It was a relatively quiet week on the transactions front in the NHL with the most notable being one that didn’t happen. That news is among the ones covered in our key stories.
Expansion On The Way: It certainly sounds like the next NHL team will be Texas-based. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly indicated recently that he hopes to have an agreement in place for a new team by December with a target debut season of 2029-30. The team would be based in Texas, either in Houston or Austin. Meanwhile, he added in another interview that he hopes for a 34th team to be coming as well, though not necessarily at the same time as the new team in Texas. There are ongoing discussions with groups in Atlanta and Phoenix, both markets that have previously had a team. If a 34th team is added, Daly speculated about the possibility of an expanded playoff format as well, though we’re still at least a few years from seeing that come to fruition.
Surgery For Merzlikins: It’s a contract year for Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and it’s off to a tough start. The team announced that the veteran has undergone successful shoulder surgery and there’s no timetable for his return. Naturally, that puts his availability for the start of the season into question. The 32-year-old posted a 3.40 GAA with an .883 SV% in 30 games in 2024-25 and could certainly benefit from a change of scenery, one that’s less likely to come in the short term now. Columbus has a little over $12.6MM in cap space per PuckPedia, however, most, if not all, of that will be earmarked for RFA center Adam Fantilli. Depending on the severity of Merzlikins’ injury, this news could push the Blue Jackets into a bit of a cap crunch.
Gauthier Says No: One of the more prominent unsigned young players is Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier, who technically hasn’t qualified for full restricted free agency as he isn’t offer sheet-eligible. However, after his teammate Leo Carlsson received a five-year, $90MM offer from Philadelphia, he’s seeking a big raise too. Reports surfaced this past week that Gauthier rejected a four-year, $52MM offer from Anaheim. The offer would have made him one of the top-paid forwards in the league but notably, he wouldn’t reach unrestricted free agent eligibility after it expired. Gauthier had 41 goals and 28 assists in 76 games last season. As it stands, Anaheim is likely going to need to cut salary at some point to afford Gauthier’s contract (Troy Terry landing on LTIR is a short-term fix, not a long-term one) so the sooner they know his new number, the sooner they can work on freeing up that money.
Ducks Add Lucius: While the Ducks couldn’t get Gauthier signed this week, they were able to add to their prospect pool. After Cruz Lucius didn’t file his paperwork to become a free agent last weekend, Pittsburgh dealt the winger to Anaheim for future considerations; he quickly inked a two-year, entry-level deal to begin his pro career. The 22-year-old had 124 points in 125 NCAA games, including a 46-point effort last season at Arizona State University. While the Penguins wanted to sign him, Lucius had made it clear months ago that he didn’t want to sign with them. They were able to accommodate his request but unfortunately for Pittsburgh, they didn’t acquire anything in return for his rights.
Engstrom Receiving Trade Interest: As the Canadiens look to add to their roster for the upcoming season, one of their prospects appears to be in high demand, defenseman Adam Engstrom. Several teams are believed to have shown interest in him this summer and he was their most sought-after asset at the trade deadline as well. The 22-year-old played in 15 games with Montreal last season in his first taste of NHL action while making the AHL’s Top Prospects Team. A left-shot blueliner, he finds himself behind Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, and Kaiden Guhle on their current depth chart while he’s also waiver-exempt. While he could push for a full-time spot in training camp if not traded, Engstrom could very well wind up back in the minors, biding his time for his next opportunity.
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