The NHL prefers that teams not make news during the Stanley Cup Final, but with the NHL Draft just 10 days away, general managers got impatient and threw caution to the wind. The NHL trade winds, which were a light breeze, quickly became gale-force winds with several big-name deals in the Metro Division, though none involved the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Washington Capitals rolled the dice with a long-term gamble, while the New Jersey Devils finally got their goalie. In some lighter NHL news, Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon are already plotting for Team Canada.
This might be the first summer that Penguins fans watch everyone else have all of the fun, and we get a slow trickle of news or movement. In addition to the big trades that happened, rumors are swirling that the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators have something in place, too—except that no one has reported any names.
Later this morning, we’ve got some heavy-duty NHL Draft prognosticating from a draft expert for the Penguins’ second-round picks.
As the network’s editor-in-chief, I’m happy to see my guys having fun covering the Stanley Cup Final and the flurry of trades, but I wouldn’t mind being a part of the fun. This is the first time since 2019 that I’ve not covered hockey into June!
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Nathan MacKinnon spilled the beans. Team Canada’s top line for the coming Four Nation Face-Off and 2026 Winter Olympics will be from Nova Scotia, and the boys are already discussing the line and power play. Sidney Crosby is already planning ahead.
The Penguins made their choice to lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. It was a little bit of a surprise and a name not immediately known to most hockey fans. Here’s the scoop on Kirk MacDonald, the new WBS Penguins coach.
The NHL trade rumors didn’t see the big trade coming. The Washington Capitals took a huge gamble. They traded goalie Darcy Kuemper to the LA Kings for 25-year-old perennial unhappy underachiever Pierre-Luc Dubois. The New York Rangers lost Barclay Goodrow on waivers, and the New Jersey Devils finally snagged Jacob Markstrom. It was a wild day. Here’s all of the Metro Division news.
PHN Video: Our weekly live chat was chock-full of conversation. We finally got to some draft prospects toward the end, but the conversation was fast and furious. We got into the Penguins trade possibility of Patrik Laine and some buyout candidates to watch for on the free-agent market. We got our money’s worth on the Penguins Live Chat.
NHL Trade Market, News, & National Hockey Now
New Jersey Hockey Now: The move that kicked off the chaos. New Jersey almost pulled off the deal for Jacob Markstrom at the NHL trade deadline, but someone in the Calgary Flames organization vetoed it. It looked like the deal would never get done, but the Devils got their No. 1 goalie. Here’s the full examination and scoop on the Devils trade.
As of 1 a.m., TSN reporters disagreed as to the progress of the Philadelphia-Ottawa trade. Travis Yost said the framework had been agreed to, while Daren Dreger said both sides were denying a deal. We don’t yet have a story to link to, but we’re waiting for the boys to figure it out and some details to emerge.
TSN: A crazy deal for the Capitals. They sent fading 34-year-old goalie Darcy Kuemper to LA for Pierre-Luc Dubois, who has seven–yes SEVEN–years remaining on his deal with an $8.5 million AAV. It’s a hugely risky trade, and Brian Hayes on TSN shredded PLD.
I don’t know what the Capitals were thinking on this one. No salary retention either way. They may have just undone the shrewd roster construction that put them in the playoffs. It might work, but the odds are not forever in their favor.
San Jose Hockey Now: One day after the Rangers put Barclay Goodrow on waivers, he was claimed by his original NHL team, the San Jose Sharks.
San Jose wasn’t done, and their next move was a steal, acquiring Ty Dellandria. He was the 13th overall pick in 2018, but after finally cracking the lineup last season, he was a frequent healthy scratch this season. Now, he’ll get a big opportunity after the Sharks trade.
Florida Hockey Now: And we’ll wrap up with the Stanley Cup Final. It doesn’t matter what the boys in South Florida say, nor does it matter what coach Paul Marice says. The pressure has swung and is squarely on the Florida Panthers.