Samwise NHL & Hockey Newsletter
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Maple Leafs Expected to Select McKenna No. 1 as Draft Opens Friday in Buffalo
The 2026 NHL Draft opens Thursday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, with Round 1 at 7 p.m. ET. Toronto holds the No. 1 pick and is expected to select Brendan McKenna, 18, a Penn State left wing from Whitehorse, Yukon, and a member of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation. McKenna posted 51 points (15G, 36A) in 35 NCAA games and ranked No. 1 among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting. San Jose holds No. 2 and their GM says they’re “not afraid” to trade it. The top four picks belong to Toronto, San Jose, Vancouver, and Buffalo (from Chicago). Buffalo is hosting the Draft for the fourth time.
Blues Trade Jordan Kyrou to Washington; Blues Net Four First-Round Picks
The Washington Capitals made a significant move Wednesday, acquiring right wing Jordan Kyrou from the St. Louis Blues. Washington sent centre Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin, and the No. 16 pick in this week’s Draft to St. Louis. Kyrou, 28, is a three-time 30-goal scorer under contract for the next five seasons. The Blues now hold four first-round picks at Nos. 11, 15, 16, and 29. Kyrou said he has “a lot to prove” following the move. The deal further cements Washington’s status as an aggressive off-season buyer ahead of the draft.
Buffalo Trades Byram to Chicago for the No. 4 Pick; Blackhawks Add Mobile Blueliner
The Buffalo Sabres traded defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday in a significant pre-draft deal. Chicago sent Buffalo the No. 4 overall pick, defenseman Louis Crevier, and the No. 45 pick. The Sabres also included forward Jordan Greenway in the move. Byram, 25, posted career highs of 42 points and 11 goals in 82 games, carrying a $6.25M cap hit through 2026–27. He said he is “just scratching the surface” and views Chicago as a “huge opportunity.” The Blackhawks, rebuilding around Connor Bedard, add a mobile offensive defenseman to their core.
Alex Tuch Signs 8-Year, $84M Deal with Washington in Sabres Sign-and-Trade
Buffalo added more cap flexibility Wednesday, shipping winger Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade. Tuch agreed to an eight-year, $84M contract ($10.5M AAV) with Washington. The Sabres received centre David Kampf (a UFA as of July 1) and a 2027 third-round pick in return. It marked the second major trade in as many days to send players to Washington, following Jordan Kyrou’s arrival from St. Louis. Buffalo appears to be using draft eve to clear salary and stockpile assets while the franchise reshapes its roster heading into 2026–27.
Zach Benson Signs 7-Year, $52.5M Extension to Stay in Buffalo
The Buffalo Sabres locked up one of their brightest young forwards Wednesday, signing Zach Benson to a seven-year, $52.5M contract extension ($7.5M AAV). Benson, 21, was approaching restricted free agency on July 1 following a breakout 2025–26 campaign: 43 points (13G, 30A) in 65 regular-season games and 9 playoff points (5G, 4A) in 13 games. In 211 career games since being selected 13th overall in 2023, he has accumulated 101 career points (34G, 67A). GM Jarmo Kekalainen said Benson and Josh Doan will help fill voids left by the departures of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram this week.
Dynasty or One-Time Wonder? Experts Divided on Hurricanes’ Chances at Back-to-Back Titles
Can the Carolina Hurricanes repeat? That’s the question the hockey world is debating after Carolina’s second Stanley Cup in franchise history. Historian Stan Fischler argues it’s a long shot, citing the absence of a McDavid- or MacKinnon-level superstar. The Canes’ core — Slavin, Aho, Svechnikov, Jarvis, Ehlers, and K’Andre Miller — is deep but lacks a transcendent name. Undrafted goalie Brandon Bussi went 3–1 with a 1.60 GAA and .931 SV% in the Final. Jordan Staal, 37, earned Conn Smythe honors with 12 points in 19 playoff games. Bobby Holik called a dynasty “a very long shot.” Ottawa coach Travis Green countered: “The Canes are for real — for sure.”
Wild Owner Publicly Commits to Re-Signing Quinn Hughes as Priority No. 1
Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold confirmed Wednesday the team plans to re-sign defenseman Quinn Hughes. Hughes, 26, is in the final year of a six-year, $47.1M deal originally signed with Vancouver in October 2021. Acquired by Minnesota on December 12 in a trade involving Rossi, Ohgren, Buium, and a first-round pick, Hughes put up 76 points (7G, 69A) in 74 games — including 53 points in 48 games post-trade and 15 in 11 playoff games before the Wild fell to Colorado in the Western Conference Second Round. GM Bill Guerin called re-signing Hughes “priority No. 1.” Hughes said in May: “I really like it here.”
2025–26 Stanley Cup Playoffs — Final Results
Eastern Conference
First Round
Carolina Hurricanes def. Ottawa Senators 4–0
Philadelphia Flyers def. Pittsburgh Penguins
Buffalo Sabres def. Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens def. Tampa Bay Lightning
Second Round
Carolina Hurricanes def. Philadelphia Flyers 4–0
Montreal Canadiens def. Buffalo Sabres
Conference Finals
Carolina Hurricanes def. Montreal Canadiens 4–1
Western Conference
First Round
Vegas Golden Knights def. Utah Mammoth 4–2
Anaheim Ducks def. Edmonton Oilers
Colorado Avalanche def. Los Angeles Kings
Minnesota Wild def. Dallas Stars
Second Round
Vegas Golden Knights def. Anaheim Ducks 4–2
Colorado Avalanche def. Minnesota Wild (Game 5)
Conference Finals
Vegas Golden Knights def. Colorado Avalanche 4–0
Stanley Cup Final
🏆 Carolina Hurricanes def. Vegas Golden Knights 4–2
Conn Smythe Trophy: Jordan Staal — 12 pts (8G, 4A) in 19 games
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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