On 25 August 34-year-old Kevin Hayes signed a one-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan. He leaves the NHL with 805 games and 445 points. Victor Hedman separately said he is ready for an 18th season in Tampa.
Paul Shaheen reported Aug 17 that Trevor Gauthier rejected Anaheim’s four-year, $52M deal ($13M AAV). The 41-goal, 69-point winger leaves the Ducks with about $9.07M in cap space.
Rejecting the $52M/four-year deal leaves Anaheim about $9.07M under the cap. Camp is in September and the $13M AAV hole on the wing is open.
After Gauthier’s no, Anaheim circles back to Kreider, Killorn and Vatrano — not 41 goals, but the only way to fill the wing without a $13M AAV.
Chicago open at Vegas on ESPN on September 29 without Connor Bedard, whose return is expected in November. Patrick Kane provides the bridge. The home opener against St. Louis is October 6, and the Düsseldorf Global Series runs December 18-20.
Anaheim has about $9 million in cap space under $104 million, while Cutter Gauthier’s RFA deal is pegged near $14–15 million. Kreider, Killorn and Vatrano are the names before September camp.
Chicago’s training camp is weeks away. Patrick Kane’s September–October jobs, Nazar/Frondell trials, and the metrics that will judge the bridge until Bedard returns.
Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson detailed why Patrick Kane returned: to boost offense and leadership while Bedard is out — not to stage a nostalgia night.
Patrick Kane’s first media day back in Chicago: Bedard excitement, praise for Nazar, and an October line plan without the franchise centre.
Bedard is rehabbing toward November after shoulder surgery while Kane is back on a 2-year/$16M deal — how Chicago must open the season without its No. 1 centre.
August for the Blackhawks: Patrick Kane is signed in while Connor Bedard remains out until November. Line scenarios, early KPIs and Chicago offense planning before NHL camp.
Patrick Kane is set to boost Blackhawks scoring beside Connor Bedard: a two-year $16M deal, November timeline and the 2026-27 opener calendar.
Patrick Kane officially returns to the Blackhawks on a two-year $16 million contract. Deal terms, Davidson's logic and what it means for Chicago's offense.
Edmonton traded Darnell Nurse to San Jose with no salary retained, then filled the crease with a one-year deal for Frederik Andersen.
New York keeps resetting the roster for 2026-27. Pavel Dorofeyev is the headline scoring add after the draft and free-agency open.
Patrick Kane is choosing a club for 2026-27. Chicago sees him next to Bedard; Buffalo offers a homecoming. Here is how the market lines up.
Connor Bedard locked in a $75 million extension after his entry-level deal. At the same time: shoulder surgery and a roughly four-month recovery. Here's what Chicago is betting on.
Auston Matthews ends his decade-long era with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The two-time Hart Trophy winner has signed an eight-year, $124 million deal with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Pavel Buchnevich has signed a four-year contract with Dynamo Moscow. The 31-year-old forward ends his NHL career and returns to the KHL after nine years.
Alexander Ovechkin reflects on the priorities for the remainder of his NHL career.