Ben Danford shared his honest ******* sment of whether he has a chance of making the Maple Leafs' opening-night roster. Danford aims to build off his experience with the Toronto Marlies last season and take another step toward the NHL.
Toronto selected Danford 31st overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. He has been among the prospects fans have focused on, particularly due to the Maple Leafs' positional need on defense. However, after the Leafs addressed their defense during the offseason, perhaps Danford's chances of making the roster may have decreased.
Still, Danford is eager to get on the ice and make an impression during the Leafs' Development Camp.
Ben Danford said that he is not focusing on things that he has no control over. Instead, he is taking the Maple Leafs' Development Camp one day at a time and is embracing the challenge.
Danford, 20, revealed that he is using the upcoming rookie tournament as an opportunity to gain more confidence. He also shared his honest thoughts on what it will take for him to make the Leafs' roster.

#leafs #honest

With the NHL season just around the corner, the Detroit Red Wings are entering training camp with major questions surrounding one of their biggest names.
The Red Wings announced Friday that Dylan Larkin will report to training camp next week, despite requesting a trade during the offseason. However, the 30-year-old forward will no longer serve as Detroit's captain, leaving his long-term future with the franchise uncertain.
MORE: Maple Leafs John Tavares has special relationship with number one overall pick Gavin McKenna
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin (71) skates with the puck at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Detroit confirmed that the 2026-27 season will begin without a captain. The decision comes after Larkin reportedly asked the organization to trade him following the Red Wings' failure to qualify for the playoffs for a 10th consecutive season.

#training #trade

Gabelli Investment Management Firm recently released its "Global Content & Connectivity Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Fund delivered a strong second quarter of 2026, with its Class I shares gaining 12.88%, more than double the 6.02% return of the MSCI AC World Communication Services Index, though trailing the broader MSCI AC World Index's 15.06% gain. The fund's performance reflected renewed investor interest in AI-related investments, easing tensions in the Middle East, and lower Brent crude prices, with Information Technology gaining 39.2% and Communication Services advancing 6.0% during the quarter. Over the past year, the fund gained 25.50%, compared with 13.06% for its communication-services benchmark and 24.16% for the MSCI AC World Index. Looking ahead, Gabelli remains constructive on the long-term opportunities created by AI adoption, expanding digital infrastructure, connectivity, and the continued growth of content and entertainment, while recognizing that higher interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and the sustainability of AI-related spending could create volatility. In addition, please check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Global Content & Connectivity Fund highlighted stocks like Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI). Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI) is a Canadian communications and media company with major wireless, cable, sports, and regional media businesses. The one-month return of Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI) was 8.38% while its shares traded between $31.38 and $41.14 over the last 52 weeks. On September 3, 2026, Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI) stock closed at approximately $38.00 per share, with a market capitalization of about $20.27 billion.
Global Content & Connectivity Fund stated the following regarding Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:RCI) (3.2%) (RCI – $32.50 – NYSE) owns the largest wireless operator and the largest cable MSO in Canada as well as a media business with a focus on sports and regional TV and radio, including ownership of Toronto Blue Jays baseball club and a controlling interest in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). In July 2026, Rogers agreed to purchase the remaining 25% stake in MLSE (the owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC) from Kilmer Sports for C$4.35 billion, which will increase RCI's interest in that entity to 100%. RCI continues focusing on unlocking value from its vast sports portfolio, with next steps likely including combining all sports and media **** ets into a single organization and selling a sizeable minority interest in that entity to institutional investors.

#NYSE

Brad Marchand has drawn criticism after mocking Tim Stutzle amid Ottawa Senators' search for its next captain. The Florida Panthers forward responded to an Instagram post naming Stutzle, Thomas Chabot, and Jake Sanderson as finalists.
A hockey page named "Puck Empire" shared a post in which they wrote, "The Ottawa Senators are reportedly 'closing in on a decision on who is going to replace Brady Tkachuk.'"
Marchand responded in the comment section and wrote, "Hahahah …..Stutzle….hahaha," dismissing the idea of Stutzle wearing Ottawa's captaincy. The comment soon drew attention and has now led to a debate over whether Marchand crossed a line.
MORE: Ex-Maple Leafs player reveals Auston Matthews' quiet leadership in Toronto
Speaking on The Sid Seixeiro Show, Seixeiro called the remark "highly disrespectful stuff." He also questioned whether Marchand's history as an agitator made the comment more significant heading into the season.

#stutzle #comment #seixeiro #wrote

The Devils traded a conditional first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft to the Nashville Predators to acquire forward Luke Evangelista on Tuesday night, the team announced.
Evangelista had a career-high 56 points (12 goals, 44 ******* ists) in 81 games last season in his fourth year with the Predators who drafted him in the second-round (42nd overall) in 2020. In 253 career games, the 6-foot, 183-pounder has 142 points on 45 goals and 97 ******* ists with a plus-6 rating.
The 24-year-old will be owed $3 million this season for the final year of his contract.
As for the details of what New Jersey is sending Nashville, the conditional draft pick belongs to the Colorado Avalanche. If the Avalanche do not transfer their 2027 pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs or the choice in 2028 is in the top 10, the Predators' pick will be in 2029.

#pick #evangelista #Avalanche

In spite of the fact that he currently plays for a team that many fans around the National Hockey League like to room against, there was a huge outpouring of love and support for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi earlier this summer when reports emerged indicating that Domi was struggling to walk following back surgery. It was a sign of just how much respect the Domi name carries around the sport of hockey and how much respect Max himself has earned as a fierce competitor who has overcome a significant health challenge in diabetes and manages to play at the highest level of hockey.
On Sunday, we got a terrific sign that Domi may in fact be on the mend when he published an update to his Instagram account that makes it clear he is about to embark on the next chapter of his life. Although the caption simply reads "I love you so much" there's no question what the message represents given the image that accompanied it.
In the picture Domi's longtime girlfriend Estelle can be seen showing off a ring on her finger, and I'm sure you can figure out the rest.
As it turns out the proposal came on Estelle's birthday with Estelle making the announcement herself on her own Instagram page.
Domi can even be seen standing in one of the photos shared by Estelle, which is a great sign given the scary news that came out earlier this summer.

#hockey #Instagram #fact

It's getting to the point in the summer where teams don't have many open roster spots. Teams have pretty much filled out their lineups, with only some depth roles potentially available. For three former Toronto Maple Leafs netminders, finding an opportunity this upcoming season could be highly challenging.
So, let's take a closer look at the former Leafs goalies still looking for work this summer.
James Reimer had a resurgent season with the Ottawa Senators last season. After the Maple Leafs cut him from a Professional Tryout Contract (PTO) in training camp last fall, the Senators came calling. And the move worked out pretty well for both sides.
The team desperately needed support in the crease. Reimer didn't just come in and play a backup role. He started 14 games and carried the club during a stretch where it lost starter Linus Ullmark. Reimer played very well, but looks to be on the outside looking in.
This season, the Senators have Ullmark back with Samuel Ersson earmarked as the backup. There may still be a shot out there for Reimer, especially if a team faces an unexpected injury at some point in the season.

#season #senators #maple

Last season, several goalies proved they belong in the discussion for top-five netminders in the NHL. Logan Thompson emerged as a standout, showcasing elite skills even as the Capitals missed the playoffs. Meanwhile, Igor Shesterkin delivered impressive performances despite facing a struggling New York defense. Here are the top five goalies in the NHL as we approach the 2026-27 season.
MORE: NHL players facing the most pressure entering 2026-2027 season
Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) follows the play against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
If it weren't for these other top goalies, Thompson has a really good case to be in the top three. Thompson led the NHL in goals saved above expected. He was dominant, but his team in front could not do enough to get into the playoffs.
Ilya Sorokin has established himself as one of the premier goalies in the league, and what truly distinguishes him is his remarkable achievement of 26 shutouts in 286 games over the past five seasons, the highest total in the NHL during that period.

#thompson #goalies #five

Dylan Larkin's future with the Detroit Red Wings remains uncertain, but one NHL ***** yst believes Steve Yzerman's departure has reopened the conversation.
Speaking on The Sheet with Jeff Marek, Red Wings writer Max Bultman said there is now a better chance of Larkin staying. However, he stressed that the next general manager must present a convincing plan to make Detroit competitive again.
"I would say more than there was before, but I think a lot of it still depends so much on who the new person is and what kind of vision they want to sell," Bultman said.
MORE: Maple Leafs' No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna already embracing life in Toronto
Bultman also questioned whether Detroit's current roster is capable of keeping pace in the Eastern Conference.

#dylan #sheet #jeff #marek

When Ayami Sato takes the mound as the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Queens on Saturday, it will be the culmination of a professional career that has spanned 16 years and three countries. The right-handed hurler is largely considered the best pitcher in the history of women's baseball. She has the awards and experience to prove it, and now she's taking on America when she makes her debut in the Women's Professional Baseball League, the first pro women's baseball league in the United States since the 1950s.
Even though most Americans tuning into the WPBL may not have heard of her, Sato's resume speaks for itself. Sato's fastball has been clocked at nearly 80mph and her curveball has a devastating spin rate that is higher than many Major League Baseball pitchers. As a member of the ****** an National Team since 2010, Sato has won six gold medals. She is the only player in Women's Baseball World Cup history to win three consecutive MVP awards. As a member of the now-defunct ****** an's Women's Baseball League, Sato led the league in strikeouts in three of the last four seasons. And most recently, in 2024 she became the first woman to play pro baseball in Canada as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Intercounty Baseball League.
Now, she is bringing her talent to the US and the WPBL. "This is a brand new league for all of us," Sato tells the Guardian through a translator. "So I also want to approach it with the mindset of a rookie –staying curious, paying attention to everything around me, and embracing this new challenge with an open mind."
The league will play all its games in a centralized location for its first season, at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Illinois. There are four teams – the Queens, the New York Heights, the San Francisco Firebells and the Boston Hunters. And the best players from all over the world will take the field together for the first time as one league, including at least nine players from the US women's national baseball team. On the Queens, Sato will play alongside USA star third baseman Ashton Lansdell and Little League World Series star Mo'ne Davis.
WPBL co-founder and commissioner Justine Seigel says it was always the plan to recruit internationally for the league. "We want many of the best players, and to have many of the best players, you have to go out into the world and find the best shortstop in Venezuela, and who's pitching in ****** an," Seigel says. "It's also fun because baseball is baseball, but it's also got its own little nuances country-to-country, and it's kind of fun to see in a game, as well."

#Baseball #league

The Toronto Maple Leafs' previous salary cap struggles have once again fueled debate years after the NHL's COVID-19 financial shutdown. This time, NHL **** yst Matthew Cauz argued that timing, rather than poor planning alone, played a major role in limiting Toronto's championship window.
Speaking on TSN's First Up podcast, Cauz pointed to the contract extensions signed by William Nylander, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner before the pandemic.
"William Nylander signed his six-year extension on December 1, 2018. Auston Matthews signed a five-year extension on February 5, 2019. Mitch Marner signed a six-year extension on September 13, 2019," Cauz said.
He added, "A year later, COVID hits. And what happens? The cap stops."
MORE: Ex-Maple Leaf Carlo Colaiacovo issues blunt 'make-or-break' warning to Auston Matthews

#william

The Toronto Maple Leafs made Darren Raddysh one of their biggest NHL offseason investments. Now, expectations are rising before he has played a regular-season game for his hometown team.
Toronto acquired Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a sign-and-trade on June 19. The Maple Leafs surrendered only a 2026 fifth-round pick before signing the defenseman to an eight-year, $68 million contract carrying an $8.5 million annual cap hit.
MORE: Morgan Rielly's Maple Leafs exit looms ahead of 2026-27 NHL season
Speaking on Leafs Morning Take, host Nick Alberga questioned how quickly Toronto fans would judge the 28-year-old.
"I think Darren Raddysh has the most pressure," Alberga said. "Toronto native, people are going to wonder, was last year a fluke?"

#toronto #year #alberga

Former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Michael Hutchinson has announced his retirement after spending parts of 13 seasons in the NHL
The Winnipeg Jets, another team Hutchinson played for during his NHL career, made the announcement of the goalie's retirement at age 36 official on their social media.
"After 11 seasons in the NHL , Michael Hutchinson has called it a career. Congrats Hutch! We can't wait to see you at the Alumni Game in October," the Jets wrote on X.
After 11 seasons in the NHL, Michael Hutchinson has called it a career.
Congrats Hutch! We can't wait to see you at the Alumni Game in October ✈️ pic.twitter.com/bhowsJMPng

#seasons #Career #hutch #october

Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna has yet to play an NHL game, but expectations are rising already. NHL ******* yst Carlo Colaiacovo added to the excitement with a bold prediction ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Speaking on TSN 1050 Radio's "First Up," Colaiacovo was asked what was more likely. The choices were McKenna winning the Calder Trophy or Auston Matthews finishing among the NHL's top five goal scorers.
Matthews would likely need at least 45 goals to reach that mark. Speaking about which, Colaiacovo admitted he is not convinced that will happen despite believing the captain will improve.
"Let's just reflect on what last year's goal-scoring leaderboard looked like," Colaiacovo said. "Nathan MacKinnon finished with 53 and won the Rocket. Cole Caufield had 51, Connor McDavid had 48, and then there were four players tied at 45.
"So those are the top five goal scorers. We're basically suggesting that Auston Matthews has to score 45 or more goals in the NHL next year to finish in the top five. I'm not banking on that."

#colaiacovo #matthews #goal #goals

Former Toronto Maple Leafs **** istant general manager Brandon Pridham will be joining the Pittsburgh Penguins as a hockey operations consultant.
According to a new report from Sportsnet inside Elliotte Friedman, Pridham is expected to handle contract, cap management, and planning responsibilities with the Penguins.
The duties Pridham is expected to take on were previously being handled by Vickie Mpofu, who recently departed the Penguins organization for Nashville.
Joining the Penguins will be a reunion of sorts for Pridham, who spent the past 12 seasons in Toronto with the Maple Leafs, with a number of those years working alongside Kyle Dubas.
Earlier this year, Pridham and the Maple Leafs mutually agreed to part ways after the team made changes at the management level, bringing in John Chayka as general manager.

Maple Leafs' traded goalie Dennis Hildeby reveals what trade call forced him to miss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Dennis Hildeby has been enjoying the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In fact, right before Belgium played Senegal in the Round of 32, the goalie was still a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
That's when he got the call that he was being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a deal that landed forward Nick Paul back to Toronto.
"It was definitely a first for me," Hildeby told local media in Sweden, with the translation via Daily Faceoff. "I'd never experienced being traded before. As a player, you always know it's possible, so it's always somewhere in the back of your mind. There had already been a lot of movement around the league, so I knew there was a chance I could be next."

As the second week of the 2026 NHL free agency period rolls on, the rumor mill is spinning fast around a future Hall of Fame forward, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are smack in the middle of the noise.
Patrick Kane is the future Hall of Famer at the center of speculation this week. He remains unsigned after completing the one-year, $3 million contract he signed with the Detroit Red Wings last summer.
Following a productive season in which he recorded 57 points in 67 games, the 37-year-old winger has drawn interest from several playoff contenders, with Toronto reportedly among the teams that have checked in.
NHL insider David Pagnotta recently shed light on Toronto's level of interest, suggesting that discussions have taken place, although nothing appears to be close. "I think there's been some conversations with Toronto, but I think very loose," Pagnotta said.
The speculation picked up around the NHL Draft after Maple Leafs first-overall pick Gavin McKenna revealed that Kane, his childhood hockey idol, had personally reached out to congratulate him. That interaction quickly fueled talk that Toronto could pursue the veteran winger this offseason.

Nov 15, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Class of 2019 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Hayley Wickenheiser shakes hands with hall of famers prior to a game between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
TORONTO — Hayley Wickenheiser and the Toronto Maple Leafs are parting ways after the hockey Hall of Famer spent eight seasons working in the NHL team's front office.
Wickenheiser said in an Instagram post the move came after "several discussions" with new Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka.
"During those conversations, my expectation was that I would be in a position to continue to have a significant impact within the organization," Wickenheiser said. "However, it became clear that his leadership group envisioned a different path."
Wickenheiser joined the Maple Leafs as ******* istant director of player development in August 2018, shortly after the end of her stellar playing career. She was named an ******* istant general manager in July 2022.

There's a new Newsy Lalonde in Montreal now.
Former Detroit Red Wings coach Derek "Newsy" Lalonde was hired on Wednesday by the Montreal Canadiens as an ****** istant coach on Martin St. Louis' staff.
Montreal's original Newsy Lalonde was Edward Lalonde, who dominated hockey with the Canadiens through the early 1900s.
As a player-coach, Lalonde led Montreal to their first Stanley Cup in 1916. Elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1950, he has the third-best points-per-game total at 1.667, trailing only Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky.
Derek Lalonde won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning and then took over the Red Wings’ bench for two-and-a-half seasons with an 89-86-23 record before spending this past season next to Craig Berube on the Toronto Maple Leafs' bench.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have unveiled their 2026 NHL preseason schedule after a dramatic organizational reset following a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
The team enters the new season with a rebuilt roster, new leadership, and higher expectations after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs. General Manager John Chayka reshaped the lineup with greater depth, defensive balance, and experienced goaltending, moving away from the previous star-heavy construction.
The roster changes followed a 32-36-14 finish and a franchise-record 30-point decline from the previous season.
MORE: Craig Berube delivers candid verdict on Maple Leafs losing Mitch Marner
The arrival of first overall pick Gavin McKenna and veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky highlights a fresh direction.

Maple Leafs make stunning addition of Senators legend to help Gavin McKenna originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Maple Leafs... and Daniel Alfredsson?
It's a partnership that not many would've seen coming, given Alfredsson's legendary career with the Ottawa Senators.
But it's a partnership that is here.
Alfredsson is a new ******* istant coach on the staff of new Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller.

Former Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde was let go by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.
Lalonde and former University of Michigan defenseman Mike Van Ryn were replaced as **** istant coaches by former Red Wings forward Daniel Alfredsson, ex-Northern Michgan defenseman Brad Werenka and former Oakland Grizzlies coach John Gruden.
Lalonde joined Craig Berube's coaching staff in June of 2025, a little over five months after he was fired in Detroit. Berube was replaced last month by Jim Hiller, a former Red Wings defenseman and **** istant coach.
Hired by the Red Wings at the start of the 2022-23 season, Lalonde went 89-86-23 in two seasons, missing the playoffs and replaced by Todd McLellan on Dec. 26, 2024.
Lalonde was also an **** istant coach for Jon Cooper and the Tampa Bay Lightning, helping them win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.

The Toronto Maple Leafs made one of the offseason’s most surprising coaching moves by hiring Ottawa Senators icon Daniel Alfredsson as ******* ociate head coach. The announcement immediately led to strong reactions across the NHL, especially from fans who never expected one of Ottawa’s greatest players to join its biggest rival.
Toronto confirmed the additions on social media, writing, “John Gruden, Daniel Alfredsson and Brad Werenka have been named to our coaching staff.”
Alfredsson arrives after spending the past three seasons as an ******* istant coach with the Senators. Before that, he worked in player development with the organization that defined his playing career.
Senators owner Michael Andlauer said, “While I wish he wasn’t joining an arch-rival, Alfie is forever an Ottawa Senator and the door will always be open for his return.”
MORE: Toronto sports fans ‘worried’ as Rogers acquires 100% ownership of MLSE

TORONTO (AP) — Daniel Alfredsson, once public enemy No. 1 in Toronto as captain of the Ottawa Senators, is leaving Canada's capital to join the Maple Leafs as an ****** ociate coach.
The Maple Leafs announced the move Tuesday, saying John Gruden and Brad Werenka also are joining coach Jim Hiller’s staff as ****** istants.
Alfredsson, 53, spent the last three seasons as an ****** istant in Ottawa after a Hall of Fame playing career spent mostly with the Senators.
The Swedish winger was a prominent figure in the “Battle of Ontario” between the Maple Leafs and Senators, which included four playoff showdowns between 2000 and 2004.
Senators owner Michael Andlauer in a statement said that while he wished Alfredsson were not joining a rival organization, the door would always be open for a return.

Rogers Communications Inc. signed a $4.35 billion agreement to become the 100 percent owner of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, buying the last 25 percent ownership stake from Kilmer Sports Inc., the company announced Monday. The deal is subject to league approvals, and Rogers said it expects it to close at the end of 2026.
New York Times
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Rogers Communications becomes 100 percent owner of Raptors' parent company

Toronto Maple Leafs first-overall pick Gavin McKenna has officially chosen his NHL jersey number. The highly regarded winger confirmed Saturday that he will wear No. 92 during his rookie season.
McKenna explained the meaning behind his decision while speaking to reporters.
“I’m going to go number 92. I said that 9 and 27 are up in the rafters and wanted to have a little bit of both in there. So 92, 9 replacing the 7,” McKenna said.
The choice honors two of Toronto’s greatest players. No. 9 belongs to Hockey Hall of Famer Charlie Conacher, while No. 27 was retired for Darryl Sittler. McKenna previously wore No. 72 during development camp, but that number is now ***** igned to veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
MORE: Maple Leafs rumors: Toronto facing inevitable Morgan Rielly trade

Gavin McKenna, who arrived in Toronto as the No. 1 overall pick in 2026 NHL Draft, expects his jersey number to change before opening night. Speaking to reporters Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie suggested No. 72 will likely belong to veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
“Probably not, probably not,” McKenna said when asked if he expected to wear No. 72 in the season opener. “Bob, he has won two Stanley Cups. If he wants that number, he is going to get that number.”
MORE: Gavin McKenna’s confidence will be ‘unbelievable’ for Maple Leafs
The 18-year-old admitted his preferred alternatives are unavailable. “I don’t know, my two other ones are taken. They’re up in the rafters, so I will have to think about it,” McKenna said, referring to Nos. 27 and 9, both retired by the Maple Leafs.
The exchange reflected the maturity that impressed Toronto throughout the draft process. Rather than focusing on personal preference, McKenna acknowledged the accomplishments of a veteran teammate joining the club after two Stanley Cup championships.

Free agency is in full effect here for the NHL, and teams made some major splashes to improve their rosters. After winning two Stanley Cups in Florida, Sergei Bobrovsky heads up north to Toronto. Vincent Trocheck gets traded to Utah for a haul, John Carlson signs with Tampa Bay, and Darnell Nurse gets shipped to San Jose.
RELATED: Maple Leafs sign Stanley Cup winning goalie
The Toronto Maple Leafs are seen as a major winner in free agency. Signing a proven goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky solidifies their goaltending problem. Bobrovsky had a down year last season, posting a .877 SV%, but in the previous two years, he had 30-plus win seasons. They can free up more cap ******* e with moves to add to their roster, too. Solid day one for Toronto.
The San Jose Sharks, who easily crushed the first-round draft, have now committed $17.5 million to two players on their defensive core. Jacob Trouba, who wasn’t great last season, was traded for Darnell Nurse, and they took on his entire salary. Yes, the Sharks have money to play with, but they are committing the money to the wrong players.
Trading away Darnell Nurse to San Jose was a massive win for the Oilers. Signing Ryan Shea is a huge boost to their team, along with trading for a young goaltender in Devon Levi. Frederick Anderson, who had a strong playoff performance this season, adding a Stanley Cup to his resume, joins the team to help Edmonton’s goaltender problem.

The beginning of the free agency period often makes it clear what vision teams around the NHL are trying to put together for themselves.
For the Vegas Golden Knights, that vision is coming together in the form of an overhaul to their depth.
In the early hours of free agency officially opening on July 1, the Golden Knights were struck with two bottom-six forwards changing addresses for the upcoming season. Colton Sissons was first to head off to the Toronto Maple Leafs on a two-year deal worth $4.25 million annually. Cole Smith would follow soon after, as the trade deadline acquisition parlayed Vegas' Stanley Cup Finals run into a three-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks with an annual cap hit of $3 million.
Then, the Golden Knights completed a trade with the Detroit Red Wings that saw fourth-line mainstay Keegan Kolesar head off to Hockeytown in exchange for a third-round pick in 2029 and a seventh-round pick in 2027.
Now, Vegas has an extra $2.5 million opened up on their books and a forward group now riddled with holes in the bottom of the lineup. With that in mind, what options do the Golden Knights reasonably have right now?

Maple Leafs free agency tracker: Live signings, trades, news, updates and more in 2026 NHL offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
This is a pivotal offseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Coming off a brutal 2025-26 campaign, they earned the No. 1 pick (Gavin McKenna), hired a new GM and head coach (John Chayka, Jim Hiller) and have already made a fascinating sign-and-trade for Darren Raddysh.
The opening of NHL free agency on July 1 provides more opportunities for the Leafs to turn this thing back in the right direction.
Last summer's biggest storyline was the loss of Mitch Marner.