Free agency signings headlined by Ehlers

Photo - Hurricanes Twitter

Free agency in the National Hockey League started on Tuesday and the biggest story was where would former Halifax Mooseheads forward Nikolaj Ehlers sign. The 29-year-old told the Jets last month that he was going to test the market and fans had to wait until Thursday for him to make a decision. 

Ehlers will be heading south to Carolina after he signed a 6-year, $51 million contract with the Hurricanes on July 3. "He's a highly-skilled winger who can really skate and will fit very well with our forward group," said Canes GM Eric Tulsky. The Aalborg, Denmark native has spent all 10 seasons of his NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets after being drafted by the team in 2014. He had 24 goals and 39 assists in 69 regular season games played during 2024-25 with a plus-14 rating. In 674 career games, Nikolaj has total 520 points and a plus-106 rating. 

Prior to turning professional, Ehlers spent two years here in Moose Country where he reached the 100-point mark in both seasons. 

The Jets shared a video to thank him for his time with the team. 

Thank you, Nik 💙 pic.twitter.com/NBKahQ2gqD

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) July 3, 2025

Good luck in Carolina Nikolaj! 

Meanwhile, alum Jonathan Drouin was signed by the New York Islanders on July 1 to a two-year contract. Drouin had 11 goals and 37 points in 43 games last season with the Colorado Avalanche. Since being drafted in 2013 by Tampa Bay, the Ste-Agathe, QC native has suited up in 607 regular season NHL games with the Lightning, followed by the Montreal Canadiens and Avalanche. He's added 27 points in 43 Stanley Cup playoff games during his career. 

Photo - Islanders website

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they signed Benoit-Olivier Groulx to a two-year deal with a $812,500 cap hit on Tuesday. 25-year-old Groulx spent the 2024-25 season in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring 15 goals and 37 points in 47 games. The French-born Canadian forward was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2018 after spending 4 seasons in the QMJHL, three and a half of which were with the Mooseheads. 

Photo - Wranglers Facebook

29-year-old Martin Frk signed with the AHL's Calgary Wranglers on Thursday. Despite spending this past season with the Wranglers, the release says they signed him and not extended or re-signed but I wonder if it's because his last contract was a 2-way deal with the Calgary Flames. In 470 career AHL games, Frk has totaled 377 points (194G & 183A). The Pelhrmov, Czechia native was an instrumental to the Grand Rapids Griffins 2017 Calder Cup championship team, scoring the final series winning goal. 

Before the free agency period opened, alumni Brad Marchand re-signed with the Florida Panthers on a six-year deal worth 31.5 million dollars. "Instantly supplementing our lineup from the moment he arrived in South Florida, Brad has been an outstanding addition to our team," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. "He is the definition of a warrior on the ice, a critical leader for our group and a relentless competitor." 

Marchand had 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 23 Stanley Cup playoff games to help Florida win the 2025 championship. The 37-year-old had played most of his 16 year NHL career with the Boston Bruins before being traded while scoring 424 goals and 980 points in 1,100 regular season games between the two teams. 

Former Herd Elliot Desnoyers of the Philadelphia Flyers did not receive a qualifying offer so he is now a unrestricted free agent but has not signed with a team yet while Vegas Golden Knights restricted free agent Raphael Lavoie is still hoping for a contract as well. 

Russian Kulebyakin selected by Halifax

Photo - Herd website

The Halifax Mooseheads selected Russian forward Oleg Kulebyakin in the 2025 CHL Import Draft with the ninth overall pick on Wednesday afternoon. 

Kulebyakin scored 33 goals and 39 assists in 33 games played with the Carolina Junior Hurricanes U16 AAA team last season. He is a 5-foot-10 winger who weighs 170 pounds. 

"Well we think he's going to be a scoring machine. Obviously we're not going to put too much pressure on him," Cam Russell said after the draft. "Great vision, like I said, ability to score is incredible so very excited to bring in a player of Oleg's caliber."

General Manager Cam Russell talks about adding forwards Oleg Kulebyakin 🇷🇺 & Jasu Mensonen 🇫🇮 at the CHL Import Draft. #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/ubbIqHy7qK

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) July 2, 2025

With the rule change that will allow teams to carry 3 European players on their roster for the 2025-26 season, the import draft now has 3 rounds instead of just two. At 70th overall, Halifax then added forward Jasu Mensonen of Finland. The 18-year-old scored 5 goals and 21 assists in 40 games with Lukko U20 team while also adding 16 points in 29 games suiting up for the blue and white internationally at the U18 level. 

Photo - Neutral Zone

It is expected that Kulebyakin and Mensonen will join German defenceman Carlos Handel as the three import players on the Mooseheads roster this upcoming season.  

Halifax passed on their third pick as did many other clubs. Czech forward Tomas Poletin was drafted with the first overall pick by the Kelowna Rockets. 

CHL Import Draft on Wednesday

Photo - Herd website

The 2025 CHL Import Draft is set to take place on Wednesday, starting at noon Atlantic time. 

With the NCAA eligibility rule change this past season, the Canadian Hockey League decided to make an adjustment to the import draft expanding it to three rounds in 2025. This is caused by the league allowing teams to carry 3 European players on their roster for the upcoming season. 

Our Halifax Mooseheads will have a pretty high pick this year at ninth overall along with current selections at 70th and 131st. The team announced that defenceman Carlos Handel will return to play for the Mooseheads in 2025-26 so expect Halifax to pass on their last pick. 

The Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League now hold the first pick after acquiring it earlier this month from the Moose Jaw Warriors. They will be followed by the Peterborough Petes of the OHL and the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL. 

Here is how the Mooseheads drafted in the last 5 Import Drafts. 

2024: 43rd overall - Carlos Handel

2023: 50th overall - Yannik Ponzetto

2022: 33rd overall - David Moravec

2020: 5th overall - Atillio Biasca

Herd Word

CHL AWARDS
After winning the Marcel Robert Trophy as the QMJHL's scholastic player of the year, former Moose forward Mathieu Cataford received a nomination for the CHL's equivalent. On June 13 during the ceremony at Delta Hotels Toronto, the 20-year-old won the award and was named the 2025 CHL Scholastic Player of the Year. Cataford has been studying in his second language (English) and maintaining an average above 95%. Now enrolled in Business Administration at Saint Mary's University, the Saint Constant, Quebec native 'has achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA each semester and plans to study kinesiology to eventually open his own training centre.' 

Photo - CHL Twitter

Congrats Mathieu on winning the award. Hear what Cataford had to say about his journey here. 

Overage goaltender Jacob Steinman was a nominee for the CHL Goaltender of the Year award after winning the QMJHL's Patrick Roy Trophy but was defeated by the Kitchener Rangers' Jackson Parsons. 

TRAINING FACILITY
According to the CBC, the Halifax Mooseheads have asked city regional council for up to $1.625 million to expand the training facility they lease at the RBC Centre in Dartmouth. The team proposed a 4,700-square-foot addition to upgrade the building. 'Russell told the committee a state-of-the-art facility would enhance the Mooseheads' ability to attract top talent, putting the team on the same level as NCAA teams, universities and colleges.' A 21-metre turf training track, high-performance gym, more spacious player lounge along with a sauna and steam room are included in the proposed plans. No word on when a decision will be made by the council was noted in the news article.

BEHIND THE SCENES
Ever wondered what happens during draft weekend? Well the Halifax Mooseheads posted a behind the scenes video of the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft.

PROSPECTS DRAFTED IN MHL
Three Mooseheads' prospects were drafted last weekend into the Maritime Hockey League. South Kent Selects' Duncan Anderson, who Halifax selected in the 11th round at this year's QMJHL draft, was taken 3rd overall by the Valley Wildcats. Forward Sam Ryan, picked 167th by the Herd in early June, heard his name called also by the Wildcats in the fifth round. Meanwhile, the Mooseheads' last 2025 selection; goaltender Jack Bell was picked at the #106 spot by the Amherst Ramblers. 

Full draft results can be found on the MHL website. 

Photo - AP News

MARCHAND WINS AGAIN
Herd alumni Brad Marchand is a champion once again after winning the Stanley Cup on June 17 with the Florida Panthers. The 37-year-old recorded 20 points (10G & 10A) in 23 games played during the playoffs to help the Panthers go back to back. Marchand was traded back in March from the Boston Bruins to Florida and played 10 regular season matches with his new team. He scored 2 big goals in Game 5 en route of the Panthers' 4-2 series victory in a rematch against the Edmonton Oilers. The Halifax-native previously won the ultimate trophy as part of the 2011 Bruins team. 

Congratulations to Brad and the Panthers on lifting the 2025 Stanley Cup. 

NHL DRAFT

Photo - Canadiens Twitter

The 2025 NHL Draft was held this weekend and only one Moosehead player heard his name. Defenceman Carlos Handel was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 6th round, 177th overall on Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles, CA. Handel, who was ranked #73 in the CSS final rankings, is coming off his rookie campaign in the QMJHL where he scored 3 goals and 26 points for Halifax. 

Central Scouting Services had ranked two other young men who suited up in Moose Country this past season but unfortunately Liam Kilfoil and Shawn Carrier did not get picked. Hopefully the two teammates will still be invited to development and/or rookie camps this summer. 

On Friday, the New York Islanders picked Matthew Schaefer of the OHL's Erie Otters first overall. The Moncton Wildcats' Caleb Desnoyers, who is former Herd Elliot Desnoyer's younger brother, got drafted by the Utah Mammoth at #4. Carlos and Caleb were two of a total 19 QMJHL players that were selected over the two day event.  

Alumni among first 6 for Olympics

Last year, the National Hockey League announced that their players would be available to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics. The league along with the qualified federations came out with their first six players on their rosters last week. A few Halifax Mooseheads alumni were among the players named. 

Photo - Avalanche Twitter

Forward Nathan MacKinnon will represent Hockey Canada for the first time at the Olympics as NHL players have not been able to participate in the games since 2014. MacKinnon, who wore the Mooseheads' jersey from 2011-2013, just finished his 12th professional season with the Colorado Avalanche. He recorded 32 goals and 116 points during the regular season in 2024-25. The 29-year-old's 84 assists were a league high. Follow Avalanche teammate Cale Makar is also slated to suit up for Canada. 

27-year-old Nikolaj Ehlers is set to play for Team Denmark. To me this is no surprise as Ehlers helped his country qualify for the tournament last year as well as in 2021. He was named to the original 3 for the 2022 Olympics but the NHL decided not to send players in the end, citing concerns over COVID. The Aalborg native picked up 63 points in 69 games played for the Winnipeg Jets this past season and is up for a contract after completing his tenth year in the NHL. 

Photo - Devils Twitter

Just like the previous Olympics, Timo Meier and Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils look to be teammates for Team Switzerland assuming everything works out this time. Hischier, who played only one season in Halifax, scored 35 goals and 69 points during the regular season and added 4 goals in 5 playoff games. The 26-year-old wore the captaincy at the last two World Championships so it's possible that he is given the honour in February. 28-year-old Meier record 53 points in 80 games in his second full season with the Devils after suiting up for six & a half years for San Jose. 

Congrats to the four players who are were named to the initial rosters. It will be interesting to see if any other alumni will also represent their countries. The full rosters are set to be released in January. 

The men's hockey tournament will be held February 11-22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. 

Mooseheads Select 11 in Draft

The 2025 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League entry draft was held on Friday night & Saturday and our Halifax Mooseheads added 11 new prospects over that time. 

With the recent NCAA rule, more American players were selected during the weekend which included three by Halifax. I think it also changed the way team brass discussed trades on the draft floor as there was only one trade that had a prospect/player move to another team, which I don't remember seeing before. 

Halifax made a trade on Saturday to move up to the third round from Chicoutimi in exchange for the 4th round pick and a 2026 second rounder. 

Below are the Herd's picks:
RD 1 #3 - D Malik L'Italien - Stanstead College
RD 2 #21 - D Cameron Minella - Brunswick School Bruins
RD 3 #48 - C Paulo Gualberto Jr - Mount St. Charles Academy 15U
RD 5 #77 - LW Jayden Napon - Laval-Montreal Rousseau Royal
RD 6 #95 - D Brody Berard - Mount St. Charles Academy 15U
RD 7 #113 - C Nathan Ruel - Chateauguay Grenadiers
RD 8 #131 - C Ylan Verpaelst - Magog Cantonniers
RD 8 #143 - D Nicolas Blanchette - Amos Forestiers
RD 10 #167 - LW Sam Ryan - Boston Hockey Academy 15U
RD 11 #185 - D Duncan Anderson - South Kent School
RD 12 #203 - G Jack Bell - Cape Breton West Islanders

Mooseheads forward Braeden MacPhee was in attendance but he was there to watch his brother Marc get drafted by their hometown Moncton Wildcats in the 2nd round.

Congratulations to all the young men who were drafted by the 18 teams and welcome to the new Mooseheads players. 

For the full list of draftees, click here. 

Photo - QMJHL & Mooseheads Facebook pages 

First Round Recap: L'Italien Selected 3rd by Moose

Photo - QMJHL Twitter

Defenseman Malik L'Italien is now a Halifax Moosehead. 

The Herd selected the 15-year-old third overall at the 2025 QMJHL draft in Quebec City, Quebec on Friday evening. L'Italien played the 2024-25 season with Canadian prep school Stanstead College Varsity. Hailing from Montreal, QC, he had 13 goals and 50 points in 72 games played. According to Pierre Cholette (CSR Director), Malik 'has an undeniable offensive flair, good quick hands, a very good shot and natural poise when in possession of the puck. Constantly facing the play, he is able to move around and make decisions quickly.' L'Italien checks in at 6-foot-2 and 187 pounds. 

The pick is in 🔥

We proudly select defenceman Malik L'Italien with the 3rd overall pick. Welcome to Halifax Malik!#GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/99XlCHieeP

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) June 6, 2025

First round recap

After previous top prospect James Scantlebury signed a tender with the Chicago Steel of the USHL, Lachenaie, QC native Alexis Joseph become even more of the guy everyone anticipated to be the first name called. The Saint John Sea Dogs used their #1 pick making that a reality, welcoming Joseph from College Esther-Blondin. 

For the first time in franchise history, the Newfoundland Regiment made a draft selection with the 5th overall pick. They chose St. John's, NL native Benjamin Veitch and followed that by drafting fellow Newfoundlander Quinn Norman at #6. Veitch became the first person to ever wear the Regiment jersey, even the junior GM didn't put his own on until after the player did which I thought was a good choice. It looks very nice, I like the colours. 

Photo - Regiment Twitter

There were only three trades during the opening round including a big one that saw the Quebec Remparts trade six picks to Chicoutimi for the 9th overall pick and a 4th rounder in 2025. Quebec than drafted Scantlebury at #9 so it will be interesting to see if the Remparts can get him to report. 

Here is the full list of first round selections
1. JOSEPH, Aleix - Saint John Sea Dogs
2. ARSENAULT, Zack - Rimouski Oceanic
3. L'ITALIEN, Malik - Halifax Mooseheads
4. CHARBONNEAU, Thomas - Quebec Remparts
5. VEITCH, Benjamin - Newfoundland Regiment
6. NORMAN, Quinn - Newfoundland Regiment
7. PROVENCHER, Antoine - Charlottetown Islanders
8. MACLEAN, Phenwick - Newfoundland Regiment
9. SCANTLEBURY, James - Quebec Remparts
10. HEROUX, Nolann - Saint John Sea Dogs
11. LEMAIRE, Deryk - Victoriaville Tigres
12. HALLEY, Louis-Etienne - Gatineau Olympiques
13. LANDRY, Clement - Gatineau Olympiques

14. CHARRON, Olivier - Cape Breton Eagles
15. BERGERON, Frederic - Shawinigan Cataractes
16. NOLETTE-ROBIDOUX, Emrick - Sherbrooke Phoenix

17. MEYER, Carter - Quebec Remparts
18. POMINVILLE, Jayden - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

The remaining rounds will go tomorrow starting at 11am.