RADIO
Eeli Tolvanen Attracting Interest From Multiple Teams
Winger Eeli Tolvanen has drawn interest from multiple NHL clubs, Rob Simpson of Pacific North Hockey reports. The 27-year-old Finnish forward is an unrestricted free agent after a stint with the Seattle Kraken. Tolvanen played reasonably well for the Kraken, amassing 139 points (67 goals, 72 assists) in 288 appearances. Yet, according to Simpson, the team is not interested in bringing him back. Tolvanen's previous deal carried a $3.475 million cap hit. Over his NHL career, Tolvanen has recorded 190 points (92 goals, 98 assists) and 985 hits in 423 games. He has plenty to offer teams, but the fact that he's without a contract in late August isn't a good sign.
Source: Paul Simpson
Source: Paul Simpson
Moritz Seider Looking to Improve Defensively
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider aims to become a better two-way player. After posting a career-high 60 points in 2025-26, Seider established himself as one of the top offensive defensemen in the league. Now, he wants to become more effective in the defensive zone. "I want to establish myself as a guy that people are not happy to see on the ice," Seider said. "I think that's one of the biggest compliments you could get is that people are not happy to see you -- in a good way. I think that's where I see my challenge is to do everything I can to shut the best forwards down in every single game. And I think if I can approach that, I give our team a good chance to win." At 25, Seider should have room to improve. He is only entering his prime and is likely to be a fantasy stalwart for years to come.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Avalanche "Confident" About Signing Cale Makar to New Deal
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar has one season left on his contract, but he's unlikely to start the new season on an expiring deal. "We continue talking," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said over the weekend. "I'm pretty confident that he'll be signed before the season starts." Makar is expected to get a big raise from his current deal, which pays him $9 million annually. Colorado and fantasy managers alike have received plenty of value from Makar during his current contract, as he has led all defensemen in scoring since signing his extension in 2021. During the course of the deal, Makar has also won the Norris Trophy twice as the NHL's best defenseman.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Pierre-Luc Dubois Ready for Training Camp
Washington Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois (hand) is healthy and appears to be at 100 percent ahead of training camp, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports. Dubois broke his hand late last season. Due to health issues, the 28-year-old's campaign was frustrating all around, as Dubois appeared in only 29 games. He notched five goals and 14 assists. Across the previous two seasons, Dubois hadn't missed a single game, so hopefully the injury troubles are behind him. Only a year removed from a career year, Dubois remains a name for fantasy managers to watch.
Source: Sammi Silber
Source: Sammi Silber
Leon Draisaitl Healthy Ahead of New Season
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl is healthy and raring to go ahead of the new NHL season, Shawn P. Roarke of NHL.com reports. The German superstar was banged up during the playoffs and missed a significant chunk of the regular season. Limited to 65 outings, Draisaitl was unable to extend his streak of consecutive 100-point campaigns to five years. He has a chance to start a new run in 2026-27. Since the 2021-22 season, only Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon have recorded more points than Draisaitl. Although he'll be 31 in October, Draisaitl is still performing at his highest level.
Source: Shawn P. Roarke
Source: Shawn P. Roarke
Elvis Merzlikins Undergoes Surgery
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins underwent shoulder surgery last week, general manager Don Waddell announced. "Elvis informed us a few weeks ago that he was experiencing some discomfort in his shoulder during his offseason workouts," Waddell said. "Following an MRI, it was determined that surgery was the best course of action. He'll be evaluated again in a few weeks at which time we'll have a clearer idea on when he will be back on the ice." Merzlikins faces a race to be healthy in time for the new season. Columbus opens its training camp on Sept. 16. Phoenix Copley appears poised to serve as the team's No. 2 if Merzlikins is unavailable at the start of the campaign.
Source: Columbus Blue Jackets
Source: Columbus Blue Jackets
Canadiens Open to Trading Adam Engstrom
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Adam Engstrom could be on his way elsewhere, The Athletic's Arpon Basu reports. "It is no secret Engstrom's name is floating around out there," Basu wrote. "Teams have asked about him in trade discussions, and the Canadiens are open to those discussions." Engstrom is a highly rated defensive prospect who appeared in his first 15 NHL games last season. He didn't make a significant impact, but Engstrom also had a very limited role, averaging 13:03 of ice time. The Swedish blue-liner boasts impressive scoring numbers in the minors, with 61 points (15 goals, 46 assists) in 111 appearances. He's a pending restricted free agent, finishing a three-year, $2.69 million deal in 2026-27.
Source: Arpon Basu
Source: Arpon Basu
Morgan Rielly Expects to Start Season in Toronto
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly expects to stay with the team for the start of the 2026-27 season, Dave McCarthy of NHL.com reports. Questions have lingered about Rielly's future after Toronto's miserable 2025-26 campaign. Yet he appears set to remain part of the team's core. The 32-year-old has spent his entire 13-year NHL career with the Maple Leafs. Next season, Rielly will aim for a bounce-back campaign after a mediocre 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists) in 78 games. That was his lowest-scoring year since 2020-21. With Darren Raddysh in town, it may be hard for Rielly to reach his previous offensive levels.
Source: Dave McCarthy
Source: Dave McCarthy
Sidney Crosby Expected to Discuss New Contract Before End of Offseason
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby is currently on track to enter the 2026-27 campaign with an expiring contract. But The Athletic's Josh Yohe reports that Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, has contract talks planned with the team before the offseason ends. "When I recently spoke with Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, he said he hadn't discussed the contract with Crosby yet, indicating he was letting his most famous client enjoy his summer before getting back to business," Yohe wrote. "Brisson said there's an understanding that they'll discuss the contract before summer is over. The Penguins' first preseason game is Sept. 21." Crosby signed his previous extension - a two-year, $17.4 million deal - in September 2024, shortly before training camp opened. The legendary forward is entering his 22nd NHL campaign and said at the end of last season that he wants to keep playing for "as many years as possible."
Source: Josh Yohe
Source: Josh Yohe
Drake Batherson Seeking Eight-Year Extension
Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson hopes to sign an eight-year contract extension, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. The Senators have until Sept. 15 to sign Batherson to an eight-year deal. When the new collective bargaining agreement takes effect on Sept. 16, the maximum contract length for players signing with their current teams will drop to seven years. Garrioch reported last month that Batherson and the team aren't close to agreeing on a new deal. Batherson is a pending unrestricted free agent. The upcoming campaign will be the final season of his current six-year deal, worth $4.95 million annually. He is likely seeking a significant raise after becoming a 30-goal scorer and posting a career-high 71 points in 2025-26.
Source: Bruce Garrioch
Source: Bruce Garrioch
Alexander Romanov Healthy After Shoulder Surgery
New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (shoulder) is healthy for training camp, Jon Lane of NHL.com reports. The Russian rearguard underwent shoulder surgery in November and played in only 15 games last season. But he has recovered in time for the new campaign. Romanov has averaged 1.9 blocks and 2.4 hits in his NHL career. The Islanders' defense will receive a big boost with him healthy. However, Romanov has never posted more than 22 points in a season, meaning he only has limited fantasy value.
Source: Jon Lane
Source: Jon Lane
Nicolas Aube-Kubel Heads to KHL
Right wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel has signed a one-year contract with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL. The 30-year-old was limited to six regular-season appearances with the Minnesota Wild in 2025-26 and will now try his luck in Europe. Aube-Kubel has played for seven NHL franchises and made 310 regular-season appearances, tallying 32 goals and 50 assists. His best campaign came in 2021-22 with the Colorado Avalanche, when he tallied 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 67 games and won the Stanley Cup.
Source: KHL
Source: KHL
Jeff Skinner Inks One-Year Deal With Swiss Club
Left wing Jeff Skinner will link up with Swiss club EHC Biel-Bienne for the 2026-27 season. He will move to Europe after playing in a career-low 32 NHL games last term. Skinner signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the San Jose Sharks in the 2025 offseason, but he was waived on Feb. 16 for the purposes of terminating his contract. After leaving San Jose, the veteran forward failed to land a new gig in the NHL, and it appears unlikely that he will receive another opportunity. Snapping up a player of Skinner's caliber is quite a coup for Biel-Bienne. He has scored 712 points (379 goals, 333 assists) in 1,110 career NHL regular-season appearances.
Source: Sportsnet
Source: Sportsnet
Brad Marchand Could Miss Start of Season
Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (lower body) is recovering from offseason surgery and may miss the start of the 2026-27 campaign, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports. According to Richards, Marchand is believed to be dealing with a hip injury and a sports hernia. Health issues limited Marchand to just 52 games last term, and now it appears he could be sidelined at the start of the upcoming season as well. The Panthers will kick off their regular season on Sept. 29, playing on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Source: George Richards
Source: George Richards
Boris Katchouk Signs With KHL Team
Winger Boris Katchouk has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL, AHL Insider Tony Androckitis reports. He will play at least one season in Russia after failing to secure a regular role in the NHL. Last season, Katchouk skated in three games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He finished the campaign in the Philadelphia Flyers organization and became an unrestricted free agent on July 1. In total, Katchouk has appeared in 179 NHL games, posting 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists). The former second-round pick has recorded 169 points (71 goals, 98 assists) in 286 AHL outings.
Source: Tony Androckitis
Source: Tony Androckitis
