Day 2 of the NHL Draft was the conclusion of one of the wildest weeks in NHL history. From bombshell trades to the NHL rumor mill churning, to the Pittsburgh Penguins getting telepathic twins with their first two picks. We’ve got the full coverage of the Penguins draft and a deep report card, including Kyle Dubas’s performance.
Elsewhere in the Daily, more big names are joining the NHL trade chatter, starting with Zach Werenski. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ reconstruction moved forward, the Florida Panthers are goalie shopping, and the Detroit Red Wings responded to Dylan Larkin’s trade request.
For obvious reasons, I couldn’t share the temporary Penguins draft HQ location. Per typical Penguins’ fashion, they ran a classy operation, complete with a surprise dinner offering for the handful of media covering the draft on Friday night (steak, chicken, and some sort of cheesy potatoes that had a few of us about to eat the plastic container). Here was the view from our conference room:
No, the Penguins did not make a big trade, but we’ll get to that in the analysis. However, some of the replies of the last few days on that topic have been, umm, interesting. Some have been so crazy that most readers and followers were incredulous.
I don’t get it, but there is a rogue element that has discarded all reality to angrily shake its fist at the new owners because the Penguins didn’t make a trade. Yeah, that one was mind-boggling.
And those people are the reason the Power Rangers had to shout out their colors.
Pittsburgh Penguins
PHN+: For our subscribers, we compiled all of the 2026 NHL Draft picks and analysis in one story, here.
We will work from the second round forward. The Penguins had the feel-good story of the day when they drafted Liam Ruck’s twin brother, Markus. The two told teams they wanted to stay together, and the Penguins were the luck team.
Round 2: Markus Ruck
Round 2: A twice undrafted Czech defenseman is making some noise, and the Penguins took a gamble on Tomas Galvas.
Round 3: Dynamic, light winger Pierce Mbuyi.
Round 4: Late bloomer Park Von Richter.
Round 5: Goalie project Matvei Nikonovich.
The grand finale. We graded the picks as well as Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas for not making the big trade that he sought. We also have some analysis from Penguins vice president of player personnel Wes Clark in the Penguins report card.
NHL Trade, News, & National Hockey Now
Sportsnet Video: Zach Werenski is waffling on re-signing in Columbus, and they are now listening on the Norris Trophy winner. Elliotte Friedman also has an update on Jason Robertson and Connor Hellebuyck, too. Was there a deal between Buffalo and Winnipeg that was at the finish line?
Rumor has it that Weresnki would consider the Toronto Maple Leafs, which of course, sent the Toronto media into hyperdrive.
Detroit Hockey Now: Steve Yzerman met the Detroit media, and he had to answer THE question about Dylan Larkin. Yzerman was stoic and reminded everyone that he doesn’t have to comply. Here’s the latest on the Red Wings trade drama.
TSN Insiders: Is Winnipeg going to flip back on Hellebuyck and keep the big-time goalie?
Philly Hockey Now: Penguins fans will like this. Now that the draft is over, obviously, the Edmonton Oilers are not getting a soft 2026 draft pick for Darnell Nurse. As the trade rumors around Nurse settle, reports indicate the top of the list for Nurse is the Philadelphia Flyers.
Boston Hockey Now: I long wondered if Kyle Dubas would make the move for Fabian Lysell from the Boston Bruins. A struggling young player. Nope. Instead, the Boston got a part-time fourth-liner name Ivan Ivan for Lysell. Here’s the Bruins trade.
Colorado Hockey Now: From the other side, acquiring Lysell–here is the Avalanche trade.
NHL.com: I put this story here because some of you may remember the story of how a quick five minutes with Jarome Iginla in 2002 launched my sports radio career and eventually this network. Saturday, the Calgary Flames surprisingly selected his son Joe in the third round and everyone loved it.
Me too.
There’s no story necessary–The Carolina Hurricanes acquired the rights to right-handed defenseman John Carlson for a later round pick. Eric Tulski has the big stack, and he’s playing like it.
ESPN: Also, the St. Louis Blues had a huge weekend. They traded away Jordan Kyrou. Acquired Mason McTavish. And then gave up only a pair of third-rounders for defenseman Brandon Carlo. It was a big few days.
Considering what Toronto gave up for Carlo, that’s a steal. Toronto’s previous regime gave up Fraser Minten, a first-rounder, and a fourth for Carlo. Now, a year-plus later, he’s out for two-thirds. Wowser.
San Jose Hockey Now: What the heck, give it a shot, eh? In the seventh round, the San Jose Sharks selected 7-foot-1 Alexander Karmanov. Yes, SEVEN-foot-one. Sheng Peng was in Buffalo for the fun and has more — That’s one big Shark draft pick.
Florida Hockey Now: Finally, what are they trying to build in Florida? Not only have they won two of the last three Stanley Cups, but now they have the Tkachuk Brothers to crash and bang, and Saturday, they acquired a physical and sometimes extra-legal grinder, Garnett Hathaway.
The Broward Bullies? Florida is going to be pretty, pretty good. Now, about goaltending.
Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors Pittsburgh Penguins
