Drysdale Signs, Hellebuyck Rumors Swirl, Russia Adds Hockey Day

Drysdale’s new deal highlights busy NHL arbitration period

The Philadelphia Flyers and defenseman Jamie Drysdale have agreed to a four‑year contract worth 26 million dollars, with an average annual value of 6.5 million. The agreement was reached ahead of a scheduled salary arbitration hearing and keeps the 24‑year‑old defenseman under contract with Philadelphia through the 2029–30 NHL season.

Jamie Drysdale was one of 15 restricted free agents who filed for NHL salary arbitration this year, according to the NHL Players’ Association. League and media sources report that arbitration hearings are scheduled to run from July 20 to August 1, with Drysdale originally slated among the early cases alongside Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti, Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves, and Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson before several players, including Drysdale, reached agreements with their clubs.

In its overview of this year’s arbitration class, the NHL and independent outlets note that hearings are set for a group that includes Trevor Zegras, Jason Robertson, Jet Greaves, Cole Sillinger, Nicholas Robertson, Ronan Seeley, Kirby Dach, Alex Jefferies, Peyton Krebs, and Akira Schmid, though many have already avoided hearings by signing new contracts. It is common for players and teams to settle before arbitration begins, using the scheduled hearing dates as a deadline for negotiations.

Away from the arbitration calendar, Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has confirmed that the organization is listening to trade offers for franchise goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Cheveldayoff has said that, as a matter of course, the Jets will consider opportunities involving Hellebuyck and other assets, emphasizing that it is part of his responsibility as general manager to listen to potential deals during the offseason and around the draft.

On the international front, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree establishing an official Hockey Day in Russia, to be celebrated annually on December 22. The decree, published on the country’s official legal information portal, states that the new holiday is introduced “for the popularization and development of hockey” and takes effect from the date of its signing.