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Around the NHL: Sabres elect arbitration for Byram, Canadiens re-sign Dobes, Hurricanes wanted Oilers’ Bouchard

Originally posted on TheLeafsnation | By Jeremy Tingly | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 8:00 AM ET

The NHL’s free agency period is one week old and the market has certainly turned awfully thin at this point with talent. Most of the best free agents have signed contracts, with versatile forward Jack Roslovic the ‘best of the rest’ at this point.

We’ve seen some significant trades happen as well, with John Gibson being moved to the Detroit Red Wings being one, however, for the most part, the trade market has gone quiet of late, with expectation talks could pick up throughout the month of July. Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Buffalo Sabres elect salary arbitration for Bowen Byram

The Buffalo Sabres elected to go down the salary arbitration route with defenceman Bowen Byram. Trade chatter around the 24-year-old blueliner has picked up in a major way of late, but what’s significant here is the fact with the Sabres electing to head to arbitration, Byram can no longer sign an offer sheet. There’s been plenty of interest in the restricted free-agent defenceman.

Now, neither player can sign an offer sheet

Since the team took them to arbtiration, the player (and agent) pick the term of the award. If they wish, both could choose two-year deals and go directly to unrestricted free agency. Still time to decide. https://t.co/ZlwU8RC95r

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 6, 2025

Byram recorded 38 points in 82 games last season, averaging a career high 22:41 of ice time. The Sabres have been awfully quiet so far throughout the offseason, as the team tries to navigate if they are looking to improve their roster, or set themselves up to be in the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes at next year’s NHL Draft.

As Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman points out, the Utah Mammoth also elected arbitration for forward Jack McBain. The 25-year-old 6-foot-4 centre scored 13 goals and 27 points in 82 games last season.

Montreal Canadiens re-sign Jakub Dobes to two-year deal

The Montreal Canadiens signed restricted free-agent goaltender Jakub Dobes to a two-year contract worth $965,000 AAV. Dobes burst onto the scene last season, posting a 2.74 goals against average and .909 save percentage in 16 games.

Dobes made his NHL debut Dec.28, recording a 34-save shutout against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. The 24-year-old netminder also saw action within the Stanley Cup Playoffs, going 1-2 with a 2.91 goals against average after the Canadiens lost starter Samuel Montembeault due to injury.

Dobes will be in line to battle it out with Kaapo Kahkonen in training camp to be Montembeault’s backup next season. The Canadiens also have Jacob Fowler, one of the best prospects in hockey as part of their organizational depth in net. Montreal’s farm system has quickly become one of the deepest in all of hockey.

Hurricanes were thinking offer sheet for Oilers’ Bouchard

Friedman also reported recently that the Carolina Hurricanes were interested in an offer sheet for Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard. Bouchard wound up signing a four-year contract worth $10.5 million AAV the day before free agency opened.

“The Carolina Hurricanes threatened the Oilers with an offer sheet,” Friedman said. “We’ll find out some day what the truth is there. I think a lot of people kind of believe that Bouchard was going to come in around four (years) times 9.5 million, but if you look at his arbitration case, he could have gotten $10 million.

“I think the fact that the Hurricanes were lurking around there got that deal to four times, $10.5 million. So after Carolina didn’t get Bouchard, they pivoted to K’Andre Miller and the (New York) Rangers knew it. You know, the Rangers were aware of it and they got that deal done pretty similar to what an offer sheet would have looked like.”

Even after signing Miller, and adding skilled winger Nik Ehlers on a long-term contract, the Hurricanes still have over $10 million in cap space. Meanwhile, the Oilers continue to search for ways to upgrade their goaltending heading into next season.

Quick hits from around the NHL:

Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk is unsure if he’ll require offseason surgery at this point, and will know more in a couple of weeks. If Tkachuk’s healthy for training camp, GM Bill Zito needs to make a trade to become salary cap compliant.
11 NHL free agents elected for arbitration over the weekend, including Sabres defenceman Conor Timmins, Winnipeg Jets’ Dylan Samberg and Gabriel Vilardi, along with Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson.
Jonathan Toews was introduced in Winnipeg and admitted his hands haven’t gone anywhere, however it’s going to take him some time for his legs to catch up again. Toews hasn’t played since the end of the 2022-23 season.
Christian Fischer retired from the NHL. The 28-year-old appeared in 523 career games, dressing for the Arizona Coyotes, Detroit Red Wings, and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Connor Bedard have begun contract extension talks.
The Columbus Blue Jackets announced Saturday they had signed forward Dmitri Voronkov to a two-year, $8.35 million contract that will pay him $4.175 million through the 2026-27 season.
50-year-old Todd Bertuzzi hasn’t played professionally since 2014, and he’ll be lacing up the skates for the Cambridge Hornets in Allan Cup Hockey this season.
Brock Boeser admitted he was shocked when the Vancouver Canucks called shortly before free agency was set to open. The Canucks made an offer Boeser couldn’t refuse, and kept him away from potentially signing with the Maple Leafs.