What's every NHL team's biggest need entering the 2026 draft?
Every NHL team has needs to try to address at the draft. Whether they can fill those needs is another matter.
NHL
25th June 2026
Mourning 'Hockey Night in Canada': NHL broadcasters lament end of TV institution
For many who were involved with "Hockey Night in Canada", last week's news was sad to process. But the show's end also felt inevitable.
Remembering 10 NHL Draft picks that toured the league before finally being used
Let’s go back through the cap era and see if we can find some picks that have stories to tell.
Which NHL teams could — or should — be interested in Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck?
While Hellebuyck’s playoff pedigree hasn’t always been sparkling, elite bona fide starting goalies don’t grow on trees in the NHL.
A beginner’s guide to the 2026 NHL Draft: Top prospects, storylines and 5 biggest questions
This is your primer for what will happen once the NHL Draft begins Friday night in Buffalo.
Best landing spots for NHL’s top offseason goalie targets: Hellebuyck, Bobrovsky and more
For goalies who might be headed to new teams this summer, some fits are obvious. Others require a bit more imagination.
NHL contract grades: Zach Benson extension is a steal for the Sabres
As one door closed for the Sabres with the Alex Tuch trade, another was kicked wide open. It's the Benson era in Buffalo.
Buffalo Sabres sign forward Zach Benson to 7-year contract extension
Benson had 43 points in 65 games during the regular season for Buffalo.
Top 2027 NHL Draft prospect Landon DuPont commits to Michigan
DuPont will join the Wolverines for the 2026-27 season and play his draft year in the Big Ten and NCAA.
After Jordan Kyrou trade, Blues are open for business — and positioned for a franchise-changing run
With four firsts after the trade, Doug Armstrong is preparing for a transaction marathon — "a 6-mph jog tomorrow and an 8-mph run Friday.".
Avalanche trade Jack Drury to Predators in deal involving 4 players, 1 pick
Drury, a 26-year-old center and pending RFA, had 10 goals and 27 points in 82 games in 2025-26.
NHL contract grades: Alex Tuch is worth the long-term risk for the win-now Capitals
The back half of Tuch's new contract could be an issue, but it's a later problem for the Caps.
What the Sharks would be getting in Ivar Stenberg at No. 2 in the NHL Draft
It seems likely that San Jose tipped its hand after a trade with Ottawa on Tuesday.
What the Sharks would be getting in Ivar Stenberg at No. 2 in the NHL Draft
It seems likely that San Jose tipped its hand after a trade with Ottawa on Tuesday.
Rangers offseason insider: The latest we’re hearing on Trocheck, Lafrenière, more
Plus updates on Brett Berard, Vladislav Gavrikov and New York’s backup goalie situation, among other rumblings.
Alex Tuch gets 8-year, $10.5 million AAV deal as Capitals, Sabres execute sign-and-trade
Tuch had been looking for a contract in the range of the one Adrian Kempe signed with the Los Angeles Kings.
NHL offseason trade board 4.0: The floodgates have opened. Who's next?
After a day of ground-shaking offseason trades unlike any the NHL has seen in recent memory, the market is primed for more moves.
As Wild continue to pursue Dylan Larkin, NHL voices explain why he could be the missing piece
Could Dylan Larkin find a higher level with the Wild? One evaluator: “He hasn’t really played with high-end guys like Kaprizov and Boldy.".
24th June 2026
Winners and losers of NHL's blockbuster trades: Tkachuk brothers, Kyle Davidson, and more
Let's dive into some of the big trades we've seen over the last few days and crown some early winners and losers.
Inside Brady Tkachuk's first days with the Florida Panthers after blockbuster trade
On Saturday, Tkachuk received a phone call that a trade from the Ottawa Senators would be imminent. It's been a whirlwind since.
How the Rangers could be impacted by the Knicks' NBA title under owner James Dolan
In recent rare public appearances, Dolan offered a few hints about how his NBA team's success could apply to his NHL franchise.
Inside JP Hurlbert's rise from Texas to the WHL and top of 2026 NHL Draft
After a strong year with Kamloops, Hurlbert was NHL Central Scouting's 12th-ranked North American skater.
Winners and losers of the PWHL offseason: Vancouver nails it, Toronto rocked by expansion
With the PWHL’s six-phase expansion roster building process coming to an end, it’s clear the newest teams are the biggest winners.
Why the Blackhawks took a big swing on defenseman Bowen Byram
The trade was by far the largest move GM Kyle Davidson has made in his tenure to add a significant player to the Blackhawks' roster.
NHL free agent big board 4.0: Expanding to 90 top targets a week ahead of the opening bell
We’re just one week away from July 1, which is looking more like a clearance sale than a frenzy. Still, a few high-end options remain.
NHL Draft prospect Keaton Verhoeff embodies the risk/reward in choosing college vs. junior
Verhoeff's choice will probably see him fall lower in the draft than he was expected to go this time last year. He's fine with that.
2026 NHL Draft: Pronman and Wheeler answer the biggest questions facing teams
Should the Maple Leafs take a defender at No. 1? What do the Canucks need to add in this draft?.
Sabres' impressive haul in Bowen Byram trade gives Jarmo Kekäläinen options for more big moves
The Byram deal with Chicago is a great first step in what should be a massive summer for the Sabres.
Sabres-Blackhawks trade grades: Buffalo commits grand larceny in sending Byram to Chicago
Bowen Byram is a talented blueliner, but the Blackhawks gave up an incredible haul for someone who isn't a slam-dunk No. 1 defenseman.
Sabres trade Byram, Greenway to Blackhawks for No. 4 pick, Crevier, second-rounder
Byram hit career highs this season but was looking for a bigger role than the Sabres are able to offer.
NHL expansion coming, new-era player empowerment, Babcock reaction, more: Board of Governors wrap
The NHL will decide in six months whether to proceed with expansion in Houston or Austin, adding a second team in Texas.
NHL trade grades: Kyrou deal nets top-line winger for Capitals, excellent haul for Blues
Is this a win-win? St. Louis shakes up its roster for a fresh run and Washington beefs up its non-Ovechkin core.
NHL trade grades: Senators add Eklund as Tkachuk replacement, Sharks get another top-10 pick
San Jose dealt from a position of strength to get another crack at one of the draft's best defensemen, while Ottawa fills a hole at wing.
NHL opening expansion process, to explore viability of franchise in Houston or Austin
Dan Friedkin signed a term sheet with the NHL and would own the potential Texas franchise with an estimated $3.5 billion investment.
Blues trade Jordan Kyrou to Capitals for Connor McMichael, first-round pick, prospect
Kyrou, 28, whose contract goes through 2031, was the Blues' leading goal scorer in each of the three seasons before this past one.
New Oilers coach Mike Babcock on his controversial style: 'Sometimes the truth is hard'
Babcock was introduced by Edmonton in a news conference on Tuesday, more than six years after his last NHL game.
Senators acquire William Eklund from Sharks for No. 9 draft pick
This is the second trade in as many days for the Senators, who traded captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers on Sunday.
NHL owners approve Penguins sale from FSG to Hoffmann family
The Penguins' sale, agreed upon in December, has cleared its last major hurdle.
Patrice Bergeron and a career-long Bruins commitment: ‘Stay loyal to this organization’
The 2026 first-ballot Hall of Famer on planting roots in Boston: “I always wanted to be a Bruin for the length of my career.".
NHL trade grades: Flames take a chance on Šimon Nemec while Devils recoup picks
Moving Nemec for a large haul is a smart decision for New Jersey for a variety of reasons.
Devils trade Šimon Nemec to Flames for picks, prospect: What it means for both teams
The Devils received two first-round picks, a second-rounder and a prospect in return for Nemec.
In hiring Mike Babcock as coach, Edmonton Oilers show how truly desperate they are
Why would a supposedly contending team, led the NHL's biggest star, hire someone followed by this sort of black cloud?.
Mike Babcock hired as new Edmonton Oilers head coach
The Edmonton Oilers have hired Mike Babcock as their new head coach, the team announced on Tuesday. Babcock has not coached in the NHL since the 2019-20 season when he was fired after 23 games while behind the bench for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Oilers hire Mike Babcock as head coach: Why they're taking a chance on the controversial veteran
Babcock, who last coached an NHL game in 2019, was lured out of retirement by a chance to coach a team with serious Stanley Cup aspirations.
Brady Tkachuk trade sets the stage for an unpredictable NHL Draft week
Plus: Tkachuk trivia and a new Hockey Hall of Fame class.
23rd June 2026
2026 NHL Mock Draft 3.0: Wheeler's final predictions for the first 2 rounds
With the draft now days away, Wheeler projects every pick from the Maple Leafs at No. 1 through the Rangers at No. 64.
What should the NHL's best restricted free agents make on their next contracts?
How much of a raise should Leo Carlsson get, or Pavel Dorofeyev? What about Simon Edvinsson on the blue line? Here's what analytics project.
How Patrice Bergeron went from an uncertain future to a Hall of Fame lock
Bergeron's career reminds us that the road to the Hall often includes heartache, self-doubt and stops at hospitals. He overcame them all.
Why NHL summer spending could get extra wild during free agency 2026
It's already clear the 2026 free-agency pool isn't very deep, but the rising salary cap could make for a fascinating July.
NHL Draft 2026: What’s each team’s biggest positional need for the future?
These are each NHL organization’s biggest internal need entering the 2026 NHL Draft.
The NHL's Canada-to-United States talent drain is becoming a problem for the league
In ushering his exit from Ottawa, former Senators captain Brady Tkachuk followed in a growing NHL trend of southward star movement.
Inside Patrice Bergeron's evolution into a slam-dunk, first-ballot Hall of Famer
Bergeron won a record six Selkes as the NHL's best defensive forward — and became an increasing offensive force late in his career.
Doug Armstrong: Blues inquired about Brady Tkachuk but weren't on his 4-team trade list
The Blues inquired about Tkachuk before he was traded to the Panthers on Sunday but were told they weren't on his list.
Hockey Hall of Fame welcomes Bergeron, Burke, Curley, Price, Rinne, Tkachuk
Longtime rivals Carey Price and Patrice Bergeron will enter the Hockey Hall of Fame as classmates.
As Brendan Gallagher prepares to leave Montreal, he seeks one thing: purpose
Brendan Gallagher wants his next NHL city to be a good home for his family, but he also wants to recapture his NHL self.
Mammoth extend André Tourigny, sign former Canucks coach Adam Foote as assistant
Tourigny reached the playoffs for the first time with the Mammoth this past regular season, losing in the first round to the Golden Knights.
NHL offseason trade board 3.0: What's next after the Brady Tkachuk bombshell?
The Tkachuk trade kept the NHL's transactional momentum going. Next up? One of the busiest weeks on the NHL calendar.
22nd June 2026
The Senators were right to trade Brady Tkachuk. They can't afford to whiff on replacing him
The expectation is that Ottawa will turn its return for Tkachuk into players who can help for next NHL season and beyond.
PWHL adds Kilmer Sports Ventures, Ilitch Companies as first outside investors
Kilmer Sports Ventures is led by Larry Tanenbaum, who brought the WNBA to Toronto, while the Ilitch family owns the Detroit Red Wings.
Let's welcome the Hockey Hall of Very Good 2026 class of inductees
Now's the chance to remember some guys who will never get the call for the real Hall but were a whole lot of fun to watch in their day.
Inside the Brady Tkachuk trade and what it means for a powder-keg NHL trade market
As one team executive said Sunday night in reaction to the Tkachuk trade, "This is going to be a crazy summer.".
2026 NHL Draft scouts survey: Ranking top defenders, making sense of Villeneuve, Sokolovskii
Thirteen scouts (including multiple directors) answered the same three questions on hot-button topics in the 2026 class.
Brady Tkachuk trade shows the NHL is changing dramatically — but maybe not how you want
Tkachuk is the latest in a string of star players whose names normally wouldn't have been on the trade market to join a new team.
NHL grades: Tkachuk trade sets Senators back, adds to Panthers' already-strong arsenal
The Senators lose one of their best two forwards, while the Panthers pay four picks to become even harder to play against.
Kraken, Bobby McMann agree to 6-year contract extension ahead of free agency
McMann scored 10 goals in 18 games for the Kraken after arriving in Seattle via midseason trade this past season.
Senators trade All-Star Brady Tkachuk to Panthers in blockbuster for package that features 3 first-round picks, unites him with his brother
Brady Tkachuk is on the move. The three-time All-Star winger and captain for the Ottawa Senators is joining the Florida Panthers via a blockbuster trade featuring three first-round draft picks. The Panthers announced the trade on Sunday, confirming multiple reports.
Senators trade Brady Tkachuk to Panthers, reuniting forward with his brother in Florida
Tkachuk has two seasons left on a seven-year, $57.5 million contract he signed with the Senators in 2021.
Rangers re-sign goaltender Dylan Garand to two-year contract
Garand played three games for New York last season, going 2-0-1 with a .948 save percentage.
Panthers trade forward Mackie Samoskevich to Kraken for pair of draft picks
The Panthers now own the Nos. 9 and 25 picks in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday.
Oilers sign Jason Dickinson to 5-year, $20 million contract extension
With a market light on centers, Dickinson would have been tough to replace had he walked away from the Oilers.
21st June 2026
Can 2026 NHL Draft prospect Xavier Villeneuve be the next Lane Hutson?
Villeneuve, a small defenseman with offensive flair, is described by NHL scouts as one of the draft's most polarizing prospects.
20th June 2026
10 overpriced NHL contracts that could be traded this offseason
The rising salary cap makes it easier to get out from under problem contracts. Here are 10 to keep an eye on.
2026 NHL Draft class superlatives: Ranking best skaters, shooters, hands and more
Here's how the 2026 NHL Draft class slots across different categories and traits.
Which 2026 NHL Draft prospects have the best skills? Ranking 6 different tools and traits
Corey Pronman evaluates the best skaters, puck handlers, competitors and smartest players in the 2026 NHL Draft class.
First HBCU men’s hockey program, Tennessee State, in jeopardy due to lack of funding
The program was first announced in June 2023 at that year's NHL Draft in Nashville, with the intention of beginning play in 2024.
Friends remember Kyle Calder as beloved coach after NHL days: 'Hall of Fame, first ballot human'
From 1999 to 2009, Calder played in 590 regular-season games with the Blackhawks, Flyers, Red Wings, Kings and Ducks.
Is the Maple Leafs’ giant bet on Darren Raddysh really worth the risk?
The sign-and-trade for Darren Raddysh is a bold gamble for new Leafs GM John Chayka.
Jonathan Toews, 3-time Stanley Cup winner, retires after 16 NHL seasons
Bruce Bennett via Getty ImagesLongtime Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews announced his retirement after 16 NHL seasons. "I have to say I'm satisfied; I'm fulfilled. I'm so thankful and grateful for the career I had," said Toews.
Jonathan Toews retires after 16 seasons in the NHL
Toews, 38, finished his career with his hometown Winnipeg Jets after playing 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks.
NHL contract grades: Darren Raddysh is a gamble worth taking for the Maple Leafs
The Leafs are swinging for the fences with Raddysh. It's a risk they have to take.
NHL rumblings: Pavelski on Leafs talks, how Raddysh got done, latest on Thomas, Zacha, Ovechkin, more
Also from around the NHL: The Bruins are listening on Zacha, and Hischer-Devils and Benn-Devils are getting closer to extensions.
Maple Leafs kick off player-movement season. Plus: Babcock is back
The NHL draft is a week from today and free agency opens five days after that. Plus: Everyone finally (almost) has a coach.
19th June 2026
Maple Leafs acquire defenseman Darren Raddysh in blockbuster sign-and-trade
Given his 2025-26 season was such a career outlier, Raddysh was considered the most high-risk, high-reward free agent in the NHL.
Why Jets should (and should not) trade franchise goaltender Connor Hellebuyck
Should Winnipeg keep its franchise goaltender, who's among the best in the world? Or cash in on a bidding war that "could get stupid"?.
Gavin McKenna's floor? Caleb Malhotra to Canucks? 2026 NHL Draft mailbag
With the 2026 NHL Draft a week away, Corey Pronman opened the mailbag and answered your questions.
Brayden Point? John Carlson? 6 active players who could be tough Hall of Fame calls
Not every player who's eligible to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame has an easy yes or no case.
NHL free agency 2026: 10 players teams should avoid this offseason
Here’s who I think are the players to avoid based on their projected contracts courtesy of AFP Analytics.
What can Matthew Knies and Mason McTavish offer as trade targets?
Both Knies and McTavish have incredibly promising potential but saw their stats crater in 2025-26. To move or not to move?.
2026 NHL Draft consensus big board: McKenna, strong D crop headline class
Comparing five experts' draft lists reveals which prospects have universal appeal and which ones are more divisive.
Troy Terry set to miss the start of Ducks' 2026-27 season with surgery recovery
Terry is expected to miss 5-6 months while recovering from surgery to address hip impingement and a labral tear.
NHL clears Mike Babcock to return after investigation
An NHL investigation into Babcock's time with the Blue Jackets found "no current basis to restrict his employment in the league.".
18th June 2026
This Week in Sports Trivia: June 18, 2026
How closely were you following the sports news this week? Find out and test your knowledge by taking The Athletic's weekly quiz.
Every NHL team’s worst value contract in 2025-26
Whether it was a down year, injuries, age-related decline or worse, here are the players who didn’t live up to their contracts last season.
Introducing The Hockey 100: The story of the greatest NHL players in modern history
The Hockey 100, the definitive ranking of the greatest players in modern NHL history, will be published on Oct. 27, 2026.
NHL offseason trade board 2.0: Latest on all the top targets as action heats up
Valeri Nichushkin, Tomáš Hertl, Bryan Rust and Connor Hellebuyck join the big board with summer trade activity already rolling.
NHL free agency 2026: 10 players teams should target this offseason
Which unrestricted free agents project to provide surplus value relative to what they’re expected to be paid?.
The Golden Knights are the NHL's most hated team, but they say 'it's jealousy'
Vegas' ruthless decision-making was on display again this week with how the coaching situation was handled.
NHL Draft Guide 2026: Prospect rankings, mock drafts and more
A collection of the top NHL Draft stories and analysis from our prospects experts Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler.
NHL rumblings: Checking in on the market for scorers, plus latest on Bobrovsky, Cassidy, more
Also: Shea likely heading to market, Greer could return, Brunette back with the Predators and a Team Canada GM update.
NHL Mock Draft 2026: Starting with Gavin McKenna to Maple Leafs, Pronman makes all 223 picks
In Corey Pronman's annual seven-round mock, he predicts how the entire 2026 NHL Draft will go next week.
