2026 NHL Free Agency Live Blog: Oilers close to Nurse trade with Sharks - Sportsnet.ca
The Montreal Canadiens have signed forward Ivan Demidov to an eight-year, US$73.2-million contract extension. This deal is set to begin in the 2027-28 season and will keep Demidov with the Canadiens through the 2034-35 season. Demidov, who was selected fifth overall in the 2024 NHL draft, led all NHL rookies last season with 62 points, comprising 19 goals and 43 assists. He also finished second in Calder Trophy voting and contributed nine points in 19 playoff games during Montreal’s run to the Eastern Conference final.
This extension was agreed upon before September 15, which is when the maximum contract length for re-signing players decreases to seven years under the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement. Demidov joins a group of key young players for Montreal, including Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Lane Hutson, all of whom are signed through at least 2030. Defenceman Noah Dobson, with an annual salary of $9.5 million until 2033, remains the team’s highest-paid player.
Western Conference Signings
In other league news, the Winnipeg Jets have signed former Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner to a two-year, $7.5-million contract. This move comes amidst rumours that Vezina Trophy-winning netminder Connor Hellebuyck could be departing Winnipeg. Skinner played in the Stanley Cup final with the Oilers in 2024 and 2025 before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Last season, the 27-year-old recorded a .888 save percentage and a 2.92 goals-against average across 50 games split between the two teams.
Meanwhile, in Vancouver, defenceman Luke Schenn is returning to the Canucks for his third stint with the team, signing a one-year, $2.25-million deal. Schenn, who is 36 years old, spent the last season with Buffalo and Winnipeg. His previous time with Vancouver was in 2023.
Eastern Conference Transactions
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded pending restricted free agent Nick Robertson to the Penguins earlier on Wednesday. In exchange, the Maple Leafs received a fourth-round draft pick in 2028. Robertson, who was under contract on a one-year, US$1.825 million deal last season, achieved career highs with 16 goals and 32 points in 78 games.
This transaction reunites the 24-year-old American forward with former Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, who now serves as the Penguins’ president of hockey operations. Dubas drafted Robertson to Toronto in the second round, 53rd overall, in the 2019 NHL draft.
The Ottawa Senators have also been active, signing goalie Samuel Ersson to a two-year, $4.4-million deal and extending Nick Cousins on a two-year contract worth $3.175 million. The Senators acquired Ersson from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2027 fifth-round pick last week, allowing him to briefly enter free agency before signing him. The 26-year-old Swede posted a .870 save percentage and 3.12 goals-against average in 33 games with the Philadelphia Flyers last season.
Cousins, who is 32 years old, registered nine goals, 23 points, and 92 penalty minutes in 81 games for the Senators last season, his second with the team. His previous deal was set to expire when free agency commenced at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Cousins won a Stanley Cup championship with the Florida Panthers in 2024 before joining Ottawa the following season.
The Senators have had a busy off-season, which has included trading captain Brady Tkachuk to the Panthers and acquiring forward William Eklund from the San Jose Sharks. Free agency officially opened on July 1, allowing unrestricted free agents to negotiate and sign with any team.
Source: sportsnet.ca
