Friday night’s spotlight on the 2026 NHL Draft turned into a night of relentless trade activity, as general managers kept the market bustling even before the opening round concluded.
The transaction pace was so intense that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had to sanction back‑to‑back deals just ahead of the Calgary Flames’ sixth overall pick.
Below is a comprehensive rundown of every deal that transpired during the first round of the draft. Refresh this page for continuous updates throughout the evening.
Boston Bruins Acquire JJ Peterka from Utah
Boston secured right winger JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for the 23rd overall pick in the 2026 draft and a 2028 first‑round selection (top‑10 protected) owned by the Florida Panthers.
Peterka, 24, endured a down campaign with Utah, posting 25 goals and 47 points—his first season after a three‑year tenure with the Buffalo Sabres, where he recorded 68 points in 2024‑25. Utah had reacquired him a year earlier from Buffalo in a swap for Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan, and Peterka signed a five‑year, $5.5‑million cap‑hit contract as a pending RFA at that time.
The Bruins are counting on Peterka’s proven offensive return to elevate their scoring depth.
New York Rangers Sign Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas
Constrained by a $4.625 million salary‑cap shortfall, the Vegas Golden Knights shopped their top goal scorer. The Knights dealt left winger Pavel Dorofeyev, a pending RFA who signed a seven‑year, $11 million per season contract, to the Rangers.
In return, New York shipped the 26th and 92nd overall picks in the 2026 draft plus a top‑10 protected 2028 first‑rounder to Vegas.
Dorofeyev, 25, recorded a career‑high 37 goals and 64 points for Vegas this season, adding 12 goals and 16 points across 22 playoff games.
St. Louis Blues Acquire Mason McTavish from Anaheim
Just prior to St. Louis’s 15th overall selection, the Blues executed a swap that sent the 15th pick and the 29th pick in the 2026 draft to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Mason McTavish.
Following the transaction, Anaheim used the 15th pick to select Nikita Klepov.
McTavish, 23, signed a six‑year extension before last season and carries a $7 million salary cap hit. The center, who was frequently healthy‑scratch in Anaheim, is expected to see considerably more ice time with St. Louis, where he finished the recent campaign with 17 goals and 41 points in 75 games. He posted a career‑high 52 points the previous season.
More to come.
