NHL News

Halak, 40, last played a game on April 13, 2023, with the New York Rangers. He then spent time with the Carolina Hurricanes early in the 2023-24 season on a professional tryout but was released before competing in a game.

"Last year I completed summer training ... but when nothing came of it, I told myself it was pointless. After that I didn't even try anymore," Halak told Slovakia's Dennik Sport, per a translation. "I'm officially ending my career. I would like to thank my family, friends, fans and especially my wife Petra, who has been by my side my entire career."

A two-time William M. Jennings Trophy Award winner as the goalie on the team that allowed the fewest goals in a season, Halak posted a 295-189-69 record with 53 shutouts, a 2.50 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 581 career games (555 starts). He has played with the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks and Rangers.

"It's been two years and I've come to terms with not reaching 300 (wins)," Halak said. "Looking back on my career, it's been a good one. It would have been nicer with 300 wins, but I'll be happy with 295."

Halak also played for his native Slovakia at the Olympics in 2010 and 2014 and guided Team Europe to the championship game at the World Cup of Hockey 2016.

Joshua, 29, recorded 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) and a team second-best 193 hits in 57 games last season. He missed the early portion of the campaign while recovering from surgery to treat testicular cancer.

"Dakota went through a lot last season before the year even started and we were very impressed in how he handled such a difficult off-ice situation," Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement. "Once healthy, he tried hard to help the team in many ways, and we want to wish him the best moving forward in Toronto."

Signed to a four-year, $13 million contract on June 27, 2024, Joshua has totaled 78 points (40 goals, 38 assists) in 241 career games since he was selected by the Maple Leafs in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Draft.

Joshua was traded to St. Louis in 2019 and made his NHL debut in 2020-21, playing for the Blues and Canucks.

Per The Athletic, the deal is for $32.5 million and carries a $6.5 average annual value.

"Lukas has proven he is a No. 1 goaltender and we are so pleased to get this deal done," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. "He is just entering the prime of his career with his best hockey ahead of him."

Dostal, 25, posted a 23-23-7 record with one shutout, a 3.10 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage in 54 games (49 starts) last season.

Dostal shared netminding responsibilities with John Gibson, who was traded to the Detroit Red Wings on June 28 for fellow goaltender Petr Mrazek, fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and second-round selection in 2027.

"Super excited to announce that I'm staying in Anaheim for another five years," Dostal said in a video message to the fans shared by the Ducks on X, formerly Twitter.

"I love to play in front of you and I love to live in this community. We are a team on the rise and I can't wait to see you soon in the Honda Center."

Dostal has a 42-58-13 record with two shutouts, a 3.29 GAA and a .902 save percentage in 121 career appearances (107 starts) with the Ducks.

The Russian player announced his wish in a statement released Thursday on social media by his agent, Shumi Babaev.

"I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location," Chinakhov said in the statement posted on X. "Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here."

Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell reacted to the request in an interview with The Athletic.

Waddell acknowledged that Chinakhov "fell out of favor" with Evason. The GM added that he will continue to engage in trade talks with other teams but is looking for value in return.

"I'm not just going to trade him because you said to trade him," he told The Athletic.

The Blue Jackets selected Chinakhov, 24, with the 21st overall selection of the 2020 NHL Draft.

The past two seasons, a back injury limited the playing time of Chinakhov. In 2024-25, he posted 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 30 games. The previous season, he tallied 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists) in 53 games.

Chinakhov has one season remaining on his contract before becoming a restricted free agent next summer. He will earn $2.1 million.

"We are fully aware that there is an active contract in place, and if Yegor's request for a trade does not materialize, he will continue to give 120 percent in fulfilling his responsibilities," Babaev said in a separate social media post.

In 175 career games, he has 71 points (34 goals, 37 assists) and a minus-42 rating.

An official announcement is expected soon.

Gallant, 61, last coached in the NHL with the New York Rangers (2021-23) but previously coached the Columbus Blue Jackets (2003-04, 2005-07), Florida Panthers (2014-17) and expansion Vegas Golden Knights (2017-20).

He took the first-year Vegas squad to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018, where they lost to the Washington Capitals in five games. He won the Jack Adams Award as the league's coach of the year.

In this first season with the Rangers in 2021-22, he led the team to the Eastern Conference final with a 52-24-6 (110 points) record, with the Rangers losing in the Eastern Conference final to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.

The next season, despite a 47-22-13 (107 points) mark, the Rangers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in seven games by the New Jersey Devils.

He was fired after that season.

Gallant has a career record of 369-262-4-70 in 705 regular-season games.

A native of Ottawa, Thomas attended the University of Wisconsin and played three seasons (1968-70) for the legendary Bob Johnson, who would go on to winning a Stanley Cup as head coach of the 1990-91 Pittsburgh Penguins.

Thomas made his NHL debut for the Montreal Canadiens during the 1972-73 season and became the 10th goalie in league history to record a shutout in his debut as Montreal blanked Vancouver, 3-0 on Jan. 14, 1973. He became the first Wisconsin Badger to play in the NHL.

Thomas was a member of the Stanley Cup winning Montreal squad in 1972-73, although he did not play any games in the playoffs. He was traded to Toronto and earned All-Star Team honors in 1975-76. After two years in Toronto, he played his final four seasons with the New York Rangers (1977-81).

After he retired in 1981, Thomas had several stints as a goalie coach with the Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues over the next decade. In addition, he served as head coach in the International Hockey League for Rangers' and Blues' affiliates.

In 1993, the San Jose Sharks -- a second-year NHL franchise -- hired Thomas as an assistant to the general manager and assistant coach. He worked behind the bench for three seasons, before going upstairs as assistant GM. Thomas became a vice president for the Sharks in 2001 and remained in both roles until his retirement in 2015.

The 24-year-old restricted free agent is now under contract through the 2026-27 season.

The Sabres acquired Byram -- the No. 4 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Avalanche -- in a deal with Colorado at the 2024 trade deadline.

In the 2024-25 season, he played all 82 games and scored a career-high 38 points (seven goals, 31 assists).

In 246 career games with the Avalanche and Sabres, Byram has 110 points (33 goals, 77 assists) with 313 blocks and 337 hits.

The Sabres also signed 18-year-old defenseman Radim Mrtka, the No. 9 pick in the 2025 draft, to a three-year entry-level deal on Tuesday.

Lemieux and his ownership group, comprised of former co-owner Ron Burkle and former executive David Morehouse, have reportedly informed NHL commissioner Gary Bettman of their intention to pursue a purchase of the team from Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the organization that acquired the team from their group in 2021.

FSG has announced the pursuit of additional minority investors in the wake of selling just 91.4 percent of available tickets in 2024-25, the lowest amount in two decades, but hasn't expressed publicly a desire to sell the club.

The Penguins were valued at $1.47 billion in 2024, per Sportico.

Lemieux, 59, was a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Penguins, earning three Hart Trophies among nine All-Star appearances.

His 1,723 career points and 690 career goals remain the most in franchise history, with current Penguins star Sidney Crosby second in both categories.

Since acquiring the team, FSG has presided over just one playoff appearance, including straight postseason misses. The Penguins' recent record is in stark contrast to the team winning three league championships from 2009-17.

The action begins with the Chicago Blackhawks visiting the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers at 5 p.m. ET, followed by the Penguins and Rangers at Madison Square Garden at 8 p.m. ET and capped by the Los Angeles Kings hosting the Colorado Avalanche at 10:30 p.m. ET.

All three games will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN in the U.S., and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.

The complete 2025-26 regular-season schedule will be announced on Wednesday afternoon.

The Panthers will raise their second championship banner prior to the game at Amerant Bank Arena. Florida beat the Edmonton Oilers in six games to claim the Stanley Cup last month.

Sullivan, 57, coached the Penguins from 2015-25 and won two Stanley Cups. He and the team agreed to part ways on April 28 after the Penguins missed the playoffs for a third straight season.

On May 2, Sullivan was hired to replace Peter Laviolette as the coach of the Rangers, who missed the 2025 playoffs after reaching the Eastern Conference finals the previous season.

Silovs, 24, appeared in just 10 games for the Canucks this past season. However, the 6-foot-4 Latvian shined in the American Hockey League, where he led the Abbotsford Canucks to the Calder Cup Championship as the Playoff MVP.

In 21 regular-season games with Abbotsford, Silovs went 14-5-2 with a .908 save percentage and a career-best 2.41 goals-against average. In leading the team to its first Calder Cup, he went 16-7 in 24 games with a 2.01 GAA and a .931 save percentage.

With five shutouts in the playoffs, Silovs fell one shy of the AHL all-time record during a single postseason. He also became just the fourth goaltender to earn Playoff MVP honors.

Silovs, whose contract runs through the 2025-26 season, has compiled a 59-35-13 record with a .906 save percentage and a 2.58 GAA in parts of five AHL seasons. In three years with Vancouver, he appeared in 19 games (18 starts) with an 8-8 record, .880 save percentage and 3.13 GAA.

Skinner, 33, is fresh off a one-year stint with the Edmonton Oilers which gave him his first postseason experience in 15 seasons in the league. The Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers in six games in the Stanley Cup Finals for the second straight year, failing to secure their first title since 1990.

Skinner had 16 goals and 13 assists in 72 regular-season games with the Oilers, and added a goal and an assist in five games during the Oilers' postseason run.

After being picked by the Carolina Hurricanes with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2010 draft, Skinner won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2011 as the league's best rookie.

In 15 NHL seasons with the Hurricanes (2010-18), Buffalo Sabres (2018-24) and Oilers, Skinner has racked up 373 goals and 326 assists in 1,078 games.

Reaves, 38, joins his seventh NHL team after two ineffective seasons in Toronto. The Maple Leafs demoted him to the American Hockey League in early March of last season.

Known as an enforcer, Reaves has incurred four suspensions during his NHL career, his incidents including an attempt to injure an opponent during the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs and a check to the head of Darnell Nurse in a game between Toronto and Edmonton last November.

Reaves had four goals and four assists across 84 games in his two seasons with the Leafs.

In 15 NHL seasons, he has totaled 137 points (63 goals, 74 assists) in 912 games for the St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild and Maple Leafs.

Thrun, 24, had a career-best 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 60 games for the Sharks last season. In 119 games over parts of three seasons with San Jose, he has scored five goals and added 20 assists.

Manson, 33, has spent three-plus seasons with the Avalanche after beginning his NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks, though he was limited to 48 games in 2024-25 due to injury.

He tallied 15 points (one goal, 14 assists) in that time and has amassed 57 points (13 goals, 44 assists) and 443 hits in 173 games for Colorado. Manson was a trade deadline acquisition for the Avs in 2022, and he helped the team win the Stanley Cup a few months later (three goals, five assists in 20 playoff games).

"Josh has been an important member of our blue line since joining the team during the 2022 stretch run," Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said in a statement. "He is a steady and tough defender who chips in on the offensive side at key times. He is also a veteran leader in our dressing room, and we are excited to have him under contract for another three seasons."

Across 11 seasons with Anaheim (2014-22) and Colorado, Manson has tallied 39 goals, 131 assists and 1,526 hits in 626 games.

Kolyachonok, 24, recorded a combined seven points (two goals, five assists) and averaged 13:01 of ice time in 35 games with the Utah Mammoth and the Penguins last season. Pittsburgh claimed him off waivers on Feb. 10. He has one year remaining on the contract he signed with Utah in June 2024.

The Belarus native has 14 career points (four goals, 10 assists) over four seasons with the Arizona Coyotes (2021-24), Mammoth and Penguins.

Dumba notched 10 points (one goal, nine assists) and averaged 15:18 of ice time last year for Dallas. Dumba, who will be 31 on July 25, also has one season remaining on a two-year deal worth $7.5 million he signed with the Stars in July 2024.

He has 258 points (84 goals, 174 assists) in his 12-year career with the Minnesota Wild (2013-23), Coyotes (2023-24), Tampa Bay Lightning (2023-24) and Stars.

Minnesota selected him seventh overall in the 2012 NHL Draft. Kolyachonok was a second-round pick by Florida in the 2019 draft.

The Panthers did not disclose financial terms, though multiple sources reported the value is $775,000, the league minimum.

Samoskevich, 22, played his first full season for Florida in 2024-25 and totaled 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists), 12 penalty minutes, 32 blocks and 134 hits in 72 regular-season games.

His 15 goals were seventh most by a rookie in club history, according to the Panthers, and five of the goals were game winners, tying Carter Verhaeghe for the team lead.

He also had one assist in four playoff games as the Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions.

"Mackie is a talented young forward who demonstrated skill and maturity well above his age in his first full NHL season," said Bill Zito, Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager. "He showcased his ability to slot into any hole in our lineup and find success this past season, which is a testament to both his play and character. We look forward to seeing him compete in our organization for years to come."

Samoskevich also appeared in seven regular-season games in the 2023-24 season.

Florida selected Samoskevich 24th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft out of the University of Michigan.

The Oilers announced the trade late Tuesday after signing the forward to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The Lightning drafted Howard with the No. 31 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, before he played as a freshman at Minnesota-Duluth. The Wisconsin native spent the next two seasons at Michigan State, where he won the top award in college hockey after scoring 52 points (26 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games.

Had the trade not occurred, Howard intended to return to college for his senior season and become an unrestricted free agent.

Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois said in May that signing the 21-year-old likely wasn't in the offing for the Lightning.

"When I chatted with Isaac, he was pretty candid, and I appreciated his honesty, and I thank him for his honesty," BriseBois said. "He values the opportunity to choose the club that he believes is the best fit for him. And I won't speak for him, but he values that. Right now, I would say it's unlikely that we will sign him."

O'Reilly, 19, was taken by Edmonton with the No. 32 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He played for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League last season, tallying 98 points in 84 regular season, playoff and Memorial Cup games.

The two sides reached an agreement in principle on June 27 but votes of the full membership of the NHLPA and the league's Board of Governors were required for ratification.

"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 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."

The previous CBA still had more than a year left until expiration.

The particulars of the CBA have not been released, but ESPN reported that under the new CBA, the season will be expanded from 82 to 84 games, with the elimination of two preseason games. That is expected to take effect with the 2026-27 season.

ESPN also reported the new CBA includes language that addresses topics such as shorter maximum contract lengths and eliminating a player dress code on game days.

"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," said Marty Walsh, NHLPA executive director. "We could not have achieved this outcome without the involvement and support of our players."

McBain, 25, set career highs in goals (13) and points (27) while playing all 82 games last season, his fourth with the franchise.

"Jack is an important part of the championship-caliber team we are building, and we look forward to having him back on our roster for the foreseeable future," Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said.

The 6-foot-4, 219-pounder has tallied 82 points in 241 regular-season games with Utah and the Arizona Coyotes since being selected in the third round of the 2018 draft by the Minnesota Wild.

Johnson most recently suited up for the Boston Bruins, but the forward played only nine games in his lone season with them and contributed two assists.

In 747 games with the Lightning (2012-21), Chicago Blackhawks (2021-24) and Bruins, Johnson racked up 433 points, tallying 193 goals and 240 assists.

He burst onto the scene in 2013-14, his first full year in the league, when he totaled 50 points (24 goals, 26 assists) and was named to the NHL All-Rookie team.

When the Lightning made a deep playoff run in 2014-15, Johnson led all NHL players with 13 goals and 23 points that postseason. He suffered a broken wrist during the Stanley Cup Final, which Tampa Bay lost to Chicago.

Johnson provided some key scoring depth for the Lightning in the 2020 and 2021 playoffs. He had a two-goal game against the Montreal Canadiens when the Lightning won their second straight Stanley Cup in July 2021.

Dobes, 24, appeared in 16 games in 2024-25 and finished 7-4-3 with one shutout, a 2.74 goal-against average and a .909 save percentage.

He placed fourth among rookie netminders in wins and was one of five first-year goaltenders to post a shutout.

The Canadiens selected the 6-foot-4 Czech Republic native in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

York, 24, contributed 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) and an average ice time of 20:47 in 66 games in 2024-25. He was third on the team with 126 blocks and added 60 hits.

The California native has recorded 77 points (19 goals, 58 assists) in 235 career games since the Flyers drafted him in the first round (14th overall) in 2019.

York was a restricted free agent and received a qualifying offer from the Flyers on June 30.

The Capitals acquired Beauvillier from the rival Pittsburgh Penguins for a second-round draft pick back on March 7. The Capitals were Beauvillier's sixth NHL team in three seasons; after spending the bulk of his career with the New York Islanders, he had short stints with the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators and Penguins.

Beauvillier played in 18 games for Washington and tallied two goals and three assists. He kept it going in the playoffs, recording two goals and four assists in 10 postseason games.

Beauvillier, 28, has amassed 271 points (131 goals, 140 assists) and 682 hits across 631 career games. He spent more than six seasons with the Islanders, who picked him in the first round (28th overall) of the 2015 draft.

"Nikolaj was the top free agent available on July 1, and we are proud that he's chosen to make Carolina his home," Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said, referencing the opening of the league year on Tuesday. "He's a highly-skilled winger who can really skate and will fit very well with our forward group."

Ehlers, 29, has spent his entire NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets and has scored at least 21 goals in eight of his 10 seasons. He collected 63 points (24 goals, career best-tying 39 assists), a plus-14 rating, 33 blocks and 38 hits while averaging 15:48 of ice time in 69 regular-season games last season as the Jets finished with a league-high 116 points and 56 wins.

He also recorded seven points (five goals, two assists) in eight postseason games.

Winnipeg selected the native of Denmark with the ninth overall pick of the 2014 NHL Draft. He has 225 career goals, 295 assists, a plus-106 rating, 245 blocks and 336 hits in 674 regular-season games for the Jets since the 2015-16 campaign.

Ehlers has an additional nine goals, 12 assists, a minus-8 rating, 22 blocks and 52 hits in 45 career playoff games.

Orlov, who turns 34 on July 23, recorded 28 points (six goals, 22 assists), a plus-16 rating and averaged exactly 20 minutes of ice time in 76 games with the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2024-25 season. He was playing on the final season of a two-year, $15.5 million contract.

"Dmitry is a strong, two-way defenseman who brings physicality and versatility on the ice," Sharks general manager Mike Grier said. "He has a wealth of NHL experience, both in the regular season and playoffs, and his Stanley Cup championship pedigree is a valuable addition to our team. We are happy to have him."

A Stanley Cup champion with Washington, Orlov has totaled 327 points (76 goals, 251 assists) in 867 career games with the Capitals, Boston Bruins and Hurricanes. He was selected by Washington in the second round of the 2009 NHL Draft.

He had 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 79 games with the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild in 2024-25.

Nyquist, 35, has 531 points (209 goals, 322 assists) in 863 career games with five teams since his 2011 NHL debut.

The Detroit Red Wings drafted the Sweden native in the fourth round in 2008.