Mammoth Recall Seven Players
Ahead of the first playoff game in team history later tonight in Vegas, the Utah Mammoth shared that several players have been called up from AHL Tucson. Forwards Andrew Agozzino, Cameron Hebig, and Ben McCartney were summoned, along with defensemen Maveric Lamoureux, Maksymilian Szuber, and Scott Perunovich. Finally, goaltender Jaxson Stauber will also join the group.
Similar to the moves made by several other playoff teams this week, Utah’s intention is for the players to serve as “Black Aces”, spending time at the highest level but not expected to play at any point. They join Daniil But and Matt Villalta, who got the call Friday. The Tucson Roadrunners had a respectable season, finishing 19th, but missed the postseason.
Lamoureux, 22, is the most notable of the group, a top prospect. Arizona’s first round choice at 29th overall in 2022, the towering righty only got into five games with the Mammoth this year, a step back from 15 in 2024-25, but held down a top-pairing role for the Roadrunners this season and was finally able to stay healthy. Into the future, Utah’s defensive core is mostly locked up, but it will allow for the Quebec native to ease into a full-time role.
Agozzino has just 53 games of NHL experience at age 35, but any dedicated fan of the game is likely familiar from his excellent AHL tenure. Making his NHL debut with Colorado in November 2014, back when Nathan MacKinnon was just a second-year-pro, the undrafted 5’10” winger has impressively stuck around in North America ever since. He’s 34th all time in AHL scoring with 662 points in 847 games, fourth best among active players. The Ontario native got into two games for Utah back in October but otherwise spent the year in Tucson. If he can earn another contract for next year, Agozzino will have the chance to play alongside Tij Iginla, son of Jarome Iginla, a teammate in his NHL debut years ago.
Hebig and McCartney, 29 and 24 respectively, were top scorers for the Roadrunners this year but neither were able to get a look on the big club. Hebig, a center, still awaits his NHL debut despite two straight seasons as Tucson’s #2 top point-getter. McCartney, a 2020 seventh-round choice of Arizona, got into two games with the Coyotes four years ago but has been in the AHL since, putting together his best professional season in 2025-26 with 51 points.
Szuber, 23, continues to show promise at the AHL level as he looks for his first action wearing a Utah uniform. The 6’3″ lefty made his NHL debut in the Coyotes’ fifth-to-last game in existence. Not only having size, Szuber has put up real offensive output in Tucson, 59 points over the last two years and has real upside as a third pairing defender.
Another defenseman who flashed offense this year, Perunovich led all defenders in scoring with 49 points in 64 games. Once a promising Blues prospect, the 27-year-old spent the entire year in the AHL and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Stauber rounds out the bunch serving as another practice goalkeeper. The 26-year-old split duty between the pipes with Villalta almost evenly in the AHL, where he had a slight edge in goals-against-average (3.07). Undrafted, he has 12 NHL games of experience both in Chicago and Utah, son of Robb Stauber, a Los Angeles Kings netminder in the early 1990s.
The crew, composed of impressive AHL veterans and younger prospects, will relish being along for the ride for an inaugural playoff series in Salt Lake.
Senators Recall Six Players
This afternoon the Ottawa Senators announced that six skaters have been recalled from AHL Belleville. Carter Yakemchuk, Arthur Kaliyev, Tyler Boucher, Xavier Bourgault, Graeme Clarke, and Oskar Pettersson will all join the club.
In the midst of their first round playoff series against Carolina, the group will serve as typical “Black Aces”. Belleville failed to qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs, finishing 27th in the league with a 28-35-8 record. As a result, they have nothing to lose in adding depth players who will benefit from getting a closer look with extra practice time before the offseason, and experiencing the day-to-day of the NHL playoff routine.
Out of the bunch, Yakemchuk stands out as the most likely to actually get in a game, although still unlikely, barring any major developments. The Sens’ top prospect, chosen seventh overall in 2024, Yakemchuk got into four games this year, bursting onto the scene with a two-point debut. However, the defenseman’s NHL stint in late March ended after a concussion suffered against Florida.
Kaliyev, 24, is also a familiar name, with over 200 games of NHL experience. Once a promising Kings prospect, the 6’2″ sniper hasn’t played with the Senators since October. Still, he’s made the most of his 70 games in the AHL, the most time spent in the minors across his entire career to this point, netting an insane 40 goals and 68 points. He has the distinction of the only 40-goal-scorer in the AHL this year, and the first since 2023-24. Anyone capable of such can be considered an NHL-level player, but Kaliyev’s skating and hockey sense have held him back, unable yet to hold down a bottom six role at the highest level.
Boucher is another prospect who has had his own development issues. Widely known as a 10th overall selection five years ago, the winger has not come close to expectations, but thankfully he put together a best-as-a-pro campaign this year. 26 points in 47 games isn’t ideal for any 23-year-old former top pick, but he leaned more into a grinder role with 68 penalty minutes, the same total as his previous two seasons combined. His contract ends this summer, with restricted free agent status, where Ottawa must determine if his improvement is enough to warrant a future in the organization.
In Bourgault there are many similarities to Boucher, other than that he’s a center. Edmonton’s first round choice in 2021, the Quebec native never played for the Oil due to lackluster AHL production. Dealt to Ottawa, he enjoyed his best professional season with 57 points in 70 games, good for second on the B-Sens, and earning his first two NHL games back in the winter. If the 23-year-old can eventually solidify himself in the league, it’ll likely be limited to full bottom six duty.
Clarke, 24, is not the most recognizable name, but he made three appearances with the Devils, his first organization, during the 2023-24 season. A full-time AHLer since, the winger has bounced around various teams but flipped the script after a March trade, nearly matching his point total across 50 games as a Hershey Bear in just 15 games with Belleville, a nice ending to the campaign. Born in Minnesota, the righty actually grew up in Ottawa, the older brother of Los Angeles’ Brandt Clarke.
Finally, Pettersson has the most limited NHL upside, as he recorded 18 points in 69 games with Belleville, wrapping up his second full season with the team. A third round selection in 2022, the Swede is not among the team’s top 10 prospects, mostly serving as a bottom-sixer. At 6’2″, the righty has the size and strength, but he’ll hope to showcase more play driving ability in his final contract year starting next fall. Just 22, it’s not too late for a step forward.
The Senators are back in action tomorrow night, where they’ll look to snatch a road win from Carolina and even the series before returning home.
West Notes: Oilers, Colton, Hintz
Two welcome additions were on the ice today in Edmonton’s practice, as Leon Draisaitl and Jason Dickinson were full participants, noted by TSN’s Ryan Rishaug. It’s not yet certain, but the news suggests the Oilers could be icing a fully stocked lineup tomorrow night in Game 1 of their first round series against Anaheim.
Draisaitl centered Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen on the second line, two skilled role players who mesh well with the superstar Draisaitl. He’s been unable to play since March 15, missing the club’s last 14 games to wrap up the campaign. Even without him, Edmonton handled business and earned home ice advantage, now on the cusp of adding a massive boost to their lineup. Despite playing in 65 games, his lowest since the shortened 2020-21 season, the 30-year-old still ranked second in team scoring with 97 points.
Meanwhile, Dickinson took the middle between Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jack Roslovic on the third line. With just one goal and four points in 17 games since being acquired from Chicago, he will lean fully into a shutdown role to try and help the Oilers make a third-consecutive deep run. The 30-year-old’s possession metrics at five-on-five with his new team aren’t pretty, under 40% corsi for, but he’s starting over 71% of shifts in the defensive zone, which will continue to be his calling card ahead. Dickinson has missed the team’s last three games with a leg injury and hasn’t found the back of the net in his last 13 contests.
With other teams wrapping up their respective second games around the time the puck finally drops to open the Oilers/Ducks series, the scheduling worked to the benefit of Edmonton, giving them the real possibility of returning to full health.
Elsewhere across the conference:
- Colorado’s Ross Colton is expected to be scratched for Game 1 this afternoon against Los Angeles, reported by Corey Masisak of The Denver Post. The 29-year-old brings championship pedigree within his 64 games of postseason experience, even scoring the Stanley Cup-clinching goal for Tampa Bay’s 2021 title, but he’ll be out of the lineup for the start of a potential run from the Presidents’ Trophy winners. Colton netted nine goals in 73 games, a near 50% drop off from his first two seasons with the Avs, and his ice time has declined, down to 12:31 in 2025-26. Surprisingly, the 29-year-old has actually posted his best even strength possession metrics of his career this year, but it’s in good part thanks to the team’s overall dominance in that area. Colton is not trusted on the penalty kill, a factor in the decision, but it’s likely he’ll get a shot eventually based on how his teammates perform out of the gate.
- Stars head coach Glen Gulatzan told reporters, including Robert Tiffin of Stars Thoughts, that Roope Hintz is still not skating on his own yet. The standout center hasn’t been able to play since March 6 as a result of a lower body injury. Dallas certainly felt the effects of missing such a player in Game 1’s resounding defeat against Minnesota. Based on the word on Hintz, his status for any time in the first round is up in the air, and the club will have to dig deep to get back on track and buy enough time for his return. With 44 points in 53 games this year, it’s clearly a big loss, but Hintz’s elite defensive impact is especially crucial at this time of year.
Pacific Notes: Warsofsky, Flames, Lewandowski
The San Jose Sharks took a step forward in 2025-26, upping their points total from a league-worst 52 to 86 this season, just four points short of a Western Conference playoff spot. Sharks GM Mike Grier gave Warsofsky a vote of confidence in his end-of-season media availability. Per The Mercury News’ Curtis Pashelka, Grier said Warsofsky has “done a good job” and added that “there’s no reason to think that he won’t be the coach [in San Jose] when the season starts next year.”
While the Sharks parting ways with Warsofsky seems somewhat out of question given the team’s dramatic year-over-year improvements, the reality is this past NHL season has been marked by teams pulling the trigger on coaching changes in non-traditional situations. The Vegas Golden Knights fired Stanley Cup-winning head coach Bruce Cassidy with less than a month remaining in the season, while the New York Islanders fired head coach Patrick Roy with just four games remaining in 2025-26. NHL teams hold their coaches to extremely high standards, though it is important to note that the Sharks are in an entirely different stage of their competitive cycle than Vegas is, for example. But with the emergence of key contributors in San Jose such as star Macklin Celebrini, the competitive bar has been raised, and it’s up to Warsofsky to meet that bar next season.
Other notes from around the Pacific Division:
- The Calgary Flames enter the offseason committed to a long-term, patient vision in constructing their team, according to what GM Craig Conroy said to the media on Friday. Conroy was asked about what kind of teambuilding direction he’d take moving forward, and said “It is about the long term. It’s not about getting into the playoffs one year, not in the next, in one year, then out. We want to be there consistently.” Calgary has missed the playoffs for four straight years, and appear to have a substantial amount of work ahead of them when it comes to building the club into a true Stanley Cup contender. Based on what Conroy told the media, it appears the team will embark on a patient, draft-and-develop road back to contention, rather than trying to move aggressively in free agency or in trades to add NHL-ready talent to their roster.
- The Edmonton Oilers signed prospect forward David Lewandowski has joined the team’s AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, on an ATO. The 19-year-old made his North American professional debut last night against the San Jose Barracuda and earned his first AHL point, a secondary assist. The 19-year-old German forward was selected in the fourth round, No. 117 overall, of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranked Lewandowski as the No. 5 prospect in Edmonton’s system, calling him a “a reliable, almost veteran player, even though he’s still a teenager.” Lewandowski spent most of 2025-26 with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, where he scored 65 points in 57 regular-season games and nine points in 11 postseason contests.
Lightning Recall Conor Geekie, Brandon Halverson
10:30 a.m.: The Lightning activated James off of injured reserve, per Diandra Loux of The Hockey News. The move will allow James to play in tonight’s game against Montreal.
9:15 a.m.: The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled Conor Geekie and Brandon Halverson from their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. They also announced that forwards Mitchell Chaffee, Jakob Pelletier, and defenseman Steven Santini have been reassigned to Syracuse.
The move organizes Tampa Bay’s roster in advance of the start of their first-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, which is set to happen later today. Recalling Geekie and Halverson removes two key contributors from Syracuse’s roster in advance of the start of their own first-round playoff series. Syracuse’s regular season ended yesterday with a shutout win over the Belleville Senators.
Geekie was No. 2 in scoring on the Crunch with 17 goals and 59 points in 57 games this season, while Halverson was the team’s No. 1 goalie, posting a .905 save percentage in 43 games played.
Both Geekie and Halverson have NHL experience over the last two years – Geekie played in 14 NHL contests this season, scoring three points, and had 14 points in 52 NHL games last year.
Halverson, a 30-year-old veteran, has played in three NHL contests in that same time frame.
It is significantly more likely that Geekie, the No. 10 overall pick at the 2022 NHL draft, ends up skating in playoff games for the Lightning compared to Halverson. Halverson will be Tampa’s spare third goalie, behind starter Andrei Vasilevskiy and backup Jonas Johansson, who are both entrenched in their roles.
If Halverson ends up staying on the Lightning roster for the team’s postseason run, Syracuse will likely turn to 26-year-old Ryan Fanti, a former ECHL No. 1 who posted a .905 save percentage in 27 games this season as Halverson’s backup.
Geekie’s path to NHL playing time likely depends upon the health of rookie forward Dominic James. The 23-year-old has been out since February, but was beginning to make his mark in the NHL with a goal in each of his two most recent games. James suffered a leg injury in February and underwent surgery, but appears to be nearing a return to the ice.
Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reported Friday that James skated in practice as Tampa’s fourth-line center, Geekie could get a look in that role. Veteran Pontus Holmberg could also be a contender for the No. 4 center job occupied by James in practice, but he has been out since April 6 with an upper-body injury that head coach Jon Cooper called “not good.”
The trio of reassignments return three players who play key roles in Syracuse back to the AHL. Pelletier is the Crunch’s top scorer with 77 points in 63 games this season. As an offense-first 5’10” winger with zero games of playoff experience at the NHL level, it’s likely Tampa Bay stand to benefit more with Pelletier in Syracuse rather than on their playoff roster.
Chaffee, 28, scored 57 points in 54 AHL games for the Crunch this season but had just one point in 11 games with the Lightning. He does have nine games of NHL postseason experience and could be at the top of the priority order when it comes to potential recalls should Tampa Bay run into injury trouble up front.
Santini, 31, got into 12 NHL games this season, the most he’s gotten into in a single year since 2018-19. He’s an established AHL top-four defensive defenseman and is likely to play a significant role in what the Crunch hope is a deep postseason run.
Photos courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Central Notes: Holloway, Comrie, Heinola
There are numerous factors that contributed to the St. Louis Blues’ failure to return to the postseason in 2025-26, and one of those factors was the health of a few key contributors. One of the team’s best forwards, Dylan Holloway, was limited to just 59 games played as a result of lower-body injury issues. Set to become an RFA this summer, Holloway could be a candidate to receive a long-term extension from the club.
Blues GM Doug Armstrong spoke on that possibility in his end-of-season press conference, and made it clear that the team wants to see Holloway show he can stay healthy – and play at a consistent level – before they feel comfortable committing to a long-term contract. Per The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford, Armstrong said “Holloway has to prove to himself and the league that he’s an 82-game player to that level that he played at the end. I think he is, but what I think is really irrelevant — it’s what he does. That’s just an honest answer that we need consistent, 82-game play.” Holloway has been excellent at times in his Blues career, and finished 2025-26 with 22 goals and 51 points in 58 games played. His expiring contract, the offer sheet he signed when he was a member of the Edmonton Oilers, contained a $2.29MM AAV.
Other notes from around the Central Division:
- While much of the recent conversation regarding the goaltending of the Winnipeg Jets has surrounded star Connor Hellebuyck, there is also the team’s backup role to consider. Veteran Eric Comrie is a pending unrestricted free agent, but he joked with the media, including The Athletic’s Murat Ates, that he “always” finds his way back to Winnipeg. Comrie was drafted by the Jets in 2013, broke into the NHL with the team in 2016-17, left and then re-joined the team via waivers in 2019-20, did the same in 2020-21, and finally returned to Winnipeg in 2024-25 after a two-year stint with the Buffalo Sabres. Comrie’s .890 save percentage in 25 games as the Jets’ backup this season was below his career standards of performance, but his .914 mark in 2024-25 shows what he can accomplish when the Jets as a team are firing on all cylinders. Ates called Comrie a “beloved teammate” in Winnipeg and added his return on a new contract is “highly plausible.”
- One player almost certain not to return to the Jets is the team’s 2019 first-round pick Ville Heinola. Ates wrote that Heinola’s “time with the Jets is over,” and that he will prioritize playing time in his next landing spot, whether that is with another NHL club or in an opportunity in Europe. The 25-year-old got into eight NHL games just a year after he was drafted, but wasn’t able to seize an NHL role on the Jets’ defense over the course of more than a half-decade with the club. While the Jets boasted enviable defensive depth throughout Heinola’s tenure with the team, something that contributed to his inability to break into the NHL, it’s also true that Heinola struggled to develop his defensive game. He has at least shown an ability to create offense from the back end at the AHL level, such as in 2022-23 when he scored a career-high 37 points in 48 games.
Latest On Auston Matthews
Toronto Maple Leafs captain and franchise face Auston Matthews was non-committal when asked about his future in Toronto at the team’s exit day, relays The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke.
Matthews, responding to questions about his willingness to remain in Toronto for the long haul, told the media “I can’t predict the future, obviously there are steps that have to take place. [team ownership] have to hire new leadership and management. So I don’t really know.”
The news comes at the end of a nightmarish season for the Maple Leafs, one that raised questions about Matthews’ willingness to play out the final two years of his $13.25MM AAV contract in Toronto. Matthews’ season was cut short after a hit from Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas left him with an MCL injury. Gudas was eventually suspended for the hit.
The 28-year-old has long been considered one of the league’s best players, and he is arguably the NHL’s most talented goal scorer.
Matthews set a career-high of 69 goals in 2023-24 and also scored 60 goals in 2021-22, the year he won the Hart Trophy.
But while individual accolades have not been difficult for Matthews to come by – he is a three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner as well – team success has been more scarce.
While Matthews has made the playoffs every year except 2025-26, he has made it past the first round of the postseason just twice, and never past the second round. With just two years remaining on his contract, it’s likely Matthews has, or will, ask himself the question of whether he believes he can still win a Stanley Cup with the Maple Leafs. As he mentioned, that’s a difficult question to answer without knowing who will be in charge of the Maple Leafs’ hockey operations department.
But regardless of which individual takes control of hockey ops in Toronto, there are still, unfortunately, ample reasons for Matthews to take a more pessimistic view of Toronto’s short-term competitive hopes. While last season’s trade for Brandon Carlo added a capable veteran defenseman to the Maple Leafs’ lineup, it deprived the club of two of its more valuable future assets: young center Fraser Minten, as well as the team’s 2026 first-round pick. Toronto only retains its first-rounder this year if it lands in the top-five, and Toronto sits No. 5 in the draft lottery order.
With a top-five pick at their disposal, the Maple Leafs would have an immensely valuable trade chip they could use to significantly bolster their roster for next season. Conversely, if the Maple Leafs drop one spot in the order, they will hand a division rival a hugely valuable No. 6 overall selection. It’s not unreasonable to believe that the lottery could have a big impact on Matthews’ thinking regarding his own future.
In any case, there is a sentimental factor to consider when assessing Matthews’ future with the Maple Leafs. While this is not something that matters to every player, it’s worth noting that Matthews is 207 points behind Mats Sundin as Toronto’s all-time leading scorer. For someone that has already built a considerable legacy in one of the game’s biggest markets, the pull of passing Sundin could be a factor in keeping Matthews in Toronto through the end of his current deal.
From the Maple Leafs’ perspective, Matthews’ decision on his future is likely to singularly shape the team’s competitive direction. Matthews’ deal contains a full no-move clause, meaning he controls his future to an absolute degree. NHL history is littered with examples of teams being forced into sub-optimal trade returns for star players simply because those stars decide they only want to be traded to one team. That’s exactly what happened with the New York Rangers’ trade of star Artemi Panarin earlier this year, or the 2021 trade of Taylor Hall to the Bruins from the Buffalo Sabres.
These are interesting times in Toronto, first and foremost because the team’s next GM is in the process of being selected. But beyond just management changes, there could be significant on-ice changes on the horizon as well, and it all starts with a decision – either to stay, or to consider paths to exit – from the team’s captain.
Photos courtesy of Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Evening Notes: Hellebuyck, Trocheck, Zub
Murat Ates of The Athletic summarized Connor Hellebuyck‘s scathing review of the Winnipeg Jets 2025-26 season. Hellebuyck was highly critical of the team’s effort throughout the year, saying, “What we did this year was unacceptable. No one wants to be part of that.”
Furthermore, he questioned the Jets’ ability to bring in the necessary talent, saying, “Can you get the pieces that you need? Will the players come? These are always questions that you have in Winnipeg. I’ve made it my home and I like it here, but the majority of the league doesn’t feel the same way.” He went on to articulate that his only focus is on winning the Stanley Cup and has become frustrated with the lack of movement toward that goal in Winnipeg.
Regardless, Hellebuyck didn’t leave any room for speculation, saying how much he loves the city and the organization, and only wishes for other players to see what he sees. Still, it’s indicative of the situation the Jets are in regarding their location and the simple fact that the team has failed to acquire top-level talent in free agency.
Although he silenced many of his doubters during his impressive run at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Hellebuyck has arguably been a key component in the Jets’ failing to reach the Western Conference Final since 2018. In the last three years, Hellebuyck has managed an 8-15-0 record in 23 games, with a .870 SV% and 3.60. He became a radically different goalie than the one he is in the regular season, where he has a 56.1% win percentage and .916 SV% in 615 career starts.
Additional notes from this evening:
- In his exit interview, New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck spoke at length about the injury that kept him out for the first 14 games of the season. Mollie Walker of the New York Post described the injury, saying Trocheck had a lung infection that required surgery and a week-long stay in the hospital, where he was connected to chest tubes. Trocheck offered a quote to Walker, saying, “I thought I was just having back spasms, and then I played the first game. Got a little bit worse. Played in Buffalo. I got a cross check right in that area, and whatever fluid was in there, it’s like bubbles, and I guess the bubble burst and it spread. So then it just got a lot worse. I had a lot of fluid around my lung, so I had to have surgery to get the fluid removed.“
- According to Julian McKenzie of The Athletic, the Ottawa Senators didn’t provide any update to defenseman Artem Zub‘s status after Game 1. Zub missed most of the contest due to injury, finishing with 7:44 of ice time, adding three hits. There’s a relatively quick turnaround for Game 2, which takes place Monday, so more information will likely come closer to puck drop.
West Notes: Ferraro, Bogosian, Johnson, Harkins
A subject of trade rumors for the past few years, San Jose Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro is only a few months away from being able to choose where he would like to continue his NHL career. According to Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News, whether it be in San Jose or elsewhere, Ferraro is seeking a longer-term deal.
Pashelka added that Ferraro is excited about the future of the Sharks organization, but it doesn’t currently seem that he’ll be back with the team next season. Max Miller of Sharks Hockey Digest reported that Ferraro is expected to test the free agent market, but the door hasn’t been closed from either side on a return.
Although he’s not a standout defenseman by any means, Ferraro may be able to take advantage of a thin free agent market to get what he wants. The 27-year-old blue liner scored six goals and 23 points in 82 games for the Sharks this season, averaging just over 21 minutes of ice time a night. Still, San Jose already has left-handed defensemen Dmitry Orlov, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and Sam Dickinson signed through next season, meaning most of their available dollars should go to addressing the right-hand side.
Additional notes from the Western Conference:
- Veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian made his return to the lineup in the Minnesota Wild’s blowout win over the Dallas Stars (via Michael Russo of The Athletic). Bogosian, 35, had been nursing a lower-body injury from the Wild’s April 4th matchup against the Ottawa Senators. He skated in 13:01 of today’s game, blocking two shots and delivering two hits.
- According to Derek Lee of The Hockey News, the Anaheim Ducks could be returning a pair of fourth-line forwards in their Round One matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. Lee shared that Ross Johnston (lower-body) and Jansen Harkins (hand surgery) both participated in today’s practice, although the former was in a non-contact jersey. Still, it’s a positive step in the right direction for the Ducks to take on the Oilers at full strength.
Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini Open To Long-Term Extension
Despite being drafted with the first-overall selection two years ago, phenom Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks is already eligible for an extension off of his entry-level contract. According to Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now, that’s something Celebrini is more than interested in. In Peng’s report, he quoted Celebrini saying, “I want to commit to this team and being here. I love it here.”
Celebrini’s upcoming contract didn’t get any cheaper for the Sharks, that’s for sure. He had a solid rookie campaign, scoring 25 goals and 63 points in 70 games with a -31 rating, averaging 19:47 of ice time. Unfortunately, he only finished third in Calder Trophy voting behind Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens and Dustin Wolf of the Calgary Flames.
There were some question marks surrounding his game on the defensive side of the puck, though much of that was credited to the Sharks team at large, rather than isolated to Celebrini alone. According to HockeyReference, Celebrini finished his rookie campaign with a 0.0 Expected +/-, meaning all of his -31 rating was due to the poor play of his supporting cast.
This season, Celebrini took his game to a completely different level. Not only did he take a step forward in his production, but he also has a real chance of being a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s MVP. The 19-year-old finished with 45 goals and 115 points in 82 games with a +8 rating, averaging 21:19 of ice time per game.
Although hockey is a team sport, San Jose’s return to competitiveness this season can be solely attributed to Celebrini. The gap between him and the team’s next leading scorer, Will Smith (59 points), would have been third on the team in scoring (56 points).
He continued his successful season against the world’s best. Suiting up for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Celebrini scored five goals and 10 points in six games, helping Canada to a silver medal. If he takes another step forward during the 2026-27 season, it would be prudent for the Sharks to extend him as soon as they can.
While Celebrini’s extension won’t cause a domino effect in the upcoming free agent market, it surely will in the restricted free agent market. Since being drafted, Celebrini has often been compared to Chicago Blackhawk Connor Bedard. Bedard’s entry-level contract expires on July 1st, and there’s a decent chance that each side will wait for the other to sign, ultimately using the other as a comparable in their own negotiations.
Given his age and performance, it’s difficult to speculate on Celebrini’s next contract, especially given that the upper limit of the salary cap continues to rise. Recently, James Mirtle, Chris Johnston, and Michael Russo of The Athletic ran a poll of a few NHL agents about this very topic.
In the report, the trio quoted one agent, saying, “Why shouldn’t Celebrini make like 20 million bucks a year? I mean, it’s a lot, but look at that kid. I guess my point with Celebrini is I know it’s not apples to apples because Kaprizov could have become UFA, but if you’re him, why wouldn’t I say, Kaprizov’s getting this, why shouldn’t I make more than Kaprizov?”
Additionally, another agent said, “It’s going to be in the $10 to $17 (million) range, depending on the number of years he’s willing to forgo. If he’s going to go very short-term, it’ll be $10 to $12 (million). If he’s going to give up term, it’ll be in the $12 to $15 (million). If he really wants to push, it could be $17 (million).”
Since the Sharks will only have a few months left to sign Celebrini to an eight-year contract, it would make sense for them to push for that if Celebrini remains open to it. However, using the above framework, Celebrini could sign an identical eight-year, $136MM as Kirill Kaprizov with the Minnesota Wild. If he looks to beat Kaprizov, Celebrini would immediately become the NHL’s first $140MM man, if not more.
Regardless, outside of the change in September that will drop the maximum contract length from eight years to seven years, there’s no real rush for either side. Celebrini is signed through next year thanks to his entry-level deal, and won’t become eligible for unrestricted free agency until after the 2030-31 NHL season.
Photo courtesy of Stan Szeto-Imagn Images.