Colin Gallant Articles - Page 19

Shortly before free agent frenzy kicked off on July 1, the Utah Hockey Club didn’t have a single NHL defenseman under contract. Fast forward a couple of weeks and the club’s defense is arguably better than it’s been in the last decade. The league’s newest franchise had nothing but cap space heading into free agency, […]

The Florida Panthers are in the midst of one of the shortest offseasons in National Hockey League history after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 24. But that won’t matter too much to the franchise after the team brought a first-ever championship to South Beach. Still, even […]

There is going to come a time when Alex Ovechkin retires and the Washington Capitals inevitably return to a level of mediocrity the franchise hasn’t seen since before The Great Eight was drafted No. 1 overall in 2004. But not this day, say new general manager Chris Patrick and president of hockey operations Brian MacLellan. […]

The Nashville Predators have never won a Stanley Cup in the franchise’s 25-year history, but after a couple of huge offseason signings — including two-time champion Steven Stamkos — the squad is looking primed to compete for one for the first time since 2017. And Stamkos, who returned to Nashville this week for the first […]

The San Jose Sharks were not only the weakest team in the National Hockey League in 2023-24, but they put together one of the worst campaigns in the history of the league. Everyone knew this squad would struggle in the early stages of the rebuild, but probably no one expected a 19-win, 47-point season. That […]

The Edmonton Oilers may have come one win short of their first Stanley Cup in over 30 years, but CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson made it clear in NHL free agency that nothing short of a championship is the goal in 2025. Edmonton started last season horrifically, sitting near the bottom of the league […]

The Carolina Hurricanes have been Stanley Cup contenders for the better part of the last half-decade, but the franchise has been unable to get over the hump when it matters most. After getting swept by the Florida Panthers in the 2023 Eastern Conference Final, the Canes’ roster was even better in 2024, especially with the […]

It doesn’t seem like all that long ago when the New York Islanders were legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. The franchise advanced to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021, losing both times to a powerhouse Tampa Bay Lightning squad that went on to capture two consecutive championships. The Isles could have won both of […]

Nearly two weeks after Steven Stamkos left the Tampa Bay Lightning in free agency — the team he won two Stanley Cups with and captained for the last decade — the future Hall of Famer penned an emotional letter to the organization in The Players Tribune on Monday. Stamkos was selected No. 1 overall by […]

After spending seven years as a ‘Golden Misfit’ — and with a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy under his belt — Jonathan Marchessault is off to Smashville after joining the Nashville Predators on a five-year, $27.5 million contract on July 1. The 33-year-old, who went undrafted but has carved out an excellent NHL career, […]

Chris Patrick has only been the general manager of the Washington Capitals for a matter of days, but he’s inheriting a team that is already vastly improved from last season. Before passing the torch, former GM Brian MacLellan — who is still president of hockey operations — made a flurry of huge moves, adding Pierre-Luc […]

After winning a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in his rookie season in 2015 — as part of a team that featured Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane — Teuvo Teravainen is returning to where it all started after signing a three-year, $16.2 million contract with the Hawks on July 1. And the 29-year-old, who […]

Since being traded from the Los Angeles Kings — the team he won a Stanley Cup with in 2014 — to the Vancouver Canucks in 2020, Tyler Toffoli has played for four different Canadian franchises (and the New Jersey Devils) in just five seasons. After joining the Canucks, he also suited up for the Montreal […]

The Utah Hockey Club have locked in a key member of their young core ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, signing Barrett Hayton to a two-year, $5.3 million contract on Monday, general manager Bill Armstrong announced. It comes in at an AAV of $2.65 million, keeping the former first-round pick in Salt Lake City until the […]

Jeff Skinner scored 40 goals in his first season with the Buffalo Sabres after signing a massive $72 million contract with the franchise back in 2019. The deal looked like a steal back then, but fast forward five years and Skinner’s $9 million AAV is hamstringing the organization after one of the worst seasons of […]

Despite a resurgent 2023-24 campaign — or perhaps because of it — Nikolaj Ehlers is reportedly unwilling to sign a contract extension with the Winnipeg Jets when the seven-year, $42 million pact he inked back in October of 2017 expires. Ehlers has played his entire career in Manitoba, being selected No. 9 overall in the […]

Sidney Crosby has been the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh Penguins since being selected No. 1 overall by the organization back in the 2005 NHL Draft. And that doesn’t look to be changing any time soon. Crosby and the Penguins are “closing in on a new contract” that would likely keep the captain in […]

The Vancouver Canucks may have watched Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov walk away and sign with the Boston Bruins, but the team snagged a player back from Beantown. The Canucks agreed to a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with Jake DeBrusk in NHL free agent frenzy on Monday, general manager Patrik Allvin announced. “Jake will be […]

NHL free agent frenzy is earning its name this July 1, with over 85 signings since the official period opened at 12 pm ET. And the Carolina Hurricanes are in the thick of things, locking up franchise defenseman Jaccob Slavin on an eight-year, $51 million contract extension. The 30-year-old will play out the final season […]

The Tampa Bay Lightning were never really considered in the running for Jake Guentzel’s services — general manager Julien BriseBois has his hands full with potential Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos extensions, after all. But that could have all changed after the organization offloaded Mikhail Sergachev and Tanner Jeannot to a pair of Pacific Division […]

Just days after trading goaltender Darcy Kuemper to the Los Angeles Kings, the Washington Capitals have found his replacement. The Caps acquired Logan Thompson from the Vegas Golden Knights during Day 2 of the NHL Draft on Saturday, the teams announced. In return, Washington receives a 2024 3rd-round pick and a 2025 3rd-round selection, the […]

The Utah Hockey Club is proving that they mean business in just their first weeks of official existence. The club acquired defenseman Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning during Round 2 of the NHL Draft on Saturday, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Sergachev has been a key piece of the Bolts since being acquired from […]

Elias Lindholm was linked to the Boston Bruins long before he was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Vancouver Canucks during the 2023-24 season, and with the Swede unlikely to re-up in British Columbia, it makes sense that Don Sweeney and the B’s front office would rekindle talks with his camp. And that’s exactly […]

Aaron Ekblad has poured his heart and soul into the Florida Panthers organization, being selected No. 1 overall in the 2014 NHL Draft and helping bring a Stanley Cup to South Beach for the first time ever a decade later. The 28-year-old is now immortalized in Panthers lore — along with every other person involved […]

Alexandre Texier has spent his entire professional career with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he’s off to Missouri after being traded to the St. Louis Blues on Friday, his agent announced. He was also subsequently signed to a two-year contract by Blues general manager Doug Armstrong. “Congratulations to Alexandre Texier of [Blues] on signing 2 […]

Nazem Kadri was on top of the world when he won his first Stanley Cup championship with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. But it’s been tough sledding since after the Canadian signed a massive seven-year contract with the Calgary Flames in October of the same year. The Flames have failed to qualify for the postseason […]

Chicago Blackhawks star forward Connor Bedard snagged a well-deserved Calder Trophy at the NHL Awards on Friday night — but he wasn’t the big winner of the evening. That title belongs to Nathan MacKinnon, who finally captured his first Hart Trophy as league MVP after a terrific 2023-24 campaign. The Colorado Avalanche superstar also took […]

Despite serious doubt that two former champions would be ready when Wimbledon kicks off on Monday, both Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray look to have the green light to compete at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. Both the Serbian and the Brit were placed in Friday’s bracket despite undergoing operations […]

Although mere weeks ago it looked like the Carolina Hurricanes were ready to offer Jake Guentzel’s signing rights for a mid-round draft pick, it now looks like the two sides might be able to come to a long-term solution that will keep the star forward in Raleigh for the foreseeable future. “There seems to be […]

Despite reports that he could make more money on the open market, Vancouver Canucks forward Dakota Joshua signed a four-year contract extension with the club on Thursday after a terrific 2023-24 campaign, general manager Patrik Allvin announced. Joshua will make $3.25 million AAV and $13 million over the length of the deal. The 28-year-old made […]

After five seasons as the Edmonton Oilers’ general manager and president of hockey operations, and just days after a crushing Game 7 Stanley Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers, Ken Holland will not be returning to the organization, confirmed CEO Jeff Jackson on Thursday. “The Edmonton Oilers and Ken Holland have mutually agreed that […]

A second member of the ‘Big Four’ could be preparing to hang up the tennis racket after Andy Murray detailed his Wimbledon and Paris Olympics plans on Thursday. The 37-year-old says he hopes to play at both tournaments, and if that’s the case, he’ll likely retire from tennis afterwards. “I feel that I deserve the […]

Pierre-Luc Dubois struggled mightily in his one and only season with the Los Angeles Kings in 2023-24, and despite signing a monster eight-year, $68 million contract with the club before the campaign, he’ll no longer be a part of the franchise’s future. Instead, it’ll be another fresh start for the 25-year-old after he was shipped […]

When the Philadelphia Flyers selected Matvei Michkov at No. 7 overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, the organization was under the full impression that the young Russian would take some time to make it to North America. He did sign a five-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL, after all. That should have […]

Jake DeBrusk is one of the most pressing question marks facing the Boston Bruins’ front office this summer. Set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 — less than a week from now — there’s a real chance the Canadian forward walks away if he isn’t offered a suitable contract extension. There have […]

The Dallas Mavericks lost in the NBA Finals, the Edmonton Oilers dropped Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night, and Drake is out a cool $1 million USD. The Canadian rapper went 0-for-2 with his NBA and NHL championship picks, wagering $500K that the Mavs would beat the Boston Celtics, and the […]

For the first time ever, Paul Maurice and his Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions. It took the head coach almost three decades, and the franchise just over three, but this title will live forever. The Panthers outlasted a furious Edmonton Oilers series comeback, winning 2-1 in Game 7 at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday […]

The Chicago Blackhawks were one of the NHL’s worst clubs in 2023-24, finishing second to last and looking out of playoff contention before the calendar flipped to January. But the future is undoubtedly bright in the Windy City, mainly due to 2023 No. 1-overall pick Connor Bedard. The North Vancouver native was electric in his […]

The Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators haven’t been trade partners since back in July of 2021, when the Canes sent two second-round picks to the Preds in exchange for a first-rounder. Before that (besides another minor draft pick swap), there hadn’t been a trade between the two franchises involving an actual player since June of […]