NHL Draft Live Blog: Movement picking up ahead of the draft

NHL Draft Day has arrived as TSN.ca has you covered with all the latest news and notes leading up to the first overall pick.

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Details on Tavares's new deal

John Tavares's new four-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs comes with a full no-movement clause in the first two years, TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports.

In the final two years, the deal includes a five-team trade list.

A native of Oakville, Ont., Tavares has spent the past seven seasons with the Leafs. His new deal will take him to the age of 38.

Tavares staying with Leafs

With a GIF of Jack Torrance, the Toronto Maple Leafs have announced the return of John Tavares for four years.

Tavares confirmed it himself moments later.

Tavares will get $4.38 million per season.

Vlasic clears waivers

After being waived on Thursday for the purposes of a buyout, veteran defenceman Marc-Edouard Vlasic has cleared waivers and will not be bought out by the San Jose Sharks.

Vlasic, 38, had one year remaining on an eight-year deal.

He appeared in 1,323 games for the Sharks over 19 seasons, but injuries limited him to just 84 over the past two seasons.

Labour peace in the NHL

The NHL-NHLPA CBA extension is confirmed, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun confirms.

The last-minute hang-up has been officially put to bed and the CBA is good for another four years.

A presser is scheduled for 1pm ET in Los Angeles.

Oilers lock up Frederic for eight

While Connor Brown could be leaving the Edmonton Oilers, Trent Frederic is staying.

The team has locked up their trade deadline acquisition from the Boston Bruins for eight year at $3.85 million per season.

The 27-year-old St. Louis native only dressed in one regular season game. He scored a goal and had three assists in 22 playoff contests.

Frederic is set to enter his eighth NHL season.

Brown likely to test free agency

Connor Brown and the Edmonton Oilers are unlikely to come to an agreement on a new deal ahead of July 1, Ryan Rishaug notes.

A 31-year-old native of Etobicoke, Ont., Brown spent the past two seasons with the Oilers. He appeared in all 82 games this past season, scoring 13 goals and adding 17 assists. He had nine points in 20 playoff games.

A veteran of 10 NHL seasons, Brown also suited up for the Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators and his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.

Brown played on a one-year, $1 million deal last season.

More on Dobson

TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston believes a trade of the Islanders rearguard could come about fairly soon.

Johnston notes that the Blues no longer appear to be in the running for the 25-year-old Summerside, PEI native.

Dobson talks heating up?

As noted below, Noah Dobson's future with the New York Islanders is up in the air as he negotiates a new contract as a restricted free agent.

Now, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports there's "a real sense a trade could happen by tonight given the possibility of a first-round pick from tonight being included in the trade."

LeBrun lists the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets as being among the team's with interest.

No shortage of picks in play

Utah's fourth-overall pick is one of many potentially in play in trade talks as the first round approaches Friday night.

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reported Thursday that the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have picks No. 11 and 12, Montreal Canadiens (Nos. 16 and 17), Philadelphia Flyers (Nos. 6, 22 and 31), and Nashville Predators (Nos. 5, 23 and 26) are all keeping their options open ahead of the draft, though the Flyers are planning to hold on to pick No. 6. 

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell revealed Thursday he's been asked about both of his first-rounders at Nos. 14 and 20 overall, but the offers have not made sense from a value standpoint as of yet. Waddell even revealed that he's been offered the opportunity to pick as high as eighth overall - a selection currently owned by the Seattle Kraken.

One reason for all the activity? Waddell says the draft is anyone's guess after the first seven picks.

“After that, the guy that goes eighth, we might have 20th on our list,” Waddell said, per the team's website. “It doesn't mean it's a bad draft. It's just after the first group of players, there's certainly a drop off.”

Depending on how things shake out, Waddell might be more inclined to move once the draft is already underway.

“You listen to every deal. I’ve made a lot of deals on draft day (in my career),” Waddell said. “(With pick No. 14), we might have three or four guys that we’re very comfortable with, so we (can) move back to 17 or 18. We know we're going to get one of those guys and pick up another asset. … But I'm also a believer that if there's a guy on that list and you really want him, you just step up and take him.”
 

Utah open to moving No. 4 pick

The Uath Mammoth swung a massive trade Wednesday to land JJ Peterka from the Buffalo Sabres and as the team looks to leap into the playoffs, the No. 4 pick could be available in further trade talks.

“Look, we’re pumped that we’re in line to get a good player in the draft," Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong told NHL.com. "We’re looking to get better in any way, whether it be the draft, by trade or free agency. We barely missed the playoffs last year and we want to make the next step. We just have to make sure we keep everything in front of us.

"We’ve been a team that’s tried to put together a team of people with the same age, ultimately, together, and not just create a team for dollar signs. It’s something where you’re just trying to add one piece at a time. You can’t do it all, right? We’ve got young players who are 21, 22, 23. You look at the Stanley Cup Final, and you’ve got star players that are 27, 28, 29, 30. And so our guys still have to go through that maturing process. It takes a little time to go through, you know. At the same time, if we can help build around them and put them with players that complement them and, at the right age, grow with them, you pursue it.”

While moving the fourth overall selection has not been ruled out, Armstrong said it's unlikely given the history of draft trades.

“Realistically you almost never see a trade made in the top four. It’s almost an impossible trade to make," Armstrong said. "Yeah, we’re moving forward to look at, you know, picking. At the same time, if there are options out there, we’re going to look at them. We’re going to look at all options.”

The Mammoth, who signed Peterka to a five-year deal after sending Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring to the Sabres for him, have just under $15 million in cap space remaining, per PuckPedia, with 20 players under contract.

The team could be a major player in free agency, though Armstrong said he's weary of being one of the teams "that win the summers and won’t win in the winter."
 

Countdown to Free Agent Frenzy

TSN's daily Countdown to Free Agent Frenzy has been launched for the day with updates on Alex Pietrangelo's health being a question mark for the Vegas Golden Knights, if the Buffalo Sabres could deal another restricted free agent in Bowen Bryam and Evgeny Kuznetsov's agent stating the veteran is eyeing an NHL return.

Like Dobson, Byram appears to be potentially available as contract talks stall with the Buffalo Sabres. 

Read those updates and more here.

Islanders on the clock

After winning the draft lottery in April, the New York Islanders hold the first overall pick in tonight's draft. 

New general manager Mathieu Darche is widely expected to select Erie Otters defenceman Matthew Schaefer first overall.

As Schaefer is set to arrive though, the Islanders appear to be considering a split with their current top defenceman, Noah Dobson.

"Well, there’s always been an understanding this would be an ‘either or’ situation," TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston said Thursday on Insider Trading. "Either the Islanders were signing their restricted free agent Noah Dosbon to a deal that bought some of his UFA years, which start next year, or they would be trading him.

"After having discussions with his agent, the feeling right now is that the Islanders are looking at the trade market, certainly engaging with other teams to see what that might look like.

"Look, it’s going to be a complicated deal. There’s a lot of teams interested in this player. 

"But who can pay the price? Who can get the kind of agreement for him? I can tell you that the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues are among those that have been involved to this point with Dobson.

"But at this stage, it’s a little too soon to say exactly which direction it’s going to go or if anyone else jumps in there because they first have to make a trade with the Islanders and then, ultimately, get the player signed to complete a deal."

Reports have indicated that Dobson could be looking for as high as an $11 million cap hit on his next deal.

The 25-year-old blueliner recorded 10 goals and 39 points in 71 games with the New York Islanders last season while averaging 23:16 of ice time. He is coming off of a three-year, $12 million contract that carried an annual cap hit of $4 million. 

Dobson has a career season during the 2023-24 campaign, recording 10 goals and 70 points in 79 games while averaging 24:31 of ice time. 

The Canadiens own back-to-back picks in the first round at Nos. 16 and 17 overall and are reportedly willing to part with one or both of those picks to land a roster player. 

McKenzie's Draft Rankings

TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie released his final draft rankings this week with Michael Misa and Porter Martone sliding in behind Matthew Schaefer at the top of his board.

Get caught up with the full list below or read his full breakdown for more analysis.