The Carolina Hurricanes are soaking in their Stanley Cup glory, but the rest of the NHL isn’t wasting any time. The offseason is officially underway, and the coming weeks are expected to be packed with trades, signings, and major roster moves.
The salary cap is climbing to $104 million, giving several big-spending teams the financial room to upgrade their rosters heading into next season.
Here’s a look at the key storylines to watch:
Beginning late Tuesday night and running through June 30, teams are allowed to buy out player contracts. Buyouts aren’t expected to be widespread this summer, but Carolina itself has an interesting case on its hands. Forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi — who turns 26 on July 6 — was a healthy scratch throughout the playoffs, yet was surprisingly handed the Stanley Cup before top goal-scorer Logan Stankoven or goaltender Brandon Bussi. Despite having four years remaining on his deal, a buyout could save the Hurricanes nearly $4 million against the cap next season and $4.3 million in each of the following three years, with a minimal cap charge of under $900,000 from 2030 through 2034. A trade is also a possibility for a team willing to bet on his upside.
Montreal may also consider buying out 34-year-old winger Brendan Gallagher, who appeared in just three games during the first round before being sidelined for the rest of the Canadiens’ run to the Eastern Conference Final. He carries a $6.5 million cap hit for one more season.
Looking at players who nearly changed teams at the trade deadline offers a preview of what might happen this summer.
The New York Rangers are in the middle of a rebuild-on-the-move, and center Vincent Trocheck — who will turn 33 soon — could attract significant interest from contending teams. Trocheck proved his value by winning gold with the U.S. at the Olympics and is seen as a reliable two-way player.
Toronto and Montreal reportedly came close to a deal that would have sent young winger Matthew Knies from the Maple Leafs to the Canadiens, but the trade never materialized. Since then, Toronto fired general manager Brad Treliving and brought in John Chayka to take over. It remains unclear whether the new front office would be willing to move a cost-controlled player still in his early 20s.
Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly, the franchise’s longest-serving player, appears likely to be traded. Meanwhile, Edmonton is also looking to make changes on defense, and Darnell Nurse has provided the Oilers with a short list of teams he’d accept a trade to.
Missing the playoffs for the first time in ten years created a lot of tension in Toronto, including questions surrounding captain Auston Matthews and his future with the organization.
The Maple Leafs did get some good news in early May when the draft lottery went their way. Penn State’s Gavin McKenna is widely viewed as the likely first overall pick, and Chayka made a personal trip to McKenna’s hometown of Whitehorse in the Yukon territory to meet with him and his family.
The NHL Draft in Buffalo, New York, kicks off with the first round on June 26. San Jose, Vancouver, and Chicago hold the second through fourth picks, with Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg and Canadian defensemen Chase Reid and Carson Carels among the most talked-about prospects available.
On the free agent front, 30-year-old forward Alex Tuch is expected to be the most sought-after unrestricted free agent if the Buffalo Sabres don’t re-sign him before the month ends. Tampa Bay defenseman Darren Raddysh, who just wrapped up his best professional season — posting nearly a point per game — is another name to watch.
The New York Islanders could choose to move longtime captain Anders Lee, who will be 36 on July 3, making him a free agent for the first time in his career. Winger Anthony Mantha, who had a standout year with Pittsburgh — setting career bests with 33 goals, 31 assists, and 64 points — may also be in line for a lucrative new deal.
Perhaps the biggest question mark of the summer surrounds the Florida Panthers, who failed to make the playoffs after back-to-back championships. The goaltender behind both of those title runs, Sergei Bobrovsky, is currently unsigned and will be 38 years old by the time next season opens.
