Trade Deadline Primer: Anaheim Ducks
With the Olympic break now over, the trade deadline is less than a week away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? Next up is the Ducks.
The Ducks currently hold a playoff spot in the Western Conference and have been a pleasant surprise this season. The team is in a very advantageous position heading into the trade deadline, with a ton of trade capital and plenty of space under the salary cap. If GM Pat Verbeek wanted to get aggressive, he certainly could, but given that it is a buyer’s market, it feels as though this club might not be ready to make a splash just yet. Verbeek has seen mixed results making trades in recent years, but there is no doubt he has put together a good blend of youth and veteran experience in Anaheim.
Record
33-23-3, 2nd in the Pacific (93.6% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$52.61MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: ANA 1st, ANA 2nd, ANA 3rd, DET 4th, ANA 5th, ANA 6th, ANA 7th
2027: ANA 1st, ANA 2nd, STL 2nd, DET 3rd, ANA 3rd, ANA 5th, ANA 6th, ANA 7th
Trade Chips
Pavel Mintyukov isn’t necessarily the Ducks’ best trade chip, but he’s the most likely to be used before the deadline if the Ducks are to make a significant move. It was just a few years ago that the former 10th-overall pick (in 2022) was a standout OHL defenseman with a lot of shine to his game. In 2023-24, the then 20-year-old had a terrific rookie season, tallying four goals and 24 assists in 63 games, finishing 14th in the Calder Trophy conversation. The versatile defenseman hasn’t been able to match that level of production since and has been squeezed quite a bit by the Ducks’ packed left side of their defense.
This depth has led to Mintyukov being a healthy scratch at times and to his playing time being reduced, something he clearly isn’t happy with. If the Ducks decide the youngster isn’t a fit with the team, he still has enough value to be a solid trade chip if the Ducks want to grab a bigger asset to improve their lineup in the here and now. The issue for the Ducks on their back end is that they need defensive defenders on the right side, which is what Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas were supposed to be. With both of those men likely gone in the offseason, Verbeek may hang on to Mintyukov.
Among other top young players, the Ducks aren’t moving forward Beckett Sennecke, the third overall pick in 2024, who has been a rookie sensation this year, scoring 19 goals and 29 assists in 58 games. Beyond Sennecke, the Ducks have a few prospects they could look to move if they wanted to go big-game hunting.
The Ducks have strong depth on the left side of their defensive core, which could make Stian Solberg expendable. The 2024 first-round pick (23rd overall) has been toiling in the AHL in his first full season in North America. At just 20 years old, Solberg has shown he is very difficult to play against, thanks to a mean streak a mile long and an ability to keep opponents away from the front of his team’s net. Solberg doesn’t have the offensive instincts to contribute much on the scoresheet, but he does have a heavy shot and is an efficient skater.
Moving up to forward, there is little chance the Ducks move Roger McQueen, whom they drafted last summer, but Lucas Pettersson, a 2024 second-round pick (35th overall), could interest teams looking for a player whose NHL trajectory is about two years away. Pettersson is a bit on the small side, but he makes up for it with a two-way game that leans offensively. The 19-year-old is a creative playmaker who can play in any situation and possesses terrific offensive skills, including a sneaky-accurate wrist shot and great passing. Pettersson could be of interest to teams seeking a plug-and-play forward who is potentially a second- or third-line NHL center in the making.
Team Needs
A Right Shot Defenseman: The Ducks continue to deploy Trouba and Gudas in roles that are beyond their skill set, but that shouldn’t be the case beyond this season. Right-handed defensemen are always in demand and among the hardest assets to acquire. The Ducks may opt to wait until the summer to try to sign or trade for one, but the free-agent market for defense is barren, and the Ducks may not be inclined to get into a bidding war. GM Pat Verbeek has shown a tendency to overpay in free agency to acquire assets (Alex Killorn, for example), but with Cutter Gauthier and Leo Karlsson both due raises as RFAs this summer, he might not want to spend so liberally. Rasmus Andersson of the Vegas Golden Knights could be the best available defender if he reaches the market, while Tampa Bay’s Darren Raddyish is having a monster year with the Lightning. A veteran like John Carlson could also test the market, but at 36, he might be too late in his career for the Ducks to consider him an option.
Bottom Six Depth: The Ducks’ bottom six isn’t great right now, as injuries have forced Ryan Poehling to center the third line and Jansen Harkins to take regular shifts in the NHL lineup. No disrespect to either man, but they are both currently playing in roles beyond their skill sets. Poehling is a capable fourth-line center but is often overmatched when playing in the top nine, while Harkins is best served as a tweener with limited offensive capabilities. Both men’s spots in the lineup clearly indicate a need for the Ducks to get deeper on their bottom two lines. The Ducks could acquire top-six help and push players down the hierarchy, or they could look for bargain options that could slide onto the third or fourth line to fill out a bottom six that is currently quite weak.
Image courtesy of Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images.
Salary Cap Deep Dive: Toronto Maple Leafs
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, last up are the Maple Leafs.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Current Cap Hit: $94,621,472 (under the $95.5MM Upper Limit)
Entry-Level Contracts
F Easton Cowan (three years, $873.5K)
After a strong junior career, Cowan made the jump directly to the NHL and has been a capable player in a limited role. They’ll be hoping that he can move into a top-six role before too long (potentially as soon as next season) which could change his trajectory quickly. At this point, it seems more likely that he’d get a bridge deal (potentially in the $3MM to $4MM range) but if he becomes a top-six piece fairly soon and sticks, he could also wind up with a longer-term deal which could cost as much as double that amount.
Signed Through 2025-26, Non-Entry-Level
D Matt Benning ($1.25MM, UFA)
F Calle Jarnkrok ($2.1MM, UFA)
F Scott Laughton ($1.5MM, RFA)*
F Matias Maccelli ($3.425MM, RFA)
F Bobby McMann ($1.35MM, UFA)
F Nicholas Robertson ($1.825MM, RFA)
D Troy Stecher ($787.5K, UFA)
*-Philadelphia is retaining an additional $1.5MM on Laughton’s contract.
Maccelli was brought in from Utah in the hopes that he’d help replace some of the playmaking that left when Mitch Marner went to Vegas. Instead, he has bounced up and down and even in and out of the lineup as a healthy scratch at times while not producing as much as they hoped for. Owed a $4.11MM qualifying offer with arbitration rights, he’s a strong non-tender candidate unless they work out a cheaper deal closer to his current price before then. Laughton has seen his production tumble since joining Toronto. However, he’s still a strong defensive player and is having a career year at the faceoff dot. That should be enough to earn him at least a small raise on a multi-year pact even with his offensive struggles.
Jarnkrok is not the impactful utility player he was earlier in his career, resulting in several healthy scratches. If he doesn’t wind up going back overseas this summer, he’s probably looking at a contract closer to the league minimum. Robertson has taken some strides this season, putting him on pace for a career year while having arbitration rights this summer. A jump to the $3MM range isn’t unrealistic as a result.
McMann will be one of the more intriguing UFA options this summer, especially since a lot of the top players have already re-signed. Barring injury, he’s a lock for his second straight 20-goal season and will get there despite playing time that is in the low end for a second liner and is more like a high-end third liner. Tripling his current price seems quite likely; a bidding war could push it into the $5MM range.
Benning hasn’t been up with Toronto for most of the season and only gets a passing mention here because $100K is on their books as a dead cap charge while he’s with the Marlies. Stecher, meanwhile, has been a very serviceable waiver claim from Edmonton, going from a fringe blueliner to someone logging 20 minutes a night. Still, given how he has bounced around and is generally viewed as more of a depth player, he probably won’t get a huge boost on his next deal. Doubling this could be doable, however, which would be a nice outcome for someone who was on waivers just a few months ago.
Signed Through 2026-27
D Simon Benoit ($1.35MM, UFA)
D Brandon Carlo ($3.485MM, UFA)*
D Philippe Myers ($850K, UFA)
F Nicolas Roy ($3MM, UFA)
*-Boston is retaining an additional $615K on Carlo’s contract.
Roy came over from Vegas in the Marner sign-and-trade and has basically been the effective third liner he has been for most of his career. The price tag for those types of players has ticked up in recent years and should continue to do so in a more inflated cap environment. A bump to the $4MM territory could be doable while Laughton’s next contract this coming summer could serve as a good indicator of where Roy’s could land.
Toronto paid a high price to land Carlo at the trade deadline last season and it hasn’t quite worked out so far. Never a big point producer, even his defensive game has slipped a bit. Even so, he’ll be UFA-eligible at the age of 30 and is a big, right-shot player. Those elements should still land him a raise unless his play really falls off a cliff between now and then. A multi-year pact in the $4.5MM range might be the floor right now with a bump up from that if his performance rebounds next season.
Benoit has been a serviceable third-pairing player for most of his career but his limitations are well-known. It’s plausible that he stays in this area (even a jump to $1.5MM or so wouldn’t be surprising) but it seems unlikely that he’d command more than that unless he suddenly becomes more of a top-four option. Myers was once a quality prospect in Philadelphia but has been more of a fringe player in recent years. He’s likely to stay at the minimum salary and even securing a one-way deal isn’t a guarantee at this point.
Signed Through 2027-28
F Max Domi ($3.75MM, UFA)
D Oliver Ekman-Larsson ($3.5MM, UFA)
F Dakota Joshua ($3.25MM, UFA)
F Steven Lorentz ($1.35MM, UFA)
F Auston Matthews ($13.25MM, UFA)
G Joseph Woll ($3.67MM, UFA)
Matthews has opted for a shorter-term contract in each of his two non-entry-level negotiations. The idea was that doing so set him up best for a big payday. It worked the first time as this deal was briefly the record-setter for AAV. It’s hard to project that happening again, knowing some other contracts that have since been signed (and others to come) but if Matthews is open to a long-term pact this time around, a jump past the $15MM mark could be realistic, as long as his offensive drop this season isn’t a sign of things to come. However, if he wants another shorter-term agreement, the price tag could run a little higher but still not challenge for another league record.
Domi’s first season in Toronto was good enough to land him the multi-year commitment that he had been seeking for a while. Things haven’t gone as well since then, however. While he’s a strong playmaker, his lack of goals, a smaller stature, and a penchant for penalties could result in his market being more restricted than most again. Barring an improvement in his production over the next couple of years, he might have a hard time matching this price and term on his next contract.
Joshua was acquired over the offseason from Vancouver with the hopes that a change of scenery could get him back to his 2023-24 level. That hasn’t exactly happened as he has played more like a fourth liner making third-line money. He will need to rebound considerably in the back half of the deal to have any chance of matching this on his next contract. Lorentz rebounded well last season after a limited 2023-24 campaign in Florida and was able to earn some stability with this deal. For a fourth liner who can kill penalties, this is a reasonable contract but with his limited offensive upside, he’s probably not going to be able to command much more down the road.
Ekman-Larsson opted for stability as well back in 2024 with this deal, a four-year pact that takes him through his age-36 season. After a more limited role in Florida following a buyout from Vancouver, he has been deployed regularly in a top-four role and has thrived. Given how much he has played over the years, there could be some concern of him slowing down at the back of the contract but right now, this is definitely one of their better bargains.
When healthy, Woll has looked like a legitimate NHL starting goaltender. However, staying healthy has been a challenge in recent years which has limited his earnings upside. If he has a good year or two on this deal and can play 50-plus games, doubling this price tag is certainly realistic. However, if he continues to be in the 35-40-game range (either through injuries or being in a straight platoon), Woll might be more in the $5MM territory moving forward.
Trade Deadline Primer: New York Islanders
With the Olympic break over, the trade deadline is under a week away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? Next up is the Islanders.
The Islanders made some big moves last summer, sending defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens and drafting Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick. Many pundits weren’t sure what the Islanders would be this season, but they have surprised some folks by becoming a playoff contender with a roster that doesn’t have much flash but is solid enough to compete in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders have won on the back of strong team defense and goaltending this season, and despite the lack of skill in their lineup, they’ve managed to score enough to win games.
Record
33-21-5, 3rd in the Metropolitan
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$6.02MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 49/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: NYI 1st, COL 1st, NJD 3rd, NYI 4th, NYI 5th, NYI 6th, NYI 7th
2027: NYI 1st, NYI 2nd, NYI 3rd, NYI 4th, NYI 5th, NYI 6th, NJD 6th, NYI 7th
Trade Chips
The Islanders have built up their prospect pool in recent seasons thanks to several successful first-round picks. The team likely has a top ten pipeline and the assets to be aggressive on the trade front if the money works. That ranking doesn’t include defenseman Schaefer, who went straight to the NHL, but there is no chance New York moves him anytime soon.
Setting aside the Islanders’ lottery win, they have done some good business in the trade market, moving on from Dobson and Brock Nelson for very strong returns. From these two trades, the team ended up with Victor Eklund, Kashawn Aitcheson and Calum Ritchie. Those three are all arguably among the top 100 NHL prospects at the moment and are a big reason the Islanders now have one of the best prospect systems in the NHL.
If the Islanders moved any of those three players, they would have one of the better trade chips available in terms of future value. Eklund’s skill is among his strongest assets, along with his top-notch skating. Those traits would make him appealing to every team in the league, but his ability to battle could be the best feature of his game. Eklund battles from whistle to whistle and isn’t afraid to play with reckless abandon.
Aitcheson is a physical defender who plays an old-school game that should resonate with the Long Island crowd. Aitcheson could one day be a top-pairing, bruising defenseman who plays a stay-at-home game alongside a more offensively minded partner. Aitcheson’s game isn’t flashy, but he is safe and responsible in his own end, bringing an intensity to the ice that few could match. His ability to give the opponent absolutely nothing to work with could eventually earn him a reputation as the NHL’s ultimate shutdown man, provided he improves his average skating and harnesses his intimidating presence.
Ritchie saw his draft stock slide a few years ago as he focused more on becoming a 200-foot player rather than simply being a point producer. It paid off in terms of his overall game, but he did slide in the NHL draft rankings before being scooped up by the Avalanche late in the first round (27th overall) of the 2023 draft. Ritchie possesses a mean shot that should translate well to the NHL, particularly on the power play. He also has elite hockey sense, anticipating plays before they happen and hunting down soft areas of the ice to get himself open or in the right spot at the right time.
Finally, we come to another first-round pick, forward Cole Eiserman. The 20-year-old isn’t an imposing presence, but he loves to throw his body around and doesn’t mind taking a hit to make a play. Eiserman will cruise to the front of the net in the offensive zone to stir up some disruption, but he does most of his scoring from a distance with his shot, which was considered one of the best during his draft eligibility.
Team Needs
A Top Six Forward: The Islanders gambled this summer when they signed forward Jonathan Drouin to a two-year deal, hoping he could fill an offensive role in the top six. While he hasn’t produced what GM Mathieu Darche hoped, he has chipped in with some offense and remains a good gamble. That being said, New York needs more from its top two lines, and bringing in a Jordan Kyrou-type from St. Louis would go a long way toward adding to an offense that is currently 22nd in the league. The Islanders could also look at Kyrou’s teammate, Robert Thomas, if the Blues were open to it, or take a long look at some of the forwards the Vancouver Canucks have made available, such as Elias Pettersson.
Depth Scoring: The Islanders need more offense from the bottom of their lineup and could look at a player like Michael Bunting of Nashville, who has a long history of providing depth offense on good hockey teams. Bunting is a UFA at the end of the season and has been effective as a depth scorer in Toronto, Pittsburgh and Nashville. If Bunting isn’t an option and the Islanders want to look at a pure shooter, Patrik Laine of the Montreal Canadiens would be a player who could fit simply as a triggerman. Laine doesn’t play much of a two-way game, but on a team like the Islanders, where he would be defensively insulated, it might be a great fit for a once-great goalscorer who has fallen on hard times in Montreal. Laine isn’t a prototypical depth player, but at this point, there isn’t much to his game away from the puck, and with all of his injury concerns, he could likely be acquired for very little.
Trade Deadline Primer: Seattle Kraken
With the Olympic break now over, the trade deadline is almost a week away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with teams in the fight for a playoff spot, next up are the Kraken.
Coming into the season, expectations weren’t particularly high for Seattle. They were coming off missing the playoffs and didn’t do much to shake up their roster. However, a significant improvement defensively under new head coach Lane Lambert has them squarely in the race for a playoff spot. But with some prominent veterans on expiring contracts, will they run the risk of letting them walk in free agency to bolster their playoff hopes or weaken those postseason odds to ensure they get a good return for some of those players?
Record
27-22-9, 4th in the Pacific (55.5% playoff probability, per MoneyPuck)
Deadline Status
Wild Card, could buy, sell, or some of each
Deadline Cap Space
$22.07MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: SEA 1st, TB 1st, SEA 2nd, ANA 4th, NYR 4th, SEA 4th, SEA 6th, NJ 7th, SEA 7th
2027: SEA 1st, TB 1st, CBJ 2nd, SEA 2nd, WPG 2nd, SEA 3rd, SEA 4th, SEA 5th, SEA 6th, SEA 7th
Trade Chips
Let’s talk about the veterans first. Up front, captain Jordan Eberle has already reached the 20-goal mark for the ninth time in his career and leads Seattle in scoring with 38 points. The captain has a full no-trade clause but his $4.75MM cap charge for a second-line winger is quite reasonable while he has a solid track record in the playoffs with a point-per-game average that’s rather close to his regular season averages.
Forward Jaden Schwartz has been a capable top-six player in recent years but, like many Kraken players this season, his output is down a bit in 2025-26. Still, with his track record and ability to play center in a pinch, there would be a market for his services, even at a $5.75MM cap charge. That said, his injury history might limit his potential return compared to another UFA winger in Eeli Tolvanen. Tolvanen brings a lot of physicality to the table with a bit of an offensive punch, although it’s highly unlikely he gets back to the 20-goal mark this season as he did a year ago. For teams looking to add some grit to their third line, his $3.475MM price tag will be appealing. Also worth noting is that Tolvanen doesn’t have any trade protection in his contract.
Perhaps their most appealing rental player is on the back end, however. Two elements that playoff-bound teams are consistently looking to add are grit and size to their blueline. Jamie Oleksiak brings both of those to the table. While he’s only a third-pairing player at five-on-five, he can log heavy penalty killing minutes, block plenty of shots, and play in late-game situations. His $4.6MM AAV for that role is on the high side but it stands to reason that Seattle would retain the maximum of 50% to maximize their return; a $2.3MM cap charge is much more affordable for contenders. Even though he’s having a bit of a down year, Oleksiak’s market will be strong if he’s put in play.
Over the last couple of months, center Shane Wright’s name has come up in a discussion of players who are believed to be available. The fourth overall pick in 2022 is a regular third-liner for the second straight season, although his offensive numbers are down from his rookie campaign when he potted 19 goals and 44 points in 79 games. Given the high demand for centers and the fact he’s easily affordable on the salary cap given that he’s on his entry-level deal, the Kraken would be well-positioned to command a quality return should they opt to trade from their center depth.
If Seattle opts to be a light buyer, one prospect to keep an eye on is Logan Morrison. A prolific scorer in junior, he’s having a strong season with AHL Coachella Valley, checking in at just under a point per game. Still, his NHL opportunity has been limited to just four games last season. He’s in his final year of waiver exemption and there could be a few teams that would have interest in giving him an NHL look down the stretch.
Team Needs
Offensive Firepower: While Seattle is much-improved defensively this season, it has come at the expense of some scoring as they’ve gone from a mid-pack team to one barely ahead of the bottom five in scoring. No player has hit 40 points yet (though Jared McCann would easily be there had he been healthy all season) and only Eberle has reached 20 goals. While the Kraken have a by-committee approach offensively, a legitimate top-six addition could go a long way toward bolstering their playoff odds, should GM Jason Botterill decide to be a buyer.
Penalty Killing Help: For all of the improved defensive play (and goaltending), one goal prevention area that still needs work is the penalty kill. They’re down nearly 6% from last season, checking in at just 71.4%, narrowly better than Vancouver who sits dead last. They’ve yet to score at four-on-five and generate the fewest shot attempts of any team in the league and the sit-back approach hasn’t quite worked. Given the importance of special teams in the playoffs, upgrading a player or two on the penalty kill – even if it’s their fourth-line or third-pairing options – could be enough of an improvement to see some legitimate improvement on that front.
Photo courtesy of Brett Holmes-Imagn Images.
Trade Deadline Primer: San Jose Sharks
With the Olympic break now over, the trade deadline is almost a week away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with teams in the fight for a playoff spot, next up with the Sharks.
The Sharks spent much of last summer bolstering their lineup to protect some of their young stars. So far this season, the additions have worked out well, and the Sharks remain in playoff contention with a third of the season remaining. San Jose management likely didn’t expect this team to be in playoff contention, but second-year superstar Macklin Celebrini has taken massive steps forward in his development, putting the team ahead of schedule in its rebuild. It should be fascinating to see how Sharks general manager Mike Grier responds to a team that wasn’t expected to be in playoff contention.
Record
27-24-4, 6th in the Pacific
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$641K on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: SJ 1st, EDM 1st, COL 2nd, FLA 4th, MTL 5th, PHI 6th, SJ 7th
2027: SJ 1st, SJ 4th, CHI 5th, SJ 6th,
Trade Chips
For a team just emerging from a rebuild, the Sharks don’t have many draft picks in the next two drafts. That said, they have arguably the best prospect pool in the NHL, though it will likely fall down the list as prospects are traded and others graduate into full-time NHLers. The Sharks are in an interesting spot heading into the deadline, as they could do some buying, but also move out one or more of their pending UFA defensemen who don’t fit management’s long-term plans.
Veteran defenseman Mario Ferraro is a good place to start, as he is a UFA at the end of the season. While the Sharks likely aren’t interested in being sellers this season, Ferraro will have significant value at the deadline and could give the Sharks more future pieces to add to their already deep cupboard of future assets. There is an outside chance that San Jose locks him up, as they reportedly have interest in a shorter-term deal with Ferraro, which would make sense given that he is just 27 years old, is one of the team’s leaders, and should have some good years in front of him. Ferraro isn’t overly skilled, but he has a high hockey IQ and is solid in the defensive zone as well as on the penalty kill. Ferraro isn’t a top-pairing presence on the blue line, but he does throw the body around and is a very quick skater, which helps with puck retrieval and getting the puck out of the defensive zone. Ferraro won’t net a top-end asset in a trade, but he is the kind of player teams covet for bottom-pairing and penalty-killing roles come playoff time.
John Klingberg and Vincent Desharnais are two other veteran defensemen on expiring deals who could be moved if the Sharks fall out of playoff contention or acquire younger defensemen and have a surplus. Klingberg has had a resurgence this season in San Jose, playing over 21 minutes a night and scoring at a 40-point pace for the first time in years. The 33-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Sharks this season, and the plan at the time was likely to move him to a playoff contender once San Jose fell out of playoff contention. However, that time hasn’t come yet, and the Sharks remain within striking distance, which could complicate matters. The allure for San Jose to move Klingberg will be a market that should heavily favor sellers, as so few teams have punted on this season and are selling off.
When it comes to moving young players, it doesn’t seem San Jose is in a position to move the likes of Michael Misa, Will Smith, Sam Dickinson, or any of their top young prospects. Further down the depth chart, the Sharks could move a prospect such as goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen, whom they selected late in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft (30th overall). Ravensbergen has great size at 6’5” and moves very well, though he will look to fill out more in the coming years. He is positionally sound and reads the play extremely well for a young goaltender.
It was surprising to see San Jose draft Ravensbergen last year, given that they already have Yaroslav Askarov in the fold. However, given the unpredictability of the goaltending position, the Sharks felt it was a worthwhile bet to add another highly touted goaltending prospect. GM Mike Grier probably isn’t in a hurry to deal Ravensbergen, given that his junior numbers haven’t been great and he has significant untapped potential. If the right move comes along to acquire more developed young players, Grier might feel inclined to pull the trigger on a trade.
Team Needs
A Right Shot Defenseman: The Sharks were reportedly in on New Jersey defenseman Dougie Hamilton last summer, but didn’t work out a deal. It’s unclear whether they would still have interest, but if they did, a deal for Hamilton would instantly make him their best puck-moving defenseman. That’s less a credit to Hamilton and more a reflection of the offensive capabilities of the Sharks’ current defensive unit. San Jose badly needs a defenseman, ideally on the right side, who can contribute to the offense. It’s hard to gauge whether Grier is desperate enough to go back to Hamilton, but it seems likely he would prefer to acquire a younger player who can grow with the team’s young core and be part of what could be a very special run in San Jose.
A Middle Six Forward: The Sharks were also reportedly interested in forward Artemi Panarin before he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings, underscoring that the Sharks recognize they need more depth at forward. San Jose could use help in its middle six, and it has already addressed this issue to a degree by acquiring Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canucks. Despite the Sherwood addition, the Sharks are still regularly deploying Collin Graf and Philipp Kurashev in their top nine, which is less than ideal for a team with playoff aspirations. No disrespect to Graf or Kurashev, who are both having a great year as younger players, but their spots in the forward group highlight a lack of depth at the position. San Jose could make a top-nine pickup to give their forward group more balance and ultimately a better chance to win on a nightly basis.
Trade Deadline Primer: Washington Capitals
With the Olympic break over, the trade deadline is just over a week away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? After looking at teams at the ends of the standings, we shift our focus to teams fighting for a playoff spot. Next up are the Capitals.
The Capitals have a roster that is too deep and too talented to be sitting where they are in the standings, but that is why teams play the games. Last season, Washington outperformed expectations, and this year, under the weight of those heightened expectations, the team has been inconsistent and has played below its talent level. Despite the struggles, Washington remains in the hunt for a playoff spot, and a strong push out of the Olympic break would go a long way toward reaching the postseason. There is no guarantee they will do it, but at this point, they seem likely to add to their roster rather than remove from it, as they should, given how unlucky they’ve been this season. Their record doesn’t reflect the team in Washington, and it will be interesting to see how they navigate the deadline.
Record
29-23-7, 5th in the Metropolitan
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$12.66MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 46/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: WSH 1st, WSH 4th, WSH 4th, WSH 5th, WSH 6th, WSH 7th
2027: WSH 1st, WSH 2nd, WSH 4th, WSH 5th, WSH 7th, OTT 7th
Trade Chips
The Capitals have already borrowed a bit from the future, shipping out their second- and third-round picks this season and their third- and sixth-round picks next season. Those trades have yielded mixed results, but they are the kinds of moves teams make when competing for a playoff spot.
Outside their draft-pick catalogue, the Capitals have a healthy stable of prospects who should continue to make an NHL impact in the coming years. Washington’s system is slightly above average, which is saying a lot for a team that mortgaged its future repeatedly for a decade or more. The Capitals have drafted well recently and have prospects in their system who would make solid trade chips.
As Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports, if Washington wants to go big and make a splash, it might cost them one of their top prospects, either center Ilya Protas or defenseman Cole Hutson. Capitals general manager Chris Patrick has already said he isn’t interested in moving Hutson, and it’s hard to blame him given the player’s profile. Washington has to think about a future without superstar Alex Ovechkin while also trying to give him a potential final season to remember.
Protas would be an excellent trade chip if the Capitals chose to go that route. Protas is having a solid first pro season in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, tallying 18 goals and 20 assists in 47 games. The 6’5”, 201-lb pivot won’t burn you with speed and doesn’t separate with his legs, but he is quick with the puck and has a good ability to anticipate the play before moving the puck to teammates. His size will be an attractive quality for teams looking to size up down the middle, and he could be a central piece of a package to acquire a top winger.
With Ryan Leonard now fully graduated to the NHL, the Capitals’ top prospect is likely Andrew Cristall, who put up awe-inspiring numbers in the WHL last season, with 48 goals and 84 assists in 57 games. While his transition to the AHL hasn’t been perfect, he is still putting up points in his first professional season, with nine goals and 28 assists in 47 games. Cristall is the definition of dynamic, using his terrific skating to deceive opponents and operate as a setup man for his teammates. Cristall is a bit on the small side by NHL standards at 5’10”, but given his work with the puck on his stick, there would be many teams willing to facilitate a trade if Cristall is part of the return.
Team Needs
A Top Six Winger: The Capitals were reportedly interested in forward Artemi Panarin, which makes sense given their need for top-six help on the wings. Ethen Frank has seen regular shifts in the top six, suggesting that, as currently constructed, Washington is not a serious contender in the Eastern Conference. Gone are the days when Ovechkin, John Carlson and a lethal power play could carry the Capitals’ offense. The stars need help. Nashville Predators forwards Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault are likely available, but do the Capitals want to trade away futures for a couple of aging veterans on expensive deals? Hard to say.
Jordan Kyrou is a name that could make sense, as the St. Louis Blues appear ready to dive deeper into a rebuild. Robert Thomas is also a potential option. Both would require significant commitments in the form of trade assets and cap space, but the Capitals are in a position to make both work if they wanted to.
Depth Forward: Last trade deadline, Washington acquired forward Anthony Beauvillier from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a second-round draft pick. That type of deal was likely an overpay, but Beauvillier is the kind of player Washington could target as they look for help in their middle six. The Capitals have dealt with injuries this season, and some of their depth players haven’t contributed much offensively. In a perfect world, the Capitals could have found a player such as Egor Chinakhov, who is young enough to be part of the future but ready to contribute NHL minutes now. Unfortunately for Washington, he was traded to Pittsburgh earlier this season. The Capitals should have plenty of options should they try to add another depth forward. They could acquire a top-end forward and hope that pushing everyone down the lineup solves the problem, or they could look to a team like Vancouver and perhaps pry away a player like Teddy Blueger, who wouldn’t cost a lot but has looked great in limited action this season.
Trade Deadline Primer: Boston Bruins
With the Olympic break upon us, the trade deadline is under a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? After looking at teams at the ends of the standings, we shift our focus to teams fighting for a playoff spot. Next up are the Bruins.
The Bruins remain in contention despite many having them pegged to miss the playoffs this year by a fairly significant margin. The Bruins were sellers at last year’s trade deadline but have shifted toward a more promising retool. Boston still has a solid core to build around in David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman, so they will be incentivized to continue adding to their lineup while that core is in the prime of their careers. General manager Don Sweeney has been criticized in the past for some of his moves, particularly in the wake of the Bruins’ record-setting 2022-23 season. Still, he has done solid work over the last year, steering the Bruins through a tough time and back into playoff contention.
Record
32-20-5, 5th in the Atlantic (61% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$3.98MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 44/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: BOS 1st, TOR 1st, BOS 2nd, BOS 3rd, BOS 4th, PHI 4th, TB 4th, BOS 6th, BOS 7th
2027: BOS 1st, FLA 1st, BOS 2nd, BOS 4th, BOS 6th, BOS 7th
Trade Chips
The Bruins’ best trade chips at the moment are the four first-round picks they hold in the next two entry drafts. Those picks, should Boston opt to move any of them, would be a significant piece of a package for an impact player at the deadline. It remains to be seen whether Sweeney has the stomach to do that this year, but the option is available.
Aside from the picks, Boston doesn’t have a deep prospect system, and they are unlikely to move their best prospect, James Hagens, whom they drafted last June with the seventh overall pick. The 19-year-old profiles as a center, and the Bruins have a good amount of long-term depth down the middle, so it’s possible they could consider a move. However, Hagens has seen a good amount of usage on the wing this year at Boston College, which means the Bruins have options when it comes to their top prospect.
Beyond Hagens, there is a major drop-off in talent throughout the Bruins’ prospect system, with some of their top players already having graduated to the NHL. Fraser Minten is one of those former prospects who is now a full-time NHLer at 21, and another young player Boston probably has no interest in trading. Minten has posted 14 goals and 15 assists in 57 games this season while providing a steady physical presence. The Bruins have decent center depth throughout the system, but it’s hard to imagine them trading a young center who is just scratching the surface of his potential.
Sticking with young forwards, Fabian Lysell is the Bruins’ 2021 first-round pick (21st overall). He had a cup of coffee in the NHL last season, playing 12 games and recording one goal and two assists. The winger returned to the AHL this season, where he is having the most productive offensive season of his career, with 15 goals and 21 assists in 42 games. At 23, Lysell is on the older side for a prospect, but he’s shown enough offense in the AHL to be viewed as a decent trade piece. Lysell is an excellent skater with good vision through traffic, which should help him when he gets to the NHL full-time and is looking to provide support and opportunities for his teammates. Lysell won’t net the Bruins a top piece via trade, but he could be packaged with other picks and prospects to acquire top-end talent.
Dans Locmelis was a fourth-round pick in 2022 (119th overall) and is another center in the Bruins system, though he doesn’t have the same shine as some of his more well-known peers. Locmelis began his pro career last year, appearing in six AHL games and recording three goals and nine assists. While he hasn’t maintained the same scoring pace this season, Locmelis has remained productive with 28 points in 43 games and an appearance at the Olympics, where he played for Latvia and scored a couple of goals in four games. The Bruins are high on the 22-year-old, and there is a possibility he breaks the NHL roster this season. The Bruins could dangle Locmelis as a potential trade candidate, but given that he isn’t a well-known name and his play has been largely understated, they might not get enough value to entice them to move on from him.
Team Needs
A Right Shot Defenseman: The Bruins made a great move last year, trading defenseman Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The move has turned out to be a huge win; however, the Bruins have never actually replaced Carlo, leaving a big hole on the right side of their defense. There are plenty of options available in Boston that should meet just about any price point, and it will be interesting to see whether they go the rental route or make a move for a player with some term remaining on their contract, such as Justin Faulk of the St. Louis Blues. While Faulk has been a solid pro for a long time, he would be a downgrade from some other options the Bruins were considering, such as Rasmus Andersson, who was traded a few weeks ago to the Vegas Golden Knights. Boston was reportedly in on the Andersson sweepstakes and went as far as negotiating an extension with the soon-to-be UFA (as per Elliotte Friedman).
Top Six Forward Help: The Bruins are dealing with a few injuries at the moment, which isn’t the worst timing, given the extended break for the Olympics. Centers Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha should be back in the lineup when NHL play resumes, and their injuries have pushed other forwards in Boston into other roles in the team’s hierarchy. Despite the team getting healthy in time for a playoff push, it is clear that Boston needs to add to its top six if it wants any chance of a playoff run. This would allow a player such as Casey Mittelstadt to push down the depth chart and play in a role that better suits his skill set. The Bruins might not want to pay premium prices for a forward, but given that they didn’t send any assets out the door for Andersson, they likely have some options to facilitate a trade for forward help.
Photo by Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Trade Deadline Primer: Ottawa Senators
With the Olympic break upon us, the trade deadline is under a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? After looking at teams at the ends of the standings, we shift our focus to teams fighting for a playoff spot. Next up are the Senators.
The Senators are in a very tough spot as we approach the trade deadline. The team was built to compete this season, but it has failed to build on last season’s playoff appearance and risks regressing. Ottawa has a small competitive window left to win something of substance and isn’t likely to punt on this season, especially given that they don’t currently have a first-round pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch has hinted that Ottawa would rather add than subtract from its roster, which makes sense given that Ottawa was heating up in the weeks leading up to the Olympics. If the Senators can get some goaltending down the stretch, they will be in the hunt for a wild-card spot. That being said, should they add to their lineup, stand pat, or sell off their pending UFAs?
Record
28-22-7, 6th in the Atlantic (42.2% playoff probability)
Deadline Status
Conservative Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$13.95MM on deadline day, 1/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: BUF 2nd, OTT 3rd, FLA 3rd, WSH 3rd, OTT 5th, OTT 6th,
2027: OTT 1st, OTT 2nd, OTT 3rd, OTT 4th, OTT 5th, OTT 6th,
Trade Chips
If the Senators opted to sell off this season, they would have no shortage of pieces to move, including forwards David Perron, Lars Eller, Nick Cousins, and Claude Giroux, as well as defenseman Nick Jensen. PHR covered that angle a month ago, when it looked as though the Senators were headed for a sell-off, but now they may have positioned themselves to be buyers if they can keep rolling. But do they have any assets that could be moved to acquire talent that can help this season?
Ottawa doesn’t have much, but they have a few pieces that could be moved to acquire more talent. The first name that comes to mind for anyone familiar with Ottawa’s prospect system is Carter Yakemchuk. The 20-year-old defenseman is the Senators’ top prospect and currently plays for their AHL affiliate in Belleville, where he is having a solid first professional season. To put it bluntly, Ottawa isn’t moving Yakemchuk for any short-term gains and may not be inclined to move him at all. If they had a move available to address both their short- and long-term futures, they might be open to it, but for now, he is likely staying put.
Outside of Yakemchuk, the Senators have a few other prospects they might be more willing to move, including another defenseman, Logan Hensler. The Senators’ 2025 first-round pick (23rd overall) is currently in his second season in the NCAA with the University of Wisconsin. He has already matched his point total from all of last season (12) in just 23 games. Hensler’s game is quite different from that of Yakemchuk in that he plays a safe, steady game focused on gap control, an active stick, and using his explosiveness to make defensive recoveries. Hensler is well-suited to play alongside a defenseman like Yakemchuk, who is more offensively minded and gifted. Should Ottawa make Hensler available in a trade, he is the kind of player who could be the big piece in a package that includes draft picks and other players.
In the crease, the Senators have run the course with goaltender Mads Sogaard, and it certainly feels like his time with Ottawa needs to end soon. The former second-round pick has not shown much in his last two professional seasons, after a stellar start to his AHL career from 2020 to 2023. Sogaard is now 25, and although the Senators don’t exactly have a deep prospect pool in the crease, it seems likely they will non-tender him this summer. Given that trajectory, it makes sense for Ottawa to move him before the deadline (hopefully) for a late-round pick or let him walk in the summer for nothing. Sogaard isn’t going to fetch much of a return, but Ottawa could pair the pick with other assets to facilitate a bigger move elsewhere.
Shifting up front to the forwards, Stephen Halliday has been a nice story this season for the Senators. The 2022 fourth-round pick (104th overall) was an overage draft pick when Ottawa selected him, and he has had a terrific start to his professional career. The Senators have rewarded his progression by giving him 25 NHL games this year, and Halliday, in turn, has rewarded the Senators’ trust in him by tallying four goals and seven assists while averaging just over eight minutes per game. Halliday’s skating isn’t great, but his size and offensive skill set would be desirable to a team looking to add good young talent to its prospect pool.
Team Needs
A Top Six Center: Ottawa had hoped that last year’s trade-deadline acquisition, Fabian Zetterlund, could slide into a role in the Senators’ top six. However, that hasn’t been the case, as Zetterlund has struggled this season and has been relegated to fourth-line duties alongside Eller. The 26-year-old isn’t much of a play driver, but he has fared better in this department this season despite his demotion. Zetterlund can skate well and could likely play in Ottawa’s top six if needed, but at the moment, he’s been a disappointment this year. With his play moving him down the lineup, it’s become clear that Ottawa could use a top-six forward to bump some of their other players back to a more suitable role. Some fans might point to a veteran like Perron as a potential candidate for the top two lines, but given his age and recent injury history, that is not a safe bet. Ottawa doesn’t need to sell the farm to make an addition, and it probably wouldn’t be in on any of the trio of St. Louis Blues who are available (Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, or Brayden Schenn). However, Ottawa could afford to target a player like Michael Bunting of the Nashville Predators or Andrew Mangiapane of the Edmonton Oilers. Both of those players are having down years, but perhaps an opportunity in Ottawa’s top six might reignite their play this year.
A 1B Goaltender: Linus Ullmark is a terrific NHL goaltender who has had a great career. He’s dealt with a lot this season, and unfortunately, it has affected his play on the ice. Had Ottawa received league-average goaltending this season, it would be comfortably in a playoff position at the moment, instead of sixth in its division. The Senators don’t have the assets to acquire another starting goaltender. Still, they could find a more consistent backup, or ideally, a 1B goaltender who can take more starts and allow Ullmark to work through his game without the pressure of shouldering the bulk of the goaltending load. The name Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild has been thrown around quite often in online forums. Still, the Senators probably don’t have the trade capital to make that move, particularly given that the Wild are looking for center help and Ottawa likely doesn’t want to part with any of their young, cost-controlled centers (nor should they).
Photo by Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Trade Deadline Primer: Los Angeles Kings
With the Olympic break upon us, the trade deadline is under a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? After looking at teams at the ends of the standings, we shift our focus to teams fighting for a playoff spot. Next up are the Kings.
The Kings made a splash recently by acquiring Artemi Panarin from the Rangers for a minimal return. The trade surprised some in the hockey world and showed the Kings are serious about winning this season. Los Angeles has meandered through the first two-thirds of the season and hasn’t looked like a serious contender, but with Panarin in the mix, it’s clear they plan to add to their lineup and make a push. Whether they make that push remains to be seen, but management’s mindset is fairly clear as we approach the trade deadline.
Record
23-19-14, 5th in the Pacific (55.3% playoff probabilty)
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$15.71MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per PuckPedia.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2026: LAK 1st, LAK 2nd, CBJ 2nd, DAL 3rd, LAK 4th, LAK 5th, LAK 6th, COL 6th, LAK 7th
2027: LAK 1st, LAK 2nd, LAK 4th, LAK 6th, COL 6th, LAK 7th
Trade Chips
The Kings have plenty of draft picks they could move in any deadline deal, but they aren’t exactly stocked with quality prospects and have a farm system that would rank in the bottom third of the league in terms of quality and quantity. The team already dealt their top prospect, Liam Greentree, for Panarin, but they do have other pieces if they want to make another splash.
Francesco Pinelli was a second-round selection in the 2021 draft (42nd overall) and has not had a smooth transition to the professional ranks, struggling early in the AHL. He had 15 goals and 14 assists in 70 AHL games last season, and likely needs to size up if he hopes to break through to the NHL. Pinelli is a smart player who identifies open space for himself and teammates to create offensive opportunities. On the defensive side of the game, his instincts aren’t as strong, and it is something he is working to round out in the AHL.
Another potential trade piece for the Kings is defenseman Henry Brzustewicz. The 2025 first-round pick (31st overall) plays a safe, simple game and relies on moving the puck to a teammate rather than creating offensive plays himself. His defensive game is steady and effective, as he is adept at forcing opponents to the perimeter, protecting the slot, and containing them. Brzustewicz does have some offensive capabilities, but he isn’t a play driver and likely won’t be running a team’s power play if/when he makes it to the NHL. Brzustewicz could be a good piece of a bigger package if the Kings are looking to make another splash before the trade deadline.
Finally, we come to goaltender Carter George, who might be the Kings’ best prospect after the Greentree trade. George has had a decorated international career, representing Canada at the last two World Junior Championships, and he has also been terrific during his tenure in the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The Thunder Bay, ON, native isn’t overly big, but his puck-handling makes him a third defenseman, which can facilitate quick breakouts and transition play. In terms of his goaltending, he is technically sound and doesn’t appear to wilt under pressure. If the Kings wanted to move a prospect whose value is inflated at the moment, George is probably the piece.
Team Needs
A Top Six Center: Los Angeles desperately needs a center going forward. It’s gotten to the point this season that winger Alex Laferriere has slotted in at center in the top six, which is less than ideal. They have Anze Kopitar for the rest of the season until he retires, and Quinton Byfield is likely fine as the second-line center, although he’s had a rough stretch this year. Beyond that, Alex Turcotte has not reached the levels many expected, putting the Kings in a predicament this season and beyond. The Kings have cap space to acquire a center this year, but it’s hard to say how strong the internal pressure is to acquire a pivot before the deadline. Los Angeles could let this year play out and chase a Nick Schmaltz-type player in free agency, or they could look to the current available options, which would likely be Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken, or Robert Thomas out of St. Louis. There is always Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers available as well, and given the ties to Panarin, there could be something to that one.
A Depth Forward: No disrespect to Taylor Ward or Jeff Malott, but if Los Angeles enters the playoffs with those two taking regular shifts on the fourth line, that would be a problem against a team like the Edmonton Oilers. The Kings have dealt with some injuries, and the Kevin Fiala injury is another obstacle to overcome, especially since the Kings don’t have a ton of reinforcements who can play at a high level long term. Malott has been a fine replacement this season, but Ward has just 16 NHL games of experience and is a late bloomer, much like Malott. The Kings could likely find a reasonably priced depth forward on the trade market to insulate themselves against future injuries, which will no doubt happen as the NHL plays a compressed schedule down the stretch. A player like Erik Haula might make sense coming out of Nashville, as the Predators aren’t a playoff team, and Haula has an expiring deal. His market could be limited due to his $3.15MM cap hit, which the Kings could easily absorb at this time with any retention from Nashville.
Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
AHL Free Agents To Watch For Ahead Of The Trade Deadline
The list of players in an NHL organization doesn’t end with those actively signed. AHL and ECHL affiliates can have players under contract, too, so while they’re playing with an affiliated farm team, their signing rights aren’t directly tied to their NHL parent.
That doesn’t stop NHL clubs from snapping up talent that was initially brought in on minor-league deals, though. It’s common for teams to do at the trade deadline, making them eligible for a recall down the stretch or participate in playoff action if needed. There are a few standout names worth monitoring this season that might be worthy investments for teams to add as options on two-way deals.
Ben Berard, LW (Vancouver Canucks)
At 27, Berard doesn’t have the upside of anyone else here. The 6’0″ winger is in his third pro season after a lengthy run at Cornell. He entered the year with just six points in 34 career AHL games on his resume and spent nearly all of last season in the ECHL.
He’s been one of the better stories on an Abbotsford team that’s had a dreadful follow-up season to last year’s Calder Cup championship, though. On a club that’s scoring just 2.18 goals per game, he’s tied for the team lead in points with 23 in 46 games. There isn’t much of an NHL future for him given his age and development curve, but considering Vancouver might sell off more assets for futures ahead of the deadline and they’re light on capable recall options, a two-way deal might be in the cards to reward his efforts.
Atley Calvert, C (Pittsburgh Penguins)
The 22-year-old Saskatchewan native has no relation to former NHLer Matt Calvert. He’s nonetheless made an impression in the Pens organization in his second professional season. Undrafted, he played his junior hockey for his hometown Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL before signing with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2024.
As a first-year pro on a minor-league deal, few batted an eye when Calvert spent a good chunk of 2024-25 in the ECHL. He was impressive in his AHL call-ups, though, recording 14 points in 26 games. He carried that momentum through to this season, where he’s stuck on WBS’ roster full-time and ranks fourth on the team in scoring with a 9-17–26 line in 48 games. He’s got good size at 6’0″ and 194 lbs. Breaking through a crowded Pens prospect pool for a full-time NHL role is unlikely, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the organization reward one of their depth breakout talents with an NHL commitment.
Philippe Daoust, C (Ottawa Senators)
Daoust will be a familiar name to Sens fans. He was under contract with the club for the last three seasons, signing his entry-level deal after being selected in the sixth round in 2020. He was non-tendered in June, ending his formal NHL relationship with Ottawa, but he chose to stick around in the organization on an AHL-only deal with Belleville.
The 24-year-old center has now exploded for 12 goals and 40 points in 46 games. He’s tied for second on the team in scoring behind Arthur Kaliyev and is top-30 in the AHL in points. That’s a remarkable spike for a player who looked like a non-factor throughout most of his entry-level deal, with injuries limiting him to just 18 combined AHL and ECHL appearances from 2022-24.
Kyle Keyser, G (Colorado Avalanche)
There aren’t many non-NHL contracted goalies who have played more than 10 games in the NHL this season. In fact, there are only two of them.
Keyser, at 11 games, leads the league with a .943 SV% and has an 8-1- 1 record with two shutouts. For an Avs team with largely unproven and young depth options behind their two bona fide NHLers, he’d be a shrewd signing to serve as their emergency backup in the postseason.
The 26-year-old is in his seventh AHL season, most of which were spent in the Bruins organization. He’s got a .907 SV% in 84 career games at the level.
Gabe Klassen, C (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Klassen wasn’t drafted despite being a junior standout with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. His stock was harmed by his draft year coming after the truncated 2020-21 season. After that, though, he was the Winterhawks’ captain for two years and rattled off three straight 30-plus goal seasons, including a 106-point dominant showing in 2023-24.
The undersized pivot caught on with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last year but was buried in the ECHL – a product of being at the bottom of the ladder as a first-year pro on a minor-league deal. He’s avoided any time with ECHL Wheeling this season, though, and is now a regular contributor in the Baby Pens’ top nine. With 12 goals and 22 points in 40 games, he ranks fourth and eighth on the team in those respective categories. His 5’10” frame will be his biggest obstacle to being an NHLer, but it’s clear he produces more with increased opportunities.