TRADE ACTIVITY PICKS UP AS NHL DRAFT NEARS

TORONTO, ON — With six days ahead of the NHL Draft and 10 days to go until Free Agency, teams have started to escalate their attempts to improve their rosters for the 2025-26 campaign.

Several moves have been made since the Stanley Cup was handed back to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, and as I attempt to recharge my batteries following an entertaining Stanley Cup Final before jumping on a plane back to Los Angeles for Draft Week, more action is expected.

Names will continue to swirl around the rumour mill, from free agent chatter to trade negotiations, and trade talk should take centre stage this coming week primarily due to a fairly shallow free agent pool — check out our Top 40 UFAs List.

With the Pittsburgh Penguins leading the seller’s market by a landslide, Kyle Dubas will be a popular man over the next few weeks. Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Ryan Graves are all up for grabs for the right price, and the Penguins may also be willing to take on a contract or two given their cap space.

Rust, to me, is most intriguing. His full no-movement clause expires June 30, end-of-day. He does not own any no-trade protection in the final three-years of his contract. He is one of the most appealing assets on a team going through a rebuild. Just about any contender would like to have him in their lineup.

The Seattle Kraken wanted a top-six forward with edge and got that in Mason Marchment, and even after trading Andre Burakovsky to the Chicago Blackhawks this morning, I don’t believe they are done. Neither is Chicago. Both clubs have money to burn and a willingness to spend it (responsibly).

Utah, Columbus and Anaheim are three clubs also eager to make a splash this summer and it will be interesting to see how they navigate these waters. How big of a splash? Hopefully big enough to steal a headline or two.

With so much activity out there right now — take a look at our Summer Trade Watch List — it is easier to offer little notes on what’s making the rounds:

HERE AND THERE

• On Friday, we weren’t sure whether contract talks between the Toronto Maple Leafs and John Tavares were close or far. We were told they are “in the process” of negotiating. Well, earlier today we were told the two sides aren’t close, at all. While we are still 10 days away from July 1, leaving plenty of time to iron out a new deal, it sounds like the Leafs have pitched a three-year deal worth less than $4 million per season. That won’t get it done. Let’s see how things progress.

• I expect teams like the Maple Leafs and Kraken – and there will be others – to pursue Andrew Mangiapane once he hits the open market.

• The Columbus Blue Jackets would like to retain defencemen Dante Fabbro and Ivan Provorov, but there’s a lot of work to be done on both, still. The team has been putting out the message that things are close with Fabbro, but as I reported the other day, his camp confirmed contract negotiations have just recently started and as of Thursday as deal was not close. There’s time here, and time with Provorov, though I’m told there is nothing new to report on his side – there remains a gap.

• As I reported on The Hot Stove this morning on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, the Edmonton Oilers are expected to announce Trent Frederic’s new deal next week. It’s ‘done’ without officially being done, I’m told, minus a few structural items to be finalized.

• The Vancouver Canucks want to hold on to Conor Garland, as Elliotte Friedman first hinted at Friday. The two sides are expected to begin extension talks in the near future. He is entering the final year of his contract, and I’m told is very interested in staying beyond his current deal.

• More on the Canucks: They are looking for ways to upgrade their scoring punch up front. If they are offered a young, controllable top-six forward by a team in need of a new No.1 goaltender, that might be enough to pry Thatcher Demko out of Vancouver.

• Dallas will continue to entertain calls on Jason Robertson, but the goal is to sign him to a long-term extension. Actual negotiations haven’t started yet, but they are expected to begin as early as this coming week.

• The Montreal Canadiens continue to be active. They are looking for roster upgrades, which includes finding a No.2 centre (like half the league), and GM Kent Hughes is trying to turn over as many stones as he can. Also, the team has not yet spoken with Patrik Laine’s camp about an extension – he’s entering the final year of his contract – but that is expected at some point after the NHL Draft.

• In Tampa, the Lightning wouldn’t mind adding a mid-six right wing, but they aren’t exclusively shopping in that lane. Bolts GM Julien BriseBois wants to strengthen his forward corps and is open to multiple options in doing so. They were hot for Jonathan Toews, who ended up agreeing to a deal with Winnipeg.

• As the Los Angeles Kings prepare their pitch deck for Mitch Marner – I believe Vegas is No.1 on his wish list, followed by L.A. – they would be wise to do the same for Brock Boeser. He is a target and a likely Plan B to Marner.

• Speaking of Marner, I reported a couple of weeks ago that Carolina is going to step up with a big offer. I’m still hearing the same and expect the Hurricanes to go very high on an AAV – I just don’t know how high they rank on his list.

• A lot of curious eyes on Golden Knights defenceman Alex Pietrangelo. He played all season with a nagging injury, and there is plenty of speculation over his status for the 2025-26 season.

• With all the talk of the New York Islanders trying to land another top-10 draft pick, any move may wait until Draft Day itself. Speaking with those across the League, they believe the Isles have a couple players in mind after No.1 – surely, James Hagens is one of them – but trading for another top pick is unlikely until they know their target is available.

• I wonder how aggressive Ottawa will get in their pursuit of Rasmus Andersson, whom the Calgary Flames are taking offers on.

• I’m still expecting Sam Bennett’s next deal to hover in the vicinity of 8x8, as I’ve been suggesting for weeks. He’s made it abundantly clear he’s staying, and the two sides need to get the fine print done. I’d be surprised if he hits July 1 unsigned. The bigger question for Florida is can they keep Brad Marchand, too.

• The Philadelphia Flyers have been poking around on some of the younger available defencemen. Flyers GM Danny Briere has asked Vegas about Nic Hague and Buffalo about Bowen Byram, among others.