NHL free agency began over a week ago, and as is the case every year, there are under-the-radar signings that stand out upon reflection. 

Whether it’s a veteran taking a cheap deal, a young player trying to crack an NHL lineup or a good re-signing, some of the smaller deals deserve a closer look.

Here are five of the most under-the-radar signings, in no particular order.

Brent Burns, D, Colorado Avalanche

One year, $1 million, plus $4 million in performance bonuses

It’s not often that an upper-level defenseman for two decades at the NHL level is considered an under-the-radar player, but it’s because the 40-year-old Burns remains one of the oldest active players in the NHL.

Burns’ offensive numbers have fallen off in recent years, but this past season in Carolina, he still got 29 points while averaging 20:57 of ice time. In Colorado, he’ll play considerably less than that, keeping him fresh throughout the year and allowing him to focus on his strengths, including shooting and making solid breakout passes.

Burns will earn a $3-million bonus at 10 games played, but he’ll get another $1 million if he plays 70 games and averages 23 minutes or more, which is unlikely. It’s a good signing for Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland, and we expect he will thrive playing alongside Colorado’s many top-tier talents.

Evgenii Dadonov, RW, New Jersey Devils

One year, $1 million, plus $2.25 million in performance bonuses

Dadonov, 36, has bounced around the NHL since 2020-21, playing on four different teams during that span. 

He has performance bonuses that could boost the cap hit of the deal to $3.25 million, including $250,000 every 10 games played until he reaches 50 and $300,000 for making the playoffs and playing at least 40 games. New Jersey will be thrilled to pay out those bonuses if he reaches them, because he can still put up some excellent secondary scoring.

Getting someone who scored 20 goals and 40 points for Dallas last season is the type of depth signing that will likely only look like great business by Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald.

Radek Faksa, C, Dallas Stars

Three years, $2 million AAV

Faksa has produced a maximum of 20 points in each of his past six seasons, so $2 million might seem a bit high at first glance.

Faksa is still only 31 years old, however, and his defensive acumen, faceoff success and mistake-free game are what brought him back to Dallas after a season away from the organization in St. Louis. Faksa’s three-year pact is a wise depth investment from Stars GM Jim Nill. He won’t make many highlight reels, but he’ll be an important bottom-six forward for the cap-strapped Stars, which lost Mikael Granlund in free agency.

Alex Steeves, LW, Boston Bruins

One year, $850,000

After a successful NCAA career at Notre Dame, Steeves has spent the past four years in the Maple Leafs organization, becoming one of the most potent AHL players in that span. 

This past season, Steeves was named a second-team AHL all-star after putting up a career-best 36 goals and 62 points in 59 games. But he’s never gotten a long look with the Leafs, playing only 14 NHL games. The 25-year-old could get a much longer look with the retooling Bruins, and at the bargain basement price tag of $850,000, he could prove to be one of the NHL’s best investments this coming year.

Steven Lorentz, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Three years, $1.35 million AAV

Despite being an ECHLer in 2018-19, Lorentz won a Calder Cup in the AHL that season and a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2023-24. 

This past season in Toronto, Lorentz matched his career high in points, with 19. But it’s Lorentz’s skills as a physical forward and penalty-killer that have earned him a three-year deal with the Leafs. 

His 199 hits were the second-most on the Leafs in 2024-25. He also averaged only 10:33 of ice time, but 1:08 of that was on the PK. 

As the cap rises in the coming years, Lorentz’s salary will be close to the league minimum, making his contract a savvy move by Buds GM Brad Treliving.

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The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss the biggest topics as the NHL off-season is well underway.

How Many 2025 NHL Draft Picks Could Immediately Make The Jump? by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode:

01:30: Are hockey’s enforcers the same off the ice as on the ice?

04:00: Gavin McKenna commits to Penn State. What does it mean for the junior hockey and NCAA landscape? For Drew, what was it like playing college hockey?

06:55: Does college hockey benefit players more than major junior?

09:00: Is the NCAA more difficult than the WHL?

11:30: The Edmonton Oilers traded Sam O’Reilly to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Isaac Howard. Thoughts?

14:30: Where do we see Howard playing? Is it OK when young players call their shots and refuse to sign with the team that drafted them? Why didn't Howard want to play for the Lightning? 

16:40: What was Drew’s experience like in rookie and development camps?

18:30: Are there any surprises from the NHL’s summer development camps?

21:00: Summer training: what are the early summer routines like? How long after a season ended should someone start to train? What’s the diet like? What kind of gym work happens?

23:00: Would Drew be on the ice constantly in the off-season?

25:30: How much did Drew’s diet change in the off-season?

28:40: How many players from the 2025 draft could go straight to the NHL?

32:45: What makes you able to tell if players are ready for the NHL level right away?

35:00: Who's the best UFA still on the market?

40:00: In honor of the Nittany Lions signing McKenna, what's your favorite NCAA mascot name?

42:00: What's the best summer food?

42:55: Yay or nay: kids playing organized hockey in the summer

Watch the full Episode here 

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

The Colorado Avalanche are today’s focus in an NHL off-season series examining each team’s prospect pool.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Avalanche’s strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart and next player in line for an NHL opportunity. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises.

Initial Thoughts

I’m not going to sugarcoat things. The Avalanche have one of the most barren prospect pools in all of hockey. 

They traded their one high-end prospect at the deadline this past year when they acquired Brock Nelson, sending Calum Ritchie to the New York Islanders. They recently acquired Gavin Brindley in a trade that saw Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood head to the Columbus Blue Jackets. That helped, but it’s not nearly enough.

Brindley is a fantastic middle-six prospect who brings a high-end motor and some impressive skill. He’s always been questioned because of his stature, but he’s never let that get in the way of his ability to make a positive impact. He struggled in his first full AHL season, but he was constantly using his speed and tenacity to get involved. His style of play should fit right in with the Avs’ top players.

Oskar Olausson’s time to prove himself is getting shorter, as the speedy Swede hasn’t found his footing in the AHL. The 22-year-old has shown himself to be an excellent transition player and a decent playmaker, but he hasn’t found a way to consistently impact the game offensively. Olausson is a good shooter, skilled passer and a decisive puckhandler. He has all of the tools, but he hasn’t figured out how to leverage them in the North American game. 

The Avalanche have a bit more promise on the back end. 

Mikhail Gulyayev is a potential impact player, with high-end skating and some nice puck-moving as a passer. Gulyayev plays the game with a ton of speed, and he could be a valuable depth offensive blueliner for the Avs one day. His KHL contract runs through this season so we could see him make the jump at the end of the year. His defensive game needs a bit of work, but he’s a fun player to watch. 

One of the Avs’ most promising defensive prospects, Sean Behrens, missed all of this past season with a knee injury he suffered during a practice scrimmage in October. Behrens has been a very successful defender who plays a sound two-way game and uses his skating to take the puck away. A healthy season will go a long way, but we may not see Behrens at full strength until the latter half of the season. 

Tory Pitner played his freshman season at the University of Denver and registered just one assist, but his game has always been centered on the defensive side of the puck. His best shifts are when the opposing team can’t get anything going, and Pitner closes lanes down and uses an intelligent stick to kill momentum. He’s not a fun player to watch, but coaches love a no-nonsense defender.

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 3, 77th overall - Francesco Dell'Elce, D, UMass-Amherst (NCAA)

Round 4, 118th overall - Linus Funck, D, Lulea Jr. (Swe.)

Round 7, 214th overall - Nolan Roed, C, Tri-City (USHL)

In the third round, Colorado picked Francesco Dell’Elce, a 20-year-old defender from UMass. He had a unique path, going from prep school in his original draft year to the BCHL and then the NCAA this past season. Dell’Elce has always had an offensive touch, using his skating to escape and open lanes against forecheckers, but he’s never been truly elite, which has held him back. The Avalanche made an interesting swing on a late bloomer. 

In the fourth round, Colorado took a bet on a big, Swedish blueliner who has shown some flashes of puckhandling and passing ability that could translate to the next level. In Funck’s own end, he is more of a stick-checker than a player who takes the body. He dislodges the puck, jumps on it and makes a quick first pass. He isn’t quite dynamic enough to be a big offensive performer, but he has the tools to be a solid, defensively focused transition defender. 

After splitting 2023-24 between high school and the United States League, Nolan Roed garnered some NHL attention as a draft-plus-one forward who put up almost a point per game for the Tri-City Storm. He’s heading to St. Cloud State next season, and his game will be tested there. His offense comes from being an off-puck complementary player to his linemates. Roed times play well and gets into pockets at the right moment. It will be interesting to see how his NCAA campaign goes in the fall.

Strengths

Most teams have at least one area of strength. The Avalanche have a couple of nice prospects, but calling any one position or any group of prospects a true strength is being too optimistic. 

For the most part, Colorado’s best prospects play Avs-style hockey. Brindley, Gulyayev and Olausson are all high-pace speedy players. Having a type and sticking to it is important. The Avalanche, at the very least, do that when they can. 

Weaknesses

While you could realistically say everything is a weakness, the Avs don’t have any players who realistically have a chance of playing center at the next level. 

A few players are listed as centers, but they are long shots to play, and if they do, they’ll likely move to the wing. Max Curran, Christian Humphreys and Nolan Roed are all potentially centers, but the upside is quite low. 

The Avs have no centers in the system if we're being blunt. Losing Ritchie at the deadline in March took away their top prospect and their lone center prospect. 

Hidden Gem: Mikhail Gulyayev, D

Just about every prospect in the Avalanche’s pipeline could be considered a hidden gem, but Gulyayev plays in the KHL, and he doesn’t get the love some of the top players from that league get because he doesn’t rack up an insane amount of points. That said, he’s a gifted skater and a puck-mover. The Avs thrive with defenders who can make plays on the back end and evade pressure. Gulyayev might be the next man up in that line.

Next Man Up: Gavin Brindley, RW

Colorado doesn’t have anyone who is immediately ready to jump into the lineup, but Brindley could make the most immediate impact if he’s called up. His speed and energy could bring some value to the bottom six, or he could be used in spots in the top six. He has the requisite skill, but he just needs a bit of time to adjust after a middling AHL rookie year. Brindley has the highest upside of any forward they have in the system, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to jump into the NHL. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Nikita Prishchepov, Christian Humphreys, Cooper Gay, Chase Bradley, Taylor Makar

C: Max Curran, Nolan Roed

RW: Gavin Brindley, Oskar Olausson

LD: Sean Behrens, Mikhail Gulyayev, Francesco Dell’Elce, Saige Weinstein, 

RD: Tory Pitner, Linus Funck, Nikita Ishimnikov

G: Ilya Nabokov, Ivan Yunin, Louka Cloutier

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.

Only 73 players in NHL history have played at least 20 seasons. 

The 2024-25 campaign saw four players accomplish this major milestone, as Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Corey Perry and Ryan Suter all just completed their 20th seasons.

Now, unless there are any sudden changes, four more players under contract are set to play in their 20th NHL seasons in 2025-26. (Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jack Johnson can also join the list if they sign a new contract. They're currently UFAs.)

Evgeni Malkin, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin entered the NHL during the 2006-07 season and immediately cemented himself as a legitimate star with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 78 games as a rookie, he posted 33 goals, 52 assists and 85 points.

Malkin, 38, undoubtedly has put together a Hall of Fame-worthy career. In 1,213 NHL games with the Penguins, he’s put up 514 goals, 832 assists, 1,346 points and a plus-28 rating. He has also won an array of awards, including the Calder Memorial Trophy, Art Ross Trophy (2009 and 2012), Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. He also helped lead the Penguins to three Stanley Cup championships and is a three-time first-team all-star.

While Malkin’s time as one of the NHL’s top superstars has passed, he is still a solid top-six forward at this stage. The 6-foot-5 Russian recorded 16 goals and 50 points in 68 games this past season. With numbers like these, he is still a key part of Pittsburgh’s roster, and it will be intriguing to see what kind of season he puts together in the final year of his contract.

Kris Letang, D, Pittsburgh Penguins 

Kris Letang has been a crucial part of Pittsburgh’s blueline throughout his career, and that should remain the case next season.

The 38-year-old defenseman reaching his 20th season is quite impressive, as he’s recovered from two strokes and surgery to close a small hole in the heart.  

In 1,161 career games with the Penguins, he has recorded 175 goals, 597 assists, 772 points and a plus-85 rating. The Montreal native is also a two-time second-team all-star, a Masterton Trophy winner and a three-time Stanley Cup champion.

Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings 

The Los Angeles Kings captain has not shown any signs of slowing down. Anze Kopitar, 37, is still one of the NHL’s top two-way centers, posting 21 goals, 67 points and a plus-14 rating in 81 games this past season.

In 1,454 career NHL games, all with the Kings, Kopitar has put up 440 goals, 838 assists, 1,278 points and a plus-108 rating. The 11th overall pick in 2005 has won the Stanley Cup and Selke Trophy twice each, the Lady Byng Trophy three times and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2022. He’s also played in the All-Star Game five times.

Overall, Kopitar has been one of the game’s top forwards for so many years now, and that should remain the case during his 20th season. The Slovenian superstar is easily one of the greatest players in Kings history.

Jordan Staal, C, Carolina Hurricanes 

At just 36 years old, Jordan Staal could be the first player taken in the 2006 NHL draft to play his 20th NHL season in 2025-26. After being selected second overall by the Penguins, Staal immediately made their roster in 2006-07 and has been one of the game’s top defensive forwards since. 

Fast forward to today, and Staal is currently the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes. In 75 games this past season with the Metropolitan Division club, he posted 13 goals, 36 points and a plus-15 rating. He remains a key part of the Hurricanes’ roster, just like he has been for his 13-year tenure there. 

In 1,328 career games split between the Penguins and Hurricanes, Staal has recorded 298 goals, 413 assists, 711 points and a plus-62 rating. He is also a Stanley Cup champion and a two-time Selke Trophy finalist.

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Jordan Kyrou surfaced as a trade candidate leading up to last month's NHL draft. 

While the 27-year-old  right winger remains with the St. Louis Blues, he's been linked to the Montreal Canadiens in the rumor mill.

Following the Canadiens' acquisition of defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders on June 27, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported they weren't done making trades. He said they were among several teams expressing an interest in Kyrou. While the Canadiens need a second-line center, they're also open to adding a scoring winger.

LeBrun indicated that teams weren't sure how serious Blues GM Doug Armstrong was about moving Kyrou. He's in the third season of his eight-year contract with an average annual value of $8.125 million. LeBrun pointed out that Kyrou's no-trade clause would have kicked in on July 1. He subsequently noted the Canadiens' interest in Kyrou remained throughout the draft weekend but felt it would take multiple assets for the Habs to land him. 

On June 28, The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford claimed the Blues were in the market for a center, but that's something the Canadiens can't help them with. Armstrong has since added centers Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad via free agency.

Kyrou's no-trade clause is now in effect, but reports persist claiming the Canadiens are still pursuing him. RG.Org's Marco D'Amico reported a source claiming they're still trying to add to their top-six forwards and still have the Blues winger among their targets.

Montreal and St. Louis have a recent trade history, with the Canadiens shipping defenseman Logan Mailloux to the Blues for gritty winger Zack Bolduc. However, the possibility of the Habs landing Kyrou rests on whether he's willing to waive his clause and if they could meet what could be a steep asking price from the Blues.  Both options appear remote.

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As the NHL’s 2025 free-agent frenzy slows down, some teams in the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division haven’t made moves as big as expected. 

In Toronto, the biggest move the Maple Leafs made was trading for mid-tier left winger Matias Maccelli. In Buffalo, the Sabres’ biggest additions have been defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. The Ottawa Senators’ biggest acquisitions have been journeyman center Lars Eller and defenseman Jordan Spence, while the Detroit Red Wings brought in John Gibson.

Not exactly a cast of all-stars, to be sure.

You can point to the Montreal Canadiens trading for top-level blueliner Noah Dobson and the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers surprisingly retaining all of stars Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad as examples of marquee talents arriving in or staying in the Atlantic. Those teams’ splashes certainly stand out among the rest of the Atlantic.

The retooling Boston Bruins were also busy, as they acquired Viktor Arvidsson, Tanner Jeannot, Michael Eyssimont and Jordan Harris, among others. But they were more depth moves than big moves.

But while some might’ve expected even more from the Atlantic’s playoff teams this summer, the truth is that it simply speaks to how good many of those teams are that they didn’t need to bring in new big names – at least, not right away.

Indeed, compare the splashes Atlantic teams made with teams in other NHL divisions, and you’ll see what we’re getting at. 

In the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks traded goalie John Gibson, traded for former New York Rangers star winger Chris Kreider and signed veteran center Mikael Granlund. In Los Angeles, the Kings signed a slew of veterans, including defensemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin, wingers Corey Perry and Joel Armia and goalie Anton Forsberg. The Seattle Kraken traded for forwards Mason Marchment and Frederick Gaudreau and signed defenseman Ryan Lindgren. And the Vegas Golden Knights made a huge splash by acquiring superstar Mitch Marner and re-signing left winger Brandon Saad.

Similarly, in the Metropolitan Division, the Rangers signed first-pair D-man Vladislav Gavrikov, and the New York Islanders signed winger Jonathan Drouin. The Carolina Hurricanes added defenseman K’Andre Miller and right winger Nikolaj Ehlers, while the New Jersey Devils added forwards Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov. The Philadelphia Flyers added goalie Dan Vladar and centers Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak, while the Pittsburgh Penguins traded for D-man Connor Clifton and signed wingers Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau.

Again, not many of those acquisitions can be labeled Grade-A acquisitions, but the number of moves made tells you how many holes needed plugging, in contrast to the holes in most Atlantic teams.

All things considered, the Atlantic Division’s teams didn’t make massive additions because they came into the off-season stocked to the gills in most key areas. The Panthers, Maple Leafs and Lightning made their trades of consequence at the trade deadline, so there’s no impetus for them to swing deals after deals this summer. 

While there’s still plenty of time for teams to make additional moves, if the season started today, the Atlantic would still be the league’s most competitive division. That’s why there weren’t as many teams in the Division making big splashes, and that’s why the Atlantic will once again be the NHL’s most competitive division for the foreseeable future.

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The Carolina Hurricanes are next up in an NHL off-season series examining each team’s prospect pool.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Hurricanes’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart and next player in line for an NHL opportunity. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises.

Initial Thoughts

The Hurricanes are a rare example of a team that built a promising prospect pool while also contending for a Stanley Cup. It is a testament to the front office’s mindset that taking swings on talent in the draft, regardless of whether they are undersized, Russian or have one glaring flaw, is worth the risk. 

Bradly Nadeau was drafted out of the BCHL and has since blossomed into a nice prospect. Nadeau went to the University of Maine for a season before signing his entry-level contract and having a fantastic rookie season in the AHL. 

Nadeau has a wicked shot, getting a ton of leverage on his release and blowing pucks by goalies' ears or right over their pads. The sniper’s 32 goals were the fifth-most in the AHL. Nadeau could make the NHL club in camp, and Carolina could use his shooting talent in the lineup.

Nikita Artamonov is one of the most engaged and high-motor players in the Hurricanes’ system. The Russian winger had a fantastic season in the KHL, putting up 22 goals and 39 points in 63 games. Artamonov consistently showed a high level of creativity, and when his plays didn’t work out, no one worked harder to get the puck back. The second-round pick in 2024 popped off in his draft-plus-one season, coming into his own as a shooter and attacking higher-danger areas more consistently.

The Hurricanes were over the moon when they drafted Felix Unger Sorum 62nd overall in 2023. Unger Sorum is a skilled puckhandler and a slick passer, but what seems to have drawn the Hurricanes in his direction was his competitiveness. Although he isn’t the most fleet of foot, he works hard on every shift to mitigate that weakness. Unger Sorum had a decent rookie year in the AHL, but Carolina is hoping he can take on a bigger offensive role this year. 

Russian wingers Timur Mukhanov and Gleb Trikozov are the ultimate swings on potential and talent. 

Trikozov joined the AHL’s Chicago Wolves this past year and played in just 20 games because of an injury. It was a big adjustment for the shifty and skilled winger. He’s shown flashes of potential, and the Wolves could use his offensive punch. 

With Mukhanov, the Hurricanes have been patient as he develops in the KHL, but the speed, forechecking and passing ability are all such intriguing traits. He’s a bit raw, but the Hurricanes can be patient as he finishes up his final year under contract in the KHL.

On the blueline, Alexander Nikishin is the big name Hurricanes fans have been clamoring for as they’ve seen him lead all defenders in scoring in the KHL in two of the past three years. He was the captain of St. Petersburg for the past two seasons as well. The 6-foot-4 blueliner is arguably one of the best and most complete defenders outside of the NHL. Carolina is stoked to see him come over and help form one of the strongest and most underrated left sides of any team’s defense group with Jaccob Slavin and the recently acquired K’Andre Miller. 

Vladimir Grudinin’s development has been quite impressive to watch. His fluid skating is the base for everything he does, and it’s been a major area of growth for him defensively, where he has learned to defend with his feet and stick. He has the passing and mobility to be a more effective offensive player, and the flashes are becoming more consistent as well. 

Noel Fransen has been such an interesting player over the past couple of years. In his draft year, he dominated offensively at the junior level in Sweden, with 20 goals and 44 points in 45 games. He also showcased a level of creativity and aggressiveness at the blueline that is encouraging for where the NHL game is going. His defensive game grew this past year in Sweden’s second pro tier, the Allsvenskan, where he was the top-scoring U-20 defender. There is still some work to do, but Fransen has some enticing potential as a two-way defender with good mobility. 

Dominik Badinka has all of the tools to be a very solid defenseman at the NHL level one day. He has size, skating and some sneaky good puck skill as a passer. He should be a fairly important piece of the puzzle with the Wolves as he jumps to North America full-time. Badinka won’t blow anyone away, but he has flashed some puck-rushing and playmaking skills that should hold up in North America.

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 2, 41st overall - Semyon Frolov, G, Spartak Moscow Jr. (Rus.)

Round 2, 49th overall - Charlie Cerrato, LW/C, Penn State (NCAA)

Round 2, 62nd overall - Ivan Ryabkin, C, Muskegon (USHL)

Round 3, 67th overall - Kurban Limatov, D, Moscow Dynamo Jr. (Rus.)

Round 3, 87th overall - Roman Bausov, D, St. Petersburg Dynamo Jr. (Rus.)

Round 6, 183rd overall - Viggo Nordlund, LW, Skelleftea Jr. (Swe.)

Round 7, 221st overall - Filip Ekberg, RW, Ottawa (OHL)

GM Eric Tulsky and the Hurricanes love to trade down in the draft, and they did exactly that on the first night. This helped equip them with three second-rounders, in which they added some very solid prospects to their pipeline. 

Semyon Frolov bolstered their depth in goal. He started to soar up draft rankings at the end of the year with his mobility in net and athleticism. Like many Russian netminders, he’s proficient at sealing the ice with his pads, even while moving laterally. Frolov has the size and skating teams need from their goaltenders. 

Overage forward Charlie Cerrato had an impressive season for Penn State, putting up 42 points in 38 games. He plays with pace and commitment at both ends of the ice. He’s an off-puck attacker for the most part, using quick passing and swooping routes in the offensive zone to generate chances from high-danger areas. He won’t be an offensive stud, but he has some nice qualities that can chip in while providing excellent defensive value. 

Ivan Ryabkin became a topic of discussion when he continued to slide down the draft. When the Hurricanes finally ended his fall with the 62nd pick, everyone said, “Of course it was Carolina.” 

Ryabkin came into the year as a potential top-10 pick. His playmaking and physical edge made him one of the most interesting players to emerge from Russia, where their best players in recent years – the Flyers’ Matvei Michkov and Canadiens’ Ivan Demidov – were pure skill. Unfortunately, the season went about as poorly as it could have. Ryabkin sometimes looked slow and uninterested. There were reports that he was out of shape or not committed to the team throughout the year.

Ryabkin’s high-IQ playmaking dwindled, and we saw him become a bit of a one-dimensional physical presence. He brought value as a center who played hard, but he only seemed to play hard when he could throw a hit. After bouncing around between the two pro levels and the junior level in Russia, he joined the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the United States League halfway through the year. Although he looked better with the Jacks, he still looked a bit slow and too focused on inflicting pain, and his offensive flashes were merely flashes. If Carolina can get this kid right, this could very well be the best pick in the draft.

Another Russian, Kurban Limatov is a big, mobile blueliner who is very raw but incredibly intriguing due to his tools. Limatov has some offensive skill at times, chaining together some nice passing plays or moving along the blueline to open up lanes. In his own zone, he needs to make some better reads, but his length and physicality can often deter forwards from making the play that creates the most danger. Limatov has a ways to go, but he has a great base. 

The Canes added another big, rangy Russian defender in Roman Bausov a few picks later in the third round. While he doesn’t quite present as much upside or raw skill as Limatov, there is a very solid defensive base once again, which is something the Canes seem to value quite highly. Bausov is a stopper who shadows and swipes at pucks, disrupting possession and annoying attackers with ease.

Carolina didn’t pick again until the sixth round, when they snagged one of the top scoring players in Swedish junior hockey, 5-foot-9 left winger Viggo Nordlund. His dynamism and skill are incredibly enticing, and the fact he’s not a one-trick pony makes him even more of a draw. Nordlund attacks downhill and gets himself into excellent scoring positions. He can shake defenders or dangle them out of their skates en route to creating some sort of play offensively, whether it’s for himself or a teammate. His stature is the big question, and whether he can overcome that alone will likely determine if he can play in the NHL. 

Speaking of undersized Swedes, the Canes’ final pick was Filip Ekberg out of the OHL. He came to North America to get extra eyes on him, but a disastrous first half had scouts tuned out on him by Christmas. After that, he began to understand how to adapt his shifty, skilled game based around possession to play within the north-south, heavy-forecheck OHL style. When he did, it all clicked, and he averaged nearly a point and a half per game in the second half. Ekberg must continue to adjust and use his skill within the structure of the pro-style game, but he has some big boom potential. In the seventh round, that’s a worthy swing. 

Strengths

It’s odd that the strengths portion of this overview might be the toughest part to nail down. Usually, a legitimate Cup contender has one or two prospects of note in the system, but the Canes have notable players and depth that make their system sneakily strong. 

They have a plethora of talented and intriguing wingers. Artamonov and Unger Sorum lead the way, but with Cerrato, Trikazov, Mukhanov and Nordlund all looking like solid bets, the wings are loaded.

On the back end, this team has stockpiled defenders who can move the puck. They recently traded draft picks along with top prospect Scott Morrow, an incredibly skilled and mobile blueliner, for K’Andre Miller to bolster their NHL lineup, but that didn’t even affect them. Nikishin looks like a stud. Grudinin and Fransen have shown impressive flashes over the past couple of years. Badinka is a vastly underrated prospect who could be a legit second-pair guy down the road. Forsmark, Siryatsky and Heimosalmi all look like nice swings on talent as well. 

The strength of the Canes pipeline comes from the philosophy of their front office. Swing big on talent and allow their players to develop, often on pro teams overseas or in the AHL. The Hurricanes have been a unicorn among contenders for the most part, but they’ll need to get over the hump sooner rather than later, and maybe, a couple of these guys can help do that. 

Weaknesses

The center position looks a little bleak. Nadeau can play center, but he is likely a winger in the NHL. They have a few players like that. The one true center that they have, Ryabkin, is such a gamble because of the off-ice issues that seemed to follow him and affect his on-ice play. Carolina has done a fantastic job of supplementing its prospect pool with big swings on skill and almost an eagerness to draft Russians as they fall in the draft. Unfortunately, centers don’t fall, and they aren’t a team that reaches as many others do. 

Hidden Gem: Dominik Badinka, D

The 2024 second-round pick is a solid defensive player who has played a key role in the Swedish League for each of the past two years. His skating and length allow him to close quickly and suffocate play before it even gets started.

He’s not an offensive black hole either, despite some fairly pedestrian counting stats. Badinka makes an excellent first pass, hitting an outlet along the wall or finding a seam and putting it on a teammate's tape in stride. Badinka is the kind of defender the Canes love. He’s active, mobile and plays a smart game defensively.

Next Man Up: Alexander Nikishin, D

After waiting for Nikishin to come over from Russia, Carolina is finally getting its prized defender this upcoming season. He joined the Canes in the post-season and managed to get into four games with mixed results, but the 6-foot-4 Russian blueliner will be asked to play a fairly big role for this team.

Although he will likely start on the bottom pair, the Canes are hoping he can try to force his way into some important minutes in all situations. Nikishin is a solid two-way presence who has been one of the most impressive defenders in the KHL over the past couple of years. Now, it’s time to see if he can fit in with the NHL squad. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Nikita Artamonov, Viggo Nordlund, Oskar Vuolett, Charlie Cerrato, Alexander Rykov, Andrey Krutov

C: Bradly Nadeau, Ivan Ryabkin, Justin Robidas 

RW: Felix Unger Sorum, Timur Mukhanov, Gleb Trikozov, Filip Ekberg, Justin Poirier, Jayden Perron

LD: Alexander Nikishin, Kurban Limatov, Vladimir Grudinin, Noel Fransen, Simon Forsmark, Timur Kol, Alexander Siryatsky

RD: Dominik Badinka, Aleksi Heimosalmi, Roman Bausov

G: Nikita Quapp, Semyon Frolov, Ruslan Khazheyev, Jakub Vondras

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.

The NHL and NHLPA announced they ratified a four-year collective bargaining agreement that kicks in after next season.

The new agreement, which runs through the 2029-30 season, comes more than a year ahead of the current CBA's expiration. That means there will be no threat of a lockout after past labor disputes caused a cancelled season in 2004-05 and shortened campaigns in 1994-95 and 2012-13.

“The partnership between the Players’ Association and the League is stronger than it ever has been, and working together under this agreement presents a fantastic opportunity to continue to grow the game,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a joint news release. “We are grateful to the Board of Governors for its support of this agreement that strengthens our game and ensures we are collectively delivering a great fan experience in the years to come.”

Added NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh: “This CBA shows what can be accomplished when the NHL and the Union work together – an agreement that will allow for the continued worldwide growth of the game. That is a win for everyone.”

Despite the ratification, the memorandum of understanding is not yet available on the NHL and NHLPA's websites. It will be made available on those sites at a later date, the announcement said.

Bettman and Walsh declined to discuss details of the new CBA at a pre-draft press conference, but they did say it would last four years and begin after the 2025-26 season.

Walsh said the reason for a four-year deal instead of a longer term is that it gives a better opportunity for players to help shape future agreements instead of potentially playing their whole careers under one CBA.

Some details of the CBA surfaced in reports in The Athletic and Daily Faceoff, including an 84-game regular season, shortened pre-season, a playoff salary cap mechanism in the playoffs, no mandatory dress code for players arriving and leaving games and no deferred salary contracts.

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The NHL’s 2025 free-agent frenzy is winding down, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t intriguing scenarios still playing out. 

That includes RFAs who haven’t agreed to a new deal with their current teams and could be headed to salary arbitration, where an arbitrator will decide on a one- or two-year contract and the average annual value.

Let’s break down three RFAs who, either by arbitration or by the next contract they sign, could be getting the biggest cap hits of any RFA on their next deal.

Bowen Byram, D, Buffalo Sabres

Far and away the most talked-about RFA, Byram can no longer sign an offer sheet after the Sabres elected for arbitration over the weekend.

Byram’s qualifying offer is $4.62 million for one season, but the offer expires by July 15.

That said, Byram will almost certainly earn more than that after averaging 22:42 of ice time and recording 38 points this past season.

Byram could choose to sign a two-year contract extension that would lead him to become a UFA afterward. But he could also sign a long-term contract extension with Buffalo or, more likely, with a new team for far more than he made this past season. 

That’s the expectation we have for Byram – a trade away from the Sabres, and a five- to seven-year contract extension with a new team at between $7 million to $8 million per year.

Lukas Dostal, G, Anaheim Ducks

For a while now, Dostal has been considered the goalie of the future in Anaheim. After Ducks GM Pat Verbeek traded veteran John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings on June 28, Dostal is the goalie of the present. He now has all the negotiating leverage he could ask for.

The 25-year-old improved his numbers to a 3.10 goals-against average and .903 save percentage in 54 appearances this past season. Those aren’t Vezina Trophy-worthy but could improve as the Ducks improve around him. But there’s no question that Dostal’s salary of $812,500 this past season will be dwarfed by his next deal.  

Dostal filed for arbitration, which could take place between July 20 and Aug. 4, according to NHLPA.com. RFAs can sign at any time between now and their arbitration date, and we anticipate Dostal will sign well in advance of his hearing. The Ducks don’t have the leverage here, and a new deal that pleases Dostal for the next few years should happen fairly quickly.

As Cam York Re-Signs With Flyers, Which NHL RFA Defensemen Are Left?The Philadelphia Flyers re-signed RFA defenseman Cam York to a five-year contract on Monday.

Gabriel Vilardi, RW/C, Winnipeg Jets

After earning about $3.43 million this past season, Vilardi filed for arbitration, putting him on course to get a handsome raise. The 25-year-old posted career highs in goals (27), assists (34) and points (61) in 71 games this past season, and he’s a vital part of the Jets’ offensive attack.

Vilardi currently slots in as Winnipeg’s first-line right winger, and he led Jets forwards in power-play ice time per game. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff also has a proven track record of securing his players on long-term contracts that look like bargains from the get-go. Winnipeg has more than enough salary cap space to accommodate Vilardi’s next payday, and the only question here is what kind of term Vilardi signs for.

If Cheveldayoff wants to re-sign Vilardi on a short-term contract, the annual average salary Vilardi gets will be significantly higher than it would be on a long-term pact. But in either case, Vilardi will get at least $6 million per season, and likely more than $7 million. 

His history of injuries may be a factor, as Vilardi has yet to play more than 71 games in any of his six NHL seasons. But keeping Vilardi happy is part of Cheveldayoff’s challenge, and we don’t see him poisoning the waters with a key component of Winnipeg’s competitive puzzle.

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Entering the off-season, the New Jersey Devils were expected to pursue additional scoring punch after their offense declined last season.

It was among the reasons why the Carolina Hurricanes eliminated them from the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in five games. 

It was assumed the Devils might draw from their defense corps for trade bait to land a scoring forward. In March, there was conjecture suggesting a promising blueliner, such as Simon Nemec or Seamus Casey, might be available after Johnathan Kovacevic signed a five-year contract extension. 

However, a more notable Devils defenseman could be available. During his season-ending episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast on Sunday, Elliotte Friedman wondered about Dougie Hamilton's future in New Jersey. 

Friedman said he'd heard that Hamilton's name was “out there” in the trade market, adding the Devils had spoken to a couple of teams about the 32-year-old puck-moving blueliner. He thinks there's a low percentage chance that Hamilton gets moved but pointed out his no-movement clause reverted to a 10-team trade list on July 1. The Devils also paid him his signing bonus on July 1. 

Hamilton carries an average annual value of $9 million through 2027-28. A skillful, mobile rearguard, he has reached or exceeded 40 points in eight of his 13 NHL seasons, but injuries have also plagued him in recent years.

The Hockey News’ Michael DeRosa said trading Hamilton would leave a hole in the team’s top four, and they don’t need to rush any potential move. That said, if Nemec and Casey are ready to take over on the right side, then DeRosa said Hamilton could be moved for the right offer.

Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, trade speculation continues to swirl around the rebuilding Penguins, especially after they shipped goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to the San Jose Sharks on July 1. 

Most of the conjecture concerns veteran forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. Both are signed through 2027-28 with Rust carrying a $5.125 million average annual value and Rakell $5 million. 

Rust frequently surfaced in the rumor mill after his no-movement clause expired on July 1. Meanwhile, Rakell carries an eight-team no-trade list for the remainder of his contract. 

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Rust is drawing plenty of interest, but he remains loyal to the Penguins. He also indicated that Rakell wants to stay in Pittsburgh.

Josh Yohe of The Athletic thinks both players will still be in the Penguins' lineup when the regular season begins in October. However, he wouldn't be surprised if at least one of them was gone by next year's trade deadline.

DeRosa wrote that with Rakell putting up a career-high 35 goals and 70 points this past season, his trade value is higher now.

Yohe considers Rust and Rakell as “valuable commodities who are in their 30s.” He expects they could each fetch a first-round pick.

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