Brock Nelson's future with the New York Islanders remains uncertain as the team has reportedly made a final offer of three years at slightly above $7.5 million. Nelson seems inclined to explore the free-agent market, potentially seeking a longer-term deal than what's currently on the table.

In trade discussions, the Florida Panthers are in talks with the Carolina Hurricanes regarding Mikko Rantanen, with other teams like the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights also showing interest. The Panthers have the cap space to accommodate Rantanen's $4.625 million salary.

The Colorado Avalanche were linked to the Boston Bruins for Trent Frederic, but this deal could have included more significant assets like top prospect Cal Ritchie. The Avalanche also considered re-acquiring Drew Hellson, although they traded for Ryan Lindgren, which shifted their focus.