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NHL Notebook: Ducks trade Sasha Pastujov to Canadiens for Sean Farrell

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

By Ryley Delaney

Jul 28, 2026, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Jul 27, 2026, 22:17 EDT

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It’s been a busy off-season for the Anaheim Ducks.

They were at the centre of attention in early July, as Leo Carlsson received a massive offer sheet which was matched by the California-based team. They also traded for and later signed former Calgary Flame A.J. Greer.

Well, they’ve made a handful of moves in the past few days as well. On Saturday, they signed their first-round pick in the most recent draft to an entry-level deal. Nikita Klepov played for the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit and will likely return there for the 2026-27 season.

Then on Monday morning, the Ducks and Montréal Canadiens made a trade. It’s a small one, but the Ducks acquired Sean Farrell for Sasha Pastujov. The latter was drafted by the Ducks in the third round of the 2021 draft, scoring 21 goals and 57 points in 71 American Hockey League games last season.

Farrell has had a taste of National Hockey League action before, playing six games for the Canadiens in 2022-23 and scoring a goal. Last season, the left-wingers spent the entire year with the Canadiens’ AHL team, where he scored 17 goals and 53 points in 72 games.

Blue Jackets sign Cole Sillinger

On Friday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cole Sillinger agreed to a three-year deal worth $4.625 annually.

Sillinger, 23, was drafted 12th overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2021 draft. He has consistently scored 31-33 points in all but one of his five NHL seasons, with his career-high of 16 goals coming in his rookie season back in 2021-22.

The hometown product’s goal scoring took a hit in 2025-26, finding twine just eight times, though he matched his career-high of 33 points, his total from the 2024-25 season in 15 fewer games.

Panthers sign Akira Schmid

A backup netminder has found a new home, as Akira Schmid signed a two-year contract with the Florida Panthers worth $2 million annually.

Schmid was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 2018, making his debut in 2021-22 when he played six games. He earned 18 starts in 2022-23, posting a .922 save percentage and 2.13 goals against average. Schmid’s play regressed in 2023-24, and he played just five games with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2024-25.

With the team’s crease up for grabs, Schmid appeared in a career-high 34 games in 2025-26, posting an .893 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average with two shutouts. However, he didn’t appear in a playoff game as the Golden Knights went to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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