Five Minute Major

*Photo from ESPN*    Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew passed away Thursday night in their home state of New Jersey. The Blue Jackets confirmed the news Friday morning.    Johnny Gaudreau had turned 31 years old earlier in August, while Matthew is 29 years old. The brothers were riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey Thursday night when they were struck by a vehicle that was attempting to pass two other vehicles. The driver was arrested and, according to police, was suspected of being under the influence.    The driver was charged with two counts of death by auto on the scene by police. The Gaudreau brothers were going to be groomsmen in the wedding of their sister Friday night. Johnny Gaudreau leaves behind a wife and two children.    The Blue Jackets said in a statement "The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband,

*Photo from 10TV*    The Columbus Blue Jackets and center Cole Sillinger have agreed to a two year, $4.5 million contract, according to the team.    Drafted by the Blue Jackets with the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Sillinger became an RFA this offseason when his entry level contract expired. The new deal will pay the center $2.25 million annually. He'll be an RFA once again when the deal expires after the 2025-2026 season.    Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said of Sillinger "Cole Sillinger is a very smart, two-way center who competes extremely hard at both ends of the ice. He played over 200 NHL games before turning 21 and is coming off his best season, so we are looking forward to his continued growth as a player. He is going to be an important part of the present and future of this club."    Last season was Sillinger's 3rd year in the NHL and his age 20 season. He scored 13 goals and dished out a career high 19 assists for a career high 32 points, averaging

*Photo from the Press Democrat*    According to both teams, the San Jose Sharks have acquired G Yaroslav Askarov, forward Nolan Burke, and a 2025 3rd round draft pick from the Nashville Predators in exchange for G Magnus Chrona, forward David Edstrom, and a conditional 2025 first round draft pick.    The Sharks quickly signed Askarov to a two year contract extension that pays him $2 million annually. That deal will start in 2025-2026. The first round pick originally belonged to the Vegas Golden Knights. If that pick falls in the top 10 picks, the Sharks can choose whether to give the Predators the pick that originally belonged to Vegas or their own.    One of the most highly touted goalie prospects, Askarov has just 3 games in the NHL under his belt. He is 1-1-0 in those games, having allowed 6 goals and making 64 saves. He's started two games and came in on relief once.    Askarov reportedly requested a trade from the Predators after they extended star goalie Juuse Saros and also

*Photo from Vancouver Hockey Now*    The Edmonton Oilers have acquired forward Vasily Podkolzin from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2025 4th round draft pick, according to announcements by both teams.    Podkolzin has struggled through two NHL seasons after a promising rookie campaign and is now out the door for a draft pick that originally belonged to the Ottawa Senators. His new contract starts this season and pays him $1 million annually, which the Oilers will take on all of. He'll be an RFA when it expires after the 2025-2026 season.    As a forward who brings speed to the Oilers lineup, Podkolzin can help replace the losses of Dylan Holloway and Ryan McLeod for the Oilers. McLeod was traded to the Buffalo Sabres and Holloway went to the Blues after signing an offer sheet as an RFA.    Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin said in a statement "We would like to thank Vasily for his time here with the Canucks. Podz put in a lot of work both on and off the ice and we wish him a

*Photo from the Everett Herald*    According to Chris Johnston of TSN, the Seattle Kraken have signed center Matty Beniers to a 7 year, $49.98 million contract. The Kraken have confirmed the signing.    Coming off winning the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year in 2022-2023, Beniers took a step back production wise last season, but the entire roster did as the Kraken missed the playoffs for the second time in 3 years as an organization. The biggest growth in Beniers' game was his faceoff ability, winning over 5 percent more of his draws last season as opposed to 2022-2023.    Last season was still a respectable year for Beniers on the offensive side of things. He scored 15 goals and added 22 assists for 37 points, averaging 17:58 of ice time per game to go with a -11 rating in 77 games for the Kraken. Only one of his 15 goals stood as a game winner.    Seattle GM Ron Francis said in a statement "Matty has been a core part of our team since making his NHL debut, not only on

*Photo from Bleacher Report*    The Montreal Canadiens have acquired RW Patrik Laine and a 2026 second round draft pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. Both teams have confirmed the trade.    Laine had previously requested a trade from the Blue Jackets after a tumultuous year, and he gets his wish. The Blue Jackets aren't retaining any salary, so the Canadiens will pay him $8.7 million annually for the next two years, with his contract also containing a 10 team no trade list.    Blue Jackets president and GM Don Waddell said of the trade "We want players that want to be Blue Jackets and Patrik made it clear that he thought a change of scenery was best for him. We were able to acquire a good young player in Jordan Harris while maintaining financial flexibility in this deal which was very important to us. We wish Patrik all the best."    Laine is coming off a lost 2023-2024 season, his

*Photo from The Hockey News*    The San Jose Sharks have acquired D Cody Ceci and a 2025 3rd round pick from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for D Ty Emberson, according to announcements by both teams.    Needing to clear up cap space, the Oilers sent Ceci and his $3.25 million salary for the coming season to the Sharks and get a defenseman who can take Ceci's spot on the blueline in return. Having lost Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to the St. Louis Blues via offer sheets and now trading Ceci, the Oilers now are under the cap ceiling.    Last season was Ceci's 3rd year in Edmonton and his second season of over 20 points with the Oilers. He notched 5 goals and 20 assists for 25 points, averaging 20 minutes of ice time per game to go with a +12 rating in 79 games. He added two goals and 3 assists in 24 playoff games.    The right shot defenseman can eat minutes on the ice, though his actual production in those minutes has largely been subpar. Having spent most of his time on

*Photo from the New York Times*     According to an announcement by both teams Tuesday morning, the Edmonton Oilers declined to match the offer sheets tendered to defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway.    Last Tuesday, both players signed offer sheets with the St. Louis Blues, giving the Oilers one week to match, which would keep one or both of them in Edmonton. By not matching either, both Broberg and Holloway will go to the Blues on two year contracts.    With the Blues, Broberg will make $4.58 million annually over the two years, while Holloway will make $2.29 million annually. Based on the salaries, the Oilers will receive a second round pick from the Blues as compensation for losing Broberg, and a 3rd round pick for losing Holloway. Both players will be RFA's again after their contracts expire.    Both Holloway and Broberg were drafted by the Oilers in the first round of their respective draft classes, with the Oilers drafting Holloway in 2020 and Broberg in 201

*Photo from The Hockey News*    The Washington Capitals have invited free agent forward Jakub Vrana to training camp on a professional tryout (PTO) contract, the team announced Thursday.    After being taken with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft by the Capitals, Vrana spent the first 4 1/2 seasons of his NHL career in DC before he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. Vrana has had a few disappointing seasons in a row, and the Capitals will try to see if they can get the 28 year old back to old form by returning to his old team.    Last season, Vrana played for both the St. Louis Blues and their AHL affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds. He potted two goals and 4 assists while averaging 12:08 of ice time in 21 games with the Blues. In the AHL, he had 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points in 42 games.    Vrana was traded from Washington to Detroit along with Richard Panik and two draft picks as the Capitals got forward Anthony Mantha in the Covid shortened 2021 season. After a st

*Photo from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette*    The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired C Cody Glass, a 2025 3rd round draft pick, and a 2026 6th round draft pick from the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Jordan Frasca, according to both teams.    Entering last season on the heels of a career season, Glass was unable to come close to the success he had in 2022-2023 and is now off to the 3rd team of his career. The Penguins will take on his $2.5 million salary for the upcoming season, the last year of his current contract. He'll be an RFA at the end of the season.    The Penguins are adding Glass in the hopes they can turn his career around, as the 25 year old has dealt with a slew of injuries throughout his career since being drafted. They also increased their draft capital with the trade as they continue to go through a retool.    Glass finished his 3rd season with the Predators in 2023-2024 since coming over from the Vegas Golden Knights. He potted 6 goals and added 7 assist

*Photo from Maple Leafs Hot Stove*    The Toronto Maple Leafs have removed forward John Tavares from his role as the team captain and have awarded the captaincy to forward Auston Matthews, according to Darren Dreger of TSN. The Maple Leafs have confirmed the news.    Tavares had worn the C for the last 5 seasons with the Maple Leafs and will now serve as an alternate captain with Matthews becoming the captain. Tavares reportedly supported the team's decision. Both Matthews and Tavares were chosen first overall when both were in the NHL draft.    Asked about the change, Tavares said "When Brad Treliving and I met at the end of this past season and discussed ways for our team to take the next step, we both agreed that Auston is ready and it's his time to lead. It's been an incredible honor to serve as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs these past five seasons. Looking forward, I will do everything to support Auston as we continue our pursuit of the Stanley Cup."    

*Photo from Sporting News*    Here comes the madness. The St. Louis Blues tendered offer sheets to forward Dylan Holloway and defenseman Philip Broberg of the Edmonton Oilers, the team announced Tuesday.    Both Holloway and Broberg are restricted free agents without arbitration rights, making them eligible to receive an offer sheet. The Blues offered Holloway a two year deal worth $4.58 million, paying him $2.29 million annually. Broberg received a two year, $.916 million contract that pays him $4.58 million annually.    The offer sheets have been signed by Holloway and Broberg, officially putting the wheels in motion for them to join the Blues. The Oilers have until August 20 to match the offer sheets, which would keep them on the Oilers at the contract the Blues offered. If the offer sheets aren't matched, the players would join the Blues.    If the Oilers don't match Holloway's offer sheet and he goes to the Blues, they would receive a 3rd round pick from the Blues as c

*Photo from Mile High Hockey*    Free agent defenseman Oliver Kylington and the Colorado Avalanche have agreed to a one year, $1.05 million contract, according to the team on Monday.    Kylington was out for the 2022-2023 season due to personal reasons surrounding his mental health that also kept him out for the first half of last season. He was the Calgary Flames' nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship, perseverance, and dedication as voted by members of the media.    When Kylington did come back, it marked his 6th season playing in the NHL with the Flames. Returning in January, he ended the season with 3 goals and 5 assists, notching a -6 rating while averaging 17:15 of ice time per game across 33 games.    Before his absence due to personal issues, Kylington had a breakout year in 2021-2022. He potted 9 goals and 22 assists for 31 points, career highs in all 3 categories as the Flames won the Pacific Division before fallin

*Photo from ESPN*     The Montreal Canadiens and defenseman Kaiden Guhle have agreed to a 6 year, $33.3 million contract extension, according to an announcement by the Canadiens.    Guhle will play out the coming season on the final year of his 3 year entry level contract, making just over $860,000 before his extension kicks in. He would've been an RFA at the end of the coming year, but that has now been avoided.    Asked about signing his deal, Guhle said "We've basically had the same group for two years now, and from this offseason it looks like there weren't too many big changes and we'll have a lot of the same guys coming in, so three years in a row with basically the same kind of guys. And I love the city. The city has been nothing but great to me. The fans have been unbelievable and definitely the best fans in the League, if not in sports. I think it's just the city and the guys, and I believe in this group so much and I think we'll be able to make a

*Photo from Spectrum News*    Forward Eric Staal signed a one day contract with the Carolina Hurricanes to retire as a member of the team for which he played 12 of his 18 seasons in the NHL.    At the same time, the Hurricanes announced his number 12 will be retired and raised to the PNC arena rafters at a date to be determined in the coming season. Staal was the captain of the Hurricanes until the 2015-2016 season, when he was traded to the New York Rangers in the middle of the year.    Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky said in a statement "Eric is a uniquely central figure in franchise history. Throughout his time in the Triangle, he made an immeasurable impact on his teammates, the organization and the community. We look forward to raising number 12 to the rafters and celebrating the career of a man who has meant so much to hockey fans in North Carolina."    Staal last played in the 2022-2023 season, suiting up for the Florida Panthers. He ended the season with 14 goals and 15 ass

*Photo from The Hockey Writers*    The New York Rangers and D Ryan Lindgren have agreed to a one year, $4.5 million contract, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The Rangers have confirmed the deal.    Lindgren was acquired by the Rangers at the 2017-2018 trade deadline as a prospect from the Boston Bruins as part of the big trade that sent Rick Nash to Boston. He was chosen in the second round of the 2016 draft by the Bruins out of the University of Minnesota and he'll turn 27 during this season, the last one before he can hit free agency.    When the offseason began, Lindgren became a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and had filed for a hearing earlier in July. The hearing has now been avoided with a one year deal that will take Lindgren right into the open market as a UFA next offseason.    Last season, Lindgren fell one point shy of his career high on the Rangers blueline. He scored 3 goals and added 14 assists for 17 points, averaging 19:21 of ice time pe