The Carolina Hurricanes have committed to forward Jackson Blake with an eight-year contract extension that will commence with the 2026-27 season. This agreement, which carries a cap hit of $5.1 million due to deferred payments, confirms the team’s intention to secure their promising young talent for the foreseeable future, as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
Blake, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, became a full-time member of the Hurricanes roster in the 2024-25 campaign. Over 80 regular-season games, he tallied 17 goals and 34 points. In the playoffs, Blake contributed three goals and six assists, although the Hurricanes fell short in the Eastern Conference Finals, losing to the Florida Panthers in five games.
Hurricanes Reinforce Team Core Beyond 2028-29
This extension further solidifies the Hurricanes’ core group, with crucial contracts for Sebastian Aho, Nikolaj Ehlers, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi all secured well past the 2028-29 season. Defenders K’Andre Miller and Jaccob Slavin also have long-term deals locked in, extending through the 2032-33 season. This level of contract stability ensures that the Hurricanes maintain a formidable lineup over the next decade.
“Here for the long haul The #Canes have signed forward Jackson Blake to an eight-year contract extension, which will begin with the 2026-27 season. Details » https://t.co/OG579B7Fwn pic.twitter.com/4YJGlTD41C
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) July 25, 2025”
Buffalo Sabres Add Defenceman Conor Timmins with Two-Year Contract
In related NHL news, the Buffalo Sabres have signed defenceman Conor Timmins to a two-year contract featuring a $2.2 million average annual value. Timmins, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Isaac Belliveau in exchange for Connor Clifton and a second-round draft pick, brings experience from several NHL teams.
Timmins has spent parts of the last six seasons playing for the Colorado Avalanche, Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Penguins. In the 2024-25 season, Timmins posted a personal best with three goals and 15 points over 66 games split between Toronto and Pittsburgh.
New York Rangers Sign Veteran Conor Sheary to Professional Tryout
The New York Rangers have extended a professional tryout to Conor Sheary, a forward and two-time Stanley Cup champion. Sheary entered the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16, delivering seven goals and ten points in the regular season while adding four goals and ten points during their playoff championship run.
He posted his career-high season in 2016-17, scoring 23 goals and 53 points, contributing to the Penguins’ consecutive Stanley Cup victory. Sheary later played for the Sabres before returning to Pittsburgh, followed by stints with the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning organizations. During the 2024-25 season, he appeared in only five NHL games and mainly played in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, scoring 20 goals and 61 points in 59 games.
Chicago Blackhawks Retain Goalie Arvid Söderblom with Two-Year Extension
The Chicago Blackhawks have reached an agreement with goaltender Arvid Söderblom to avoid arbitration by signing a two-year contract valued at $2.75 million per year. Söderblom has spent the last four seasons within the Blackhawks organization, though he saw limited NHL action initially.
In the 2023-24 season, the right-handed goalie appeared in 32 games, finishing with a .880 save percentage and a 3.89 goals-against average. His performance improved somewhat last season, posting a .898 save percentage and a 3.18 goals-against average over 36 games. Moving forward, Söderblom will compete for playing time with fellow netminders Spencer Knight and Laurent Brossoit.
Implications for Teams and Player Development
The Jackson Blake eight-year extension highlights the Carolina Hurricanes’ confidence in their younger players and builds a foundation for sustained success. By locking in their key forwards and defensemen through the next decade, the Hurricanes aim to remain competitive at the highest levels.
Meanwhile, moves by the Sabres, Rangers, and Blackhawks underscore ongoing roster adjustments as teams seek to balance veteran leadership with emerging talent. The upcoming seasons will reveal how these signings influence team dynamics and performance across the NHL.