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East Notes: Luchanko, Benson, Slavin

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According to a new article from Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff, the Philadelphia Flyers aren’t expected to retain Jett Luchanko for the duration of the season if he doesn’t rise out of a fourth-line role. While Philadelphia’s front office believes Luchanko could “hold his own” in a bottom-six role, they will need to see a breakout from him if they’re to keep him beyond the nine-game threshold, which would burn the first year off of his entry-level contract.

The breakout the Flyers were expecting to see hasn’t come yet. The former 13th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft has gone scoreless through his first two games of the season, averaging 8:15 of ice time. Still, it’s difficult to see a pathway upward for Luchanko even if he does perform better, especially if they’re adamant on keeping him at the center position.

There’s little chance of the Flyers breaking up the line of Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, and Bobby Brink, which has become a solid identity line for the team. The Flyers could conceivably move Trevor Zegras back to the wing, though they were steadfast in their belief that he could be a center when they acquired him this past summer. Further, given his defensive value and play in the faceoff dot, they’re unlikely to isolate Sean Couturier to fourth-line minutes.

Given the situation in front of him and the minimal time to accomplish such a task, it’s more than likely that Philadelphia will reassign Luchanko back to the OHL’s Guelph Storm in the next week or two. Unfortunately, despite his unenviable situation, he wouldn’t be entering a better situation in Guelph. Although he’d command far more playing time, the Storm aren’t expected to be a competitive team this season.

Other notes from the Eastern Conference:

  • Although he wasn’t put on the team’s injured reserve to start the season, Zach Benson has yet to make his debut with the Buffalo Sabres this year. That’s expected to change tomorrow. According to Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald, Benson is likely to enter the lineup tomorrow night against the Ottawa Senators. Unfortunately, unless he has found another offensive level to his game, Benson shouldn’t be expected to help with the Sabres’ offensive woes to begin the campaign. Through his first two years, he’s scored 21 goals and 58 points in 146 games, averaging 14:40 of ice time.
  • Yesterday, the Carolina Hurricanes announced that defenseman Jaccob Slavin is suffering from a lower-body injury, but were relatively vague regarding the severity. Today, in a small update, head coach Rod Brind’Amour said, “He went for some more testing. I think we’re just going to keep him out for a while. I don’t think it’s super serious, but he doesn’t quite feel right. So, for right now, he’s not on this trip.“

Canucks Reassign Braeden Cootes, To Recall Max Sasson

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According to head coach Adam Foote (per Sportsnet’s Brendan Batchelor), the Vancouver Canucks will reassign forward Braeden Cootes to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. Vancouver will recall forward Max Sasson from the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks in a corresponding roster move. The Canucks confirmed Cootes’s reassignment, but didn’t do the same with Sasson’s recall.

So ends Cootes’s improbable run to the Canucks roster to start the 2025-26 campaign. Vancouver selected Cootes with the 15th overall pick of this past summer’s draft, and he cracked the team’s opening night roster after an impressive training camp and preseason. On October 9th, Cootes became the first 18-year-old to play for the Canucks since fellow first-round selection, Petr Nedvěd in 1990. 

His debut will end after three games. The Sherwood Park, Alberta native went scoreless, earning a -2 rating while averaging 10:47 of ice time in a largely sheltered role. Further, his 28.1% CorsiFor% at even strength and -1.8 Expected +/- indicates that Cootes may not have been as ready for the show as previously believed. Ahead of an upcoming five-game road trip, it has become the right time to move Cootes into a more comfortable environment.

He won’t have to travel very far to rejoin his old team. Located approximately 140 miles south of Vancouver, Cootes will continue his season with the Thunderbirds, where he scored 26 goals and 63 points in 60 games as the team’s captain. He was even more impressive on Team Canada for the U18 World Junior Championships, scoring six goals and 12 points in seven games, and capturing the gold medal against Team Sweden.

Replacing Cootes in the lineup will be a familiar face from last season. Sasson played in 29 games for the Canucks last year, scoring three goals and seven points while averaging 10:20 of ice time per game. Although he didn’t offer much on offense, he was an exceptional defensive forward, managing a 92.1% on-ice save percentage at even strength. Still, he may have another offensive gear to his game, considering he finished last year with 13 goals and 32 points in 41 games with AHL Abbotsford.

Summer Synopsis: Edmonton Oilers

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With the regular season now upon us, the bulk of the heavy lifting has been done from a roster perspective.  Most unrestricted free agents have found new homes, the arbitration period has come and gone, and the trade market has cooled.  Accordingly, it’s a good time to take a look at what each team accomplished over the offseason.  Next up is a look at the Oilers.

The Oilers have experienced heartbreak in each of the past two seasons and are optimistic that this year they can finally secure the last few wins needed to reach 16. Goaltending has been the team’s Achilles’ heel in recent years, and whether it’s popular or not, general manager Stan Bowman and his team are committed to that approach in hopes of a different result this time. On paper, the Oilers lost significant depth this summer by trading away high-paid underperforming players to redirect funds towards their star players. It’s not ideal, but that’s how the NHL salary cap functions, and Edmonton has managed it well enough to keep its stars under contract for the foreseeable future.

Draft

3-83 – RW Tommy Lafrenière, Kamloops (WHL)
4-117 – F David Lewandowski, Saskatoon (WHL)
5-131 – D Asher Barnett, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
6-191 – G Daniel Salonen, Lukko U20 (Liiga)
7-223 – C Aidan Park, Green Bay (USHL)

The Oilers didn’t have much in the way of draft capital for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, but they did come away with five players. Lafrenière projects as a potential middle-six forward with versatility across various roles. He could provide the Oilers with some depth scoring at the bottom of their lineup and fill a penalty-killing role if he develops into the player Edmonton is hoping he will become. Lafrenière can play either center or wing, but given his size, he might be better suited to the wing. He sees the ice well and has a good ability to anticipate how a play will develop, which allows him to beat the puck to various areas of the ice. He’ll be a competitor for the Oilers, but he can get pushed around and will need to fill out more if he hopes to stay in the NHL.

Lewandowski projects as a potential middle-six forward, but that would likely be his ceiling given that his skating is a limiting factor. His stride is a bit awkward, and he lacks the explosiveness you’d expect from a forward playing at or near the top of the lineup. Despite that, there is plenty to like in Lewandowski’s game: he protects the puck well and doesn’t hesitate to take a hit to make a play. He possesses good hockey sense, versatility, and is responsible defensively, which could be his ticket to becoming an everyday NHL player.

Trade Acquisitions

LW Isaac Howard (from Tampa Bay)
G Connor Ingram (from Utah)

The expectations for Howard are high in Edmonton after he won the Hobey Baker Award last year as the top NCAA men’s hockey player. The 21-year-old isn’t a finished product at all, which means the Oilers will have their work cut out for them if they decide to use him in the NHL. Howard is an excellent skater and puck handler who can play in tight spaces, making plays to set up teammates. He can also put the puck in the net, having scored 26 goals in 37 games last season.

There is no guarantee that Howard will make the NHL, and his game does have some shortcomings. The first is his size. Howard tends to shy away from board play, and this flaw could very well be exposed this season. His puck handling is good; however, he sometimes struggles under pressure and may need to improve his ice vision or wait that extra second to absorb a hit and make a play.

The Oilers’ goaltending struggles have been well-documented, and they have been unable to address them in any meaningful way. It was reasonable to assume Edmonton would look for a third-string goaltender, and they made that move when Ingram became available. The 28-year-old has had a couple of decent seasons in Arizona and could serve as a good backup for the Oilers if their top two netminders falter. Ingram probably isn’t going to dominate, but he’s a capable NHL goalie who could get hot, and that’s about the best the Oilers can hope for, given their salary cap constraints.

UFA Signings

F Curtis Lazar (one year, $775K)
F Andrew Mangiapane (two years, $7.2MM)
F Jack Roslovic (one year, $1.5MM)
D Riley Stillman (two years, $1.55MM)*
G Matt Tomkins (two years, $1.55MM)*

*-denotes two-way contract
^-denotes re-signing

There is a lot to like about the Mangiapane signing in Edmonton. The 29-year-old forward can play on either side of the ice, which should give the Oilers some flexibility in their winger deployment. Mangiapane can also provide top-six minutes or slot into the bottom two lines, depending on what the team requires. He should give the Oilers speed, a strong forecheck, and tenacity, making things challenging for opponents and offering Edmonton an offensive forward who can also kill penalties and play some defense. The contract for Mangiapane is relatively modest at $3.6MM per year, and if he can return to his offensive numbers from a few seasons ago, it will be a real bargain.

Beyond Mangiapane, the Roslovic signing could also work out well for Edmonton. The 28-year-old can skate and score, which should fit in well with the rest of Edmonton’s forwards. Off the puck, Roslovic won’t do much as his defensive play is often a concern. But if he can produce offense the way he’s capable of, it will help offset some of his game’s weaknesses.

Many folks will criticize signing players like Roslovic and Mangiapane instead of focusing on goaltending. Still, the truth is that impact goalies weren’t available in free agency, and many trade market options had as many, if not more, flaws than Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.

RFA Re-Signings

F Vasily Podkolzin (three years, $8.85MM)
D Evan Bouchard (four years, $42MM)
F Noah Philp (one year, $775K)*
LW Roby Jarventie (one year, $775K)*

*-denotes two-way contract

The Oilers prioritized signing Bouchard before free agency opened, and it was clear they feared an offer sheet, even though one was unlikely to happen given the high compensation needed to secure a deal with the talented defenseman. Simply put, Edmonton couldn’t afford to have Bouchard’s contract fall outside their comfort zone, nor could they afford to lose him. The 25-year-old has been a key player for the Oilers, tilting the ice in their favor and posting excellent offensive numbers. His defensive play isn’t perfect, and he does have the occasional blunder, but he more than compensates with his overall performance, which remains unmatched mainly in today’s NHL.

The Oilers chose to extend Podkolzin a year early, which was a decisive vote of confidence for the 24-year-old. Podkolzin scored eight goals and 16 assists in 82 games last season but demonstrated considerable versatility and provided Edmonton with glimpses of the upside that made him their tenth overall pick in 2019. He led the team with 211 hits and was very effective in plays, registering 10 points in 22 games. If Podkolzin has a breakout season this year, the Oilers could have saved a lot of money in the future, but even if his numbers stay similar to last season, his value remains high given all the intangibles he offers.

Departures

F Viktor Arvidsson (traded to Boston)
D Ronnie Attard (signed with Colorado, one year $775K)*
F Connor Brown (signed with New Jersey, four years $12MM)
F Drake Caggiula (signed in Switzerland)
D Connor Carrick (signed in Switzerland)
G Collin Delia (signed in Sweden)
LW Evander Kane (traded to Vancouver)
D Philip Kemp (signed with Pittsburgh, two years $1.55MM)*
D John Klingberg (signed with San Jose, one year $4MM)
C Lane Pederson (signed with Philadelphia, one year $775K)*
F Jacob Perreault (signed in AHL)
F Corey Perry (signed with Los Angeles, one year $2MM)
C Sam O’Reilly (traded to Tampa Bay)
G Olivier Rodrigue (signed in KHL, contract terminated)
F Derek Ryan (retired)
F Jeff Skinner (signed with San Jose, one year $3MM)
RW Cameron Wright (signed in Finland)

*-denotes two-way contract

The Oilers saw a parade of veterans leave this summer due to salary cap constraints and individual success, which priced many of their forwards out of the lineup. Perry moved to Los Angeles, and while he is now a depth forward in his career, he has been very effective. Perry doesn’t score many goals, but he is a disruptive agitator who has unsettled opposing teams in the past two playoff runs. The Oilers will miss his tenacity come playoff time, as the Perry the Oilers brought to the lineup is not easily replaceable.

Brown is another depth forward the Oilers might miss. He also didn’t score much, but he was a good skater for a bottom-six role, providing the Oilers with a defensively responsible forward who could also kill penalties. Brown was also a good transition player, which is something the Oilers might miss given their style of play.

Skinner signed with the Oilers in San Jose after an uneven season. The 33-year-old scored 16 goals and 13 assists in 72 games and didn’t seem like a good fit. Skinner’s skill set, while valuable, didn’t align well with the speedy Oilers, and while he can still shoot and pass effectively, he looked lost at times and wasn’t a significant factor in the playoffs, appearing in just five games and posting 2 points. Losing Skinner probably won’t have too much impact on the Oilers, given the poor fit, but there was a chance for him to be an effective player in Edmonton, and for some reason, it just didn’t work out.

Kane was traded to Vancouver in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Salary cap concerns clearly drove the move, as Kane remains a productive, albeit imperfect, forward. Kane performed decently in the playoffs last year after missing the entire regular season, but had an abysmal showing in the Stanley Cup Final, as did most of his teammates. Kane had one year left on his contract and will be a motivated player in Vancouver as he searches for what could be his final NHL contract. For the Oilers, they lose a top-six player who probably wasn’t part of the team’s future after this year and likely believed they could replace his production with Mangiapane, for two-thirds of the price.

Salary Cap Outlook

The Oilers have very little cap space entering this season, as PuckPedia projects they will have only $325K available, making injury call-ups challenging and complicating management’s ability to address Edmonton’s apparent goaltending issues. The Oilers have Zach Hyman on LTIR, but even with that, their cap room remains nearly exhausted.

For next summer, the Oilers have approximately $17.67MM in cap space with 16 players already signed. Given the challenges they’ve faced in net, that would be a good opportunity for Edmonton to address the goaltending issue that has long plagued them.

Key Questions

Can the Oilers finally go all the way?

The Oilers have lost in two straight finals and are likely a weaker team than they were in previous seasons. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals, but it does mean they’ll have their work cut out for them. Despite losing a chunk of their depth this summer, the Oilers remain a skilled, battle-tested team eager to claim a championship that has eluded them over the past two years. The window hasn’t slammed shut for the Oilers, but they only have so many runs left and will be hungry to secure a title.

Will the goaltending hold up?

It’s no secret that the Oilers’ goaltending has been mediocre to below average for several seasons now. While they’ve largely been able to outscore their issues in the crease, goaltending has still been their weakness, and it might well be the same case this season. It’s not fair to assume that Skinner and Pickard will falter this year, but considering their recent performances, it would be irresponsible to expect anything better than average. That raises the question: if the Oilers make a deep playoff run, can their goaltending hold up, or will it let them down once again?

How will they replace the depth scoring they lost?

The Oilers had many veterans in their lineup last season who left this past summer for more money than they could get in Edmonton. While it didn’t create significant gaps, it definitely weakened a strong forward group and reduced the Oilers’ overall depth. With limited cap space, few promising prospects, and little draft capital, the question is: How will they replace the depth they lost this summer?

Photo by Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports

Senators Place Donovan Sebrango On Waivers

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The Senators have placed defenseman Donovan Sebrango on waivers, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. That opens a roster spot for winger Drake Batherson, who’s ticketed to come off IR before tomorrow’s game, meaning they don’t necessarily have to place Brady Tkachuk immediately on IR following today’s news that he’ll miss at least a month with an injury to his right wrist.

Sebrango, 23, is in his third season with the Sens organization. He was acquired from the Red Wings in 2023’s Alex DeBrincat trade. He split his first year between the AHL and ECHL before rocketing up Ottawa’s depth chart in 2024-25, serving as an alternate captain for AHL Belleville while even securing a handful of recalls and his NHL debut.

He had a strong enough training camp to work his way onto Ottawa’s opening roster submission and was even in their opening night lineup over offseason trade pickup Jordan Spence. The Sens have been carrying eight defensemen this year, and Sebrango, a lefty, earned a spot with most of his organizational depth competitors being righties. In his four NHL appearances over the last several months, though, he hasn’t shown much. He’s got no points, a -2 rating, no blocks, and one hit while averaging 12:46 per game. For someone who doesn’t provide much offense and has had poor relative possession impacts in his pair of outings this year, that lack of physicality is a sinker. The Sens ended up scratching Sebrango for yesterday’s loss, allowing Spence to make his season debut.

Sebrango was a fine point producer in juniors. The pandemic forced him to make an early jump to pro hockey in Detroit’s system, likely stunting his development. He seemed to get things on track in the minors last year after a few years of bouncing between leagues, managing a career-best 8-12–20 scoring line in 50 games.

He’ll now be available for anyone to claim over the next 24 hours. He sat as a restricted free agent for most of the offseason before signing a two-way deal in September. He costs $775K against the cap, makes $140K in the minors, and will be an RFA next summer with arbitration eligibility. That latter part could serve as a claim deterrent.

Islanders Activate, Reassign Daylan Kuefler

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The Islanders have activated winger Daylan Kuefler from season-opening injured reserve and subsequently loaned him to AHL Bridgeport, according to the AHL’s transactions log.

Kuefler, 23, returns to where he’s spent the bulk of the last two seasons since turning pro. He’s in his final season of waiver-exempt status and of his entry-level contract, which he signed in 2023 and makes him a restricted free agent next summer.

A 2022 sixth-round pick, injuries have been a commonality for Kuefler. He’s begun all three of his pro seasons on SOIR, this time due to an upper-body injury. This year’s absence was his shortest. An undisclosed injury delayed his debut with Bridgeport in 2023 until December, while another issue had him out of the lineup until March last season and limited him to 16 appearances with the AHL Isles. As such, the former WHL Kamloops standout hasn’t had much of a chance to develop. He’s seen no NHL ice time and has only made 38 AHL appearances over the last two seasons, recording a 3-6–9 scoring line with a -10 rating and 48 PIMs. He also skated in 17 games with ECHL Worcester in 2023-24, where he had five goals and eight points.

The 6’2″, 190-lb winger was once a high-end threat in juniors. He was passed over in his first draft-eligible year in 2020 and again in 2021, but earned his selection by the Isles on the heels of a 38-goal, 59-point effort for the Blazers in 65 appearances in 2021-22. He was briefly one of the league’s top two-way forwards and tallied over a point per game for Kamloops in 2022-23, but simply hasn’t been able to find that kind of production in the pros.

As a result, he’s likely headed for a non-tender next summer unless he manages a big breakout with Bridgeport this year. He’ll have more runway to do it than he’s used to. If he can stay healthy throughout the campaign, his increased availability will be something of a story to watch for the Isles.

Wild Recall Ben Jones, Reassign Hunter Haight

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The Wild announced that forward Ben Jones has been recalled from AHL Iowa. To open an active roster spot, center Hunter Haight was returned to Iowa.

Jones, 26, signed a two-year two-way deal with the Wild in the 2024 offseason. He cleared waivers at the end of last month before missing out on the opening night roster, the third time he’s passed through unscathed since signing in Minnesota. He’s presumably being recalled today to give them a more experienced option to stash in the press box. If they return him to Iowa before he plays 10 games or spends 30 days on the Wild’s roster, he won’t need waivers again.

He’s demonstrated offensive upside at the OHL and AHL levels but hasn’t converted that to NHL points. In fact, he’s yet to get on the scoresheet through 28 career appearances, 26 of them coming with the Wild in 2024-25 amid injuries to their forward group. He had a -3 rating and averaged just 8:23 per game in a fourth-line role, going 12-for-25 on draws (48.0%) and recording 11 blocks and 51 hits. While he made himself known physically, that didn’t translate into any tangible possession impacts – the Wild controlled just 39.7% of shot attempts and 46.3% of expected goals when he was on the ice at even strength.

Jones is on his third NHL organization, starting off as a seventh-round pick by the Golden Knights in their inaugural 2017 draft class. He was non-tendered in 2022 upon completing his entry-level contract and signed with the Flames, where he remained for another two years until reaching Group VI unrestricted free agency and signing with Minnesota. He’s been a legitimate top-six threat in the AHL for the past few years and is coming off one of his better offensive showings on a per-game basis, netting 13 goals and 36 points in 49 games with Iowa last season. He’s added on two assists in two AHL games to kick off 2025-26 as well.

The lack of an offensive track record in the NHL means he likely won’t see consistent deployment unless more injuries arise. Minnesota is only carrying 13 forwards, including Jones, with Nico Sturm and Mats Zuccarello on injured reserve. The Wild are understandably averse to sitting young talent in the press box for long stretches – hence Haight’s demotion – and their fourth line currently boasts two recent fourth-line picks, Liam Ohgren and Danila Yurov. That leaves right-winger Vinnie Hinostroza, who’s pointless with a -3 rating through three games, as the only spot for Jones to compete for.

As for Haight, it’s no surprise to see them move quickly to return him to Iowa after scratching him for yesterday’s win over the Kings. The 21-year-old was a late inclusion on their opening roster submission due to Sturm’s injury and drew in for Minnesota’s first two games of the year over Yurov, who was selected one round ahead of him in the 2022 draft. Haight averaged just 9:22 across his two appearances, went 7-for-16 (43.8%) on faceoffs, and recorded a -2 rating without getting on the scoresheet. He didn’t manage a single shot attempt but did record two hits. It was an unsuccessful debut for him on the whole as Minnesota was outchanced 12-4 with him on the ice at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick.

Haight has three years or 158 games played remaining until he loses his waiver exemption, so he can be ferried to Iowa without risk for a while yet. The Ontario native had 20 goals and 34 points in 67 AHL games last year, his first professional season after four years in the OHL.

Canadiens Extend Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes

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11:53 a.m.: Montreal has officially announced the deals. They’re both five-year extensions, per Eric Engels of Sportsnet.

9:33 a.m.: The Canadiens are closing in on contract extensions for front office cornerstones Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. Gorton, the team’s president of hockey operations, and Hughes, their general manager, were in the final years of their current deals.

Gorton and Hughes are both in the early stages of their fourth full season in Montreal. Gorton was the first of the duo to be brought into the organization, stepping in as the top hockey decision-maker in the organization in November 2021 after the club fired previous GM Marc Bergevin. He was the interim GM as well for a few months before hiring Hughes later that season.

They inherited a sticky situation – a club in the early stages of a rebuild despite coming off a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2021. Hughes immediately got to work accumulating assets, trading away veterans Tyler Toffoli, Ben Chiarot, Brett Kulak, and Artturi Lehkonen in the handful of weeks between his hiring and the 2022 trade deadline. The following offseason saw them retool further, acquiring Kirby Dach but surrendering Alexander Romanov in a three-team deal while also swapping aging puck-moving blueliners Jeff Petry and Mike Matheson for each other.

Things have been quieter on the trade front since, but they’ve been busy drafting hopeful franchise cornerstones in the first round – Juraj Slafkovsky first overall in 2022 and Ivan Demidov fifth overall in 2024 being the ones so far to establish themselves as NHLers. Their depth picks have already reached heights as well, with 2022 second-rounder Lane Hutson coming off a Calder Trophy and now a fresh eight-year extension. Even with those names aging out, they boast a universally recognized top-five prospect pool and still retain a good amount of draft capital moving forward.

While still early in the life of Montreal’s young core, initial indications are that Gorton and Hughes have pulled off an accelerated rebuild. They have blue-chip prospects at every position – particularly with goaltender Jacob Fowler working his way up from a 2023 third-round pick to being the reigning NCAA Goalie of the Year – and are coming off their first playoff berth since their Cup Final loss.

Undoubtedly, Gorton and Hughes’ asset management has opened the door for Montreal’s playoff window to begin as quickly as it did. In the past few years, they’ve pulled off one of the more impressive asset flips in recent memory – acquiring a first-round pick to take on Sean Monahan’s contract from the Flames before acquiring another from the Jets when they traded him to Winnipeg two years later. They began conservatively and targeted with their additions last year, acquiring high-priced winger Patrik Laine for barely any assets and upgrading their blue line by swapping youngster Justin Barron for the more experienced Alexandre Carrier a few weeks into the season. Only after reaching the postseason has Montreal really pressed the gas on their rebuild, making one of the biggest deals of last summer with the Noah Dobson sign-and-trade.

In all of that, they’ve also assembled one of the more enviable salary cap pictures in the NHL. Amid rapidly rising market values for players and an aggressively rising cap for the next few years, Montreal has no cap hits above $10MM on its roster while having the vast majority of its core signed through the remainder of the decade. Up front, there’s captain Nick Suzuki at a $7.875MM cap hit through 2029-30, Cole Caufield at $7.8MM through 2030-31, and Slafkovsky at $7.6MM through 2032-33. Their defense has Dobson at $9.5MM through 2032-33, Hutson at $8.85MM starting next season through 2033-34, and Kaiden Guhle at $5.55MM through 2030-31. At present, the only RFAs who will really cash in over the next few years are Zachary Bolduc next summer and Demidov in 2027.

Of course, they still have to finish the job. Montreal’s forward depth remains a concern, particularly in the second-line center slot. That’s a question they’ve been looking to answer long-term since assuming their posts. Nothing about their track record suggests it’ll be a rushed decision, nor does it have to be with multiple core contributors not even at their 23rd birthday yet.

With all that in mind, it’s no surprise that the Canadiens are moving quickly to get these deals done early in the season. Gorton had received interest from other clubs looking to fill GM vacancies last summer, including the Islanders, but the Habs denied him permission to interview.

He’s a seasoned executive, spending previous tenures at the helm of the Bruins and Rangers. For Hughes, though, it’s quite a success story. This post is his first front-office job at any level after working on the other side of the coin as a player agent for Quartexx, a career he held since 1998.

Summer Synopsis: Florida Panthers

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With the regular season now upon us, the bulk of the heavy lifting has been done from a roster perspective.  Most unrestricted free agents have found new homes, the arbitration period has come and gone, and the trade market has cooled.  Accordingly, it’s a good time to take a look at what each team accomplished over the offseason.  Next up is a look at the Florida Panthers.

The Panthers are poised to make history as they aim for their third consecutive Stanley Cup title this season. They are only the third team during the salary cap era to repeat as champions and hope to become the first to three-peat. It’s within the realm of possibility for the Panthers to make history, as they are bringing back almost all the key components of last year’s roster after Bill Zito orchestrated a masterclass by locking up key free agents below market value. While some might say it’s easier to attract players to a city with advantageous tax benefits, players hadn’t been eager to sign with the Panthers in the 25 years before 2022, which reflects the culture of winning that the team has fostered in Florida.

Draft

4-112 – LW Mads Kongsbak Klyvø, Frölunda HC (J20 Sweden)
4-128 – LW Shea Busch, Everett (WHL)
5-129 – RW Shamar Moses, North Bay (OHL)
6-192 – RW Arvid Drott, Djurgårdens IF (J20 Sweden)
7-197 – D Brendan Dunphy, Wenatchee (WHL)
7-224 – G Yegor Midlak, Spartak Moscow Jr. (MHL)

The Panthers didn’t get to pick until the fourth round of the draft, and with their first pick, they selected what they hope will be a power forward in Klyvø. The native of Frederikshavn, Denmark, is an above-average skater and is difficult to move off the puck thanks to a stride that relies on a low center of gravity. He doesn’t have high-end skill, but he could develop into a net front presence as well as a relentless forechecker.

Also in the fourth round, the Panthers selected another potential power forward in Busch. The North Vancouver, British Columbia native is strong on his skates and tough to knock off the puck. He has all the tools to become a net-front presence and has an underrated touch around the net.

In the fifth round, the Panthers chose to pick another forward in Moses. Moses is a savvy late-draft choice because he is the type of high-reward player who could develop into a skilled NHL player if his growth continues to progress nicely. Moses has good hands, solid vision, and a terrific shot, but whether he can carry these talents beyond the OHL remains uncertain. If he can, the Panthers might have found a steal.

In the sixth round, the Panthers selected another power forward in Drott, who may not stand out in any one area but has a well-rounded game. Drott willingly takes the puck to the net to create scoring opportunities and uses his solid frame to set picks, giving his teammates chances to score. He battles along the boards and in the defensive zone to gain puck possession and is likely to be popular with his teammates because of his selfless style of play.

Trade Acquisitions

G Daniil Tarasov (from Columbus)

The Panthers acquired Tarasov from the Blue Jackets in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick. It was a worthwhile gamble for Florida as they aimed to add depth behind Sergei Bobrovsky. Not long ago, many believed Tarasov was a future starter for the Blue Jackets, but after moving to North America, he was used sparingly, which slowed his development. Tarasov dressed in 21 games over his first two NHL seasons and never managed a prolonged, solid stretch of play. In the 2023-24 season, Tarasov found some consistency, posting an 8-11-3 record with a .908 SV% and 3.18 GAA. While his traditional stats weren’t remarkable, his underlying numbers told a different story—he posted a goals saved above expected of 0.0 in 24 games. Tarasov was likely a non-tender candidate in Columbus and is essentially playing for his NHL career this season. He will look to prove himself in Florida behind a much stronger team, which he hasn’t experienced during his brief NHL career.

UFA Signings

G Brandon Bussi (one year, $775K)*
F Nolan Foote (one year, $775K)*
F Noah Gregor (one year, $775K)*
F Luke Kunin (one year, $775K)
F Tomas Nosek (one year, $775K)^
D Jeff Petry (one year, $775K)
F Jack Studnicka (one year, $775K)*

*-denotes two-way contract
^-denotes re-signing

The Panthers faced the formidable challenge of starting the offseason with three key players from their championship roster about to become unrestricted free agents. General manager Bill Zito worked hard to secure long-term contracts for Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, and Sam Bennett, leaving him with little to worry about on July 1st. Nonetheless, he still pursued inexpensive depth options, aiming to strengthen the lower end of his roster with the remaining cap space.

Petry was signed to play bottom-pairing minutes for league minimum, and he represents a worthwhile gamble given his resume. At 37, he is no longer a top-four defenseman, but given his role with Florida, he doesn’t need to be. In Detroit, Petry was averaging nearly 19 minutes per game, which was excessive considering his age and skill set. However, with the Panthers, it appears Petry will settle into roughly 14-15 minutes per game, which is more reasonable. He isn’t going to control play like he once did, but he should be a steady presence on the bottom pair, and if he isn’t, the Panthers can easily move on and look for another option.

Bringing back Nosek was an obvious choice for the Panthers, given the low cost and minimal maintenance required. Nosek is a straightforward forward who won’t score much but is steady and dependable on the fourth line. He is expected to play around 10 minutes a night once he recovers, but it seems likely that he will miss the first few months of the season. Versatile, Nosek can also fill in on the wing, but he shouldn’t be moved up the lineup and, unless injuries occur, he probably won’t be.

Kunin’s signing offers another affordable option who can play in the bottom six. The 27-year-old, surprisingly in his ninth NHL season, continues to find opportunities in the league but did take a significant pay cut for the upcoming season after earning over $2.75MM in each of the previous three years. Kunin hits hard and has no trouble reaching the front of the net, which will be valuable in Florida, where he will play alongside skilled depth players who can pass the puck to that area. While Kunin won’t produce much offense, he can contribute on the forecheck and serve as a leader in the Panthers’ dressing room. They could certainly improve by finding a more skilled option than Kunin, but given where the team stands, his signing aligns with their current needs.

RFA Re-Signings

D Mike Benning (one year, $775K)*
D Toby Bjornfot (one year, $775K)*
F Mackie Samoskevich (one year, $775K)
F Wilmer Skoog (one year, $775K)*
G Daniil Tarasov (one year, $1.05MM)

*-denotes two-way contract

The Panthers didn’t have much work to do this summer on the RFA front since most of the deals they signed were two-way contracts with cap hits at the NHL minimum. The exceptions were Samoskevich and Tarasov, who both signed one-way contract extensions.

After finishing 11th in Calder Trophy voting for rookie of the year, Samoskevich was probably hoping to secure a contract above the NHL minimum. However, with his 10.2(c) status, he lacked significant leverage in negotiations. He chose a guaranteed one-way salary instead of a two-way qualifying offer, which would have provided a higher NHL salary but only a fraction of the league minimum if demoted to the AHL. While this is a bit of a setback for a player who had a strong rookie season, it opens the door for the 22-year-old to earn significantly more next summer when he has more rights as a restricted free agent. Hopefully, the Panthers will also have more room under the salary cap by then. Samoskevich scored 15 goals and 16 assists in 72 games last season and has already had a strong start this year. If he can improve on last year’s production, he might be looking at a multi-year deal with a salary five times (or more) his current $775K rate.

Departures

G Brandon Bussi (claimed off waivers by Carolina)
F Rasmus Asplund (signed in Switzerland)
G Evan Cormier (signed with AHL Charlotte)
G Kaapo Kahkonen (signed with Montreal, one year $1.15MM)
D Matt Kiersted (signed with Minnesota, two years $1.55MM)*
F William Lockwood (unsigned free agent)
D Jaycob Megna (signed with Vegas, two years $1.6MM)
F Jesse Puljujärvi (signed in Switzerland)
D Nate Schmidt (signed with Utah, three years $10.5MM)
F Justin Sourdif (traded to Washington)
F Nico Sturm (signed with Minnesota, two years $4MM)
G Vitek Vanecek (signed with Utah, one year $1.5MM)

*-denotes two-way contract

The most significant loss for the Panthers came in the form of defenseman Schmidt, who turned a solid season in Florida into a multi-year deal at $3.5MM per year. The Panthers couldn’t have asked for more from Schmidt, who arrived after a buyout and was excellent in a third-pairing role. The 34-year-old remains a decent playmaker, responsible with the puck, and capable of defending the zone, especially against entries and plays on the rush. As long as he isn’t asked to play too much in Utah, his signing should be a win for them. It did create a hole for Florida, but that’s what happens when depth players outplay their contracts and need to go elsewhere to get paid.

Sturm was another depth loss for the Panthers, but he likely wasn’t part of their long-term plans after he was acquired at last year’s Trade Deadline. Sturm remains a solid faceoff man who can still skate and get in on the forecheck. He will never produce much offense, topping 20 points just twice in his seven-year NHL career, but he battles hard for the Wild and lays the body fairly often. The Panthers shouldn’t have trouble replacing his production, and if they can’t find a suitable replacement, they should be able to acquire a depth player midseason to fill the gap.

Finally, the Panthers decided to let goaltender Vanecek go in favour of Tarasov, who will serve as the backup for now. It’s uncertain if Tarasov can handle the role, but Vanecek wasn’t exactly a reliable option either, posting modest numbers over the last two seasons with three different teams. Vanecek’s underlying numbers last year were probably worse than his traditional stats, as he recorded a -8.5 goals saved above expected in 25 games, indicating he was a below-average choice in limited duty. Suppose the Panthers need to find a goaltender later in the season. In that case, they should have no shortage of backup options, as players like Alex Nedeljkovic and possibly Vanecek will be available at a low cost.

Salary Cap Outlook

The Panthers are technically over the salary cap this season by about $6.1MM, but have Tkachuk and Barkov on LTIR for now. Tkachuk will return at some point this season, while Barkov could be out for at least seven months or more, which means he might return for the playoffs. The LTIR placements give the Panthers roughly $2.267MM in cap space (all figures via PuckPedia), allowing them to navigate injuries and call-ups and possibly make a midseason addition to their lineup. It’s not a ton of room for Florida, but their roster is pretty set as it is.

Next summer, the Panthers will have over $18MM available in cap space with 15 players signed, which means they will need to do some work. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is a UFA and should demand a significant deal, which could use up half of the available cap space.

Key Questions

Can they win a third straight Stanley Cup?

It would be silly to dismiss the Panthers this season, considering they’ve won back-to-back titles and reached three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. However, the odds are against them in several ways this year. The injuries to their top players are difficult to overlook (we’ll address them later), and at some point, fatigue will likely catch up with them. Many forwards will need to play beyond their usual roles, which will be hard on their bodies, especially against more formidable opponents than they’re used to. Add to that the fact that many Panthers players have played a lot of hockey over the past three years, creating numerous challenges they must overcome to win another championship.

How will they navigate Barkov’s injury?

How do you navigate losing one of the best players in the world for an entire season? The Tampa Bay Lightning achieved this in 2021 for two-thirds of a season (a pandemic-shortened season) and made it work. But just because it worked elsewhere doesn’t mean it will work here. Florida will need the likes of Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell, and Eetu Luostarinen to elevate their games to the next level and take on a heavier workload, as the team may need to adjust lines to address holes created.

When will Matthew Tkachuk return?

Tkachuk is expected to be out until December, although GM Bill Zito’s timeline seems more like his best guess. Tkachuk is sidelined with a torn adductor muscle and a sports hernia on the same side he injured during the 4 Nations Face-Off. His absence isn’t definite, but it seems unlikely to extend past January, given that the 2026 Olympics are approaching. Tkachuk is expected to return in the latter half of the season. Although the Panthers will face challenges with him and Barkov out for an extended period, they should have sufficient depth to remain competitive in the standings.

Photo by Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Buffalo Sabres

at CDT | by 16 Comments

Navigating the salary cap is one of the most important tasks for a front office.  Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful.  Those who don’t often see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation for the 2025-26 season.  This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL.  All cap figures are courtesy of PuckPedia.  We’re currently covering the Atlantic Division, next up are the Sabres.

Buffalo Sabres

Current Cap Hit: $93,341,521 (below the $95.5MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

F Zach Benson (one year, $950K)
F Josh Doan (one year, $925K)
F Jiri Kulich (two years, $886.7K)

Potential Bonuses
Benson: $650K

After a strong rookie year in 2023-24, Benson’s sophomore campaign was largely the same.  While he didn’t take a step back in his development, he didn’t really progress either.  While he’s someone the Sabres clearly feel will still be a part of their long-term plans, finding a price point low enough for them to be comfortable with and high enough for Benson to be happy with will be tough.  With that in mind, a short-term bridge deal around the $4MM territory might make the most sense for both sides.  He has three ‘A’ bonuses in his deal and if he stays in their top six all year, he could hit some of those.

Doan was one of the pieces coming to Buffalo in the JJ Peterka trade this offseason.  He held his own in a bottom-six role for the bulk of last season with Utah but that’s not the type of player that typically signs a long-term deal at this point.  A short-term bridge pact makes sense here, potentially in the $3MM area if he has a similar showing this season.  Kulich showed some promise last season despite a relatively limited role.  They’re hoping he can be a top-six center of the future and if it looks like he’ll be there at the end of this deal, a long-term pact could be on the table.  The rate for that could be in the $8MM territory, even if he’s on the second line given the inflation coming to the cap.

Signed Through 2025-26, Non-Entry-Level

D Jacob Bryson ($900K, UFA)
D Michael Kesselring ($1.4MM, RFA)
F Peyton Krebs ($1.45MM, RFA)
F Beck Malenstyn ($1.35MM, UFA)
F Alex Tuch ($4.75MM, UFA)

Tuch’s contract situation is one of the biggest discussion points in Buffalo right now.  He’s a local player who has publicly stated that he wants to re-sign but no agreement has been reached just yet.  Seeing the recent explosion of the winger market, it’s likely that Tuch’s camp is seeking to more than double his current price tag.  He has only passed the point-per-game mark once in his career but with two 36-goal efforts over the last three seasons, he’s still producing enough that he could very well surpass the $10MM mark on his next deal.  If Buffalo continues to struggle, his name will come up in trade speculation quickly so it wouldn’t be surprising to see both sides plug away at this in the coming weeks.

Krebs bounced back last season after a tough 2023-24 campaign but he still hasn’t progressed to being a consistently reliable producer; he has yet to reach 30 points in a single season.  However, given that he plays a premium position and has arbitration rights, he should be able to double this price tag next summer.  Malenstyn wasn’t anywhere near as impactful in his first year with Buffalo compared to his 2023-24 season with Washington.  However, with his physicality, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him pass the $2MM mark next summer, even as a pure fourth liner.

Kesselring was the other part of the return for Peterka and is someone Buffalo likely views as an important building block on the back end.  He hasn’t become a full-time top-four piece yet but as a coveted right-shot defender with arbitration rights, he should be in a position to push for $4MM on a shorter-term deal while a long-term pact would likely run past $5MM per season.  Bryson has been a depth defender for the last few seasons and is likely to remain in that role moving forward.  That should keep him close to the minimum salary for next season and beyond.

Signed Through 2026-27

D Bowen Byram ($6.25MM, UFA)
F Justin Danforth ($1.8MM, UFA)
G Colten Ellis ($775K, RFA)
F/D Mason Geertsen ($775K, UFA)
F Jordan Greenway ($4MM, UFA)
G Alex Lyon ($1.5MM, UFA)
F Jack Quinn ($3.375MM, RFA)
D Conor Timmins ($2.2MM, UFA)
F Jason Zucker ($4.75MM, UFA)

Zucker and Greenway found themselves in similar situations last season, players on expiring contracts who were likely to be moved if they didn’t sign extensions.  Instead, both worked out short-term deals that gave them some stability and kept Buffalo’s long-term options open.  Zucker’s trips through free agency haven’t always proven fruitful but if he stays in the 50-point range the next couple of years, he could land a small raise and a multi-year pact, even as a 35-plus contract.  As for Greenway, he has been the beneficiary of the power forward premium.  When healthy, he struggles to reach 30 points and even staying in the lineup has been a concern.  But given his size, physicality, and defensive acumen, there’s a high enough floor that Buffalo was willing to pay a premium on.  He’ll need to produce a bit more if he wants to beat this by any sort of significant amount.

Quinn wasn’t quite able to live up to offensive expectations last season, resulting in this bridge deal getting signed back in June.  Both sides will be hoping that he will be able to take that step forward and become a legitimate top-six piece.  If that happens, he could plausibly push past $6MM or more two years from now.  Danforth came over from Columbus in free agency as a versatile piece who can move up and down the lineup.  But he will have to find a way to produce more if he is going to have a shot at beating this in his next trip to the open market.  Geertsen hadn’t played in the NHL since 2021-22 before surprisingly making Buffalo’s roster in training camp.  Unless he can establish himself as an every-game player, he’s likely to remain at the minimum salary in the future.

To avoid any risk of an offer sheet, the Sabres filed for arbitration with Byram this summer, setting him up for a two-year deal that took him right to unrestricted free agency.  While they settled before the hearing, they couldn’t get any additional team control, meaning he’ll hit the open market at 26, in the prime of his career.  Given how much salaries have exploded, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he pushes for a deal in the $10MM range on a max-term agreement.  Timmins, acquired in a swap of third-pairing defensemen this summer, also managed to avoid arbitration with this deal.  He has shown flashes of offensive upside over the years but has been more of a fifth or sixth option for most of that time.  There’s a fine line to navigate for players in his situation as if he remains a lower-producing piece, the offers two years from now might not get to this level.  But a few more points could propel him past the $3MM mark.

Lyon became a full-time backup goaltender over his two years with Detroit, getting into 74 games overall.  However, his save percentage dipped to .896 last season which hurt his chances of getting a bigger deal this summer.  Still, he did enough to get his biggest guaranteed contract.  At this point of his career, it’s hard to see him moving into that top echelon of backups so while another small raise could be doable, he’s probably not going much higher than that.  Ellis was claimed off waivers and has yet to make his NHL debut.  Buffalo feels he has some upside as evidenced by the claim but when everyone’s healthy, he’s no higher than third on the depth chart.  This doesn’t feel like a situation where he’s going to get a chance to play into a big contract but if he does well in limited action, he could land where Lyon is now.

Signed Through 2027-28

D Ryan Johnson ($775K, RFA)
F Tyson Kozak ($775K, RFA)

Both Johnson and Kozak are on identical three-year deals.  However, with the minimum salary moving to $850K next season and $900K in 2027-28, their cap hits beginning next season should jump to $841.7K.

Kozak made his NHL debut last season, getting into 21 games where he did okay with limited playing time.  He wasn’t a big point producer with Rochester either but the security of a three-year pact with two one-way years was enough to get him to sign.  He’ll need to establish himself as a regular and make a bit of an impact to help his cause for a new deal as if he winds up with minimal production, he’ll become a non-tender candidate to avoid arbitration eligibility.

Johnson, a 2019 first-round pick, has had a limited role so far when he has played, including a 41-game stint in his rookie year.  He also opted for the security of two one-way years while he looks to establish himself as a full-time defender.  Like Kozak, he’ll want to be more established by the end of this deal to avoid being a non-tender candidate to avoid arbitration eligibility.  If he’s a regular third-pairing option by then, Johnson could move up into the $2MM range on a contract.

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Snapshots: Cooley, Davidson, Dubois, Wood, Didier

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

While the Flames didn’t claim any goaltenders off waivers this fall, it appears they’re not completely sold on Devin Cooley being the backup.  Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported in the latest 32 Thoughts podcast (audio link) that Calgary has been talking to teams to see what other options might be out there.  However, they plan to give Cooley a look between the pipes, potentially on Wednesday, in the hopes that he can play his way into securing this position.  If the Flames were to trade for (or sign) another netminder, that would give them four on one-way contracts, typically not an ideal situation to be in.  Friedman added that as Calgary searches for another goaltending option, teams are asking for an incentive to take on one of those extra one-way goalies, something they’re resisting.  If Cooley does well and earns the trust to be the full-time backup, this will work out okay but if he struggles, expect to see them looking around the market some more in the coming days.

Elsewhere around the hockey world:

  • It has been nearly four years since the Blackhawks promoted Kyle Davidson to GM with the team posting a 107-187-35 record with him at the helm. Despite their struggles, team owner Danny Wirtz gave Davidson a vote of confidence in an interview with Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times, saying that “Everything Kyle set out to do, he continues to deliver on”.  Chicago has been stockpiling draft picks and prospects for several years now in the hope that a contender can emerge from this group and it appears Davidson will have a long leash from ownership to see if that will happen down the road.
  • Capitals forward Pierre-Luc Dubois left Sunday’s game with an undisclosed injury, notes Bailey Johnson of the Washington Post (Twitter link). An update on his status is expected on Tuesday.  The 27-year-old had a career year last season in his first year with Washington, notching 20 goals and 46 assists in 82 games during the regular season.  He was off to a slower start before this injury though, being held off the scoresheet in his first three appearances in 2025-26.
  • Blue Jackets winger Miles Wood left tonight’s game against New Jersey with an upper-body injury, the team announced (Twitter link). He took a high stick from Dougie Hamilton in the first period and did not return.  Wood is in his first season with Columbus after being acquired from Colorado in the offseason and scored in his second game of the campaign.
  • Veteran defenseman Josiah Didier has signed a PTO deal with AHL Laval, the team announced (Twitter link). The 32-year-old was drafted by Montreal (who is Laval’s parent team) back in 2011 but he didn’t sign with them.  Didier has spent parts of 12 seasons in the AHL, totaling 496 games overall where he has 83 points and 530 penalty minutes.  With his experience, he’ll count towards their veteran limit whenever he suits up.

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