Markstrom Trade Headlines NHL Free Agency Eve

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June 30, 2026

NHL free agency opens July 1, 2026. Teams spent June 30 clearing cap space and moving veterans. The Florida Panthers reacquired goaltender Jacob Markstrom in the headline swap.

Panthers, Knights and Canucks Reshape Rosters Before July 1

The Panthers acquired Markstrom and Angus Crookshank from the New Jersey Devils. Florida sent Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist and Ben Steeves to New Jersey. Markstrom carries a 6 million dollar cap hit on a two-year deal. The trade lets Sergei Bobrovsky reach the open market on July 1. Sergei Bobrovsky won two Stanley Cups during his run with Florida.

Markstrom, 36, was drafted by the Panthers 31st overall in 2008. Markstrom also played his first four NHL seasons with the Panthers. In a separate move, the Panthers acquired the rights to Radko Gudas. Florida sent A.J. Greer’s rights to the Anaheim Ducks in that swap. Greer set career highs of 17 goals and 32 points last season. Greer, 29, totaled 49 points across 159 games with the Panthers.

Radko Gudas returns to Florida after three seasons with the Panthers from 2020 to 2023. Gudas, 36, helped Florida reach the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. Gudas served as the Anaheim Ducks captain for the past two seasons. Both Gudas and Greer entered the market as pending unrestricted free agents.

The Vegas Golden Knights acquired Parker Wotherspoon from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Vegas sent Kaedan Korczak to Pittsburgh in the defenseman swap. The Penguins retained 50 percent of Wotherspoon’s salary. The move frees more than 3 million dollars for Vegas to chase Rasmus Andersson.

Wotherspoon, 28, posted 30 points across 80 games last season. Wotherspoon added 112 blocked shots and a rating of plus 17. The Montreal Canadiens then traded Brendan Gallagher to the Vancouver Canucks. Montreal retained 50 percent of Gallagher’s 6.5 million dollar cap hit.

Gallagher spent all 14 of his NHL seasons in Montreal. Gallagher recorded 7 goals and 23 points across 77 games last season. Free agents including Sergei Bobrovsky and Alex Ovechkin headline the July 1 market. Each June 30 trade cleared cap room for a busy opening day. The Anaheim Ducks expect to sign Greer to a new deal shortly.