We’re in the final hours before the NHL free agency period officially opens.

Starting at noon on Tuesday, teams can officially begin signing players who are unrestricted free agents to new contracts.

The NHL salary cap is also going up, increasing by $7.5 million to a total cap ceiling of $95.5 million.

That represents the largest jump between seasons since the salary cap was implemented back in 2025.

As of Monday at noon, 24 hours before the official open of free agency, the Florida Panthers had $11 million in cap space to work with based off the players – 11 forwards, five defensemen and a goaltender – who were under contract with Florida for the 2025-26 season.

For those wondering, they are Sasha Barkov, Sergei Bobrovsky, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe, Seth Jones, Gus Forsling, Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues, Eetu Luostarinen, Niko Mikkola, Jesper Boqvist, Dmitry Kulikov, A.J. Greer, Uvis Balinskis and Jonah Gadjovich.

Well, the Panthers are now seemingly out of cap space thanks to a pair of signings that sent shockwaves across the hockey world.

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forward Brad Marchand have each agreed to long-term extensions to stay in South Florida.

For Ekblad, he signed an eight-year deal that carries an average annual value (AAV) of $6.1 million.

Marchand inked a six-year deal with the Panthers with an AAV of $5.25.

Those are two massive signings by Florida, and it sets up the Panthers with an amazing core of players who are all locked into contracts for the foreseeable future.

Signed at least through 2030 are Barkov, Tkachuk, Reinhart, Bennett, Jones, Forsling, Lundell and now Ekblad and Marchand.

But the Panthers likely aren’t done.

At the moment, they are over the cap by $350,000, and they still need to sign a backup goalie.

The likely candidate is restricted free agent Daniil Tarason, who Florida acquired last week during the NHL Draft. 

It’s also been reported by David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period that the Panthers are looking into bringing back Tomas Nosek, another unrestricted free agent.

Could Florida be exploring a potential trade?

Is there a possibility that a player could start the season on LTIR?

These are questions that could be answered in the coming hours, or in the coming weeks and months.

We’ll have to wait and see, but don’t think that just because Florida had a busy June 30th, they won’t be active on July 1st.

Stay tuned.

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Photo caption: May 7, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) scores a goal and celebrates with defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period in game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)

The Winnipeg Jets have extended qualifying offers to seven players those being Tyrel Bauer, Isaak Phillips, Dylan Samberg, Morgan Barron, Parker Ford, Rasmus Kupari and Gabe Vilardi, but have not extended offers to Simon Lundmark and Mason Shaw.

Bauer, Phillips and Ford almost exclusively played in the AHL. Bauer, a 23-year-old right-handed defenseman, skated in 59 games with the Manitoba Moose, recording two assists. Phillips was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks during the season and played in 39 games with the Moose, scoring three goals and eight points. The 23-year-old is a 6'3 defensive defenseman with 56 games of NHL experience under his belt. 

Ford accumulated his first bit of NHL experience this season, scoring one goal in three games. In the AHL, the 24-year-old forward registered 14 goals and 21 points in 41 games. 

Samberg, Barron, Kupari and Vilardi are all restricted free agents who spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season with the Jets. Kupari will spend the next two seasons with Lugano HC in Switzerland, but extending him a qualifying offer will keep his rights with the team if he elects to make a return to the NHL when his contract concludes.

Barron played in 74 games with the Jets this season, scoring eight goals in 15 points and emerging as the fourth-line center the team needed. His size and physical brand of hockey are valued additions to the Jets' bottom six.

Samberg and Vilardi are the two big-name RFAs the Jets desperately need to sign. A recent report stated the Jets are engaged in ongoing negotiations with the 25-year-old, and both parties feel confident that a deal will formulate.

Samberg is just as, if not more important, to the Jets' success as Vilardi. The 2024-25 season emerged as a breakout campaign for the 26-year-old, averaging a career-high 21:08 of ice time and becoming recognized as one of the NHL's top defensive defensemen. 

Although it may be difficult, signing Vilardi and Samberg to long-term contracts would go a long way to extending the Jets' window for success. 

Lundmark and Shaw will become unrestricted free agents and still could re-sign with the Jets, although most signs point towards Lundmark leaving the organization. The 24-year-old was a second-round pick (51st overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, but has yet to make his NHL debut. He finished his fourth AHL season with the Moose this year but has yet to record more than five goals and 17 points despite little defensive improvements. Several rumours have been shared linking Lundmark with a return to Sweden in the SHL.

Shaw is a 26-year-old forward who wrapped up his first season with the Jets organization, scoring 17 goals and 37 points in 72 AHL games. Shaw has played just 82 NHL games throughout his career and could be looking to sign with a team with a more visible path to the NHL next year. 

Qualifying offer price tags according to Puckpedia:

Vilardi: $3,600,000 (arbitration eligible)
Barron: $1,400,000 (arbitration eligible)
Kupari: $1,100,000 (arbitration eligible)
Ford: $813,750 (arbitration eligible)
Samberg: $1,500,000 (arbitration eligible)
Phillips: $813,750 (arbitration eligible)
Bauer: $813,750

Stay updated with the most interesting Jets stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Jets Re-Sign Defenceman Haydn Fleury to Two-Year ContractThe Winnipeg Jets have re-signed defenceman Haydn Fleury to a two-year contract.  Which Restricted Free Agents Do The Jets Prioritize?General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Winnipeg Jets head into the offseason with four restricted free agents, each of which has provided the Jets with reasoning of why they should be re-signed.

The Vegas Golden Knights have extended qualifying offers to five players, maintaining their restricted free-agent rights. The five players include Lukas Cormier, Alexander Holtz, Raphael Lavoie, Jonas Rondbjerg and Cole Schwindt. 

Cormier, a 23-year-old left-handed defenseman, was drafted in the third round (68th overall) in the 2020 NHL draft. Since the selection, Cormier has seen almost all of his action in the AHL but has accumulated two games of NHL experience. In the AHL, Cormier has scored 14 goals and 64 points in 139 games, continuing to round out his game on both sides of the puck. 

The 2024-25 season was difficult for Cormier, as he played just 19 games after recovering from an injury. With the recent news about Alex Pietrangelo's hip injury and Nicolas Hague's departure to the Nashville Predators, Cormier is likely the next man up to step into an NHL role.

Holtz's first season with the Golden Knights was up-and-down. In the NHL, he struggled to take a firm grasp of any role he was assigned, recording four goals and 12 points in 53 games. In the AHL, the 23-year-old netted seven goals and 13 points in just 16 games, proving to be too skilled at times for the minors. The 2025-26 season could be a career-defining season for the former seventh-overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, as many predict he'll sign a one-year deal. 

Lavoie and Schwindt also played their first seasons as Golden Knights after the pair was claimed off waivers in the preseason. Lavoie spent the majority of the season with the Henderson Silver Knights, registering 17 goals and 27 points in 42 games. In nine games of NHL action, the 24-year-old failed to record a point. 

Schwindt served as the Golden Knights' fourth-line centre prior to his injury and additions at the trade deadline. The 24-year-old scored a goal and eight points in 42 games, gaining plenty of trust from HC Bruce Cassidy, averaging 9:15 of ice time. 

Out of the five, Rondbjerg is the longest-tenured Golden Knight, but he's struggled to break through the lineup and take a firm grasp of a roster spot. This season, Rondbjerg skated in 13 games but did not record any points. With the Silver Knights, the 26-year-old scored 11 goals and 26 points in 53 games. 

Price tags for each qualifying offer according to PuckPedia:

Cormier: $813,750
Holtz: $874,125
Schwindt: $840,000
Lavoie: $813,750
Rondbjerg: $813,750

Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and general manager Kelly McCrimmon have both issued statements regarding the two-time Stanley Cup winner’s status for the 2025–26 season.

Vegas Golden Knights Provide Update on Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo #VegasBorn

MORE: https://t.co/zaVm6JWy4Opic.twitter.com/JqUJ6b0rZf

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 1, 2025

Pietrangelo was set to compete for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off back in February but withdrew due to undisclosed injuries, hoping to recover in time for the remainder of the regular season. However, he never returned. Since then, there has been widespread speculation and persistent questions, especially following reports of the surgeries he required.

“After exploring options with doctors as well as my family, it’s been advised to remove the intensity of hockey to see if my body can improve so that I can return to a normal quality of life,” Pietrangelo said in the statement. “The likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play, but I know this is the right decision for me and my family.”

Pietrangelo has played 17 seasons in the NHL, 12 with the St. Louis Blues, four in which he was captain, and five with the Knights. He has appeared in 1,087 regular-season games, putting up 637 points (148 Goals, 489 Assists) with a career plus/minus rating of +123 rating. In the postseason, he has played in 149 games tallying 80 points (15 Goals, 65 Assists) and a +26 rating. During those playoff runs he won the Stanley Cup twice, once with St. Louis in 2019 and again with Vegas in 2023. The 35-year-old defenseman’s 149 postseason appearances are the most by any player taken in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft; he was the Blues fourth overall pick. 

“Alex has given everything to the game and to the Golden Knights and has played through significant challenges in the pursuit of trying to win another Stanley Cup in Vegas,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “He is one of the most respected players in the league, not only for his elite talent but for his character, leadership, competitiveness, and professionalism.” 

PHOTO COURTESY: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports 

In the aftermath of every NHL Draft, the analysis always comes due.

This is especially true for a rebuilding team like the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had 13 picks in the 2025 draft. There were many who thought - for sure - that the Penguins were not going to use all of those picks to draft, and - instead - would leverage some in trades for young talent or to move up in the draft. It was the highest volume of draft picks they've had since 1994, when they had 14.

But that wasn't the case.

Much of the discourse surrounding the work that general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas - as well as vice president of player development Wes Clark - did on Friday and Saturday involved discussions of "quality v. quantity." Many want to see the Penguins shift in the direction of accruing high-quality assets, so they were disappointed to see Dubas and Clark make the decision to trade down in the first round to acquire three first-round picks instead of drafting back-to-back at 11 and 12.

Yes, 13 is a large quantity of picks, no matter how you slice it. But don't assume that "quantity" and "quality" - in this case - are separate things.

There were a handful of players who folks hoped to see the Penguins draft back-to-back. Names like Victor Eklund, Justin Carbonneau, Jackson Smith, and Kashawn Aitcheson were still on the board when the Penguins were selecting at 11, yet they went a bit off-the-board by selecting center Ben Kindel.

Many saw that as a confounding, "galaxy-brain" move. But that's not giving enough credit to the caliber of player Kindel is.

The deeper you look, the more you like the pick. Ben Kindel flew under the radar for many scouts.

He led all WHL draft-year skaters with 99 points and dominated his team in playoff scoring with 15 (next best had 9).

Skilled and a playoff riser—Pens fans should be excited. pic.twitter.com/4vAg1B0vJT

— Wyatt Leblanc (@wleblanc15) June 30, 2025

The 5-foot-10, 176-pound center was highly touted by several Western Hockey League (WHL) scouts. His production - he had 35 goals and 99 points in 65 games last season for the Calgary Hitmen - matched, and even bested, some top-10 talents in the draft:

     - Eighth overall pick Jake O'Brien recorded 32 goals and 98 points in 68 games for the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL
     - Sixth overall pick Porter Martone posted 37 goals and 98 points for the Brampton Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
     - Fifth overall pick Brady Martin registered 33 goals and 72 points in 57 games for the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL
     - Fourth overall pick Caleb Desnoyers had 35 goals and 84 points in 56 games for the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)

The only real, conceivable quality that was holding Kindel back from being a top-10 pick is his size. And - as many have been quick to point out - his ability to outsmart, outskate, and beat opponents one-on-one, coupled with his top-notch skill and scoring ability, has the high likelihood of making his size a non-factor.

Reaction: Penguins Select Center Ben Kindel 11th Overall In 2025 NHL DraftThe 2025 NHL Draft is finally upon us.

Kindel is, easily, now the best prospect in the Penguins' system. Other players like Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Harrison Brunicke, and Sergei Murashov have higher-end potential, but Kindel is the only one who could blossom into a star at the NHL level. And the Penguins need that - desperately need that - in their system.

However, Kindel isn’t the only quality prospect the Penguins added. The Penguins traded that 12th overall pick - given to them by the New York Rangers to satisfy the condition of the Marcus Pettersson and J.T. Miller trades - to draft two more players later in the first round, which resulted in Bill Zonnon at 22nd overall and Will Horcoff (after the Penguins traded back up from 31st overall) at 24th overall.

The jury is out on Horcoff's ceiling, although he profiles as someone who has the potential to be an effective third-line center. But scouts everywhere have praised Zonnon, whose stock had risen considerably over the past year. 

The tough-as-nails, all-around forward registered 28 goals and 83 points in 64 games with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL last season, and many see him as a future middle-six forward with the potential to be in some Selke conversations. Zonnon has a complete toolset that includes strong puck skills, playmaking ability, versatility, hockey sense, defensive acumen, and physicality.

But it doesn't stop at the first round. Perhaps the two most underrated selections by the Penguins in the 2025 draft were both defensemen: Quinn Beauchesne and Charlie Trethewey.

I’m very early in my process here and don’t want to get carried away but, folks: Quinn Beauchesne looks really good. I’m very confused by why he was available as late as he was. Very confused.

— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) June 29, 2025

Beauchesne - one of three fifth-round picks (148th overall) by the Penguins - is a great skater and has great defensive instincts. He is prone to turnovers and mistakes from time to time, but he's mobile, he has a good stick, he's good on the breakout, and he's got a good shot. 

Trethewey - who is a homegrown prospect of sorts due to his participation in the youth Pittsburgh Penguins Elite program and his father's family roots in the area - may end up being one of the biggest steals of the 2025 draft class, as he was projected as a first-rounder by most draft boards heading into the 2024-25 season. His booming shot, knack for physicality, and dynamic mobility already make him one of the Penguins' most intriguing defensive prospects.

Penguins Select Homegrown Defensive Prospect In Third RoundIt will be a homecoming for one of the Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round draft selections.

There are other potential upside guys, too. Horcoff is one of them, as is defenseman Peyton Kettles. So, too, is goaltender Gabriel D'Aigle.

Is every one of these 13 prospects going to pan out? No. Are even half of them going to make it at the NHL level? Probably not. 

But, some of them - a few of them, at least - will make it. And they will pan out. The nice thing about having so many draft picks is that the numbers start to work in your favor. The higher the volume of prospects, the higher the chance that some of them will make a difference. 

And, again - even when looking at sheer volume - that doesn't mean quality wasn't a focus. There are four higher-upside potential players in this draft class, which is four that the Penguins didn't have before. There is one star-potential player in this draft class, which is one more than the Penguins had before. 

"Quantity" doesn't always mean "quality." But, sometimes, those two things can coexist. 

"I think the 'quantity' part is objective that we drafted a lot of players," Dubas said. "Wes phrased it the other day, that, there's risk in all of them, regardless of first to the 200s. None of them are sure things.

"So, now, it's on us. We drafted them all for a reason. We all think they have a path to play in the NHL. Whether they become 'quality' is incumbent on the effort that they put in and the type of people that they are, but it's incumbent on us on the developmental side to get the most out of all of them."

'We’re Thrilled With The Players That We Have': 3 Takeaways From Penguins' Day One DraftDay One of the 2025 NHL Draft is officially wrapped, and the Pittsburgh Penguins were certainly one of the more active teams in the first round.

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The Carolina Hurricanes held the first official day of the 2025 prospect development camp on Monday.

I may hear you ask, what is the goal of development camp? Well Carolina AGM Darren Yorke put it best.

"The biggest thing is just introducing them to the organization and getting a sense of where they are today," Yorke said. "So our development coaches will meet with them and have already sort of been in communication with our scouts here to get a sense of what the player's strengths and weaknesses are. It's really to establish 1) a relationship and then 2) start to develop a development for them whether it's for off-ice fitness or whether it's specific areas of their game that we want the players to work on."

The first day of camp usually isn't too interesting and this year was no different than those in the past, as the focus was pretty much on off-ice fitness testing as well as some skating benchmark testing.

"The first drill is the 1080 Sprint," said Director of Player Development Peter Harrold. "It measures a lot of different variables and it helps our strength staff come up with more customized programs for them in the weight room. Force production and things like that. From a technical standpoint, we also videotape their skating to look at what their stride looks like and what their mechanics look like and so then we can have discussions with them and give them things to work on in order to come back and maybe just be that little bit faster."

"They’re watching how good we are at top speed," said 2024 draftee Noel Fransen. "They will know how good we are at skating and where we’re at. You want to be better every time. So you just go as hard as you can every time."

Nearly every player participated in the testing minus 2025 second-round picks Charlie Cerrato and Kurban Limatov.

Limatov took a spin on the ice before the testing began, but didn't take part in the actual drills while it seems like Cerrato will be a late arriver.

Charlie Cerrato made a long drive home from Michigan to Maryland on Friday for Day 1 of the draft.

Would make sense as to why he wasn’t at the first day of the Carolina Hurricanes development camp. https://t.co/xckXvFtez6

— Chase Fisher (@chase_fisher4) June 30, 2025

It is impressive that six of the seven players the Hurricanes drafted on Saturday were able to make it to Raleigh for camp though as there wasn't a ton of turnaround time between the events.

Luckily all of the Russian players that the Canes drafted already had their visas and were in the US, but for the two Swedish players (Viggo Nordlund and Filip Ekberg) there was a bit more of a chaotic turnaround.

"[Getting drafted] was an amazing feeling," Nordlund said. "I was home with my parents watching on TV and seeing my name pop up there was a real nice feeling. Then I got a call like five minutes after telling me that I was flying out the next day. Just started packing and got ready."

"I was at home with my family in my hometown, so it was just a quick step to the airport in Sweden," Ekberg said. "I flew to Toronto and then to here."

No worries about potential jetlag affecting your performances?

"I don’t feel like I have it but maybe there is," Ekberg said. "But I don’t feel it [now]. It’s a little bit nice though. Because you’re tired at 9 o’clock and you wake up at 6 o’clock by yourself. So that’s kind of nice actually."

Nothing like the first step toward your dream to keep you energized. 

---

Development camp isn't just for the new faces in the organization either.

You'll always have a handful of prospects who took part in one or two prior camps and this gives the staff a great opportunity to reassess how their development has been progressing.

"A lot of these guys come in at 18 years old and they’re kids still," Harrold said. "A year of working out, a year of playing professional games and then they come back and are more mature in every sense of the word. It’s fun for me because you get to see the growth in those guys and that’s the part I love, but for them, I think they become more confident, more comfortable in their game and themselves. That’s big for them. Confidence is huge."

"I think I made progress on everything basically," said 2024 draftee Dominik Badinka who took part in camp last season. "It’s still hockey. You’ve played the game and sometimes the things on and off ice aren’t there, but I think I’ve made progress on everything. ... I hear from [the organization] all the time throughout the year too. Talking about my games and stuff on a weekly basis."

The camp also helps teach the players life lessons about nutrition and sleep habits and gives them a chance to get to know each other as well as the organization too.

"So far it’s been quiet, but it’s a great group," Badinka said. "We didn’t get a chance to talk that much, but I know some guys from last year.  But I feel so far that it’s a good group of guys. It’s been going well. Nobody is doing stupid things. Everybody is polite."

Day 2 of development camp, which falls on the same day as the opening of NHL Free Agency, will more than likely focus a bit more on puck and stick skills.

---

Additional Notes

• Nearly all of the Russian prospects (eight in total) were practicing as a group. Canes amateur scout Oleg Smirnov is here at camp to act as a translator and to help them get around and understand all that is being asked of and communicated to them. Harrold said that Smirnov has been "invaluable" to have at camp.

• A few fans collected some autographs from the Canes prospects at the conclusion of their off-ice testing. These kids are already getting some spotlight treatment down in Raleigh. "It’s fun that they’re here," Fransen said. "Really good fans."

---

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The Vancouver Canucks’ Prospect Camp runs from June 30 to July 3 this year, with newly-drafted players and local invitees all in attendance. Day 1, the introductory day, was filled with some on-ice drills and testing. Let’s see what the players thought of their first day of camp. 

Vancouver’s first-round pick of the 2025 NHL Draft, Braeden Cootes, was quick to point out how surreal the entire week has been so far. He was drafted 15th overall on Friday and almost immediately reported to prospect camp. 

“Crazy couple of days getting picked obviously, then coming straight here,” he said after the first practice on Monday. “When you go into an NHL room, you’re usually a fan looking around. Now you’re drafted by that team, it’s a lot different feeling, for sure, but it was super cool. The facilities are unreal and I’m just so excited.” 

One part of development camp that has already stood out to Cootes is the arsenal of NHL talent that is coaching them throughout the week, as Henrik and Daniel Sedin were both spotted on the ice with the players during the first day of practices. 

“It’s pretty crazy with the Sedins. And, you know, like, just trying to learn as much as I can from them. They’re obviously two unbelievable players.” 

While this is Cootes’ first prospect camp with the Canucks, Anthony Romani is no stranger to the process, having also taken part in last year’s. The forward, who moved from the North Bay Battalion of the OHL to the Barrie Colts, will be joining Michigan State University in the NCAA for the 2025–26 season. 

“It’ll be easier, for sure, just knowing them, being more comfortable talking to them,” he said of what this year’s camp could look like for him given his previous season of working with the coaches. “They’re all a bunch of ex-NHLers, so I think they have a lot to teach me. I’m super excited to keep learning from them.” 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site: 

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A player who will have a different outlook on prospect camp is Alexei Medvedev, Vancouver’s second-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft. As a goaltender, Medvedev will be working closely with goaltending coach Marko Torenius. 

“Just getting to know each other,” he said of what he and Torenius, as well as director of goaltending Ian Clark, have discussed so far. “Just getting to know about how they work with their goalies and stuff like that, just the ideas they believe in and just getting to know that. And it’s been really great. So far, they’ve been really supportive. They’ve been helping me get used to new things. It’s been a blast.” 

Since it’s still early on in prospect camp, the majority of what Torenius has done with the goaltenders has been watching them, says Medvedev. “They’re not trying to make me think too much there, and I really appreciate that. Just kind of slowly getting used to things.” 

Day 2 of Prospect Camp is Tuesday, July 1

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It has been a big month for all-time great Chicago Blackhawks players. Jonathan Toews returned to the NHL by agreeing to a contract with the Winnipeg Jets, Brent Seabrook joined the Calgary Flames organization, and Duncan Keith was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

Add Patrick Kane to the mix as he signed a one-year extension with the Detroit Red Wings, the team he's been with for the last two seasons. 

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on XYOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS 🎬 The #RedWings have signed Patrick Kane to a one-year contract with an AAV of $3,000,000.

Chicago traded Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers during the 2022-23 season, but it didn't work out there long-term. Detroit has been his hockey home ever since. 

Kane is not the MVP-caliber player that he once was, but he is still a productive offensive player in the league. During the 2024-25 season, on a mostly struggling Red Wings team, Kane had 21 goals and 38 assists for 59 points in 72 games. That's excellent production for a 36-year-old. 

He will turn 37 over the 2025-26 campaign, but the Red Wings are banking on a similar level of production. With offensive stars around him like Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat, he should be able to succeed. 

Detroit will have a $3 million cap hit on Kane. He also has room to make $4 million in bonus money. If he plays 10 or more games, he gets $2.5 million, an extra $250 thousand for 30 and 50 games played, $500 thousand for reaching the playoffs, $250 thousand for a round one win, and $250 thousand for a round two win. 

Kane has had an incredibly decorated career. He won just about every individual award you can win, in addition to three Stanley Cups and the Conn Smythe Trophy. 

Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) on XMORE OF THIS. 🎬

Despite his impressive resume that will make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Kane still has the drive to play at a high level. Whether the Red Wings will take advantage of his presence or not remains to be seen. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

According to PuckPedia, the New Jersey Devils have re-signed forward Marc McLaughlin to a one-year, two-way contract extension. At the NHL level, he will carry a $775,000 cap hit.

McLaughlin was a pending Group 6 unrestricted free agent (UFA) for the Devils. However, after signing this one-year extension, he will be staying in New Jersey. 

The #NJDevils signed 25 y/o UFA-Group 6 F Marc McLaughlin to a 1 year contract

NHL: 775K
Minors: $350K

Rep'd by Matt Keator WIN Hockeyhttps://t.co/uoApaRryIq

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) June 30, 2025

McLaughlin appeared in two games with the Devils after being acquired from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline, where he had one assist, five hits, and a minus-1 rating. He also recorded six assists and a plus-5 rating in 16 games with their AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets. 

With this move, McLaughlin will continue to be a solid depth forward for the Devils to work with. With a strong training camp, he could make a case for himself to play in the Devils' bottom six, but we will need to wait and see what happens on that front. 

NHL News: Devils Change Minds With Notable RFAEarlier this month, it was reported that the New Jersey Devils would not send pending restricted free agent (RFA) forward Cody Glass a qualifying offer and instead let him hit the market as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1. However, it appears that they have now changed their minds on that front.

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