Welcome back to NHL Notebook — the series here at <a class="text-accent" href="https://canucksarmy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CanucksArmy</a> where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a <a class="text-accent" href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vancouver Canucks</a>-tinted lens!
The Stanley Cup has been awarded, which means the NHL hot stove is officially allowed to heat up. It also means the Edmonton Oilers did their end-of-season media availability, which brought some interesting comments from captain Connor McDavid. Let&#8217;s dive into today&#8217;s notebook.
<blockquote>NHL trades (and transactions) are happening!</blockquote>
First it was the Erik Haula trade, as the New Jersey Devils sent the Nashville Predators the final year of Haula&#8217;s current contract, which takes up $3.5 million on the salary cap. In return, the Devils received Jeremy Hanzel and a fourth round pick from Nashville. This is a minor trade, but due to its cap-clearing nature, it could be setting up for the Devils to try to make a big splash as we get closer and closer to free agency. And honestly, we&#8217;ll take what we can get at this point.
Also on Wednesday, Matt Rempe inked a two-year one-way contract extension with the New York Rangers at $975,000 annually. Things. Are. Happening!
Ryan Donato signed a four year deal to remain with the Chicago Blackhawks and forego unrestricted free agency. Donato&#8217;s new deal pays him $4 million annually and illustrates a competitive market for middle of the pack players as Donato cashes in on his career-best 62 point season.
Forward Fabian Zetterlund also inked a three-year, $12.825 million ($4.25 million AAV) contract with the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.
Matt Duchene signed a contract that will keep him in Dallas, as the Stars inked the veteran centre to a very team friendly four-year deal at $4.5 million annually. As we wrote this morning, it was reported that Duchene would have been <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/report-matt-duchene-been-high-vancouver-canucks-list-hit-free-agency">high on the Canucks&#8217; list had he hit free agency</a>.
Finally, the Dallas Stars managed to clear up some cap space by sending Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken for a third and fourth round pick. Dallas is one of few cap-strapped teams around the league, and it won&#8217;t be a surprise if they look to move off of Matt Dumba&#8217;s contract next.
<blockquote>McDavid says &#8220;no rush&#8221; to sign extension with Oilers </blockquote>
Oilers captain Connor McDavid is eligible for a contract extension as of July 1st, but it certainly doesn&#8217;t sound like he&#8217;ll be signing that extension any time soon.
During today&#8217;s locker clean out interviews, McDavid was <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/breaking-down-edmonton-connor-mcdavids-contract-comments-trent-frederic-stanley-cup-final-loss">asked about signing an extension</a>:
“Winning is the most important thing. If I feel there’s a good window here to win, then signing is no problem. I’m sure we’ll get into it over the next couple of weeks, but I’m not in a rush. Some people will look at the July 1st date (as a time to sign), but there is no rush. I will do what is best for my family,” he said.
Another interesting quote from McDavid:
Question: &#8220;Leon said he&#8217;d like you here forever, it’s not something you had to talk about, but with the July 1 window opening, when you look at just what you’ve built here with this team and how close it is, do you feel like there’s unfinished business for you?&#8221;
McDavid: &#8220;Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. This core has been together for a long time, and we’ve been building to this moment all along. The work that’s gone on behind the scenes, the conversations. The endless disappointments and some good times along the way obviously as well. Yeah, we’re all in this together, trying to get it over that finish line. With that being said, ultimately, [I] still need to do what’s best for me and my family. That’s who you have to take care of first. But of course, there’s unfinished business here. Yeah.&#8221;
Now, while those quotes might sound like a player who is less enthusiastic about signing an extension than fans would have hoped for, Oilers fans seem to be pretty unbothered by McDavid&#8217;s quotes today.
And that&#8217;s mostly because they&#8217;re basically identical to what Leon Draisaitl said before signing his eight-year extension ($14 million AAV) to stay in Edmonton.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://t.co/R7UnJil5zc">https://t.co/R7UnJil5zc</a> <a href="https://t.co/xDbVlnSjLq">pic.twitter.com/xDbVlnSjLq</a>
&mdash; zach (@zjlaing) <a href="https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1935769195133931558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
One way to read McDavid&#8217;s quotes is through the lens of a player who sees the kind of reinforcements the Florida Panthers have and is frustrated that the team behind him isn&#8217;t up to that same standard. And that for two years in a row, it <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/three-ex-vancouver-canucks-won-stanley-cup-last-night">hasn&#8217;t been enough to beat the Panthers</a>.
Will McDavid sign an extension in Edmonton at some point this summer? Probably.
But you can&#8217;t really blame him for wanting to see what management does with the roster around him first.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-144968" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2099/08/FA2025-Promos-Article_727x404_b.png" alt="" width="728" height="404" srcset="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2099/08/FA2025-Promos-Article_727x404_b.png 728w, https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2099/08/FA2025-Promos-Article_727x404_b-300x166.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px" /></a>
Get ready for wall-to-wall coverage of one of the biggest days in the calendar — the Daily Faceoff Live Free Agency Special goes live on July 1st at 11 AM EST. Host Tyler Yaremchuk is joined by Carter Hutton, Matthew Barnaby, Jeff Marek, Hart Levine, Colby Cohen, Jonny Lazarus, and insiders from across the Network for three hours of in-depth analysis, live reactions, and real-time updates on every major signing and trade. From blockbuster deals to under-the-radar moves, we’re breaking it all down as it happens. Don’t miss a minute — catch the full special live on <a href="http://dailyfaceoff.com">DailyFaceoff.com</a> and Daily Faceoff’s YouTube.

Welcome back to NHL Notebook — the series here at <a class="text-accent" href="https://canucksarmy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CanucksArmy</a> where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a <a class="text-accent" href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Vancouver Canucks</a>-tinted lens!

The Stanley Cup has been awarded, which means the NHL hot stove is officially allowed to heat up. It also means the Edmonton Oilers did their end-of-season media availability, which brought some interesting comments from captain Connor McDavid. Let's dive into today's notebook.
<blockquote>NHL trades (and transactions) are happening!</blockquote>
First it was the Erik Haula trade, as the New Jersey Devils sent the Nashville Predators the final year of Haula's current contract, which takes up $3.5 million on the salary cap. In return, the Devils received Jeremy Hanzel and a fourth round pick from Nashville. This is a minor trade, but due to its cap-clearing nature, it could be setting up for the Devils to try to make a big splash as we get closer and closer to free agency. And honestly, we'll take what we can get at this point.

Also on Wednesday, Matt Rempe inked a two-year one-way contract extension with the New York Rangers at $975,000 annually. Things. Are. Happening!

Ryan Donato signed a four year deal to remain with the Chicago Blackhawks and forego unrestricted free agency. Donato's new deal pays him $4 million annually and illustrates a competitive market for middle of the pack players as Donato cashes in on his career-best 62 point season.

Forward Fabian Zetterlund also inked a three-year, $12.825 million ($4.25 million AAV) contract with the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.

Matt Duchene signed a contract that will keep him in Dallas, as the Stars inked the veteran centre to a very team friendly four-year deal at $4.5 million annually. As we wrote this morning, it was reported that Duchene would have been <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/report-matt-duchene-been-high-vancouver-canucks-list-hit-free-agency">high on the Canucks' list had he hit free agency</a>.

Finally, the Dallas Stars managed to clear up some cap space by sending Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken for a third and fourth round pick. Dallas is one of few cap-strapped teams around the league, and it won't be a surprise if they look to move off of Matt Dumba's contract next.
<blockquote>McDavid says "no rush" to sign extension with Oilers </blockquote>
Oilers captain Connor McDavid is eligible for a contract extension as of July 1st, but it certainly doesn't sound like he'll be signing that extension any time soon.

During today's locker clean out interviews, McDavid was <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/breaking-down-edmonton-connor-mcdavids-contract-comments-trent-frederic-stanley-cup-final-loss">asked about signing an extension</a>:

“Winning is the most important thing. If I feel there’s a good window here to win, then signing is no problem. I’m sure we’ll get into it over the next couple of weeks, but I’m not in a rush. Some people will look at the July 1st date (as a time to sign), but there is no rush. I will do what is best for my family,” he said.

Another interesting quote from McDavid:

Question: "Leon said he'd like you here forever, it’s not something you had to talk about, but with the July 1 window opening, when you look at just what you’ve built here with this team and how close it is, do you feel like there’s unfinished business for you?"

McDavid: "Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. This core has been together for a long time, and we’ve been building to this moment all along. The work that’s gone on behind the scenes, the conversations. The endless disappointments and some good times along the way obviously as well. Yeah, we’re all in this together, trying to get it over that finish line. With that being said, ultimately, [I] still need to do what’s best for me and my family. That’s who you have to take care of first. But of course, there’s unfinished business here. Yeah."

Now, while those quotes might sound like a player who is less enthusiastic about signing an extension than fans would have hoped for, Oilers fans seem to be pretty unbothered by McDavid's quotes today.

And that's mostly because they're basically identical to what Leon Draisaitl said before signing his eight-year extension ($14 million AAV) to stay in Edmonton.

https://twitter.com/zjlaing/status/1935769195133931558

One way to read McDavid's quotes is through the lens of a player who sees the kind of reinforcements the Florida Panthers have and is frustrated that the team behind him isn't up to that same standard. And that for two years in a row, it <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/three-ex-vancouver-canucks-won-stanley-cup-last-night">hasn't been enough to beat the Panthers</a>.

Will McDavid sign an extension in Edmonton at some point this summer? Probably.

But you can't really blame him for wanting to see what management does with the roster around him first.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-144968" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2099/08/FA2025-Promos-Article_727x404_b.png" alt="" width="728" height="404" /></a>

Get ready for wall-to-wall coverage of one of the biggest days in the calendar — the Daily Faceoff Live Free Agency Special goes live on July 1st at 11 AM EST. Host Tyler Yaremchuk is joined by Carter Hutton, Matthew Barnaby, Jeff Marek, Hart Levine, Colby Cohen, Jonny Lazarus, and insiders from across the Network for three hours of in-depth analysis, live reactions, and real-time updates on every major signing and trade. From blockbuster deals to under-the-radar moves, we’re breaking it all down as it happens. Don’t miss a minute — catch the full special live on <a href="http://dailyfaceoff.com">DailyFaceoff.com</a> and Daily Faceoff’s YouTube.

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