RADIO
Trevor Zegras Wants to Improve as Center
Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras is determined to become a more effective player at the center position, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports. Zegras, who recently signed a four-year, $36.5 million contract extension, prefers to play at center but has also spent time on the left wing. Difficulty winning faceoffs has hindered his development. "I feel pretty comfortable in both spots, whether it's in the middle or on the wing, so wherever they need me to play, I'm more than comfortable in both spots," Zegras. "I thought playing center in the playoffs was definitely something that gave me a lot of confidence. So I think wherever they need me, I'm good to go." Last season, Zegras won only 34.1 percent of his faceoffs. He pushed the number to 44.0 percent in the playoffs. If Zegras becomes more reliable in the faceoff circle, he could see increased ice time and boost his fantasy value.
Source: Adam Kimelman
Source: Adam Kimelman
Jack Campbell Announces Retirement
Goaltender Jack Campbell has announced his retirement from the NHL. He played eight seasons in the league, appearing for four teams. Campbell's final appearances came in 2023-24 with the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton signed him to a five-year, $25 million contract in 2022, but later bought out the final three years of the deal. Campbell hung up his mask after compiling a 93-52-18 record in 176 career games. He had his best campaign in 2021-22, going 31-9-6 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and becoming an All-Star. Campbell also announced that he will become an identity and performance coach.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Isac Lundestrom to Miss Start of Season
Columbus Blue Jackets center Isac Lundestrom (Achilles) won't be available for the start of the 2026-27 season, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports. He is recovering from offseason Achilles surgery and is expected to return in November. This means the Blue Jackets will be without a solid bottom-six contributor and penalty-killer early next season, though Lundestrom's absence won't affect fantasy hockey. The Swedish forward managed only four goals and eight assists in 68 outings last season. He's been limited to 15 or fewer points in four consecutive campaigns.
Source: Mark Scheig
Source: Mark Scheig
John Marino Signs Eight-Year Extension With Mammoth
Utah Mammoth defenseman John Marino will remain with the team after his contract expires next offseason. On Tuesday, he agreed to an eight-year, $54 million extension. The 29-year-old will complete a six-year, $26.4 million deal in 2026-27. Marino earned a long-term extension after a career year in 2025-26. He tallied 36 points (four goals, 32 assists) in 80 games and finished with an impressive plus-42 rating. Marino moved to Utah in 2024 and has been a great fit for the team. However, his modest defensive stats mean he provides limited value in fantasy hockey.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Jason Robertson Avoids Arbitration Hearing With One-Year, $12 Million Deal
Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the team on Tuesday, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing. Robertson appeared headed for a move this offseason when his contract talks hit a snag, and Dallas even had a couple of trades in place to send him elsewhere. But he ended up staying for now. The Stars can sign him to a long-term extension on Jan. 1. Robertson has led his team in scoring in three of the past four seasons. In 2025-26, he tallied 96 points (45 goals, 51 assists) in 82 games. He'll be looking to prove his worth in the upcoming campaign, which should benefit fantasy managers.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Matej Blumel Returns to Czechia
Winger Matej Blumel has returned to his native Czechia, signing a four-year contract with HC Sparta Praha. In North America, Blumel had a productive AHL career, but his game didn't translate to the NHL. In four seasons with the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins, he appeared in only 17 games, recording two goals and zero assists. Blumel, who celebrated his 26th birthday in May, left the Stars as a free agent last offseason, signing a one-year deal with the Bruins. He notched 52 points (21 goals, 31 assists) in 58 AHL games but went scoreless in four NHL outings.
Source: HC Sparta Praha
Source: HC Sparta Praha
Jaret Anderson-Dolan Heads to Sweden
Forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan has signed a two-year deal with Swedish club Brynas IF. The 26-year-old has paused his career in North America after spending the entire 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. Anderson-Dolan amassed 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 72 games with the Manitoba Moose. He spent two seasons in the Winnipeg Jets organization. Anderson-Dolan began his career with the Los Angeles Kings and has also had a spell with the Nashville Predators, making 134 career appearances. He has earned 28 points (15 goals, 14 assists). While Anderson-Dolan's NHL career has been underwhelming, he boasts a gold medal from the 2021 World Championships with Team Canada. At his age, the Calgary native still has time to make an NHL comeback down the road.
Source: Brynas IF
Source: Brynas IF
Connor Bedard Signs Five-Year, $75 Million Extension With Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard (shoulder) has signed a five-year, $75 million contract extension, giving him the third-highest cap hit in the NHL next season. His average annual value of $15 million is surpassed only by Anaheim's Leo Carlsson ($18 million) and Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million). Bedard, who turned 21 on Friday, was a restricted free agent. Unfortunately, Bedard's season debut in 2026-27 will be delayed by shoulder surgery. On July 9, the Blackhawks announced that Bedard is expected to be out for approximately four months. Once he's back, he will set his sights on maintaining a point-per-game pace for a second consecutive year. Bedard finished last term with 75 points (30 goals, 45 assists) in 69 outings.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Jamie Drysdale Signs Four-Year, $26 Million Contract With Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale will remain with the franchise on a four-year, $26 million contract. As a restricted free agent, the 24-year-old had a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for Monday. After struggling to stay healthy early in his NHL career, Drysdale has performed solidly for the Flyers. He matched his career high with 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) in 78 games last term, adding 94 blocks. Flyers general manager Daniel Briere expressed confidence that Drysdale's best performances are still to come, so it wouldn't be surprising if he nears the 40-point mark in the next few seasons.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Canadiens Bring Back Kirby Dach on One-Year Deal
Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach will play out the 2026-27 campaign on a one-year, $3.6 million contract. He received only a slight raise from his previous four-year, $13.45 million deal. Dach, who was a restricted free agent, struggled badly with injuries during his last contract. The 25-year-old was limited to 37 appearances in 2025-26, totaling 15 points (seven goals, eight assists). He's yet to play more than 58 games in a season for Montreal, so Dach's main goal next season should be an injury-free campaign. If he stays healthy, Dach could become a 40-point scorer while averaging about two hits per game.
Source: Montreal Canadiens PR
Source: Montreal Canadiens PR
Blues Sign Connor McMichael to Six-Year, $40 Million Deal
St. Louis Blues forward Connor McMichael has been handed a six-year, $40.5 million contract by the team. He was a restricted free agent after earning $2.1 million in each of the last two seasons. The Blues brought in McMichael from the Washington Capitals in the deal that sent Jordan Kyrou to D.C. last month. He's scored over 100 points over the last two years, though McMichael had a mediocre 46-point campaign in 2025-26. With a larger role in St. Louis, the 25-year-old could make a greater impact. A middle-six role awaits him, along with regular power-play time.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Rangers Sign Alberts Smits to Entry-Level Contract
The New York Rangers have signed defenseman Alberts Smits to a three-year, entry-level contract. With the fifth pick, the Rangers made Smits the highest-drafted Latvian player in NHL history this summer. The team appears ready to give him his debut in 2026-27, despite his tender age of 18. While Smits is a very young player, he has experience playing top-level hockey in Finland and Germany. Additionally, he represented Latvia at both the Olympics and World Championships last season. Rangers general manager Chris Drury recently called Smits a "terrific prospect." He's one for the future but has the potential to make an immediate impact on the Rangers' new-look blue line.
Source: New York Rangers
Source: New York Rangers
Steve Yzerman Steps Down as GM of Red Wings
Steve Yzerman has left his position as the general manager and executive vice president of the Detroit Red Wings. He will continue to serve the organization as a senior adviser to CEO Chris Ilitch. Yzerman, the longest-serving captain in Red Wings history, was appointed as general manager in April, 2019. The team had a 224-251-9 record during his tenure and never made the playoffs. Last season, the Red Wings went 41-31-10, missing the postseason by seven points. Yzerman has also worked in the Tampa Bay Lightning's front office, winning the NHL General Manager of the Year Award in 2015.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Nicholas Robertson Inks Two-Year Contract With Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Nicholas Robertson has signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract. As a restricted free agent, Robertson filed for salary arbitration, with a hearing scheduled for late July. Ultimately, he managed to work out a deal with his new team. The Penguins acquired Robertson's rights from the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1 in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round draft pick. Robertson posted a career-high 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in 78 games last season, but it wasn't enough to interest the Maple Leafs' brass in keeping him around. A fresh start in Pittsburgh isn't a bad alternative for Robertson, especially if he can carve out a top-six role.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
Cole Perfetti Agrees to Five-Year Contract With Jets
Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti has avoided a salary arbitration hearing by signing a five-year, $30 million contract. The Jets now won't have to worry about Perfetti's contract situation for quite some time, though questions about his ability may linger within the organization. In 2025-26, Perfetti totaled only 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 68 games. Still, at 24 years old, Perfetti is a relatively young player and has time to prove his worth in the league. He was a 50-point scorer only two seasons ago.
Source: NHL.com
Source: NHL.com
