NHL Player News

AHL Hamilton head coach Jay McKee said Friday that he's "seeing more than [he] expected with [George]," Stefen Rosner of NHL.com reports.

Although George spent most of last season in the AHL, he did appear in four games with the Islanders, recording an assist and a hit while averaging 13:22 of ice time over that limited sample. It's encouraging that he's making an impression early in rookie camp, and he'll likely be in the mix for an Opening Night roster spot if he can continue to showcase his skill set at training camp.

Scheifele remains focused on the team and winning ahead of training camp amid Connor Hellebuyck's trade request, Luke Fox of Sportsnet reports.

Scheifele and Hellebuyck signed identical seven-year, $59.5 million contracts on the same day in October of 2023, but Scheifele downplayed his concern with the goaltender's trade request that will presumably command plenty of attention once training camp gets underway. Scheifele appeared in all 82 regular-season games for a second consecutive year during the 2025-26 campaign, and he generated a career-best 103 points (36 goals, 67 assists) to go with 47 blocked shots, 43 PIM and 32 hits.

McKenna will not participate in the Leafs' rookie showcase, instead preparing for the start of training camp, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.

McKenna will skip playing in games alongside his fellow rookies and prospects while he looks ahead to the team's full training camp. The 18-year-old winger is a lock to make the Opening Night roster and could find himself suiting up on the top line with Auston Matthews. If McKenna does play a full 84-game schedule, he should be capable of challenging for the 20-goal and 40-assist thresholds.

Necas enters the 2026-27 campaign with substantial expectations following his career-best season last year, Laura Lambert of SI.com reports.

Necas signed an eight-year, $92 million contract extension with the Avalanche in October of 2025, and he rewarded the team's commitment by reaching the 100-point threshold for the first time in his career. Across 78 regular-season appearances in 2025-26, the 27-year-old recorded 38 goals and 62 assists to go with 85 hits, 30 PIM and 26 blocked shots. He'll attempt to maintain that production during his second full season in Colorado while continuing to work alongside one of the league's other elite talents in Nathan MacKinnon.

McDavid said Wednesday that he's healthy and refreshed ahead of training camp, Derek Van Diest of NHL.com reports.

McDavid appeared in all 82 regular-season games last year for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign, and he generated 48 goals, 90 assists, 44 PIM, 40 hits and 30 blocked shots while averaging a career-high 23:00 of ice time. The Oilers had a first-round postseason exit, but McDavid has used the extended offseason to build optimism for the 2026-27 season, which will be the team's first year under head coach Mike Babcock. McDavid remains under contract with Edmonton for two more seasons, and the team will be especially motivated to contend for the Stanley Cup during that time in an attempt to retain the 29-year-old on a long-term basis.

Monahan is back to 100 percent ahead of the 2026-27 campaign after playing through injuries last year, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports Friday.

Monahan ended the 2025-26 campaign having scored just one goal in the final 22 games of the regular season while chipping in just six assists. The lack of offensive production could be an indication of the effect his undisclosed injuries had on him. If he avoids playing through injuries this year, Monahan should be capable of pushing for the 50-point threshold, a number he previously reached seven times in his career.

Gonchar is dealing with an undisclosed injury and hasn't been cleared to be on the ice to begin rookie camp, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports Friday.

While the exact nature and severity of Gonchar's injury isn't yet clear, he's sidelined for the start of rookie camp despite being present with the team. The 19-year-old made 65 regular-season appearances with OHL Sudbury last year, and he recorded 15 goals, 36 assists and 31 PIM.

Lind signed a professional tryout agreement with the Lightning on Friday.

Lind hasn't made a regular-season appearance in the NHL since the 2023-24 campaign, when he appeared in one game with the Kraken, but he'll have a chance to compete with the Lightning during training camp this fall. He made 70 regular-season appearances with AHL Texas last year, and he recorded 11 goals, 24 assists and 95 PIM.

Larkin will take part in the Red Wings' training camp but will no longer serve as the team captain, the club announced Friday.

Larkin had previously requested a trade, leading to speculation that he may not show up for training camp, though it appears those concerns were unfounded. Handling the center's request will no doubt be a daunting issue for whoever takes over as Detroit's general manager. While the ongoing situation could certainly be a distraction, Larkin still offers enough fantasy upside to take him sooner rather than later in drafts.

Bowman agreed to terms on a six-year, $20.4 million contract with Vegas on Thursday.

Bowman saw action in 54 regular-season games for the Golden Knights last year, tallying eight goals and 18 helpers, including four power-play points. With a new contract in hand, the 23-year-old winger should be a full-time option at the NHL level and could push for the 15-goal mark, especially if he can get more time with the man advantage.