One of the biggest blockbuster trades in recent memory happened on Aug. 6, 2023, when the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks in a three-team deal that involved 12 players.

Fast forward two years later, and one of the players acquired by the Penguins in that trade has signed with a different organization.

On Tuesday, forward Dillon Hamaliuk signed with the Fort Wayne Komets, which is the ECHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. During the 2024-25 season, the 24-year-old Hamaliuk suited up for both Nove Zamky Mikron HC in Slovakia and the Florida Everblades of the ECHL - affiliate of the St. Louis Blues - totaling eight goals, 17 points, and 44 penalty minutes in 42 total games. 

Hamaliuk (24) was drafted by the @SanJoseSharks in the second round, 55th overall, in the 2019 NHL draft.

Last season, the 6'4 forward skated in Slovakia and appeared in 27 games with the @FL_Everblades, scoring six goals and seven assists. Hamaliuk suited up for 36 games with… https://t.co/DtBZXa6wB0pic.twitter.com/cErFcbQwr1

— Fort Wayne Komets (@FWKomets) July 22, 2025

Drafted 55th overall by the Sharks in 2019, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound forward spent the 2023-24 season in the Penguins' organization. In 35 games with the Wheeling Nailers - Pittsburgh's ECHL affiliate - he registered 15 goals and 39 points, and he put up one point in eight AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Hamaliuk won a WHL championship with the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2017.

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Feature Image Credit: Jonah Hinebaugh/The News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Things move fast in the NHL. A few years ago, it looked like Christian Jaros might carve out a long-term role on the Ottawa Senators’ blue line. The 6-foot-3, 224-pound defenseman had the size and mobility, and he was a coveted right shot to boot.

Back in 2015, when Ottawa selected him in the fifth round (139th overall), there was optimism that he might grow into a reliable NHL contributor. That same draft, the Senators had picked Thomas Chabot 18th overall.

At their first development camp together, they had chemistry right away. From this vantage point, the two looked for all the world like a natural pairing for the future. Jaros seemed like he might be the future Marc Methot to Chabot's Erik Karlsson.

While Chabot returned to Quebec Junior for a couple of years, Jaros took the development path through Sweden before joining the Belleville Senators. By the 2018–19 season, right after Karlsson was shipped to San Jose, Jaros looked like he was turning the corner, suiting up for 61 games with Ottawa and putting up 10 points.

But things quickly went off track. The following year, the arrival of Ron Hainsey, Nikita Zaitsev, and new head coach D.J. Smith altered the Sens' defensive landscape. Suddenly, Jaros was back in Belleville to start the 2019-20 season. Injuries didn’t help either, and Jaros struggled to find traction. He played only 47 total games that year, splitting time between Belleville and Ottawa. The year after, despite Hainsey's retirement, Jaros was blocked again with the arrival of Artem Zub and Erik Gudbranson.

Jaros was eventually dealt to the San Jose Sharks for the 2020-21 season but trying to stay in the lineup remained a challenge. Jaros managed just 18 games split between the Sharks and their AHL affiliate. Another trade sent him to New Jersey, where he dressed for only 11 games during the 2021–22 season.

Jaros finally decided to try his luck in the KHL in 2022-23. Over three seasons in Russia, he rediscovered some NHL desire. Last year, he appeared in 51 games with CSKA Moscow, recording 12 points and staying relatively healthy.

Now 29, Jaros returns to North America this fall, signing a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier this month.

His odds of cracking the Jackets’ NHL lineup might be slim, but big, mobile right-shot defensemen like Jaros are tough to find, and maybe he found some of his old swagger in the KHL.

After years of setbacks and reinvention, it’s easy to pull for an ex-Senator product who's still out there battling, looking to prove he belongs in the world’s best league.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa
Image Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

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Can The Senators Count On Dylan Cozens To Consistently Produce?
Senators Re-Sign 2021 First-Round Pick To One-Year Deal
An Early Glance At The Senators’ 2026 Free Agent Class
Why Mason McTavish Isn’t Coming Home To The Senators

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has had a legendary NHL career, solidifying his place as one of the greatest players in hockey history.

Despite the Penguins missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season this past year, he remained dominant at 37, finishing the year with 33 goals and 91 points in 80 games. It was his third-straight season of 90+ points, and he compiled 30 points in the Penguins' final 21 games of the year. 

His outstanding season puts him on the brink of breaking Mario Lemieux's record for the most points in franchise history. Crosby is ninth all-time in NHL scoring with 1,687 points, just 36 points behind Lemieux for eighth on the all-time list. Assuming he stays healthy this season, he will break that record and likely have it for many years to come. 

Crosby is also only 68 points away from tying Steve Yzerman for 7th on the all-time scoring list and 84 away from tying Marcel Dionne for sixth. 

In terms of assists, Crosby ranks 10th in NHL history with 1,062 after passing Gordie Howe during the 2024-25 season. He's only 38 away from 1,100 for his career, which would move him past Yzerman and Adam Oates on the all-time list. 

The Penguins may not be very good this upcoming season but Crosby will give fans more than enough reasons to tune into games on a nightly basis. 

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Featured Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Chicago Blackhawks are hoping that goaltender Spencer Knight will become something special for them. The 2019 first-round pick undoubtedly has plenty of potential and has shown promise early on, but there is a real expectation that he has not hit his ceiling yet. 

During this past season split between the Florida Panthers and Blackhawks, Knight put together a 17-16-3 record, a .901 save percentage, and a 2.72 goals-against average in 38 games. Overall, it was a solid year for the youngster, and it will be fascinating to see what kind of season he has as the Blackhawks' starter in 2025-26 from here. 

In 95 career NHL games over four seasons, Knight has a 49-33-9 record, a .904 save percentage, and a 2.83 goals-against average. Due to his solid play over the year, he has now received more praise. 

Blackhawks' Spencer Knight is One of the Most Impressive Goalies Under 25The NHL is full of young talent and the league has been getting younger in recent years. The Chicago Blackhawks have some of that young talent on their team and have impressive players at every position.

NHL Fantasy/Edge has named their top 10 goalies who are 26 years old or younger for the 2025-26 season, and Knight was ranked at the No. 8 spot. Knight beat out Joel Hofer of the St. Louis Blues and Leevi Merilainen of the Ottawa Senators on the list.

There's so much young talent in the crease around the NHL! 🙅‍♂️ #NHLYoungStarsWeekpic.twitter.com/lJg2WrA6Hu

— NHL Fantasy / EDGE 🏒 (@NHLFantasy) July 18, 2025

Given how Knight has performed early on in his career, him making this list is entirely fair. The potential for him to have a strong season in 2025-26 is there, and this is especially so if he taps into his potential more. Thus, he could be a good goalie for fantasy hockey managers to bring in once the big-name netminders are off the board. 

Former Blackhawks Forward Had Monster YearDuring the 2022 NHL off-season, the Chicago Blackhawks elected not to send forward Dylan Strome a qualifying offer. As a result, he became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Washington Capitals in July of that year. This was after Strome posted 22 goals and 48 points with the Blackhawks during the 2021-22 season. 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

St. Louis Blues goaltender Joel Hofer once again had a solid season in 2024-25. In 31 games with the Blues on the year, the 24-year-old goaltender recorded a 16-8-3 record, a .904 save percentage, and a 2.64 goals-against average. This was after he had a 15-12-1 record, a .913 save percentage, and a 2.65 goals-against average in 30 games with the Blues in 2023-24. 

Due to his strong play over the last two seasons, Hofer earned a two-year contract extension with an average annual value (AAV) of $3.4 million this off-season. Now, he has also earned some nice praise. 

NHL Fantasy/Edge recently ranked the top 10 fantasy hockey goalies who are 26 years old or younger heading into the 2025-26 season, and Hofer secured the No. 9 spot.

The other goalies who made the list are Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars), Dustin Wolf (Calgary Flames), Pyotr Kochetkov (Carolina Hurricanes), Lukas Dostal (Anaheim Ducks), Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins), Yaroslav Askarov (San Jose Sharks), Spencer Knight (Chicago Blackhawks), and Leevi Merilainen (Ottawa Senators).

There's so much young talent in the crease around the NHL! 🙅‍♂️ #NHLYoungStarsWeekpic.twitter.com/lJg2WrA6Hu

— NHL Fantasy / EDGE 🏒 (@NHLFantasy) July 18, 2025

Given how well Hofer has played at the Blues' backup, it is understandable that he is being considered one of the top young goalies for fantasy hockey in 2025-26. He has the potential to be a nice sleeper heading into next season, and this will especially be the case if he hits a new level with the Blues in 2025-26. 

Former Blues Prospect Signs With New TeamA former St. Louis Blues prospect is taking his talents overseas.

Photo Credit:  © James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images

New Pittsburgh Penguins’ defenseman Connor Clifton missed a few important calls back on Jun. 28 while the 2025 NHL Draft was happening. 

“It was kind of funny,” Clifton said. “I was putting my daughter down for a nap, and I guess the draft was going on. We didn’t even have it on the TV, but I didn’t see that [Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams]... he texted me, and I had a missed call, I guess, when I was in the room.”

After his daughter fell asleep, he noticed the missed calls from Adams, and he told his wife. 

“She’s like, ‘Oh… where are we going?’” Clifton recalled.

As he found out just a few minutes later while whispering in the restroom - as to not wake his sleeping daughter - he was traded to the Penguins during the second round of the draft in a trade that also brought in the second-round pick used to draft defenseman Peyton Kettles. The deal also sent defenseman Conor Timmins and defensive prospect Isaac Belliveau to the Sabres. 

And even though the news came as a bit of a surprise to Clifton, the 30-year-old defenseman was more than ready for a change of scenery. 

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound right defenseman felt as though he was straying away from what made his game so effective over the last two seasons in Buffalo, where he signed as a free agent in the summer of 2023 after spending his first five NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins. Drafted in the fifth round (133rd overall) by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2013, Clifton was heralded as a physical, hard-hitting blueliner despite his size, and his competitive edge helped elevate him through his college years at Quinnipiac University and his AHL seasons in Providence prior to the NHL. 

Penguins Trade Timmins, Prospect For Clifton, Second-Round Pick; Select Defenseman Peyton KettlesAfter the events of the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins were left without the second-round pick given to them by the Washington Capitals for forward Anthony Beauvillier at the trade deadline.

Clifton was scratched for nine games last season - and several in 2023-24, too - due to a self-proclaimed “standstill” in his game.

“I wasn’t too happy with it,” Clifton said. “I think I was all over the place: I wouldn’t even say just last year, really the past two years. My game has, kind of, been at a standstill. It was a lot of mental battles along the way. 

“I feel like I kind of lost myself. The change of scenery - I got that call that I’m going to be a Pittsburgh Penguin - I was really excited for the change. I want to get back to my old self and how I play and the impact that I have on the game. It was a couple of mental battles… but, you just try to simplify and be who you are, I guess.”

And one person who may be able to help Clifton rediscover his form is new Penguins’ head coach Dan Muse, who tried to recruit Clifton to Yale University back in 2013 during his time there. Even though things didn’t work out the first time with Clifton and Muse, the defenseman looks forward to the opportunity to finally get to work with him.

'I'll Be Ready': Penguins' Mantha Sets Goal To Hit Ground Running In Training CampIn the summer of 2024, the Pittsburgh Penguins had, apparently, reached out to then-free agent forward Anthony Mantha.

They spoke last week while Clifton was in Pittsburgh for a few days. He is aware that the Penguins have a lot of competition on the right side of their defensive corps - Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Matt Dumba, and, potentially, prospect Harrison Brunicke, are already in the picture, too - but he left the conversation feeling confident.

“I was speaking to Dan and just how we’re going to be competitive, and it’s all going to start with work,” Clifton said. “And he mentioned he wanted me to come in and try to find it right away and don’t come in all passive, but be aggressive and be who I am. And that’s always good to hear.”

Like everyone else who has come into the fold for the Penguins this summer, Clifton is aware that the Penguins are in a bit of a transitional period. But, he’s also aware of the veterans the team has in the room. 

He recalled his playing days with the Bruins, when he had the chance to play with guys like Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Even if Pittsburgh is in this time of change and transition, he knows that he can learn a lot from them.

“To play with some greats, with some of the starpower in that room, I think it’s going to be awesome to be around those guys,” Clifton said. “I came up for the Boston Bruins playing with some absolute legends, and I get to play with Sidney Crosby. So, you know, it’s pretty incredible. I’ve played against those guys for a while now, but I’m excited to meet them, get in the same room, and get on the same side as them for once.”

And one thing he won’t do is count them out, even if others have Pittsburgh penciled in as a non-playoff team next season.

“I’m excited for the opportunity, and yeah, I guess you want to talk about standings,” Clifton said. “But with, obviously, some of the guys you have in that room, you’ve got a veteran group, an older group who knows how to play the game, knows how to manage situations… so, I think I’m excited to get back to that, meet the guys, and get this year started.”

Will Owen Pickering Make The Opening Night Roster?The Pittsburgh Penguins will have a lot of decisions to make regarding some of their young players before the puck drops on the regular season Oct. 7 against the New York Rangers.

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The Philadelphia Flyers have officially reached the point where they can't afford to hold onto the rotting contract of Ryan Ellis any longer.

Ellis, 34, has two years remaining on his contract at a $6.25 million cap hit, but is permanently retired from playing in the NHL and has since returned to Nashville to rehab and preserve his quality of life.

Now, the Flyers could always place Ellis on LTIR instead of regular injured reserve and benefit from that cap relief, but they won't accrue any daily cap space for as long as Ellis is on LTIR.

The issue is that the Flyers want to avoid this, preferring to accrue cap space and keep their options open ahead of the trade deadline.

Current injuries to Tyson Foerster and Rasmus Ristolainen, and the call-up replacements for those players, leave the Flyers with about $570k in cap space, and the cap space the Flyers accrue depends on their daily cap hit.

Effectively, the lower the daily cap hit, the more money they gain, but their daily cap hit is quite high as it currently stands.

So, if the Flyers want the cap space, and they don't want to use the LTIR pool, the next logical step would be to move on from Ellis's contract altogether.

Flyers Among NHL Leaders in Dead Salary Cap SpaceThe Philadelphia Flyers will head into the 2025-26 season with the third-highest amount of dead salary cap space in the NHL.

It may cost a prospect or a draft pick, sure, but it opens the opportunity to recoup a draft pick by helping facilitate a retained salary trade at the NHL trade deadline, for example.

Simply put, there is no reason for the Flyers to put themselves in the precarious position of potentially not being able to afford to call players up as injury replacements and construct the roster as they wish, as well as limiting themselves at the trade deadline months in advance.

Looking around the NHL, fellow rebuilders like the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, and Chicago Blackhawks are barely above the NHL's salary cap floor.

Taking on Ellis's deal will help those teams ensure they don't have to make needless big-money commitments to veterans to add to the roster and stay above the floor at the same time.

As for a potential price, the Flyers could reference the Shea Weber trade from this past NHL trade deadline.

On March 7, the Blackhawks traded a 2026 fifth-round picks to the Utah Mammoth for Weber's contract, 24-year-old prospect Aku Raty, and the rights to 24-year-old prospect Victor Soderstrom, who was subsequently traded to Boston for Ryan Mast and a 2025 seventh-round pick.

The Flyers don't have fourth- or fifth-round picks in 2026, but they do have a 2027 third-round pick acquired in the Andrei Kuzmenko trade that could be used if no prospects are included, as Utah did with Chicago.

Prospects who could be dangled in this potential scenario might include the oft-injured Samu Tuomaala, Adam Ginning, and Aleksei Kolosov, particularly in the event he doesn't return to North America this season.

How Cam York's New Flyers Contract Changes Salary Cap OutlookAfter re-signing Cam York, the Philadelphia Flyers have depleted virtually all of their salary cap space ahead of the start of the 2025-26 season.

Kolosov and Tuomaala are both RFAs at the end of the season, and Kolosov's UFA season is 2029-30. The Belarusian goalie could be a smart bet for a team willing to take the risk of letting him go home and potentially return to the NHL at a later date.

But, this is all to say that the Flyers have options when it comes to moving on from Ellis and his big $6.25 million cap hit.

They'd be better served having that money available to spend in the 2026 and 2027 free agent classes rather than hold onto it any longer to preserve a measly draft asset or two.

Plus, as mentioned above, not being able to call up players in the event of injuries is not a place you want to be to start your season.

But, will the Flyers try to help themselves, or will they continue to play the long game and stick with the passive approach?