Samwise NHL & Hockey Newsletter
Sunday, June 28, 2026
Gavin McKenna Arrives in Toronto, Throws Blue Jays First Pitch After Being Drafted No. 1
A day after Justin Bieber announced his name at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, new Maple Leaf Gavin McKenna arrived in Toronto and was cheered by fans before throwing the ceremonial first pitch at a Toronto Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre on Saturday. The 18-year-old center, selected first overall out of Penn State, told reporters at his introductory press conference that the reception was more than he had imagined. McKenna scored 15 goals and set Penn State freshman records with 36 assists and 51 points in 35 games, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. He received congratulatory texts from Auston Matthews and John Tavares following Friday’s selection.
McTavish Heads to Blues, Ducks Rebuild as Post-Draft Trade Grades Favor St. Louis
The St. Louis Blues received strong trade grades from ESPN after acquiring center Mason McTavish from the Anaheim Ducks on Friday in exchange for the 15th and 29th picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old McTavish, who had been a healthy scratch in Anaheim, is expected to receive significantly more playing time with the Blues. McTavish has five seasons remaining on a six-year contract signed September 27, 2025. The Ducks used the 15th pick to select Nikita Klepov. The Blues entered the draft with 13 total picks—the most in the league—including four first-rounders, adding depth while acquiring an established NHL center.
Peterka to Bruins, Dorofeyev Signs Seven-Year Deal With Rangers in Draft Night Double-Swap
Two more high-profile forwards changed teams during Friday’s first round. The Boston Bruins acquired winger JJ Peterka, 24, from the Utah Mammoth for the 23rd overall pick and a top-10 protected 2028 first-rounder. Peterka posted 25 goals and 47 points for Utah last season. The New York Rangers landed Pavel Dorofeyev, 25, from Vegas for picks No. 26 and No. 92 plus a conditional 2028 first-rounder, with Dorofeyev then signing a seven-year extension at $11 million per season. The Golden Knights—constrained by just $4.625 million in cap space—traded away Dorofeyev despite his career-high 37 goals and 64 points in 82 regular-season games.
Stanley Cup Champions Carolina Hurricanes Acquire John Carlson’s Rights from Anaheim Ducks
The Carolina Hurricanes, who won the 2026 Stanley Cup, continued building their roster Saturday by acquiring the rights to unrestricted free agent defenseman John Carlson in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks. Carolina sent defenseman prospect Kyle Masters and a sixth-round pick to Anaheim in exchange for exclusive negotiating rights to Carlson before free agency opens July 1. The 36-year-old Carlson finished the 2025–26 season with 14 goals and 60 points in 71 regular-season games split between the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks. Carolina will have until Wednesday to sign Carlson before he becomes eligible to sign elsewhere.
2026 NHL Draft Winners and Losers: Sharks Soar, Golden Knights Stumble After Dorofeyev Deal
The San Jose Sharks emerged as the top winner of the 2026 NHL Draft, according to ESPN’s post-draft analysis, which praised their selections as representing elite asset management and the ability to add talent at positions of need. The Toronto Maple Leafs also ranked as major winners, with evaluators describing their class as the best in franchise history from a pick-optimization perspective. The Vegas Golden Knights fell into the loser column by trading away 25-year-old leading goal scorer Pavel Dorofeyev to the New York Rangers, while also forfeiting the 63rd overall pick after the league penalized the team for restricting media access during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
NHL Free Agency Opens July 1 with Bobrovsky, Ovechkin, Carlson Headlining Deep Market
With free agency opening Wednesday, the 2026 NHL unrestricted free agent market features several high-profile names. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who won the Stanley Cup twice with the Florida Panthers, has played out his seven-year contract and could leave Florida. Defenseman John Carlson, whose rights were traded to Carolina on Saturday, is expected to sign before the market opens. Forward Alex Ovechkin, who turns 41 in September and posted 32 goals and 64 points in 82 games this season with Washington, has said he would “probably not” play for another NHL team. The salary cap rises to $104 million next season, an increase of $8.5 million.
2026 NHL Draft Grades: Blues and Leafs Lead Class as American Prospects Slide in Rankings
The Hockey News awarded top draft grades to the St. Louis Blues and the Toronto Maple Leafs following the conclusion of the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo. The Blues leveraged their league-leading 13 picks—including four in the first round—to add significant pipeline depth after trading veterans Jordan Kyrou and Mason McTavish earlier in the week. The Leafs earned high marks for selecting Gavin McKenna first overall and optimizing picks throughout the seven rounds. THN’s analysis also noted that American prospects fell below pre-draft projections across the board, with several rated players sliding past expected positions as European and Canadian skaters dominated the early rounds.
Sources: The Hockey News Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs — Final Results
Eastern Conference
Carolina Hurricanes — Eastern Conference Champions
Western Conference
Vegas Golden Knights — Western Conference Champions
Stanley Cup Final
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Vegas Golden Knights — Hurricanes win 4–2 🏈 2026 Stanley Cup Champions
G1: VGK 5–4 | G2: CAR 4–3 (OT) | G4: CAR 5–3 | G5: CAR 4–2 | G6: CAR 3–0 (shutout, June 14)
Jordan Staal wins Conn Smythe Trophy — Hurricanes’ playoff record: 16–3
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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