, 2025
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal has signed a five-year, $32.5 million contract extension. The 25-year-old Czech native was a restricted free agent and avoided an arbitration hearing. Dostal posted a 23-23-7 record last season, allowing 3.10 goals with a .903 save percentage and one shutout. With John Gibson now in Detroit, the Ducks see Dostal as their undisputed No. 1 between the pipes. "Lukas has proven he is a No. 1 goaltender and we are so pleased to get this deal done," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. "He is just entering the prime of his career with his best hockey ahead of him." Anaheim is hoping to get back into playoff contention next season, and with a stronger team supporting him, Dostal will have more fantasy appeal.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 15, 2025
Winger Michael Carcone has signed a new one-year contract with the Utah Mammoth. He was an unrestricted free agent after spending four years in the Utah/Arizona organization. The 29-year-old returned to the team on a minimum-salary deal. Carcone made 53 appearances with Utah last season, recording 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists). He experienced a significant drop in form after enjoying a 21-goal campaign in 2023-24. Carcone has been a scoring machine in the minors, so it's not out of the question that he can regain his offensive spark in the big league, but fantasy managers definitely shouldn't count on it.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 15, 2025
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram has reached an agreement on a two-year, $12.5 million contract extension. Byram was a restricted free agent and avoided a salary arbitration hearing that Buffalo had elected. 2024-25 marked Byram's first full season with the Sabres, and he made a significant impact with a career-high 38 points (seven goals, 31 assists) in 82 games. Additionally, Byram was tied for the team-high with 116 blocks. Byram has become a capable two-way defenseman and is well-positioned to continue developing his game over the next few years.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 15, 2025
Winnipeg Jets forward Morgan Barron has agreed to a two-year contract extension valued at $3.7 million. As a restricted free agent, Barron filed for arbitration earlier this month, but the two sides avoided it by reaching a new agreement. With the 2024-25 campaign, Barron completed a two-year, $2.7 million deal. He posted 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 74 outings while providing physicality in a bottom-six role with 122 hits. Barron has registered 60 points (30 goals, 30 assists) in 256 career games, which indicates limited value in standard fantasy leagues.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sportsnet
July 14, 2025
Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin has denied rumors that 2025-26 will be his final season in the NHL. Ovechkin is about to begin the final year of his current contract, and it has been rumored that the 2025-26 season will be his last in the NHL after the Capitals' marketing team sent out an email in late May referring to next season as Ovechkin's last. However, when speaking to Sport-Express in Russia, the Capitals captain said, "Anything can happen" when asked if he would continue playing in the NHL after next year. Ovechkin will turn 40 before next season starts, but if 2024-25 is any indication, fantasy managers should still hold him in high regard.
--Taavi PailkSource: Sammi Silber
July 14, 2025
The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired goaltender Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick. Silovs moves to Pittsburgh following an outstanding AHL campaign. He led the Abbotsford Canucks to their first-ever Calder Cup victory, going 16-7 in the playoffs with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. Silovs also impressed during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but he made only nine starts for Vancouver in 2024-25. The Latvian netminder had a 2-6-1 record last term with the Canucks, allowing 3.65 goals on average with a .861 save percentage. Due to Tristan Jarry's inconsistent form, the Penguins have struggled with goaltending, and Silovs may get an extended look at some point if things don't improve next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 14, 2025
Winger Nikolai Kovalenko has signed a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow of the KHL. The 25-year-old will return to Russia after only one full NHL season. He featured 57 times for the San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche in 2024-25, scoring seven goals and 20 points. Kovalenko made his NHL debut during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Avalanche moved him to San Jose in December in a deal that brought the team goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. The Sharks did not issue a qualifying offer to Kovalenko, making him an unrestricted free agent, and he ultimately signed with the three-time KHL champions.
--Taavi PailkSource: The Hockey News
July 12, 2025
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson is reportedly open to a trade. Speaking on his podcast, Chris Johnston of TSN and The Athletic said Karlsson was willing to be moved despite having a no-move clause. However, Johnston added that there are only a few teams Karlsson is willing to move to. Karlsson's time with the Penguins has been a disappointment, and a move elsewhere might benefit both him and the team. In 2024-25, Karlsson finished with 53 points (11 goals, 42 assists) in 82 games, a far cry from his 101-point effort during his final year with the San Jose Sharks in 2022-23. The Swedish veteran, who turned 35 in May, has two years remaining on his contract, which carries a $11.5 million cap hit. San Jose covers $1.5 million of it.
--Taavi PailkSource: Chris Johnston
July 12, 2025
Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman (wrist) hopes to be available for the 2025-26 season opener. "I haven't set a date or anything like that," Hyman said this week at his charity golf tournament. "Once you set a date, you get disappointed if you don't play on the date. I hope to play on opening night." Hyman dislocated his wrist on May 27 during the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars and underwent surgery. In 2024-25, Hyman took a step back, managing 44 points (27 goals, 17 assists) in 73 regular-season appearances. He wasn't quite at his best during the playoffs either, scoring 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 15 contests. The 33-year-old will look to bounce back next season.
--Taavi PailkSource: TSN
July 12, 2025
Winger Jeff Skinner signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the San Jose Sharks on Friday. The veteran forward will join his fourth NHL team. Skinner played last season with the Edmonton Oilers, earning 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists) in 72 games. His time in Edmonton included his first-ever playoff games, although Skinner spent most of the postseason as a healthy scratch. Skinner is just one point short of reaching 700 career points and has 373 goals, which shows he can be a significant threat offensively. However, recent years have been tough for Skinner, and fantasy managers should not set high expectations for him.
--Taavi PailkSource: NHL.com
July 11, 2025
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded winger Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun. Reaves is set to suit up for his seventh NHL franchise next season. The 38-year-old enforcer made 35 appearances with the Maple Leafs in 2024-25, recording two assists and 103 hits. He ranks seventh all-time in the NHL with 3,065 hits. Additionally, Reaves has racked up 1100 penalty minutes in 912 career games. The veteran forward will add toughness and physicality to a young Sharks team but won't have any fantasy value in 2025-26.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
July 11, 2025
The Dallas Stars have acquired defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Matt Dumba. The Stars also sent out a 2028 second-round pick to shed Dumba's contract, which has a $3.75 million cap hit. Kolyachonok is on a much cheaper deal and could likely match Dumba's production if he makes the team for the 2025-26 season. The Belarusian blue-liner will begin the second season of a two-year, $1.55 million contract. Last term, he recorded seven points (two goals, five assists), 31 blocks, and 27 hits in 35 games with the Penguins and Utah Hockey Club.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
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