It's safe to say that most of the Ottawa Senators’ 2025 free agent summer homework is done.

They've signed UFAs like Lars Eller and Arthur Kaliyev off the open market, and they've already re-signed most of the free agents they wanted to keep. That list includes Fabian Zetterlund, Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins, Tyler Kleven, Nik Matinpalo, and goaltender Leevi Meriläinen.

GM Steve Staios still has a few summer chores down on the farm. RFAs Max Guenette, Xavier Bourgault, Jan Jeník, and Donovan Sebrango all received qualifying offers, so they’ll likely figure something out this summer.

But with several players now eligible for extensions, the class of 2026 will soon creep onto the radar like a daily Ottawa summer thunderstorm.

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Giroux, Cousins, and Meriläinen all signed one-year deals this summer, so their agents will be back at it before long, probably feeling like they just got up from the bargaining table. Giroux and Cousins are probably in one-year mode for the rest of their careers.

Meriläinen, however, is an RFA who has a chance to be in Ottawa for a long time. The young Finn will make $1.05 million this season, a sharp contrast to Linus Ullmark's $8.25 million. Meriläinen only got into 12 games, but he was fantastic, with substantially better numbers than Ullmark and Anton Forsberg. It would be nice if we could check in on the Sens in a parallel universe where Merilainen wasn't sent down to the minors to make room for the outgoing Forsberg.

It will be interesting to see how that all works out this season, and whether Meriläinen will suddenly need to demand more money.

Staios will have to closely monitor the career fuel gauge on his four oldest veterans — Giroux, David Perron, Lars Eller, and Nick Jensen. All of them will be north of 35 and playing this season on expiring deals.

It’s a group that brings some valuable experience, and if the Sens are in the mix for a playoff spot again, as they're expected to be, they’ll surely hold on to them, even at the risk of losing them for nothing in the summer. 

Giroux, Perron, and Eller were all happy to sign here so they may be in the mix again next summer. But what of Jensen, who was traded from the Washington Capitals in the Jakob Chychrun deal? Does he want to be in Ottawa? Will that repaired hip affect his game? We don't have those answers yet, so Jensen's is the 2026 UFA storyline I find most intriguing in Ottawa.

On the RFA side, along with Merilainen, it's Shane Pinto, who's currently eligible to sign his third contract with the Sens since January of last year.

The RFA list includes Pinto, Meriläinen, Kaliyev, Jordan Spence and prospect Stephen Halliday. Lassi Thomson could be an RFA as well, but unless he plays most of the season in Ottawa, he’s more likely looking at Group 6 free agency (UFA).

Still just 23, Pinto was primarily used last season on the third line, saw limited power-play time, and missed 12 games with injury. Yet he still finished fourth in Sens' goal scoring (21). Frankly, he's probably a more impactful player than some of his teammates who are expected to be slotted above him on the depth chart.

There’s also a real chance he could push Dylan Cozens for the second-line center role — and if he does, that would have financial implications. Cozens is locked in at $7.1 million AAV for five more years and will be given every opportunity to succeed at 2C. But if Pinto becomes the 2C, he'll want 2C money. 

One could imagine experimenting with Pinto on the wing to give him more offensive opportunities. That said, his chemistry with Ridly Greig and Michael Amadio last season created one of Ottawa’s most effective lines at both ends of the ice on many nights, so there’s something to be said for not messing with that.

As an aside, even that line is getting expensive at almost $10 million right now, with Pinto about to add to that.

It certainly appears so far that Staios prefers to handle his free agency business during the off-season. But there have been exceptions, like signing Pinto two deals ago when he was coming off his suspension in early 2024, or Ridly Greig in January of this year. Ullmark almost made the list, but he signed his extension on the eve of the 2024-25 season opener.

There's already a lot to think about with the 2026 class, and the whole process is a little like a game of chess. Sure, you have to be focusing on the pieces in front of you and making smart moves. But you always have to be thinking several moves ahead.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News-Ottawa

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New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes had another excellent season in 2024-25. In 62 games with the Metropolitan Division club on the year, he posted 27 goals, 43 assists, and 70 points. It was the fourth season in a row where he averaged over a point per game. 

Now, due to his incredible play over the years, Hughes has received some major praise. In a recent article for NHL.com, Adam Kimelman ranked the 10 best players in the NHL who are under 25. For it, Hughes ranked second on the list, with Ottawa Senators star Tim Stutzle being the only player ahead of him. 

Given how much success Hughes has had early on in his career, it is understandable that he has been ranked so highly by Kimelman. The 2019 first-overall pick has lived up to the hype early on in his career, and he should only get better as he continues to inch closer to his prime years. 

In 368 career NHL games over six seasons, Hughes has recorded 141 goals, 210 assists, and 315 points. His best season so far was in 2022-23, as he set career highs with 43 goals, 56 assists, and 99 points in 78 games. 

Exciting Devils Goalie Prospect Named Among NHL's BestThe New Jersey Devils are currently golden at the goaltender position, as they have veteran Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen on their NHL roster. This veteran duo worked exceptionally well together this past season, and there is no reason to believe that this can't be the case again in 2025-26.

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

The Chicago Blackhawks haven’t made any huge splashes this offseason. They have made it clear that 2025-26 is another developmental year. There was no reason to overspend on free agents who won’t be as helpful when the team is ready to win. 

Kyle Davidson, however, is not shy about adding pieces that he thinks can help the team in the long term. On Thursday, a player like that may have become available. 

Rumors are out there that Yegor Chinakhov has requested a trade away from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Now, every team that could use a talented forward for their bottom-six is going to be inquiring. 

Yegor Chinakhov, 24, still has youth on his side, so he will be attractive to the Blackhawks. There is some upside to his game, which makes him worth considering for a team that lacks NHL forward depth. 

His upside likely won't lead to him becoming a star, but he's a productive bottom-six forward with some skill. In 175 games with the Blue Jackets, Chinakhov has 71 points. Having that many points in a limited role isn't anything to ignore.

When he's healthy, which has been somewhat of an issue, he can be a productive player. He has a great shot, which is his ace tool, but he has to be on the ice to use it. If a fresh start is what he's looking for, Chicago may be a good landing spot for him to rejuvenate his career. 

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

Welcome back to the second part of our summer-long series ranking NHL media meals. With the schedule revealed this week, I've started booking road trips for the upcoming season, which is also making me hungry and excited for the media meals next season. This week, we count down the No. 17 through 24 media meals in the NHL.

Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)As I write this, I feel blessed that I get to travel as often as I do. And while on the road covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, I like to see what every city has to offer in terms of restaurants, amenities, etc.

These are better than most media meals, but not what I would call S-tier. But who knows? Perhaps that will change in 2025-26. One of my plans for this season is to give every city a chance to move up or down the rankings following each visit.

With that said, here are rankings for the mid-tier to lower-ranked media meals in the NHL.

TikTok · David AlterCheck out David Alter’s video.

No. 17:Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers boast one of the fanciest setups in the NHL, featuring a small, specially-appointed table with a fancy cloth and real cutlery reserved for home front office executives. This meal used to be quite expensive at $20 plus tax and tip, but they've since reduced it to $15, which was a welcome change. The decreased price appeared to correlate with a smaller protein selection, though the quality remained decent. For some reason, they had an abundance of salad dressings. You name it, they had it. And they had a lot of it. They also offered a great dessert selection from a local Alberta creamery. Even though there was a fee, I was on a list and didn't have to pay, which I appreciated. They also serve pizza during intermissions and offer various snacks and assorted drinks.

No. 18:Florida Panthers

From Stanley Cup finalists to Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers are not winners of the media meal prize. They usually offer a choice of one or two proteins. It's not bad for just $13 US. They have cherry coke on fountain, which I always appreciate, as many venues do not. You also get hot dogs and cookies; during the playoffs, they even changed it up, offering a marshmallow and Rice Krispy treat covered in chocolate on a stick. Upstairs, they usually have some sort of hot food, such as chicken 'tendies' or empanadas, along with chips. They also had candied popcorn in the colors of the Florida Panthers, which I really liked. It's these little bonuses that stopped them from falling further down the list.

TikTok · David Alter331 likes, 9 comments. “#Leafs #media #meal for Game 6 against the Panthers. The hot dog was great. Same with the chicken and plantains. Hopefully there will be some more left this #NHL season.”

No. 19: Vegas Golden Knights

The drawback to Vegas is that they take cash only, and I actually didn't have any on me. So, a shout-out to the Mayor of Las Vegas, Gary Lawless, for telling the staff not to charge me for dinner, which I very much appreciated. They offered a good selection, although I didn't have time for the three-color cauliflower. What truly elevates the Vegas experience is the amazing candy and treat selection upstairs. This contributed to a great dining experience. They also offer cold brew coffee for those hot Vegas nights, which I definitely dig.

No. 20:Toronto Maple Leafs

Since I am based in Toronto, I don't have to frequent the media meals. However, I often choose to partake. During the height of the pandemic, they reverted to free meal vouchers, which I loved because I could use the $25 credit and pay a few extra dollars to get some delicious Edo sushi. In December 2023, the media meals returned. They were okay, but sometimes consisted of nothing more than basic burgers and worse. It's not bad, but for $15 plus taxes, it could be better. Sometimes they'd offer Mexican food, and it was okay. Their best nights are when they offer Asian cuisine. During the playoffs, they switched to vouchers where $15 would get you $25 worth of concession food. It's not a great value proposition, and the selection was limited to 300-level choices, excluding any of the new, fancier restaurants due to renovations. I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for next year, as I believe they have the potential to move up the list. Upstairs, many media members settle for the free Pizza Pizza.

TikTok · David Alter143 likes, 14 comments. “It’s #media #meal time for Game 5 between the #Leafs and Panthers in the #NHL #stanleycup playoffs. Refusing to have the voucher so I enjoyed the free #pizza. And jelly beans.”

No. 21: Calgary Flames

The Flames' media meal is fairly basic, with the main event typically being chicken thighs. For Alberta, I was hoping for some Grade-A beef. The real saving grace that kept them from falling further down the list is the adjacent commissary for employees, which offers a vast and reasonably priced selection. Media members were also allowed to partake, and I opted for this over the main meal, at a fraction of the cost.

No. 22: Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets offer a decent meal at an okay price, but it's not particularly memorable. The best part of their offerings is an ice cream machine. Also, their Tim Hortons coffee seems to be superior to any other Tim Hortons coffee I've had. This could be because there's a standalone Tim Hortons location right next to Nationwide Arena. It's hard to explain. The Blue Jackets are the only team that has an emotional support dog greeting you as you come out of the elevator. His name is Jaxon, and he's a very good boy.

TikTok · David Alter1292 likes, 36 comments. “Media #meal time in Calgary for #Leafs vs #Flames. Unique to this city, they have a staff cafeteria where the value proposition absolutely slaps.”

No. 23:Washington Capitals

The Capitals actually spent a season operating on a voucher system similar to the Maple Leafs, where $10 would get you $30 worth of food, and it was actually really good. However, I do like that they eventually transitioned to a traditional media meal. It's another one of those small buffet spreads, typically featuring only one protein option. If you didn't like the dressing they put on the beef, you pretty much weren't eating. The Caps do have a good snack game in the press box, though, with more sweets than savory options.

No. 24:Winnipeg Jets

The Jets' meal is fairly pricey at $17 plus tax, and there wasn't much going for it. Winnipeg is a very underrated food city, and they actually have an awesome food court next door that many of my colleagues opt for instead. I went to Saburo for an awesome Korean Fried Chicken platter. It was delicious.

(Top Image Credit: David Alter on TikTok)

Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have been full of surprises throughout the summer.

And - aside from the hypothetical day when some big trade news drops about Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, or Bryan Rust - perhaps they'll have yet another one up their sleeve.

On Thursday, it was reported by agent Shumi Babaev that Columbus Blue Jackets right winger Yegor Chinakhov has requested a trade. The trade request, reportedly, comes as a result of "misunderstandings" with Blue Jackets' head caoch Dean Evason.

Chinakhov, 24, just finished his fourth NHL season with Columbus, registering seven goals and 15 points in 30 games. The intriguing young forward has the ability to put the puck in the net with his sniping ability, and his high hockey-IQ and excellent vision would pair well with both the veterans and the other young players in Pittsburgh's top-nine.

The biggest issue for Chinakhov throughout his NHL career up to this point has been his ability to stay healthy. Across four seasons, he has played in a total of only 175 games, and he has put up 34 goals and 71 points in that time. He was sidelined with a back injury that kept him out for most of last season and in 2023-24, which would be a reasonable concern for any GM or team interested in his services.

Through his agent, Shumi Babaev, it appears that #CBJ Yegor Chinakhov has requested a trade https://t.co/0DrRnTtWlm

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) July 17, 2025

It was even a concern for his own GM in Don Waddell, who admitted that the winger struggled after his return last season - and was surprised that Babaev went public with the trade request. 

“I’m surprised he went public,” Waddell said. “But I’m not surprised because we’ve talked about it. He got back [from injury] and didn’t play well, and [he and Evason] fell out of favor. I told [Babaev], 'He has value, I will talk to teams. I have talked to teams. But I’m not just going to trade him because you said to trade him'.”

Given all of this, is this a player worth taking a chance on if you're Dubas and the Penguins?

For the past several weeks, there have been rumors abound concerning the future of Penguins' winger Rust, who has generated a ton of interest on the trade market. Per a report from The Fourth Period on Tuesday, Rust has recently been linked to three teams: the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Columbus. We did discuss the idea of a Rust trade to Columbus involving Chinakhov a few weeks back, but with Chinakhov on the block, could it make even more sense now?

3 Trade Destinations For Penguins’ Winger Bryan Rust - And What The Return Should Look LikeAccording to many, Day One of free agency has been a bit of letdown.

It very well could. 

With teams still poking around on Rust - and Chinakhov now in play - he could be the kind of player that pushes a deal over the finish line. If a hypothetical deal were to happen between Pittsburgh and Columbus involving Rust and Chinakhov, though, more would have to come back from Columbus in the deal.

Rust is a proven top-six scoring winger, having registered six consecutive 20-goal seasons, including a career-high 31 goals in 2024-25. Dubas has also reiterated on a few occasions that Rust will not come cheap and that he and the Penguins would have to be "blown away" in order to accept an offer for the 33-year-old veteran, who is a valuable piece of the puzzle both on the ice and in the locker room for the Penguins.

So - that being said - the starting point is, probably, a first-round pick for Rust. 2026 first-round picks are going to be valuable commodities in terms of trade value this season - especially fringe teams like Columbus - because the draft lottery happens to feature a generational talent in Gavin McKenna next season.

If Chinakhov is part of the deal, Pittsburgh may either need to accept a 2026 conditional first-round pick or a straight-up 2027 first-round pick. Pushing back the first-rounder could also, potentially, mean that the Penguins may be able to squeeze one more asset out of the Blue Jackets in this trade scenario - possibly a B-level prospect or another pick.

Is this the right price for Rust? Honestly, who knows. It was reported by Frank Seravalli on Thursday that the Penguins are still "asking for a ton" for both Rust and Rakell, who has also generated a high degree of interest on the trade market after a career year (35 goals, 70 points). It's fair to assume that any Rust trade proposals thrown out into existence are, likely, lacking something if the asking price is truly that high.

Frank Seravalli: Dubas has been asking for a ton for both Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, he's still asking for a lot for Erik Karlsson on the basis he's going to retain - Bleacher Report (Jul 15)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 17, 2025

But if the Penguins are truly interested in getting younger and acquiring young talent given the chance, Chinakhov is probably the type of player to take a flier on. Although Chinakhov alone isn't enough for Rust, he did register 10 goals and 17 points in 32 games for Omsk Avangard of the KHL in 2020-21 as well as 27 goals and 69 points in 56 games for Omskie Yastreby of the MHL - Russia's top junior league - during his draft year in 2019-20.

The 21st overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2020 NHL Draft, Chinakhov has not quite met expectations yet in the NHL. But it's safe to say that the talent and the potential is there, and these higher-ceiling young players are the exact kinds of guys Dubas should be taking chances on.

Even if Rust isn't the player going to Columbus as part of a bigger package, the Penguins have more than enough assets at this point to expend a few and take a chance on a player in need of a change of scenery. At the very least, Dubas should be making some phone calls to Waddell. 

NHL Trade Rumors: Penguins' Bryan Rust Linked To 3 TeamsPittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust is one of the NHL's top trade candidates right now. With the Penguins retooling, the 33-year-old winger would have the potential to land them a significant return if they decided to trade him.

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Former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Louis Domingue is continuing his playing career overseas.

Domingue signed a one-year deal with the KHL's Sibir Novosibirsk on Thursday after spending the 2024-25 season with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL team of the New York Rangers. He finished the season with a 7-20-1 record, a 3.32 goals-against average, and a .896 save percentage. 

He had been with the Wolf Pack for the previous three seasons after spending the 2021-22 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Domingue played in six playoff games for the Penguins against the Rangers in 2022 because of injuries to Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith, finishing with three wins, a 3.65 goals-against average, and a .898 save percentage. 

DeSmith was the starter for Game 1 of the series but got hurt during the game, paving the way for Domingue to take the net until Jarry was healthy enough for Game 7. The Penguins had a 3-1 lead in the series before the Rangers stormed back to win it in seven games thanks to an Artemi Panarin overtime goal. 

Domingue was picked by the Arizona Coyotes (now the Utah Mammoth) in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft. 

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Featured Image Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Patrick Kane is back for another season with the Detroit Red Wings after agreeing to another one-year extension, and he could soon set NHL history. 

Kane, who has amassed 1,343 career points, is only 32 from passing Mike Modano's record of 1,374 points to become the highest scoring U.S.-born player of all time. 

Looking ahead to 2025-26

Patrick Kane of the @DetroitRedWings sits 32 points away from passing Mike Modano for the most all-time by a U.S.-born player. Modano has held the mark since passing Phil Housley on Nov. 7, 2007. #NHLStatspic.twitter.com/nE8kYsYgWa

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) July 17, 2025

Modano spent the final season of his NHL career with the Red Wings in 2010-11, though he missed multiple weeks after suffering a frightening wrist injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets in November 2010. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Kane, who only needs eight more goals to reach 500 for his career, has spoken glowingly about his time with the Red Wings, which was made easier when he first signed in December 2024 thanks to the presence of his former Chicago Blackhawks teammate and good friend Alex DeBrincat.

“It’s been great,” Kane said of his time with the Red Wings toward the end of last season. “Obviously really appreciative of Steve (Yzerman) and the organization to take a chance on me coming back from the surgery, and I think even last year it maybe didn’t so much feel like it was home, or like it was my team, or the team I played for. But coming into this year, and especially now, I definitely feel like a Red Wing now. It’s been a great place for me to continue my career, and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Following a slower start than he or the Red Wings would have liked last season, Kane immediately returned to his dangerous form when Todd McLellan took over behind the bench in late December. 

McLellan soon began skating Kane on a line with DeBrincat centered by rookie Marco Kasper, a combination that Red Wings fans can likely expect to see at the start of next season. 

The Red Wings will need Kane at his best next season if they are to have a chance at bringing playoff hockey to Little Caesars Arena for the first time next spring. 

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