As is often the case with Russian players, RG.org published an exclusive interview with the Montreal Canadiens’ first pick at the last draft, Alexander Zharovsky. As we’ve already reported, the 18-year-old is a childhood friend of Habs rookie Ivan Demidov, and he won’t be attending development camp. Still, it’s never too early to learn a little bit more about a Canadiens' prospect.

In the interview with RG’s Tuboltseva, the youngster gave some details about the whirlwind that was his last few days. He returned to Russia on Sunday after spending time in Florida, where he participated in the Gold Star showcase. This is an event put on by his agency that showcases its players. The youngsters trained and played scrimmages while scouts and executives observed. In the afternoon, they had the opportunity to speak with the team’s representative.

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Zharovsky met with the Canadiens at the showcase, but it wasn’t the only time he spoke to them. He had multiple interviews, and after the meeting at the showcase, they called again to ask more in-depth questions, which is when he thought things were getting serious.

The youngster was frank; he had hoped to be picked in the first round, but he’s happy he was picked early in the second round, and by a team as storied as the Canadiens. His last season was a great success in the MHL, where he was named Rookie of the Year following a 50-point (including 24 goals) output in 45 games. He was happy to make his KHL debut under former NHLer and current coach Viktor Kozlov.

The 6-foot-1 and 163-pound right winger knows what he needs to focus on this Summer; he plans on getting bigger, stronger, and faster. His debut in the KHL likely contributed to that realization, as he described the highest league in Russia as faster and more challenging than the junior league in which he spent his last season.

After being drafted by the Canadiens, he received a call from Nick Bobrov, Montreal’s co-director of scouting, who told him the team believes in him and his counting on him. Don’t expect Zharovsky to come over to North America soon though, he has a valid contract with his Russian team until the end of the 2026-2027 season, meaning Canadiens fans might have to wait two whole seasons before he makes his debut in the Habs organization, but judging by the highlights, he will be worth the wait. If you thought you were done chasing KHL highlights now that Demidov has a contract with the Habs, think again; you’ll want to see what Zharovsky is up to.

Photo credit: MHL Website

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The Vancouver Canucks have officially locked up a big part of their core. With his current deal expiring at the end of the 2025–26, the Canucks agreed to a three-year, $8.5M AAV contract extension with goaltender Thatcher Demko. This move comes only a couple of months after the team signed newcomer Kevin Lankinen to a long-term, five-year deal. With both Demko and Lankinen in their ranks, Vancouver’s goaltending comes out to under $15M per year. 

Demko was drafted 36th overall by the Canucks in 2014. Often referred to as the “goaltender of the future” in Canucks land throughout his time as a prospect, Demko spent nearly two full seasons with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate at the time, the Utica Comets, before making his NHL debut on March 31, 2018. He spent a little more time with the Comets before starting his first full NHL season as a backup to Jacob Markström in 2019–20. 

The Bubble Playoffs were where Demko made himself known as a force to be reckoned with. After posting a pre-COVID-19 regular season record of 13–10–2, Demko was called to action during the second round of the 2020 Bubble Playoffs. An injury to Markström pushed Demko into the spotlight, where he backstopped his team to a Game 7 effort with a .985 SV%. 

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Since 2021, Demko has taken the role of starting goaltender for the Canucks, save for the 2024–25 season in which he dealt with injuries. He has been named to two NHL All-Star Games (2022 and 2024) and finished second in Vezina Trophy voting in 2023–24 after winning 35 of his 51 starts and posting five shutouts. 

With Demko now extended, the Canucks’ goaltending department looks to be getting more and more crowded. This also comes as a result of Artūrs Šilovs’ phenomenal play during the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, in which the prospect won 16 of the team's 24 games and registered five shutouts. Only time will tell what the Canucks decide to do with their three great goaltenders. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Florida Panthers are doing their best to run it back after winning a second straight Stanley Cup.

An offseason that has included extending Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand now includes another re-signing of a key forward.

Just a few hours ahead of NHL Free Agency officially opening at noon on Tuesday, the Panthers inked Tomas Nosek to a new deal.

According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, it’s a one-year deal worth $775,000.

Nosek deal is done with Florida, one year, $775k https://t.co/u03hxIZyC8

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2025

That’s the same amount he signed with Florida for last summer, when he initially joined the Panthers.

Last season, Nosek played 59 games with Florida last season and another 16 during the playoffs. He was a primary member of the team’s penalty kill and centered a fourth line that Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice counted on nightly.

Maurice credited the re-insertion of Nosek’s line during Florida’s second-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs as the thing that turned the series around in the Panthers favor.

Following the Nosek deal, Florida is now $1.1 million over the salary cap.

During the offseason, teams can go up to 10% over the cap and have until Opening Night to become cap compliant.

The Panthers are likely not done making moves. We’ll see how the coming hours and days play out.

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Photo caption: Feb 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Tomas Nosek (92) awaits the face-off against the Nashville Predators during the second period at Bridgestone Arena. (Steve Roberts-Imagn Images)

Just a few days after the Minnesota Wild traded defenseman Declan Chisholm, the Washington Capitals signed Chisholm to a two-year contract at $1.6 million average annual salary. 

Chisholm, 25, recorded two goals and 12 points in 66 games for the Wild during the 2024-25 season. He was a restricted free agent but the Capitals signed him before he entered free agency. 

NEWS | The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Declan Chisholm to a two-year, $3.2 million contract. Chisholm’s contract will carry an average annual value of $1.6 million. #ALLCAPS | @Shift4

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 30, 2025

In 95 career NHL games with the Wild, Chisholm recorded five goals, 15 assists, and 20 points. Three of his five goals came on the power play. He was a waiver claim by the Wild during the 2023-24 season. 

Other Wild News

Minnesota Wild Acquire Vladimir Tarasenko From Detroit For Future ConsiderationsST. PAUL, Minn - In October before the 2024-25 season, Minnesota Wild owner said July 1st would be Christmas. With a lot of fireworks. It will be the first time the Wild will enter free agency without the huge buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.  How Newly Acquired Vladimir Tarasenko Fits On The Minnesota WildST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild made a trade on Monday for veteran goal-scorer Vladimir Tarasenko from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for future considerations.  Minnesota Wild Trade Defenseman Declan Chisholm To Washington The Minnesota Wild announced on Saturday a trade with the Washington Capitals. The Wild have traded defenseman Declan Chisholm to the Capitals along with the 180th pick in the 2025 NHL Draft for defenseman Chase Priskie and the 123rd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. 

Bruins overpay for Tanner Jeannot on Day 1 of NHL free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins have not fared very well in NHL free agency during Don Sweeney’s decade-long tenure as general manager, and his latest contract is a head-scratcher.

The B’s and left wing Tanner Jeannot have agreed to a five-year, $17 million contract, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal carries a $3.4 million cap hit.

Jeannot is a physical player (sixth-most hits in the league over the last four years) who can sometimes add a scoring punch, but he has not been a productive offensive player for a while.

Jeannot scored 24 goals with the Predators during the 2021-22 season, but he has scored only 20 goals over the last three years combined. The 28-year-old left wing tallied 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in 67 games for the Kings last season.

Tanner Jeannot, signed 5x$3.4M by BOS, is a physical low-event depth winger who does practically nothing with the puck and punishes opposing players who try to do things with it. #NHLBruinspic.twitter.com/YWKsvs03Zs

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2025

A $3.4 million cap hit is a steep price for a player with one 10-goal season in his career and who will probably fill a bottom-six role for the Bruins. He also isn’t likely to be much of a factor on the power play or penalty kill.

Sure, the salary cap is expected to go up significantly in the coming years, but every dollar counts. And unless Jeannot rediscovers his goal-scoring form from the 2021-22 campaign, this contract will not age well.

The Bruins were one of the league’s worst offensive teams last season. They cannot afford to use up valuable cap space on players of Jeannot’s caliber.

Giving him a five-year deal was an odd move as well. A two- or three-year contract would have made more sense.

The Bruins now have around $5.3 million in cap space after signing Jeannot and trading for Edmonton Oilers left wing Viktor Arvidsson earlier on Tuesday.

After a long saga with several curveballs and rumors, the Vegas Golden Knights have finally got their man, completing a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, which will see Mitch Marner sign with the Golden Knights on an eight-year, $12-million AAV deal, and Nicolas Roy join the Maple Leafs. 

Over the last couple of days, the Golden Knights and the Maple Leafs have been working hard to complete the sign-and-trade, which has opened up cap space for the Golden Knights, allowing them to sign Marner. The 28-year-old will play his first NHL games outside of Toronto after scoring 221 goals and 741 points in 657 career games.

His time with the Maple Leafs ends on a sour note, but the former fourth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft was once hailed as the next homegrown talent who could help lead the Maple Leafs to win a Stanley Cup alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander. With several playoff failures and fans growing frustrated with playoff shortcomings from Marner, he's decided to venture out of his comfort zone. 

Marner is one of the best pure playmakers in the NHL and will likely spend the next eight years next to Jack Eichel, who is now eligible for a contract extension. Eichel and Marner have career highs in goals of 36 and 35, both of which will likely increase once the pair benefits from each other's stellar playmaking. 

Heading the other way in the deal is Roy, a versatile 28-year-old forward who has been everything the Golden Knights have needed in their bottom-six. Prior to joining the Golden Knights, Roy had played just seven NHL games, but he leaves the franchise with 362 games of experience. With the Golden Knights, the 6-foot-4 center scored 68 goals and 166 assists.

OFFICIAL: The Vegas Golden Knights have acquired Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Nicolas Roy 🔄

Details: https://t.co/R9Dl2l7ZBA#VegasBornpic.twitter.com/euh3G8Q9IN

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

With the Maple Leafs, Roy will be the third-line center they have been missing. Although he's a career 47.7-percent faceoff winner, the Maple Leafs have lacked a right-handed center, and he will fill that void nicely.

With two seasons left on a $3-million cap hit, Roy will provide the Maple Leafs with immense value and will be dearly missed in Vegas. 

In all, the Golden Knights and general manager Kelly McCrimmon have once again been the most aggressive team in chasing the top fish to improve their team. 

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.

Report: Golden Knights Acquire Mitch Marner From Maple Leafs In Eight-Year DealAfter nine years with the Maple Leafs, Marner is officially headed to Vegas.