Every hockey fan goes down a YouTube rabbit hole once in a while, especially on long summer days out of boredom or in search of entertainment. The prime example is Pavel Datsyuk, who isn’t the greatest player of all time but is the ideal YouTube rabbit-hole highlight-reel machine. 

A plus for the New Jersey Devils being great in the 1990s and onward is that all of their best moments are on YouTube (the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers aren’t as fortunate). So, who are the best players to watch? What highlights have fans hooked? Below is a ranking of some of the best, although, like any ranking, there are certainly plenty of great highlight players who will be left off the list (so comment below on who or what was overlooked). 

Mehta Wants Under-The-Radar Stars For Devils: Who Can They Be? The Devils' GM is looking for players with high upside who can develop into stars. Who are those home runs on the roster?

Honorable Mention - Martin Brodeur Empty Net Goals

This is a very niche category. Martin Brodeur is one of the greatest goaltenders of all time and holds just about every record a goalie can hold. Sure, his greatest saves are worth rewatching, as are his greatest moments. However, those don’t stand out. 

What stands out is his goalie goals record. Brodeur has three empty-net goals in his career, and while two came by default, the other is a reminder of how great a puck-handler he was (and why the NHL changed the rules). Watch all three below!

5) Patrik Elias

The Devils' all-time leader in goals and points will have his fair share of highlights. Patrik Elias had all the skills to beat a great threat offensively, and on a dynasty known for defense and goaltending, he was the constant scoring threat. 

Devils Upgrades Shift The Pressure To Keefe Heading Into 2026-27 SeasonThe New Jersey Devils have the depth and the talent to compete, certainly at the forward position. Now, it’s all about head coach Sheldon Keefe putting the right pieces together to make them a team to beat.

It’s hard to pick out one or two goals from his career, making him the type of rabbit-hole player worth watching full highlight videos of (often with heavy metal music attached to them for some odd reason). That said, his most significant goal was his game-winner in Game 7 of the 2000 Eastern Conference Final against the Philadelphia Flyers. While not a fancy goal by any measure, it sent the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final on their way to their second title in five years. 

Interestingly, another career highlight came in that same playoff run. When the Devils faced the Dallas Stars in the Final, Game 6 went to double overtime. Elias collected the puck along the boards, and a backhanded centering pass to Jason Arnott set up the game- and Cup-winning goal. 

Along with the highlight goals and assists are the shootout dandies. Elias has plenty of them, as does the next person on this list. 

4) Ilya Kovalchuk Shootout Goals

There was an era when the Devils were the best shootout team in the NHL, or at least top three in the league. Ilya Kovalchuk was one of the reasons why. The fun thing about Kovalchuk’s shootout style is that he’d fly up the ice and skate so fast that the goaltender wouldn’t have enough time to react. 

Like this goal against the Washington Capitals, where he was skating fast enough to freeze goaltender Michal Neuvirth and fire the puck right past him to the top shelf. 

Or this goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi. He just flew right past him and backhanded the puck into the net (huge shoutout to DevilsHQ for providing many of these highlights). 

Of course, Kovalchuk wasn’t just a shootout specialist in his four years with the Devils. He was also one of their most skilled players and a key part of the 2012 run to the Stanley Cup Final. However, his goals stand out and can make a hockey fan who hates the shootout appreciate it.

3) Zach Parise 

Like Kovalchuk, Zach Parise has plenty of shootout moments, albeit his goals came from his stickhandling, not his skating. It’s a part of the Parise rabbit hole, which features highlight goals and plenty of iconic moments from the 2000s era. 

Parise is also one of those players who has an iconic non-Devils moment. In his case, it’s scoring the game-tying goal in the 2010 Gold Medal game against Canada, which was one of the best USA hockey moments until the past Olympic Games. While Parise’s game-tying goal didn’t give the USA a Gold, the next player on this list did. 

2) Jack Hughes

At 25, Jack Hughes still has plenty of hockey left in him. That said, he’s already established himself as a highlight-reel player, not just on the Devils but around the NHL. 

Hughes creates plenty of fun goals to rewatch. Most of them come on odd-man rushes where his speed and skill take over the play, but he’ll also do something special when the game slows down in the offensive zone and the Devils need a big-time play. 

He’s already put together a career's worth of highlight moments with the Devils. That said, his most iconic moment came at the Olympics. It’s the Golden Goal against Canada, where he got the open look in overtime and fired it past Jordan Binnington to give the USA their first Gold in 46 years. It’s not just the biggest moment of his career but arguably one of the best hockey moments of this century (certainly, a top-five moment). 

Understanding Bill Guerin Helps The Devils Understand A Quinn Hughes TimelineAnd whether the New Jersey Devils can sign Hughes next year, in 2030, or at all.

1) Scott Stevens Hits 

Scott Stevens inspired this list in the first place, specifically his bone-crushing hits. As one of the greatest Devils and greatest defensemen in league history, he had his fair share of big hits, some of which make any hockey fan wonder whether he’d be allowed to play in the NHL these days (without receiving too many multi-game suspensions). 

The biggest is his hit on Paul Kariya during the 2003 Stanley Cup Final. To put it bluntly, Stevens knocked him out cold. Of course, this hit was followed by the “off the floor on the board” goal scored by Kariya. 

There’s also the big one on Flyers forward Eric Lindros in the 2000 Eastern Conference Final. Lindros was big and hard for anyone to take down. But he skated into the offensive zone and didn’t catch Stevens, who not only leveled him but also changed the complexion of the series. 

The other memorable hit was in Game 2 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings. Slava Kozlov didn’t see Stevens coming and paid the price. Like the hit against Lindros, this one fueled a Devils series victory, as they swept the Red Wings on their way to their first Cup title. 

There are plenty more Stevens hits to dive into. The bottom line is that back in the day, when someone cut to the middle through the neutral zone, they kept their head on a swivel. 

Like any list or ranking, there are sure to be a handful of players who were overlooked. So, which ones were missed? Comment below!

The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures. 

We are continuing to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago.  Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

Kekalainen ideally is looking for someone who could make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six, either before the start of the season or before the NHL Trade Deadline. 

Veteran Teuvo Teravainen has 90 games of Stanley Cup Playoff experience, something that will likely not be a factor for the Blackhawks, who will be without star center Connor Bedard to start the season. The 31-year-old was a first round pick of the Hawks in 2012, and won a Cup in Chicago in 2015, before being dealt for cap reasons to Carolina in 2016.  

Teruvainen spent eight seasons with the Hurricanes, where he scored more than 20 goals four times, and more than 50 points five times. In 2024, the rebuilding Hawks looked to surround Bedard with veteran talent to take some of the offensive burden off of the top overall pick. After scoring 58 points in his first season, his numbers dropped to 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 75 games. 

The Hawks are expected to be at the bottom of the Western Conference once again, which would put GM Kyle Davidson in the position of being a seller at the deadline, as he was last March when he dealt Jason Dickinson, Connor Murphy, and Colton Dach to Edmonton, and Nick Foligno to Minnesota. 

Davidson and Kekalainen already made a significant transaction with the Byram/Greenway deal last June, and the Sabres could be looking to add a versatile veteran forward (who the Sabres GM is familiar with based on his playing internationally for Finland) on an expiring contract closer to the deadline.

Teravainen has an eight-team no-trade list and a $5.4 million cap hit in the final year of his deal, which might make it necessary for Chicago to retain salary to get an asset, but the cost of a draft pick might be what Buffalo is willing to give up for some late-season offensive help.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.  

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

5. Brodie Ziemer – Right Wing (Minnesota - NCAA)

Ziemer was the Sabres third-round pick at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas after scoring 70 points (27 goals, 43 assists) in 61 games as part of the US National Development Program’s Under-18 squad, and after posting a dozen points and serving as team captain of Team USA at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Under-18s.

The Minnesota native was a standout for Team USA at the 2025 World Junior in Ottawa last January in their gold medal-winning effort, and he put up good numbers (12 goals, 11 assists in 38 games) as a freshman at the University of Minnesota. Ziemer is a high-motor player with good two-way skills and possesses leadership abilities.

Those abilities led to him being named captain of Team USA for the 2026 WJC, where he scored six points in five games. The 20-year-old winger led the Golden Gophers in scoring in his sophomore campaign, posting 36 points (23 goals, 13 assists) in 36 games. 

After his third Development Camp in July, Ziemer indicated that he hopes to work on his skating during his junior season, and it is expected that the Sabres will try to get him to turn pro and sign his entry-level deal after his junior season. 

Follow Michael on X, and Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

It’s the end of the road for netminder Dustin Tokarski. The 36-year-old didn’t exactly leave his mark in the NHL, having played only 86 NHL regular-season games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Montreal Canadiens, the Anaheim Ducks, the Buffalo Sabres, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes. He finishes his career with a 27-36-12 record, a 3.08 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. 26 of his regular-season contests were played with the Tricolore, but Tokarski will be best remembered by Habs fans for his role in the 2014 playoffs.

Chris Kreider Bowls into Carey PriceI just want to throw an opposing view into the mix of the Habs players/fans who think Kreider somehow meant to run over Price. Just an honest analysis from a...

When Chris Kreider collided with Carey Price in the first game of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers, Peter Budaj came in relief. When it was announced that Price was done for the playoffs, fans and pundits alike believed that the Slovakian goaltender would be taking over between the pipes, but the Sainte-Flanelle opted to turn to Tokarski instead.

Canadiens’ Prospect Fails To Make KHL Roster For Opening Road Trip
Canadiens: Big News For The Coach’s Son
Canadiens: The Big Difference About This Year’s Rookie Camp Roster

The then-24-year-old put up a great fight in the five games he started, and although the Rangers won the series 4-2, Tokarski earned the only two playoff wins of his career and posted a 2.60 GAA and a .916 SV. Those playoffs will forever remain one of the biggest “what if” scenarios for the Canadiens: just how far would they have gone had Price not been injured? We’ll never know. However, it’s not as if they were obliterated because of subpar goaltending; Tokarski did well, and when the Habs were eliminated in Game 6, it was by a score of 1-0.

The goalkeeper spent most of his career in the AHL, playing parts of 16 seasons in that league, and picked up 208 wins (ninth all-time), 30 shutouts (eighth all-time) and two Calder Cup championships with the Norfolk Admirals and the Charlotte Checkers.

Tokarski last played in the NHL with the Hurricanes in 2024-25, and he will now work with the organization as a goaltending scout.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Once one of the most efficient playmakers in the NHL, former Florida Panthers and current Calgary Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau has faced another setback.

Huberdeau will not open training camp with the Flames after undergoing hip surgery in March for a resurfacing injury.

Since he was traded to the Flames in 2022, Huberdeau has failed to match the production that made him such an offensive threat with Florida. Originally drafted third overall by the Panthers in 2011, Huberdeau scored 263 goals and 807 points in 962 games with the organization. 

Huberdeau was a consistent point producer, but he also had his highs, most notably notching 30 goals and 85 assists for 115 points in the 2021-22 season, just before he was traded. Since being dealt, Huberdeau's career high with the Flames is just 28 goals and 62 points, both of which came during the 2024-25 season.

Outside of that campaign, his point totals with the Flames have been 55, 52, and, most recently, just 25 in 50 games. The 33-year-old is already struggling, is beginning to age, and is now dealing with a major injury. 

There have been conflicting reports surrounding Huberdeau's health situation, but Flames GM Craig Conroy recently cleared the air after he himself caused a stir.

Jacob Markstrom Speaks On Re-Joining Panthers, What He's Learned Since First Tour With FloridaTwelve years after his departure, battle-hardened veteran Jacob Markstrom returns to South Florida to replace a Stanley Cup champion, bringing a massive toolbox and over 500 games of NHL experience.

Conroy mentioned that Huberdeau “had a little bit of a setback, maybe two weeks ago, with his skating," but Conroy wanted to clarify.

“It was a poor choice of words on my part,” Conroy told Sportsnet.ca. “It's not that there was a setback. It was more the hope in me that he was going to be ready for camp. What I meant was it was a setback that he won't probably be ready for the first day of camp. That's where I made my mistake. 

“There’s an appropriate timeline for this, between seven and nine months, and obviously we were hoping for the earliest return possible. But everybody is different."

Conroy also mentioned that Huberdeau is skating with teammates, but no timeline has been set for his return. 

Former Panthers Assistant GM Says Matthew Tkachuk Is An Avid User Of AnalyticsFormer Florida Panthers assistant GM Sunny Mehta said Matthew Tkachuk was the player who most often picked his brain about analytics during his time with the organization.

The surgery Huberdeau has had is one that many NHL players have undergone. Players like Patrick Kane and John Klingberg have returned to action following the procedure, but others like Ed Jovanovski, Carl Hagelin, Ryan Kesler, and Niklas Backstrom had their careers end shortly after. 

The hope is that Huberdeau can return for the start of the season, play pain-free, and return to his best. On a rebuilding Flames roster, that might be a tough ask, but entering the fourth year of his eight-year, $10.5 million AAV contract, he has ample time to make his mark in Calgary. 

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Rangers worked hard to retool their roster over the offseason. 

They made some trades to bring new faces into the mix, but still have young talent on the cusp of the pro lineup. 

While it’s more of a long shot for some, here are few who could potentially contribute at some point this season…

Alberts Smits

Smits was viewed by many around the game as one of the most NHL-ready defensemen in this year’s draft class. 

That’s one of the reasons New York took him with the fifth overall pick. 

The 18-year-old shined skating in men’s pro leagues in Germany and Finland, and was the youngest skater to compete in the 2026 Olympics, where he recorded two assists. 

GM Chris Drury kept the door open for Smits to crack the Opening Night roster, but also said that the team will not rush him for the sake of getting him to the NHL. 

New York also has a bit of a logjam at the bottom of their defensive core.

Smits will be an intriguing one to keep an eye on, though, as he looks to prove that he’s ready to take one of those spots. 

Drew Fortescue

Fortescue figures to be a young D-man in that mix, as well. 

The 21-year-old enjoyed a strong cup of coffee in the NHL last season, appearing in nine games down the stretch after signing his entry-level deal. 

He recorded just two points, but slotted in nicely on both ends of the ice. 

Fortescue now finds himself facing a bit of an uphill battle for a roster spot with the team already crowded on the backend with lefty-shooting D-men.

The youngster appears destined to begin the season in Hartford, but could build his case with a strong showing in camp.  

Adam Sykora

Skating alongside good friend and fellow prospect Jaroslav Chmelar, Sykora provided a spark to the Rangers’ bottom-six down the stretch last season. 

The 21-year-old winger quickly became a favorite with the tenacious play and contagious energy he brought on both ends of the ice each and every night. 

Sykora also scored three times and added his first pro assist in 11 games. 

Though he clearly still has some steps to take in his development, he showed in his cup of coffee that he has what it takes to carve out a role in the NHL.

With the additions the Rangers made the youngster will be down in Hartford to begin the year, but if they struggle he could work his work into the lineup at some point.

Liam Greentree

Greentree came to the Blueshirts at last year’s deadline in the Artemi Panarin deal, and he immediately carried over his big-time production. 

The former first-round pick has scored 30+ goals each of the past three years. 

He was limited to just 52 games last season, but put together 74 points and then added another 14 during the playoffs. 

Greentree participated in Prospect Development Camp this offseason, and will be in training camp with the squad after signing his entry-level deal. 

Like Sykora he’ll begin the season getting his feet wet in Hartford, but his playmaking-pedigree could be enough to give him a legitimate look at some point. 

Dylan Garand

Garand was the clear favorite to be Igor Shesterkin’s backup heading into this season. 

The netminder took full advantage of his first opportunity at the pro level, winning two of his three appearances, allowing no more than two goals in each of them. 

He earned some himself some high praise from Sullivan and the coaching staff. 

Still, the Rangers elected to bring in veteran competition, landing Joonas Korpisalo in a deal with the Bruins. 

The two will now compete for the spot behind Shesterkin. 

While Korpisalo owns a higher cap hit and brings another year of control, he is coming off back-to-back down seasons with Boston. 

Perhaps with a strong camp, Garand can steal that spot back. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 25 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #25. 

Let's take a look.

Bruce Gardiner - 2001 - Drafted by St. Louis in 1991. 

Gardiner scored the first goal in franchise history at 7:34 into game one of the 2000 season. He played 73 games as a Jacket and had 22 points. Gardiner only played seven more NHL games after he left Columbus.

Gardiner left for Europe, where he played in Russia and Finland. He retired in 2005. 

These days, Gardiner is a police officer with the Barrie Police Department. He was charged with criminal harassment and extortion on Feb. 4, 2022, but the charges were dropped in July 2024. 

Andrew Cassels - 2003-2004 - Drafted by Montreal in 1987.

Cassels signed with Columbus in 2002. He played 137 games for the CBJ over the course of two seasons, scoring 26 goals and totaling 94 points. Cassels signed with Washington in 2005, which would be his final professional hockey season. He was released in January of 2006. 

After retiring, Cassels stuck around Columbus and has been a coach for the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets since 2018. His son Cole currently plays in Slovakia and was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2013. He also spent a year with the Cleveland Monsters in 2021-22. 

Jason Chimera - 2006-2010 - Drafted by Edmonton in 1997. 

Chimera was traded to Columbus by the Phoenix Coyotes. He played in 331 games for the Jackets before being traded to the Washington Capitals on December 28, 2009, in a trade that brought current Cleveland Monsters GM Chris Clark to the Columbus organization. 

He last NHL season would be the 2017-18 season. 

Kyle Wilson - 2011 - Drafted by Minnesota in 2004. 

Wilson played 32 of his 39 career NHL games with Columbus during the 2010-11 season after signing on July 2, 2010. He spent the rest of the season with the Springfield Falcons. 

He left North America for Europe in 2013 and played until 2017 in Latvia, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany. He retired in 2017. 

Ryan Russell - 2012 - Drafted by the New York Rangers in 2005. 

The twin brother of former Blue Jacket and long-time NHLer Kris Russell, he played 41 games for Columbus during the 2011-12 season after being traded to the Jackets on July 7, 2011. He spent most of that season and the next playing for the Springfield Falcons. 

He left for Sweden, played two seasons, and then played in England for one season before retiring. He has spent the last nine seasons as an Amateur Scout for the San Jose Sharks. 

Luke Adam - 2015 - Drafted by Buffalo in 2008. 

Adam played three games for Columbus after his trade from the Sabres on December 16, 2014. 

In 2016, he left for Europe, where he would play seven years in Germany, and then a year each in Czechia and Slovakia. 

In 2024, he returned to North America, where he signed with the Tahoe Knight Monsters of the ECHL. He has been the Captain of Tahoe for the last two seasons. 

William Karlsson - 2016-2017 - Drafted by Anaheim in 2011.

 It's a common misconception that Karlsson was drafted by the CBJ. Taken by the Anaheim Ducks in 2011, he was traded to the Jackets in March 2015. He played 165 games for Columbus and had 47 points, mostly as a fourth-line grinder and penalty killer.

He was chosen by Vegas in the expansion draft of 2017 and has been there ever since. His career in Vegas has been up and down, but he's managed to get 396 points while playing for Vegas. In 2018, he won the Lady Byng, and in 2023, he helped his team win their first Stanley Cup. 

Mikhail Grigorenko - 2021 - Drafted by Buffalo in 2012. 

Grigorenko signed with Columbus in July of 2020. He played in 32 games and had 12 points. He left for Russia again after his time in Columbus and still plays there today. 

He is signed to play for Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL and serves as the Captain. 

There are 25 days until opening night at NWA. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.

Let us know what you think below.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. Share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

Colorado Avalanche News

• The Drive – Conor McGahey talks Colorado Avalanche, Makar’s contract and Denver Broncos. [TSN]

• The London Knights have dealt Avalanche prospect defenseman Linus Funck, paving the way for a major import deal to take place. [The Hockey News]

• Makar’s record 8-year deal was a necessity. ‘You can’t win without superstars,’ Sakic says after deal with elite defenseman, [NHL]

• A look at who is already back in Denver for informal skates. [Colorado Hockey Now]

• Colorado Avalanche face brutal travel schedule in 2027-2027. The Avalanche will have plenty of frequent-flyer miles to rack up during the NHL’s 84-game season. [SI]

News Around the League

• Semyon Varlamov healthy, ready to roll for Islanders camp: ‘It’s almost a miracle’. The veteran hasn’t played in an NHL game since Nov. 2024. [SNY]

• Hamilton NHL prospect Matthew Mayich “needs a miracle” after training collapse during a brutal workout. [CBC]

• A dispute over whether a 13-year-old boy should be allowed to play on a Whitby, Ont., minor hockey team has exposed broader questions about how youth sports organizations should respond when a parent connected to a team has a history of sexually abusing children. [CTV]

• TVA Sports renews NHL rights for 12 years, will broadcast more Canadiens games. [Montreal Gazette]

• Pronger has played alongside some of the greatest defensemen in NHL history. He knows what an elite blueliner looks like. So when a Hockey Hall of Famer looks at Cale Makar’s record-breaking contract and sees little reason for concern, it is worth listening. [The Hockey News]