NHL Notebook: Islanders select Schaefer with first-overall pick, Tavares and Bennett re-sign ahead of free agency

After Schaefer came Michael Misa at second to the San Jose Sharks, Anton Frondell to the Chicago Blackhawks at third, Caleb Desnoyers to the Utah Mammoth fifth, and Brady Martin to the Nashville Predators fifth.

Unlike last season, the Oilers didn’t trade up to pick in the first round. Their first selection in this year’s draft on Saturday is the 83rd overall pick. That said, there were Pacific Division teams that made selections, the Calgary Flames drafted Cole Reschny and Cullen Potter, the Sharks drafted Misa and Joshua Ravensbergen, the Seattle Kraken selected Jake O’Brien, the Anaheim Ducks selected Roger McQueen, the Vancouver Canucks drafted Braeden Cootes, and the Los Angeles Kings selected Henry Brzustewicz.

Day two of the draft starts at 10:00 AM MT, and as of now, the Oilers have four selections.

Maple Leafs re-sign John Tavares

On Friday morning, it was announced by the Toronto Maple Leafs that they’ve re-signed former captain John Tavares to a four-year deal with an annual cap hit of $4.38 million.

Tavares was the Islanders’ last first overall pick before they selected Schaefer on Friday. However, Tavares’ shocking left the team and signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 515 games with the Leafs, Tavares has scored 222 goals and 271 points and was their long-serving captain until the start of the 2024-25 season.

Despite being 34 years old, Tavares scored 38 goals and 74 points, his highest goal total since his first season with the Leafs.

Panthers re-sign Sam Bennett

The Florida Panthers signed one of their core pieces from the back-to-back Stanley Cups, as Sam Bennett signed an eight-year deal worth $8 million annually.

Last season, Bennett scored 25 goals and 51 points in 76 regular-season games, but his play in the postseason took off. In total, he scored 15 goals and 22 points in 15 games, winning the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy.

Next up for the Panthers is finding a way to re-sign Aaron Ekblad and/or Brad Marchand. Hopefully, they don’t win another Cup.

Avalanche trades Charlie Coyle to Blue Jackets

Before the start of Friday’s draft, the Colorado Avalanche sent Charlie Coyle and Myles Wood to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for prospect Gavin Brindley, a 2025 third-round pick, and a conditional 2027 second-round pick.

Last season, Coyle scored 17 goals and 35 points in 83 games, splitting his time between the Buffalo Sabres and the Avalanche. In seven postseason games, Coyle added a goal. The right-shot centre is set to earn $5.25 million in 2025-26, the final season of his contract.

Wood has been a consistent 20-point scorer in his career, but his play dipped off in 2024-25 due to injury. In 37 games, the left-winger scored four goals and eight points in 37 games, playing just one postseason game. With the trade, the Avalanche cleared another $2.5 million off their cap hit.

As for the player the Avalanche received, they got 5’8”, right-shot centre Brindley. He was selected 34th overall in the 2023 draft and scored six goals and 17 points in 52 American Hockey League games. He also played one game in the NHL where he was held pointless.

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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney