Around the NHL: Samsonov, Roslovic remain unsigned, Wheeler retires, Blue Jackets GM ‘surprised’ by trade request

Welcome back to another summer edition of Around the NHL. The NHL’s free agency period is now three weeks old and surprisingly, there’s still plenty of talent left on the open market. While things may have slowed down slightly when it comes to contracts being signed, there’s lots of buzz throughout the league when it comes to the trade market, and even a couple of long-time NHL vets calling it quits.

Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Ilya Samsonov and Jack Roslovic continue to lead free-agent market

Former Toronto Maple Leaf goaltender Ilya Samsonov is still an unrestricted free agent, as the 28-year-old netminder continues to take calls from teams, but has yet to sign on the dotted line. Samsonov leads all available goaltenders in wins last season with 16, and his 2.82 goals against average is nothing to shake a stick at.

Samsonov is only two years removed from a strong season with the Maple Leafs, in which he posted a 23-7-8 record, and battled a ton of adversity. He spent last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, however, they seem to have other plans in net with Adin Hill and Akira Schmid.

As far as potential destinations, don’t be surprised if the Edmonton Oilers or Pittsburgh Penguins take a flyer on a one-year deal for the veteran goaltender.

Looking up front, Jack Roslovic and his 22 goals from last season are still without a contract. Roslovic made $2.8 million last season, and finished the year with 39 points in 81 games with the Carolina Hurricanes. There’s been some rumblings about a potential contract with the Maple Leafs, but so far, the chatter has been minimal. A few other teams who may be interested include the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Winnipeg Jets.

Blake Wheeler and Jaroslav Halak hang up the skates on NHL careers

Two NHL veterans have called it a career, as forward Blake Wheeler and goaltender Jaroslav Halak both recently retired. Wheeler played 16 seasons in the NHL, however, the 38-year-old didn’t play this past season after not signing a contract coming off an injury-riddled season.

Wheeler played 16 seasons split between the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets organization, and also spent parts of three seasons with the Boston Bruins, capping off his career with the New York Rangers. The 6-foot-5 winger collected 943 points in 1,172 career games. He ranks 14th among American-born skaters in all-time points.

In net, veteran netminder Jaroslav Halak has also retired. The 40-year-old played 17 seasons in the NHL, registering 295 wins in 581 career games. Halak collected a 295-189-69 record, including 52 shutouts, and a 2.50 goals against average, but what may be most impressive is his career .915 save percentage.

Halak, a native of Bratislava, Slovakia, was undersized at 5-foot-11, but he never let that hold him back. He was a former ninth-round pick at the 2003 draft, and started his career with the Montreal Canadiens, before making stops with the St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and eventually, the New York Rangers.

Blue Jackets’ GM surprised by Chinakhov’s trade request

Columbus Blue Jackets’ general manager Don Waddell admitted he was caught off guard by Yegor Chinakhov’s trade request.

The veteran NHL executive knew that the former 2020 first-round pick had a dispute with head coach Dean Evason, but didn’t feel it was a big enough deal to warrant a trade. Chinakhov’s agent Shumi Babaev went public recently with the trade request, which wasn’t something Waddell saw coming at all.

“I’m surprised (agent Shumi Babaev) went public,” Waddell told Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. “But I’m not surprised (about the trade request) because we’ve talked about it. He got back (from the back injury last season) and didn’t play well, and (Chinakhov and Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason) fell out of favour. I told (Babaev), he has value. I will talk to teams. I have talked to teams. But I’m not just going to trade him because you said to trade him.”

The 24-year-old Chinakhov posted seven goals and 15 points in 30 games last season, and battled through injuries and inconsistent playing time. For now, it doesn’t appear the Maple Leafs have any interest.

Quick hits from around the NHL:

• There’s been quite a few rumblings about a Jason Robertson for Rasmus Andersson type of trade floating around the trade market, but at this point, talks don’t seem to be close.
• Anaheim Ducks Mason McTavish is still without a contract for next season, and the restricted free-agent forward could become a trade candidate for the Ducks this summer.
• According to Frank Seravalli via Bleacher Report, the asking price on both Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell remain sky high by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Seravalli also suggested the Edmonton Oilers kicked tires on trading for Arturs Silovs before the Penguins swooped in to close the deal.
• Edmonton Oilers’ GM Stan Bowman feels top prospect Matt Savoie is poised for a breakout season in 2025-26, and should battle for a top-six wing position at training camp, along with newcomer Isaac Howard.