The Utah Mammoth have taken care of one of their biggest blue-line questions, while the Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins are all dealing with their own offseason pressure points.
Utah signed defenseman John Marino to an eight-year extension worth $6.75 million annually, a move first broken by Elliotte Friedman and then confirmed by the team. The contract keeps Marino in place long-term and wipes out the uncertainty around his pending unrestricted free agency.
The deal also comes with strong early protection, including a full no-movement clause before shifting to modified trade protection later on. With Sean Durzi traded this summer, holding onto Marino gives Utah a dependable top-four defenseman.
In Calgary, Morgan Frost is drawing real trade interest as the Flames continue their roster teardown. According to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, multiple teams are in on the center after his career-best 43-point season.
That production has made him a tempting piece for a rebuilding club looking to add draft capital, and his value may be as high as it gets right now. Craig Conroy has already moved several core players this offseason, and the big question is whether the Flames deal Frost now or wait until closer to the trade deadline, when he could be viewed as a rental.
For the moment, there’s no rush, with teams seemingly content to wait rather than pay a summer premium.
Columbus is staring at a potentially awkward arbitration situation with Jet Greaves. The Blue Jackets and the goaltender are reportedly far apart, with Greaves seeking $7.5 million annually and the club countering at $2.8 million.
The split is huge, but it does not necessarily mean the relationship has turned sour. The issue is more about where each side believes the number should land, with arbitration designed to split the difference.
Still, there is risk in how the process feels, especially if the low team offer is taken as disrespect or if the hearing turns into a public case against Greaves. Columbus also has other unsigned RFAs to manage, so a short-term bridge deal looks likely, even if arbitration can make things messy.
The Penguins are also kicking tires on another young center. Pittsburgh is reportedly among the teams interested in Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright, who has been the subject of trade talk since the deadline.
Seattle is said to be working with Wright’s camp to find the right fit, but the Kraken are not in a hurry to move him. The asking price is believed to be high, which could make any deal difficult for a Penguins team that is waiting to see what happens with Jason Robertson in Dallas.
Former Kraken GM Ron Francis is now back in Pittsburgh, which adds another layer to the interest because of his familiarity with Wright’s development.
In Other News...
Cale Fleury Still Has One Big Chance To Win Over Kraken Fans
Cale Fleurys first full season in the Kraken organization was split between Seattle and Coachella Valley, and it left him with a clearer path than he had a year ago. He got into 23 NHL games for Seattle in 2025-26, chipped in a goal and two assists, and spent much of the rest of his time with the Firebirds, where he was productive enough to stay firmly on the radar.
That matters because Fleury is still under contract through 2026-27, and next season could be the one where he turns that depth role into something more permanent. He is expected to battle for a full-time NHL job with Seattle, and if the Kraken do not add another defenseman, there may be a real opening for him to press his case on the third pair. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Eberles Latest Off-Ice Move Hits Close To Home
Jordan Eberles latest off-ice move carries a familiar Western Canada feel. The Kraken captain and his wife, Lauren, donated $700,000 through their Sticks & Strings Foundation to help support an outdoor early learning center tied to a new Calgary library, another example of the couple using their platform to back projects rooted in kids, families and community spaces.
The foundation, launched in 2022, has centered its work on sports, music, reading, the outdoors and parental support, and Eberles connection to the region runs deep. Born in Regina, he played junior hockey there and has long spent summers in Calgary with Lauren, making this latest gift feel less like a one-off gesture and more like an extension of where the Kraken captain has always felt at home. [Read more 🡒]