Samwise NHL & Hockey Newsletter
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Tkachuk Brothers Unite: Brady Heads to Florida in Panthers Blockbuster Deal
The Florida Panthers acquired Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk in a blockbuster trade. Florida surrendered two 2026 first-round picks — No. 9 and No. 25 overall — along with a 2027 second-round selection and a conditional 2029 first-round pick to land the power forward. Tkachuk, 26, posted 22 goals and 59 points in 60 regular-season games and carried a no-move clause, listing Florida among his four approved destinations. He now joins older brother Matthew Tkachuk — a two-time Stanley Cup champion and Panthers alternate captain — marking the first time the siblings have played on the same NHL roster. Brady has two years remaining on his current contract.
Sources: NHL.com, CBS Sports
Ottawa’s Next Big Move: Senators Making ‘Big Push’ to Land Dallas Stars’ Jason Robertson
Days after trading captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida, the Ottawa Senators are making a determined push to acquire Dallas Stars restricted free agent Jason Robertson. According to reports, the Senators are exploring a trade with Dallas or, if negotiations stall, issuing an offer sheet when Robertson hits restricted free agency on July 1. Robertson scored 45 goals and registered 96 points in the 2025-26 season. Ottawa now holds four first-round picks over the next three seasons — enough to meet the NHL’s current offer-sheet compensation threshold of four first-rounders for contracts exceeding $11.939 million annually. Dallas carries roughly $10.4 million in cap space, making a comparable counteroffer difficult.
Sources: Heavy.com, Yahoo Sports
Knies on the Move? NHL Executives Expect Toronto to Trade 66-Point Winger
The Toronto Maple Leafs are actively gauging the trade market for winger Matthew Knies ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft, with multiple NHL executives telling reporters they expect a deal to be completed. Knies, 23, posted a career-high 66 points in 2025-26 and is signed through 2030-31 at a $46.5 million total value. Toronto general manager John Chayka is reportedly seeking a top-10 draft pick in return. The Chicago Blackhawks, holding the No. 4 selection, and the Ottawa Senators, who acquired the No. 9 pick in the Brady Tkachuk deal, are among teams considered engaged in talks. Toronto has not publicly committed to moving the forward.
Sources: The Hockey Writers, Editor In Leaf
Draft Countdown: McKenna vs. Stenberg Tops Debate as Maple Leafs Hold No. 1 in Buffalo
The 2026 NHL Draft opens Thursday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, with the No. 1 selection debate still unresolved. The Toronto Maple Leafs — picking first overall for the first time since selecting Auston Matthews in 2016 — face a genuine choice between two elite prospects: Penn State left wing Gavin McKenna, who posted 51 points in 35 collegiate games, and Frolunda winger Ivar Stenberg, whose Swedish Hockey League production ranked among the finest ever recorded by a draft-eligible player. An NHL.com survey of 10 scouts gave McKenna a 7-3 edge. Round 1 airs June 26 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and SN, with rounds 2-7 following June 27.
Sources: NHL.com, The Hockey News
Offseason Contract Wave: McMann, Dickinson, Deslauriers Among Five Players Extended
A cluster of NHL contract extensions was announced this week ahead of July 1 free agency. The most notable: Bobby McMann re-signed with the Seattle Kraken on a six-year, $34.5 million extension at $5.75 million annually. Jason Dickinson inked a five-year, $20 million deal with the Edmonton Oilers. The Carolina Hurricanes retained forward Nicolas Deslauriers on a two-year, $1.75 million contract, keeping a physical presence as the newly crowned Stanley Cup champions manage cap space. The New York Rangers locked up goaltender Dylan Garand on a two-year, $1.75 million extension, and the Columbus Blue Jackets secured defenseman Corson Ceulemans on a one-year, $850,000 deal. Free agency opens July 1.
Sources: Spectors Hockey, Daily Faceoff
Panthers Shed Cap Space: Samoskevich Headed to Seattle as Florida Restructures Roster
Hours after acquiring Brady Tkachuk, the Florida Panthers addressed salary cap constraints by trading winger Mackie Samoskevich to the Seattle Kraken. Samoskevich, 23, was a 2022 first-round selection who developed through Florida’s system over recent seasons. Seattle receives a young forward with NHL experience who was displaced by the significant roster and cap restructuring required after the Tkachuk acquisition. Florida received draft picks from Seattle in return. The move reflects the difficult cap math teams navigate when landing a high-profile player and signals the Panthers are willing to part with young depth assets to maximize their contention window heading into the 2026-27 season.
Sources: Pro Hockey Rumors, NHL.com Trade Tracker
Cup Champions, Cap Crunch: Hurricanes Face Offseason Roster Puzzle After Historic Run
The Carolina Hurricanes are navigating cap constraints following their 2026 Stanley Cup championship, which capped a dominant postseason run. Carolina finished the playoffs 16-3, the fewest losses for a Cup winner since the 1987-88 Edmonton Oilers. Captain Jordan Staal won the Conn Smythe Trophy at age 37, becoming the oldest recipient in NHL history. The club enters the offseason with approximately $12.2 million in projected cap space, needing to address restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin and multiple pending unrestricted free agents before July 1. Carolina has already re-signed forward Nicolas Deslauriers to a two-year deal as the organization works to preserve the core that claimed their second franchise championship.
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs — Final Results
Eastern Conference
First Round
Carolina Hurricanes vs Ottawa Senators — CAR wins 4–0
Second Round
Carolina Hurricanes vs Philadelphia Flyers — CAR wins 4–0
Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres — MTL wins 4–3 (G7 OT)
Western Conference
Conference Final
Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche — VGK wins 4–0
Stanley Cup Final
🏆 Carolina Hurricanes def. Vegas Golden Knights 4–2 — Carolina wins 2026 Stanley Cup
Jordan Staal, Conn Smythe Trophy (oldest recipient in NHL history, age 37)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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