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Former Detroit Red Wings first-round pick Filip Zadina has signed a deal with Swiss club HC Davos, per the HC Davos X account.
The signing ends Zadina’s time in the NHL for now, as inconsistency and inflated expectations have plagued the former sixth-overall pick. It was reported that Zadina would sign a PTO with an NHL team, however, his agent poured cold water over those rumors.
Zadina was never able to live up to the expectations of being drafted so high and eventually asked for a fresh start to try and get his career on the rails. Detroit mutually terminated his contract in July 2023 which allowed the 24-year-old to sign with the San Jose Sharks last summer and start with a clean slate. With the Sharks, Zadina posted a career-high 13 goals to go with 10 assists in 72 games, but his overall game wasn’t strong enough to warrant a NHL contract this summer.
Zadina likely could have received an NHL offer through a professional tryout, particularly with some of the teams lacking forward depth, however, he has opted for more certainty and a guarantee in Switzerland. His signing effectively pauses his time in the NHL and could allow him to regain the offensive touch the made him a high draft pick. Davos has historically been a powerhouse in the National League with 31 titles but has struggled as of late finishing sixth last year in the regular season and getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.
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Hurricanes take care of business, sign star winger to lucrative eight-year extension
The Hurricanes announced Thursday night that they’ve signed winger Jackson Blake to an eight-year, $45M extension that will kick in for the 2026-27. While that would normally mean an average annual value and cap hit of $5.625M, the actual cap hit of the contract will fall in the $5.1M range due to deferred compensation, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. The contract buys out the extent of Blake’s RFA eligibility and will make him a UFA following the 2033-34 season. Blake’s stock has been on the rise since immediately after Carolina selected him in the fourth round in 2021. He was a USHL All-Star in his post-draft season with the Chicago Steel before making the jump to NCAA hockey with North Dakota, where he totaled 102 points in 79 games in two seasons — earning a Hobey Baker finalist nod in his sophomore year. He signed his entry-level contract with the Hurricanes in April 2024 and joined them for the brief remainder of the regular season. In his first full pro season, Blake hit the ground running. He made the Canes out of camp and had five points through his first nine games despite seeing less than 12 minutes of ice time per night. That offense didn’t quite hold up the rest of the way, though. While he ended up seeing significant deployment alongside Sebastian Aho at even strength, he ended up finishing the year with a 17-17–34 scoring line in 80 games, finishing ninth on the team in scoring and ninth in Calder Trophy voting as the league’s Rookie of the Year. That’s fine production, especially considering he averaged under 14 minutes per game on the year. He’ll need to build on it to justify that cap hit, though, especially with so much risk attached to a max-term deal. The good news is that Blake has another year left on his entry-level contract to continue his development before he’ll need to start justifying that cap hit. The son of former NHLer Jason Blake turns 22 next month, yet with this deal, he’s guaranteed to surpass his dad’s career earnings. The Hurricanes have historically opted to sign their young players for as long and as early as possible, a trend that continues here. Sometimes, it’s paid off — their eight-year, $59.4M commitment to Seth Jarvis last offseason looks like a steal after he put up a repeat 67-point performance in 2024-25. There’s also the glaring example of where that strategy has failed regarding center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, whose $4.82M cap hit looks more stomachable now with a rising ceiling but is still well above his market value four years into the deal. The jury is still out on newly acquired Logan Stankoven, who they inked to an eight-year, $48M extension at the beginning of the month. Blake’s deal will be one of the last of its kind. It contains two elements — deferred compensation and an eight-year term — that will be outlawed when the new CBA Memorandum of Understanding takes effect on Sep. 15, 2026. If he waited until reaching RFA status next summer to sign, a lengthy negotiation could have lost him that eighth year if the two sides didn’t come to terms until the beginning of training camp. With the salary cap’s upper limit projected to reach $104M in 2026-27, the Hurricanes have around $16M in projected space with Blake’s and Stankoven’s deals taken care of. While they’re projected to be Carolina’s 11th- and 12th-highest-paid forwards on their opening night roster this season, they’ll be their fifth- and sixth-highest-paid forwards in 2026-27.
Steelers' Surprise Standout JJ Galbreath Forces Coaches To Take Notice
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have stumbled onto a hidden gem in rookie tight end JJ Galbreath, whose performance during training camp has made him impossible to ignore. With the roster loaded and competition steep across every position group, it’s usually difficult for an undrafted player to separate himself from the crowd, but Galbreath is doing exactly that, one practice at a time. The buzz started small, but it’s growing louder by the day, especially after the way Mark Kaboly described Galbreath’s early impression. On the July 26th, 2025 episode of Kaboly + Mack, Kaboly broke down what he's been seeing from Galbreath during training camp, noting that the tight end has consistently stood out despite entering as a relatively unknown player. Kaboly wasn’t going out of his way to track Galbreath. That’s what makes his performance all the more eye-catching, and Galbreath forced himself into the conversation. “You gotta keep an eye on him," Kaboly said. "He’s a guy you really notice during minicamp and the first day or two. That’s how you continue to tell who’s, I guess, you know, standing out because he’s noticeable. You’re not looking for JJ Galbreth.” That observation from Kaboly speaks volumes. When you're not trying to find a player, but still keep noticing them, it’s often the first sign that something special might be unfolding. Galbreath wasn’t brought in to be a headline, but he’s slowly turning into one. In a tight end room that already includes Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward, the road to a 53-man roster spot is steep, but standing out in July matters. Galbreath is making his name known the old-school way by producing. “Who’s 87? Then the next day, who’s 87? Boy, 87 made them a nice play," Kaboly stated. "Then all of a sudden, you realize this guy’s pretty good. I don’t know if he can make the 53-man, but he’s definitely a practice squad eligible type of guy, but they like him, so he does have some talent.” Kaboly’s commentary here gives us a look behind the curtain. That “who’s 87?” question being asked on consecutive days reflects exactly what happens when a player consistently performs above expectations. When multiple coaches and reporters begin identifying you by number, without being told to, you’re doing something right. For a franchise that’s built its identity on development and physicality, players like Galbreath have a real path to stick around even if it's not right away. The Steelers aren’t strangers to undrafted or overlooked players proving themselves during camp and earning long-term roles. That path might be in front of Galbreath, too. At 6’4” and 240 pounds, the rookie from the University of South Dakota has good size, soft hands, and a knack for making himself known in high-pressure reps. The Steelers’ offensive staff, led by Arthur Smith, will need dependable blockers and reliable targets as they work to revamp their scheme. If Galbreath can continue to shine in team periods and prove useful on special teams, a practice squad spot feels not just likely, but earned. The 53-man roster might be a long shot this early, but the fact that Galbreath is in the conversation tells you everything you need to know. The work ethic is there, the flashes are becoming frequent, and coaches are watching. Steelers Must Make Tough Choices at Tight End The Steelers’ tight end room is crowded, but injuries and evolving schemes always bring surprises. With Freiermuth and Smith cemented as the top two, it would take a strong preseason for Galbreath to edge out Heyward or Washington. But even if he lands on the practice squad, that’s a win because in Pittsburgh, that’s where real opportunities begin. Galbreath may not be a household name yet, but minicamp is where the grind starts. And he’s already proven he’s not just a camp body. Can Galbreath turn his early momentum into a long-term role with the Steelers, or will a loaded tight end room squeeze him out?
Kings withdraw two-way qualifying offer to second-year forward
The Kings have withdrawn their two-way qualifying offer to forward Isaiah Crawford, making him an unrestricted free agent, according to RealGM’s official NBA transaction log. Crawford signed a two-way deal with Sacramento last July after going undrafted out of Louisiana Tech. The 23-year-old logged just 46 total minutes in 15 games at the NBA level as a rookie, but was a key part of the rotation for the Stockton Kings in the G League, posting averages of 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals in 31.5 minutes per game across 37 outings, with a shooting line of .471/.401/.789. Crawford received a two-way qualifying offer from the Kings last month, making him a restricted free agent, and the deadline for teams to unilaterally withdraw those QOs passed on July 13. However, qualifying offers can still be rescinded with the player’s consent, so Crawford signed off on the move him to make him unrestricted. The Kings have signed a pair of players – Dylan Cardwell and Isaiah Stevens – to two-year, two-way contracts since the new league year began on July 1. Rescinding Crawford’s qualifying offer suggests the team has other plans for its third two-way slot.
Yankees manager provides major update on Aaron Judge's injury
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge missed Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies with an elbow injury, and the slugger is now headed to the injured list. The Yankees fell 9-4 to the Phillies on Saturday at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., which marked their third consecutive loss. Judge played in Friday night's 12-5 loss to Philadelphia, but Aaron Boone announced before Saturday's game that Judge was dealing with an "elbow issue" and would sit out. Following his team's latest loss, Boone shared some new information about Judge's injury. Judge has been diagnosed with a flexor strain, but the Yankees believe he can return in less than two weeks. When Judge returns to the lineup, Boone said it will initially be as a designated hitter. Judge is having an outstanding season. He entered Saturday batting .342, which is the best mark in baseball. The reigning American League MVP has 37 home runs, 85 RBI and a 1.160 OPS. The Yankees are now six games behind the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays and fighting to remain atop the wild-card race. It goes without saying that they are hopeful Judge will be able to return as soon as possible.
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