Hockey Wiretap

Patrick Kane has agreed to a two-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks worth an $8 million average annual value. The deal includes a full no-move clause, marking Kane's return to Chicago after being traded away at the 2023 deadline.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson praised Kane's impact on the franchise in a statement.

"Day in and day out for 16 seasons, Patrick captivated the city of Chicago with his dazzling skill, creating some of the most memorable moments in Blackhawks history as he helped bring our storied franchise back to the pinnacle of our sport," said Davidson. "He's shown on countless occasions that he knows what it takes to win at the highest levels, and we couldn't be prouder for Patrick to once again call the United Center home and continue to shine in Chicago's brightest lights."

Kane's return sets up the opportunity to play alongside Connor Bedard, the player Chicago drafted first overall after trading Kane in part to improve its draft lottery odds that same season. Bedard expressed excitement about the potential pairing earlier this week.

"I hope so," said Bedard. "I don't know what I can say to persuade his decision, but we'd all obviously be so excited to have (not only) a player like that, but also a guy like that. I can't imagine his first game back at the (United Center), the reaction he'd get and how much juice that would bring not only to our team but our fans as well. That would be incredible to get to play with him and learn from him."

Kane, who turns 38 in November, is the last active player among the group that won three Stanley Cup titles with Chicago. He ranks third in franchise history in games played and goals, and second in assists and points. He has continued training in Chicago during the offseason for the past decade, even keeping a stall in the Blackhawks' dressing room during summer development camps.

Kane will rejoin a significantly different roster than the one he left, with only Alex Vlasic, Teuvo Teravainen and Arvid Soderblom remaining from his previous stint in Chicago. Despite a decline in speed following hip-resurfacing surgery three years ago, Kane has continued producing at a high level, tallying 57 goals and 163 points across 189 games with the Detroit Red Wings.

Kane previously praised Bedard's potential during his first game back in Chicago as a visiting player during the 2023-24 season.

"We talk about the fans and the city and how it's such a great sports town; he's in a great spot for that," said Kane. "I think the fans deserve another long run of a great hockey player and hopefully great teams behind him. He's worth the price of admission. He does special things. He's going to be a great player for a long time."

Kane's departure represents a significant loss for Detroit, where he became the highest-scoring U.S.-born player in NHL history last season after reaching his 500th career goal. He finished fourth on the team in scoring with 16 goals and 57 points across 67 games and ranked as Detroit's third-leading five-on-five scorer, while also serving as a key contributor to a power play that ranked fourth in the league since his arrival in December 2023.

The Jason Robertson saga is over for now with the Dallas Stars signing the forward to a one-year deal worth $12 million on Tuesday.

Signing Robertson, who turns 27 on Wednesday, ensures he and the Stars will avoid arbitration talks. Robertson was one of 15 restricted free agents who filed for arbitration on July 5.

Robertson, who led the Stars with 96 points and tied for the team lead with 45 goals, had recently finished a four-year deal worth $7.75 million annually.

The Utah Mammoth signed defenseman John Marino to an eight-year contract extension worth an annual average value of $6.75 million, the team announced Tuesday. The deal locks in one of Utah's top blueliners as part of a growing core of long-term commitments.

Marino joins defensemen Mikhail Sergachev and MacKenzie Weegar among a group of eight Mammoth players now signed for more than three years. General manager Bill Armstrong praised Marino's overall impact in a statement.

"We view John as a foundational piece of our future," said Armstrong. "His ability to control the game from the back end, his play in transition and our trust in him to make the right decisions in critical situations allows him to be a difference maker on most nights. Beyond his skill, John brings a level of calmness under pressure that our group feeds off and that's exactly what you need from your veteran players."

Marino, 29, was entering the final season of a six-year, $4.4 million annual deal originally signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was later traded to the New Jersey Devils in 2022 before Utah acquired him in a 2024 deal that cost the franchise three draft picks.

Marino's arrival helped stabilize Utah's blue line during the team's inaugural season, when the Mammoth finished just seven points outside a wild-card spot before reaching the playoffs the following year. He posted four goals and 36 points across 80 games in 2025-26 while averaging 20:12 in ice time, helping Utah make the postseason for the first time since relocating from Arizona.

The Mammoth held a 2-1 series lead in their first-round matchup before losing consecutive double-overtime games and being eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup runner-up Vegas Golden Knights. Marino averaged 22:27 in ice time during that series, trailing only Sergachev and Nick Schmaltz.

Marino's extension comes amid a broader offseason push that could position Utah as a stronger contender in the Western Conference. The Mammoth opened free agency by trading for New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck and signing winger Anders Lee away from the New York Islanders. Utah also acquired goaltender Sebastian Cossa from the Detroit Red Wings, a former first-round pick expected to pair with Karel Vejmelka in net going forward.

Connor Bedard has agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks carrying an average annual value of $15 million, the team announced Saturday. The deal, signed a day after Bedard turned 21, keeps him under contract through the 2030-31 season.

The average annual value ranks third in the league, trailing only Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson at $18 million and Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov at $17 million. The extension buys out just one year of Bedard's unrestricted free agency.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson praised Bedard's development since entering the league.

"Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL," said Davidson. "He utilizes all aspects of his game to not only be a constant threat, but to make the players around him better every time he steps on the ice. Connor's strong work ethic and determination to always improve his game has set an extraordinary standard for our young core, and we're excited for the incredible impact he'll have in this next chapter of Blackhawks hockey."

Bedard's contract had been a major storyline since he was selected first overall in the 2023 draft. Speculation intensified after Leo Carlsson signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers, which Anaheim ultimately matched on July 9, raising questions about whether Bedard might pursue a similar path. A shoulder injury and subsequent surgery, which is expected to sideline him until early November, also factored into the uncertainty surrounding negotiations.

Bedard broke out significantly this past season, posting 19 goals and 25 assists in his first 31 games before the shoulder injury slowed his production to 11 goals and 20 assists over his final 38 games. He also took on a larger leadership role after Chicago traded veterans Nick Foligno, Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson at the deadline, earning a promotion to alternate captain.

Bedard addressed the possibility of becoming full-time captain later this offseason.

"It'd be an honor," said Bedard. "It'd be extremely special. We have a lot of guys in this room who can lead and take on those kind of roles. If I'm the one who is chosen for that, I'd be extremely grateful, and that's not something anyone would take for granted."

Bedard reiterated his commitment to winning in Chicago at the end of last season.

"I talk about wanting to win, we all want to win. I want to win here for as long as I'm playing," said Bedard. "At the end of the day, I have so much faith in the management, the coaching and also our players. I can't be more confident that we are going to get to where we want to get to."

Chicago also recently signed defenseman Bowen Byram to a six-year deal worth $12.5 million annually, while prospects Frank Nazar, Artyom Levshunov and Anton Frondell continue developing within the organization's core.

The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to terms with defenseman Jamie Drysdale on a four-year contract worth $26 million.

Drysdale will count $6.5 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season.

"We're excited to have Jamie remain a key part of our organization for years to come," Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said in a statement on Friday. "Since we acquired him, Jamie has worked extremely hard and taken big steps in his development, and has established himself as a reliable piece on our back end with the ability to impact the game in all situations. We believe his best hockey is still ahead of him, and he's going to play an important role in strengthening our blue line as we continue to build."

The NHL released its 2026-27 regular-season schedule Thursday, as the league expands its campaign from 82 to 84 games this season.

Opening night moves to the end of September for the first time. The Carolina Hurricanes open the season Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. ET, raising their Stanley Cup championship banner before taking on the Florida Panthers on ESPN.

Connor McMichael has signed a six-year, $40.5 million contract with the St. Louis Blues. The deal carries a $6.75 million salary cap hit through the 2031-32 season.

Alex Steen, who took over as general manager from Doug Armstrong on July 1, finalized the extension for McMichael, who joined St. Louis last month as part of a trade with the Washington Capitals. That deal sent Jordan Kyrou to Washington in exchange for McMichael, a first-round pick and prospect Milton Gastrin.

The contract more than triples McMichael's previous salary, having earned $2.1 million in each of the last two seasons. The 25-year-old forward is coming off a career-best 32 assists to go with 14 goals in 78 games with Washington last season.

McMichael has recorded 162 points across 333 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in 2021. St. Louis selected the framework for acquiring him after Washington took McMichael 25th overall in the 2019 draft.

The Winnipeg Jets and center Cole Perfetti have avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to a five-year, $30 million contract, an NHL source told ESPN. The deal carries a $6 million annual salary cap hit and runs through 2031, when Perfetti will become eligible for unrestricted free agency.

Perfetti, 24, was coming off a two-year bridge contract worth $3.25 million annually. He had filed for arbitration, with a hearing scheduled for Monday, July 20, before the new agreement was reached.

Winnipeg selected Perfetti 10th overall in the 2020 draft, and he has spent his entire five-year NHL career with the franchise. He posted 12 goals and 20 assists for 32 points last season across 68 games, finishing at a minus-9 rating. For his career, Perfetti has totaled 59 goals and 98 assists for 157 points in 290 games.

The Jets missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2022. Winnipeg's offseason has also been shaped by trade speculation surrounding goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner and U.S. Olympic standout. The Buffalo Sabres are among the teams that have expressed interest in the 33-year-old netminder.

Macklin Celebrini said he has considered taking less than market value on his upcoming contract extension to give the San Jose Sharks greater financial flexibility. 

"Yeah, 100%. I mean, that's why all of us play. We want to win. We're competitive and we want to win," said Celebrini.

Celebrini, 20, is eligible to sign an extension with San Jose this offseason and has one year remaining on his entry-level contract, which carries a $975,000 salary cap hit. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft set a franchise record with 115 points last season, including the second-most goals in team history at 45.

Celebrini pointed to Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, his Team Canada teammate and mentor, as an influence on his thinking. Crosby took a reduced cap hit on his second contract in 2012 to help Pittsburgh maintain a competitive roster.

"Obviously, guys want to get paid, as they should, because you've got to make a living. There are guys that deserve those numbers that are getting them, but of course you want to put your team in the best spot possible where you give a team the ability to make moves necessary to win. I think all that goes into the decision," said Celebrini. "I haven't really had many discussions about it or thought through it too much yet. Still kind of on the fence. But yeah, there's definitely a lot to think about."

The NHL's salary landscape shifted this offseason after the Philadelphia Flyers signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to an offer sheet that the Ducks ultimately matched. Carlsson's five-year, $18 million annual average value contract makes him the league's highest-paid player next season.

Celebrini said the deal has generated significant conversation among NHL players.

"I think that's going to start being the new normal in the NHL, those kinds of numbers with the cap going up and all that stuff," said Celebrini. "So I think obviously it was really good for him to get that number and it's also good for everyone else."

Carlsson's contract is expected to influence upcoming negotiations for Chicago Blackhawks restricted free agent Connor Bedard, as well as Celebrini's own extension talks with San Jose. Celebrini said he plans to take his time with the process.

"I think it's just whenever it makes sense for both sides. I still have a year left. There's no reason to rush," said Celebrini. "But yeah, I think we'll kind of see how it goes."

Celebrini's father, Rick Celebrini, has worked for the Golden State Warriors since 2018. 

Victor Wembanyama recently signed a discount on his rookie scale extension with the San Antonio Spurs at 25 percent of the cap instead of 30 percent.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini will appear as the cover athlete for both the Standard and Deluxe editions of "NHL 27" when the game releases later this year. EA Sports confirmed that Celebrini, 20, is the youngest player ever featured as a cover athlete in the franchise's history, surpassing Trevor Zegras, who was 21 when he appeared on the "NHL 23" cover.

"I thought it was amazing. I loved it," said Celebrini. "Fairly simple process: They just sent it to me and I was just like, 'Yeah, it looks good.'"

Celebrini appears in a white Sharks road jersey on the Standard Edition cover and a teal home jersey on the Deluxe Edition. The recognition caps a standout season for the No. 1 overall pick from the 2024 draft, who set a San Jose franchise record with 115 points, including 45 goals, outpacing every other Sharks player by 56 points and 21 goals.

Celebrini was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the league's most outstanding player as voted by the NHLPA, and finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting for NHL MVP. He was also named IIHF Male Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season, recognizing both his NHL performance and his run at the Olympics with Team Canada.

Celebrini led the Olympic tournament with five goals in six games and 10 total points as Canada won the silver medal, falling to Team USA in the final.

"It was so much fun. Obviously, it was a really, really, rough way to end, but I think just the whole experience was so cool, just being in the Olympic Village and getting that experience with other athletes that were there," said Celebrini.

Celebrini enters his third NHL season with 178 career points, including 70 goals and 108 assists, across 152 games. San Jose has made several offseason additions in pursuit of its first playoff appearance since 2019, signing defensemen Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba and Michael Kesselring, along with drafting forward Ivar Stenberg with the No. 2 overall pick.