Nate Schmidt's time with the Florida Panthers has officially come to an end. The veteran defenseman has signed a three-year contract with the Utah Mammoth. Starting next season, he will have a $3.5 million average annual value. 

Schmidt undoubtedly earned this nice deal from Utah. The 33-year-old defenseman completely bounced back with the Panthers after being bought out by the Winnipeg Jets during the off-season before. In 80 games this regular-season with Florida, he had five goals, 19 points, and a plus-4 rating. He also recorded three goals, 12 points, and a plus-9 rating in 23 playoff games for Florida. 

Schmidt to Utah!

We’ve signed Stanley Cup Champion Nate Schmidt to a three-year contract. pic.twitter.com/lbEpLG9WfT

— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) July 1, 2025

With Utah looking to take that next step and get into the playoffs, it makes a lot of sense that they are bringing Schmidt in. He will give them another veteran to help mentor their young players, and it also does not hurt that he has plenty of playoff experience. Thus, he has the potential to be a good addition to Utah's roster. 

In 741 career NHL games, Schmidt has recorded 52 goals, 187 assists, 239 points, and a plus-106 rating. 

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Photo Credit:  © Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Chicago Blackhawks are through two days of 2025 Development Camp. After their off-ice event was complete on Tuesday, members of the 2024 NHL Draft class spoke to the media. 

That includes Jack Pridham, who was selected by Chicago in the third round (92nd overall). He spoke about a variety of topics, including his rumored plans for the 2025-26 NHL season. 

Ryan Sikes of Puck Preps reported on Monday night that Pridham would no longer be going to college and that staying in the OHL would be his course of action. 

Ryan Sikes (@rms_hockey) on XNEWS: I am told that 4.5⭐️ forward Jack Pridham is no longer committed to BU. Pridham had 27 goals and 54 points for Kitchener (OHL) last season. 2024 third round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks. 📸: Kitchener Rangers

Pridham confirmed this report. He is no longer going to attend Boston University. Instead, he will sign with the Chicago Blackhawks and go back to the Kitchener Rangers if he doesn't make it to the NHL right out of camp. 

Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) on XJack Pridham confirms that he is no longer going to Boston University. He will go back to the Kitchener Rangers if he doesn’t make the Chicago Blackhawks.

In 2024-25, Pridham had a strong rookie year in the OHL. In 48 games played, he scored 27 goals and had 27 assists for 54 points. He wants to go back to where he had success to develop his game further. Kitchener is a high-end program that has developed a lot of prospects throughout the years. 

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

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies was never interested in signing an offer sheet.

The 22-year-old forward officially inked a six-year extension with the Maple Leafs on Tuesday morning. The annual average value of the contract, $7.75 million, will turn out to be a great deal for both sides in the long term.

"I love the staff there. I love the players. We get treated phenomenally, and I think it's just a great spot for me," Knies told TSN's James Duthie on Tuesday. "I think we really have a winning culture and I think I really trust (Brad) Treliving and (Craig) Berube and the rest of the staff to create a great team and give us the best chance to win."

Year over year, Knies has grown into the powerhouse of a player that many predicted him to be. He first inserted himself into the conversation in 2023, helping the Maple Leafs get past the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs.

Following that year, the forward scored 15 goals and 20 assists in his rookie season. In the playoffs last year, Knies added two goals and one assist in seven games against the Boston Bruins.

'My Favorite Player Growing Up Was Mats Sundin' Nicolas Roy Reacts To Be Traded To Maple Leafs In Mitch Marner DealNic Roy was on a trip with family and friends when he found out that he was being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This past season, though, is where Knies took the biggest step. He finished the regular season with a career-high 29 goals and 29 assists in 78 games, plus five goals and two assists in 13 playoff games against the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers.

"I just wanted to be here as long as possible, really," Knies said on Tuesday when asked if he preferred a long or short-term deal.

"I wanted longer term, and I think this deal just kind of fit best for me with my trajectory as a player, I think that this was kind of the sweet spot for both of us. I was just excited to get it done and get it done before free agency, and try to help them out as much as possible.

"I don't think the bridge deal was really in my head. I think I really wanted to go long term, and the six years felt the best."

Report: Maple Leafs Sign Former Canadiens Forward Michael Pezzetta To Two-Year, $1.575 Million ContractThe Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly made their first free-agent signing.

Knies was on his way back from a Morgan Wallen concert in Madison, Wisconsin, when he found out he'd be with the Maple Leafs for six more years.

"I called my parents, and I'm going to see him here shortly. I think that they were really excited," he smiled. All my buddies were excited too, so it was a fun time for sure. I think going into holiday weekend, we can choose to celebrate a little bit more. But yeah, I'm excited that it all got all done and you know that both sides are happy."

Any big purchases after the massive extension?

"Honestly, I haven't thought about it too much. It's only been a few days, but hopefully, I think Morgan Rielly said he'll text me a few ideas and hopefully he'll bounce it back and forth and we'll see," Knies said.

"I think just enjoying my summer, and I think I have one weekend to celebrate it here on the Fourth of July and then it kind of gets back to the summer grind and getting ready for the season."

'Leaving Isn't Easy': Mitch Marner Pens Goodbye Message To Maple Leafs Fans After Joining Golden KnightsMitch Marner has officially departed the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The young forward said he wants to work on all facets of his game, most importantly his skating.

"I think that there's still a lot of room in the skating aspect. I think I can become a much better skater, a faster skater," he added.

"I don't necessarily think I have to get any heavier than I am right now. I think staying where I am and just turning a little bit of that weight more into muscle and becoming quicker and faster on the ice, I think is going to be is going to be huge for me. So I think that's the main focus."

Knies was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, and now he'll be with Toronto for eight more years until 2031.

'I Would Love To Play My Whole Career Here': Inside Steven Lorentz's Three-Year Extension With The Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz is staying at home.

"I think that everyone's so invested. The whole city's constantly wanting the best for us, wanting us to win," he said about his love for playing in Toronto.

"I think that's what every guy on our team wants to do, is just to deliver that to them. And yeah, it's a special place to play. I don't think anyone feels that it's too much or it's not the right spot. I think everyone loves it and enjoys it. Yeah, so I'm pretty fortunate to be playing for them."

(Top photo of Knies: Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images)

On Tuesday, the New York Islanders announced that they signed winger Johnathan Drouin to a two-year, $4M AAV contract.

Drouin, 30, tallied 11 goals with 26 assists for 37 points in 43 games with the Colorado Avalanche last season.

Drouin dealt with multiple injuries last year, which limited him to half a season. The left winger remade himself into a top-six piece with Colorado over the last two years after inconsistency with the Montreal Canadiens.

Drouin fills a hole within the Islanders’ left wing corps, as the team lacked consistent production from Anthony Duclair and Maxim Tsyplakov in the middle six. General manager Mathieu Darche targeted the positional need after signing depth options in goaltender David Rittich and defenseman Ethan Bear.

The move leaves the Islanders with around $7M in cap space, which will likely be used to sign restricted free agents Simon Holmstrom, Emil Heineman, Marc Gatcomb, and Tsyplakov. Barring other moves, the Islanders’ free agency additions look to be done.

PHOTO:  Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

Kail Russell contributed to this story. 

The Winnipeg Jets have signed forwards Cole Koepke and Tanner Pearson to one-year, $1-million contracts. 

Koepke spent the 2024-25 season with the Boston Bruins, scoring 10 goals and 17 points in 73 games. The 27-year-old has played just 99 career NHL games but will serve as a safe depth forward for the Jets.

Unlike Koepke, Pearson comes with a bundle of experience. The 32-year-old has played in 722 games, winning a Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings. In the 2024-25 season, Pearson scored 12 goals and 27 points in 78 games playing on the Vegas Golden Knights' fourth line.

The signings of Pearson and Koepke are safe moves that will help them combat the loss of Brandon Tanev, Rasmus Kupari and likely Mason Appleton. The low cap hits also benefit the Jets, leaving them ample space to re-sign their restricted free agents and possibly chase unrestricted free agents. 

Cole Koepke, signed 1x$1M by WPG, put up good low-event fourth line results last year. #GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/aN0mFPaiHF

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2025

The Jets now have just over $21-million to fill out their forward group and improve on their record-setting season, which resulted in a second-round loss in the playoffs. 

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Former Jets Tanev, Schmidt and Coghlan Sign Deals on Tuesday Former two-time Winnipeg Jets forward Brandon Tanev has found a new home in Utah.

The Nashville Predators' defense continues to get deeper as they sign Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix to a two-year, $5.5 million contract. 

This past season, Perbix scored 19 points in 74 games and logged 20 penalty minutes. He has primarily played on the second and third pairings during his three seasons in Tampa. 

Perbix will also join former Lightning teammate Steven Stamkos in Nashville. 

He will likely slide into the same spot in the Predators' lineup, possibly playing with newly acquired defenseman Nicolas Hague. 

Perbix was drafted 169th overall in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Lightning. The past two seasons he played the entirety in Tampa. 

Taking on Perbix, the Predators now have about $9.3 million in the salary cap to work with. 

On Sunday, Nashville traded defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sissons to the Vegas Golden Knights and a conditional third-round pick in the 2027 draft. The Predators also maintain 50% of Sissons' salary. 

Hauge signed a four-year, $22 million contract, with a annual hit of $5.5 million. 

Monday, forward Luke Evangelista was extended a qualifying offer.