Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson is currently on track to start the 2026-27 season as a pending unrestricted free agent. According to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, Batherson and the Senators "aren't close" to a contract extension. Batherson will finish a six-year contract with a $4.95 million cap hit. His new deal is expected to carry an average annual value of $10 million to $11 million. Keeping Batherson will be vital for Ottawa, especially after losing Brady Tkachuk this offseason. Batherson was the team's second-highest scorer in 2025-26, contributing 33 goals and 38 assists in 79 games.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes could have his future sorted out soon. According to The Athletic's Michael Russo, Hughes and his representatives are scheduled to meet Wild general manager Bill Guerin this week to discuss a new contract. Hughes will play out the final season of a six-year, $47.1 million contract in 2026-27. He will become an unrestricted free agent in 2027 if a new deal isn't reached. Last season, Hughes had a great run with the Wild after arriving from the Vancouver Canucks. He notched 53 points (five goals, 48 assists) in 48 games, adding 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 11 postseason outings.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million contract extension on Wednesday. He will finish his entry-level deal in 2026-27, after which the new contract will take effect. Celebrini is set to become the NHL's highest-paid player, with the average annual value of his contract extension at $18.8 million. In just two seasons, Celebrini has established himself as one of the leading talents in hockey's new generation. He set a Sharks record in 2025-26 with 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) in 82 games. Overall, Celebrini has tallied 70 goals and 178 points in 152 career games. These are extraordinary numbers for a 20-year-old.

Goaltender Vyacheslav Buteyets has signed a two-year deal with the KHL's Traktor Chelyabinsk. He was immediately loaned out to the Shanghai Dragons, where he will spend the 2026-27 campaign. Buteyets has just completed his entry-level contract in the NHL. He made his NHL debut in December, playing one period for the Anaheim Ducks against the Utah Mammoth. During his time in the Ducks organization, Buteyets mostly saw action in the ECHL. Last season, he went 18-19-5 with the Tulsa Oilers, allowing 3.11 goals with a .908 save percentage. At 24, Buteyets is at a critical stage in his development and clearly sees better opportunities outside North America. The Ducks extended a qualifying offer to Buteyets earlier in the offseason, meaning the club will retain his NHL rights.