The Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes pulled off a surprise late on the second day of the 2026 NHL Draft.
Rather than taking a prospect at No. 192 in the sixth round, they were working the phones. They then moved the pick, along with minor league defenseman Kyle Masters, to the Anaheim Ducks for the rights to defenseman John Carlson.
That means they can negotiate exclusively with Carlson, 36, before he hits free agency on July 1. He is the top player on USA TODAY’s free agent list.
Carlson, traded last season, had 60 points last season between the Washington Capitals, where he led the franchise in career points by a defenseman, and Anaheim.
If the Hurricanes can get him signed, it would boost a defense that’s already one of the best in the league.
The Stanley Cup runner-up Vegas Golden Knights took a different route at the draft, sending pending restricted agent Pavel Dorofeyev to the New York Rangers. He signed a seven-year, $77 million deal with New York.
J.J. Peterka, Mason McTavish and Brandon Carlo are among the other players who were traded during draft weekend.
Here are the trades, other transactions and rumors that happened during the first days of the 2026 NHL Draft:
Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill said the team continues to negotiate with Jason Robertson and acknowledges that there was a trade that didn’t materialize (reportedly with the Seattle Kraken). They hope to re-sign their leading scorer.
“He’s a great player,” Nill said. “He’s a good person. We drafted him. We developed him. Our preference is to sign him, of course. Can we do that within the parameters of what we have to work with and what he wants?”
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman confirmed Saturday that captain Dylan Larkin has requested a trade and his agent has submitted a short list of teams.
“Having said that, Dylan has five years remaining on his contract,” Yzerman said, according to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. “My job as the manager of the Detroit Red Wings is always to do what is in the best interest of the Detroit Red Wings and I will act accordingly to that. I cannot make any guarantees or did not make any guarantees that that request could or would be met.”
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said Nurse, who requested a trade, has submitted the name of three teams to the Edmonton Oilers. He said more teams might get involved, specially citing the Ducks.
The fourth-liner is one of the NHL’s bigger players at 6-7, 233 pounds. He played 97 career games with New York, totaling 189 hits and 58 blocked shots. The Rangers get back forward Massimo Rizzo and a fifth-round pick
The Blues give up two third-round picks for the defensive-minded defenseman. It was their second acquisition of the draft after acquiring Mason McTavish on the first day.
Former Leafs GM Brad Treliving gave up Fraser Minten, a conditional first-round pick (expected to be in 2028) and a fourth-rounder to land Carlo in March 2025.
The Stanley Cup champions had the 31st pick and they send it to Nashville for two second-round picks, 42 and 57
They move down from No. 28 to 29 and also pick up the No. 117 pick.
The 26h pick – acquired by Vegas in the Pavel Dorofeyev trade – is moved to Canadiens for the 28th pick and Montreal’s third-round pick in 2027.
Sebastian Cossa has played only one game in the NHL and gets a chance with another organization. The Red Wings, who have Trey Augustine in the system, get back into the first round. They select Kamloops’ J.P. Hurlbert.
The Flyers trade the No. 21 pick to the Sharks for No. 27, 62 and 120.
They send the No. 17 picks to the Utah Mammoth for the 19th and 83rd pick. Utah picks Windsor left wing Ethan Belchetz.
The Ducks get back the No. 15 and 29 picks. McTavish was expendable because they need to re-sign Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier. McTavish had 52 points two seasons ago, but his ice time dropped in 2025-26, particularly in the playoffs.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports on air that Marchenko doesn’t want to extend when his contract expires after next season. He would be a restricted free agent then with one year left before unrestricted free agency. Weekes said that right before the Blue Jackets drafted Boston College’s Oscar Hemming, whose style compares to Marchenko.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports it’s seven years at an $11 million average. That’s the same average that Artemi Panarin got with the Kings after his trade to Los Angeles.
A huge add for the Rangers, who traded away Artemi Panarin last season. Dorofeyev totaled 72 goals the past two seasons and just went to the Stanley Cup Final. He’s a restricted free agent. The Golden Knights get back into the first round by acquiring the 23rd overall pick, plus the 92nd and a 2028 first-round pick.
The Bruins give up the 23rd overall pick in 2026, plus the Florida Panthers’ 2028 first-round pick (lottery protected). Peterka was dealt after one year in Utah. The German player will play for German coach Marco Sturm in Boston and return to the Atlantic Division after previously playing for the Sabres.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the Bruins are working on a deal with the Mammoth over J.J. Peterka.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun said the Blue Jackets are listening to teams calling about Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski. He said Werenski is unlikely to extend his deal past its expiration in 2028.
Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has said he’s listening to offers on this pick. If he keeps the pick, he’ll go after the best player available. The Sabres have needs both on wing and defense. They moved out Alex Tuch in a sign-and-trade and also have traded defensemen Bowen Byram and Michael Kesselring. The Sabres got the pick from Chicago in the Byram deal.
Ottawa gives up a sixth-round 2027 pick for forward André Burakovsky. He had 33 points last season, but just three from February until the end of the season. The Senators will be his fifth team. His father, Robert, played for Ottawa.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun said the Ducks are engaged in talks with the Rangers and Blues, with the Rangers offer including a roster player and the Blues offering picks.
Buffalo needed defensive depth after moving out Bowen Byram and Michael Kesselring in recent trades. Zellweger, 22, totaled 14 goals and 42 points the past two seasons. The Ducks get back forward Anton Wahlberg and a 2026 second-round pick (45th overall).
Defenseman Brett Kulak, 32, scored the overtime series-clinching goal in the second round against the Minnesota Wild. He was acquired from the Penguins in the Samuel Girard trade after Pittsburgh acquired him earlier in the season from the Oilers in the Tristan Jarry trade. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Kulak will average $4.5 million in his deal.
Defenseman Brent Burns is coming back for a second season with the Avalanche. Terms weren’t disclosed. Burns, 41, had 35 points with Colorado last season, including five game-winning goals. He has played 1,007 consecutive games and will be in position next season to pass Phil Kessel’s record ironman streak of 1,064.
Toronto will receive a 2027 fifth-round pick for Ersson, who they acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this month in the Joseph Woll trade. Ersson is a pending restricted free agent and the Senators will need to make him a qualifying offer to retain his rights.
Jordan Spence will average $5 million in the contract. His seven goals and 31 points last season were career highs.
The pending unrestricted agent is staying with the Islanders on a two-year deal with a reported $4.5 million cap hit. DeAngelo had 35 points in 76 games in his second season with the Islanders and 10th in the NHL.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed he has been listening to offers on star goalie Connor Hellebuyck. “As an organization, it’s incumbent on me to listen,” he said. He didn’t answer whether the U.S. Olympic gold medalist has asked for a trade or if there is a timeline for making a deal. Hellebuyck is under contract through 2031. “What I’ve been hearing hasn’t made me act,” he said.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Stars gave Seattle permission to talk to Jason Robertson and he turned down the team’s offer for about $15 million a year. Robertson can become a restricted free agent on July 1.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier said this week he had been getting calls about the No. 9 overall pick and a few others on the No. 2 pick.
After trading Kyrou, the Blues have four picks in the first round, including back-to-back at 15 and 16. Could they potentially package some of those picks to move up in the draft, or to go after another team’s player?
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