Semyon Der-Arguchintsev had his sights set on an NHL return this season, but that path now looks unlikely.
His agent, Shumi Babaev, recently told RB Sport’s Olesya Usova that he is open to KHL contract offers for his client, with a resolution hoped for this week. Toronto still owns Der-Arguchintsev’s NHL rights, and Babaev was told the Maple Leafs do not have a spot for him right now. At the same time, they also do not want to move those rights to another team.
Der-Arguchintsev, a third-round pick in 2018, spent most of his entry-level contract with AHL Toronto before heading to the KHL. He has played the last three seasons with Traktor and has 23 points in 33 games in 2025-26. Toronto will retain his NHL rights through the 2027-28 season.
In Montreal, Trevor Letowski is staying in the organization after all.
When the Canadiens brought in Derek Lalonde as an associate coach earlier this summer, the expectation was that Letowski would be leaving the bench, with the team hoping to keep him in some other capacity. That plan has now taken shape, as Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reports that Letowski will move into a Player Development Coach role.
Letowski spent the previous five seasons as an assistant with the Canadiens. Before that, he logged parts of ten seasons coaching in the OHL, and Montreal marked his first pro coaching job.
Boston, meanwhile, is set to take a look at an intriguing young winger at rookie camp.
Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal notes that the Bruins are expected to invite undrafted winger Niko Tournas to camp. The 20-year-old spent last season with QMJHL Moncton and made the most of his first run at that level, posting 43 goals and 31 assists in 64 games.
Tournas is committed to the University of New Hampshire for 2027-28, though that could change if he impresses enough for Boston to offer him an entry-level deal.
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For Boston, the appeal is obvious: Zacha gave them far more offense than they had reason to expect, while also fitting into a lineup role that still asks him to do a lot of the quiet work. The question now is whether that version of him is the new norm or the high-water mark, because the next season will say plenty about how much of that breakout was real growth and how much was a finishing run that might not repeat. [Read more 🡒]
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For the Bruins, the larger question is whether that scoring touch can translate into the answer they need at the top of the lineup. Peterka has long been viewed as more than just a complementary piece because of his ability to drive offense, and Boston is banking on him to bring more punch after a move that also sent him out of Utah and left the Mammoth with draft capital in return. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Roster Crunch Is Putting One Young Piece In Serious Doubt
The Bruins are heading into training camp with more names than clean answers, and the squeeze is already showing up at both ends of the roster. Boston has a crowded mix of defensemen and bottom-six forwards, which means the front office will need to clear spots before the season starts, likely through a combination of waivers and trades.
Matthew Poitras remains one of the more sensitive decisions in that logjam, with his contract situation still unresolved as the club sorts out its next move. Henri Jokiharju and Mikey Eyssimont are also part of the roster conversation, underscoring how little margin Boston has as it tries to fit everyone in without leaving useful pieces exposed. [Read more 🡒]