If the Florida Panthers are worried about missing Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, they aren't playing like it.

Lo and behold, the Panthers have started the season on a 3-1-0 run, and it’s time to ask the question – what were we worried about with this team?

Now, it’s understandable why people were concerned for Florida and why the Panthers aren't out of the woods yet.

Whenever a team loses one of its core components for a considerable stretch of time, the ripple effect on the organization can be a significant problem. So, to have Tkachuk out of the lineup until December or January and Barkov being sidelined for potentially all of the season, it’s certainly OK to be worried.

When we’re looking at the back-to-back Stanley Cup-champion Panthers’ all-around depth, you can see why they’ve absorbed the loss of two stars.

The NHL's schedule-maker did give Florida soft touches in the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers in Games 1 and 2, although Philly got revenge on Monday with a win at home. But on Saturday, the Panthers pounded the Ottawa Senators 6-2, showing Florida can rise to the occasion and beat a team that should make the playoffs again.

But the Panthers’ depth is reflected in their offensive totals. They may not have a front-runner for the Art Ross Trophy, but they did have 10 players who produced at least two points in their first three games and 11 players after the first four. The Panthers also have six players with three points apiece. The Colorado Avalanche, in comparison, have three players with at least five points and seven players with at least two after their first four games.

The Panthers' top six scorers have a mix of stars and depth. While left winger Brad Marchand and right winger Sam Reinhart are stars, they're arguably not the biggest on the team. The other four – Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues, Mackie Samoskevich and budding top defenseman Gustav Forsling – are making life a lot easier on each other by providing some secondary scoring.

Florida is also going full steam ahead with nearly the full defense corps GM Bill Zito put together this season. That means veteran star D-men Seth Jones and Aaron Ekblad are playing alongside Forsling, Niko Mikkola and Jeff Petry and contributing at both ends of the ice. Florida’s defense corps indeed took a blow with the injury to veteran Dmitry Kulikov, but by and large, the ‘D’ corps has looked strong and capable of making a positive impact night in and night out.

Finally, Panthers star goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has a .925 save percentage and a 1.67 goals-against average in three appearances. Bobrovksky was named the third star of the week for his efforts, and that’s a great harbinger of what’s to come in net for Florida this season.

Bobrovsky is now in the final season of his seven-year contract worth $10 million annually. He’s got every motivation to play well, given that, at age 37, he could be looking at his final NHL contract next summer. Bobrovsky will be asked to be a workhorse in net and appear in 50 to 60 games once again, and right now, he looks up to the challenge.

All things considered, the Panthers are firing on all pistons to start the season. In the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division, they’ll need to be consistently great to stay at or near the top of the standings. But as it stands, Florida is demonstrating it will not go away quietly simply because two stars are out of action.

They’re deeper than that. They’re more talented than that. And it’s going to take an even bigger bite from the injury bug to set them back as they push toward Atlantic supremacy once again.

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Easton Cowan is enjoying life up in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The 20-year-old made his NHL debut on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings, playing alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on Toronto's top line. Cowan finished with one shot, three hits, and 14:05 of ice time.

With any young prospect, whether they begin in the AHL or come straight in from junior, there's always a couple of eye-opening experiences about NHL life, which make the veterans chuckle a little bit.

Brandon Carlo, who's been in the league for what's now 10 seasons, got a front row seat to Cowan's first few days of being up with the Maple Leafs.

"It's been great. It's fun for me being around young guys. I still feel like a young guy myself, but at times when you get to talk to younger guys, especially like him, he brings a lot of energy each and every day. He's got a smile on his face," Carlo said on Tuesday morning.

"We went to dinner the other night and he was just having a great time enjoying the meal. It was pretty funny because there was a lot of things where he was like, 'I've never had this before', 'I've never had this before', and I remember being in that same position.

"It's great to see the game through young guys again and something we can all feed off of that energy."

'If You Stick With It, Good Things Will Come': What Easton Cowan Will Remember About His NHL Debut With Maple LeafsAs Easton Cowan skated onto the ice ahead of his NHL debut, the crowd started cheering. Within all the noise, a song blared inside Scotiabank Arena: "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)".

What was on the menu that Cowan was saying he'd never had before?

"I think it was like the tuna tartar or something like that," Carlo smiled. "One of those meals that I didn't grow up having in Colorado by any means. I guess you can get used to it a little bit, but I think he liked it."

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube opted to stick with the same lineup ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Nashville Predators. Cowan will remain alongside Knies and Matthews after earning more trust from the head coach in the loss to Detroit the day prior.

"I thought he had a great game. He made a lot of good plays with the puck," Berube said on Monday. "I just thought five-foot plays all over the ice. He made a lot of them, too. He was very good on the forecheck. He's got a great hockey IQ, that's the bottom line."

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Despite a strong effort by the Los Angeles Kings to push for a point against the Minnesota Wild on Monday evening after facing a 3-0 deficit, they can only blame themselves. 

The Kings are holding themselves back as they continue to rack up the minor penalties in this young 2025-26 campaign.

In fact, after their 4-3 shootout loss to the Wild, the Kings are second in the league in penalty minutes (55 PIMS) and penalties taken (23). Only the Chicago Blackhawks are ahead of them in those two categories.

In the first period against Minnesota, Los Angeles took four minor penalties. Because of that, the Kings can’t play the game they planned. 

Wild Weather Kings’ Late Comeback, Edge Out Los Angeles 4–3 in ShootoutAnother game, another overtime game that ends in a shootout for the Los Angeles Kings. This time, the match doesn’t go in the King's favor; it ends in a shootout loss in Minnesota, 4-3. 

The line combinations get mixed up, skilled players such as Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko don’t see the ice as much because they aren’t penalty killers, and that hurts the flow.

“First off, we need to stay out of the box,” defenseman Drew Doughty told reporters after the game.

“One of our strengths is rolling four lines, three D-pairs, and once you get penalties, the momentum goes away.”

Not only will a parade to the penalty box ruin the team’s momentum, but it can also ruin the scoreboard. 

With about five minutes remaining in the first period, center Quinton Byfield took a delay-of-game penalty as he chucked the puck over the glass, trying to flip the puck up the ice.

“We’re taking too many penalties, and I might be the main guy, I’ve taken a ton,” Byfield told reporters. “So, that’s something that we’ve got to fix.”

It didn’t help that 18 seconds after Byfield’s penalty, right winger Adrian Kempe was called for hooking on Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov.

By that point, the score is already 1-0 for Minnesota, and now the Kings need to kill off a 5-on-3 penalty for almost a full two minutes.

Sure enough, the Wild score twice, 20 seconds apart, taking advantage of both power-play opportunities created by Byfield and Kempe.

With that, Los Angeles gave Minnesota a huge head start and a 3-0 lead going into the second period. From that point on, the Kings needed to chase the game. And to their credit, the team was great at 5-on-5.

“We’re taking too many penalties and we’re getting scored on,” Kings coach Jim Hiller admitted.

However, he shed some light on how the team played at even strength in the last couple of outings.

“Our 5-on-5 game is starting to feel a little bit more like how we play,” Hiller said. “We’re going to score goals, I’m not worried about that, but we just have to tighten it up. I think we’re getting there. We take some of the penalties away, we’ll be a good team.”

The Kings are now 1-2-1 with the Pittsburgh Penguins coming to town on Thursday.

The 2025 offseason was the busiest in Pat Verbeek’s tenure as general manager of the Anaheim Ducks. He overhauled the coaching staff, shipped out a pair of long-time roster pieces (Trevor Zegras and John Gibson), brought in a trio of forwards (Chris Kreider, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Poehling), ran his fourth NHL Draft process with the Ducks, got some important piece of business done early (Lukas Dostal extension), was part of another important piece of business lingering well into training camp (Mason McTavish extension), and just when it seemed like the table was set and pencils were down, he inked the Ducks’ number-one defenseman Jackson LaCombe to the largest contract in franchise history (eight years, $72 million) just a week before the puck was set to drop for the Ducks’ regular season.

After an up-and-down rookie campaign in 2023-24, LaCombe (24) burst on the scene in 2024-25, tallying 43 points (14-29=43) in 75 games and leading the Ducks in TOI (22:18/G), playing in all situations, taking advantage of the opportunities afforded, and becoming the Ducks' top defenseman of the present and future.

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When he was drafted six years ago (39th overall in 2019), LaCombe was always seen as a smart, smooth-skating project of a defenseman with what could one day become an NHL frame. He’s now a finished product, or close to one, and is hitting his prime right as the Ducks are hoping to turn the corner on their elongated rebuild.

Signing a contract like that has the potential to negatively affect a player in LaCombe’s situation, where he is still in the early stages of his career. It places a great deal of pressure on players, perhaps leading them to feel like they have to perform to a certain standard or impact games with every movement. That hasn’t been the case for LaCombe thus far.

LaCombe is now 150 games into his NHL career, the long extension is signed, and now that his role is clearly defined, there is an air of poise and assuredness surrounding his approach, both on and off the ice.

Through the Ducks' first two games of the season and though he’s yet to find the scoresheet, it should come as no surprise to see LaCombe’s name atop the team’s TOI chart, averaging 26:20 TOI per game. He also leads the team in power play TOI (6:34) and is second in penalty kill TOI (6:28), just three seconds less than leader Radko Gudas (6:31).

“It means a lot for sure,” LaCombe said ahead of the Ducks' home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. “For me, I’m trying to take full responsibility for that and just come to every game playing the best I can. We have so many good players that anyone can play anywhere, so I’m just trying to do the best I can.”

During those minutes, one would be forgiven for wondering if LaCombe was breaking a sweat. Visually, he seems to be teetering on the line between poised and casual during his shifts, seeming to barely take effortful strides when defending or on the attack. However, that statement isn’t meant to accuse him of playing lackadaisically whatsoever. Quite the opposite, in fact.

“I think that’s always kind of part of my game, growing up and stuff, but I think as you play more, you kind of learn the speed of the game and the pace, and you read plays differently,” LaCombe. “Having that calmness and poise is something I want to have in my game, and I wanted to work on it all summer.”

LaCombe has achieved a level of seemingly effortless yet effective skating, reminiscent of only the most elite to ever play the position. He’s using his ability to dissect plays, both on the offensive and defensive sides of the puck, to his advantage, blending it with his comfort and calmness to positively impact the game in every zone.

When defending, he is anticipating and sealing walls on the strong side, while never losing a race to a loose puck when retrieving. With just one or two strides, he can get to the front of the net and has become adept at boxing out opponents and taking sticks away.

On the attack, he’s as aggressive as ever when joining rushes off-puck to make himself an option and keep opponents on their heels. With the puck, he’s become proficient at shielding the on-puck defender with his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame while maintaining possession and advancing pucks North, consistently in search of the most optimal play.

While maintaining a sense of the competitiveness that had allowed him to seize control of the number-one defenseman spot in Anaheim, signing a massive, record-setting contract only seems to have enhanced LaCombe’s self-assurance and composure. If he continues to impact games while displaying this collected brand of hockey and can consistently produce on top of it, he will continue to invoke shades of elite defensemen of the past and present like Scott Niedermayer, Niklas Lidstrom, and Miro Heiskanen

Author Disclaimer: I’m not alluding to LaCombe one day becoming a hall-of-fame defenseman, but simply stating what his play style is becoming reminiscent of.

Takeaways from the Ducks 7-6 OT Win over the Sharks

Takeaways from the Ducks 3-1 Loss to the Kraken

If there's anyone on the Toronto Maple Leafs who can come out on the good side of adversity, it's William Nylander.

The 29-year-old has four points in his first three games, which, to some, is a good sign. However, his play hasn't been up to the standard it usually is. Despite clipping at over a point per game, Nylander's expected goals sit at 42.68 percent, the sixth-lowest among Maple Leafs, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

Aside from his empty-net goal in the club's season-opening win against the Montreal Canadiens, Nylander hasn't scored for Toronto yet. One of his three assists also came on an empty-netter in that game.

"We need him to obviously score goals, right? That's what he does, but more to his game than that. It's not just on all Willy. It's just, like I said, our guys got to put the puck in the net," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Tuesday morning, ahead of their game against the Nashville Predators.

"So that's the side of it that I'm looking at when I talked last night. But it's not all on Willy, it's on all our guys that we depend on the score goals."

Following Toronto's 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, Berube admitted that he'd like more offense from his second line. Although he briefly mentioned John Tavares, the Maple Leafs' coach preached for Nylander to shoot the puck more.

‘We Need More From Him’: Maple Leafs’ Craig Berube Challenges William Nylander For Offense Following Defeat To Red WingsThe Toronto Maple Leafs fell 3-2 to the Detroit Red Wings on Monday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena, earning no points in the standings. Despite clawing back from a 2-0 deficit, Detroit's Mason Appleton scored the game-winning goal with 45 seconds left in regulation time.

In three games, the forward has just three shots.

What has Tavares learned about Nylander when Berube pushes him?

"Well, I've always said, that's why I think Willy does tremendously well in this market. I think, (Nylander), more than anyone, will look himself in the mirror, knows maybe that he can do more, he can play better," Tavares said.

"He's one of the best in the league. We're very lucky to have him. We know what he's capable of and his ability to respond, not only when he's challenged from whether it's anyone within our locker room, coaching staff, but just himself and the expectations he has for him, and the standards he set and how great he wants to be night to night, so he responds really well."

What's good about Berube and Nylander's relationship is that the door's always open for discussion. When Berube wants Nylander to play better, he'll let him know. And vice versa when Nylander wants more playing time.

'If You Stick With It, Good Things Will Come': What Easton Cowan Will Remember About His NHL Debut With Maple LeafsAs Easton Cowan skated onto the ice ahead of his NHL debut, the crowd started cheering. Within all the noise, a song blared inside Scotiabank Arena: "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)".

There's always an open line of communication, which can be a positive thing between a coach and one of the NHL's most skilled players.

"I mean, he always has good feedback to be honest with you. He sees things that maybe I don't see that he talks about and where he's at mentally and puck touches and stuff like that," Berube added.

"These guys need to puck in their hands. They want to have the puck, and sometimes they're not getting in enough, so they're not feeling like they're into the game. So those are the types of conversations we have most of the time, just different things like that. They're good (conversations), though.

"I see his perspective where he's coming from that maybe I don't see. I'm not in his head, and what he's feeling and what I'm feeling and what I'm seeing. So I think they're good conversations. It's really good feedback for me, and I just want him to hear me and what I think."

With no lineup changes ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Predators, Nylander will line up again alongside John Tavares and new linemate Matias Maccelli. There's hope that, with a bit of rest following their Monday afternoon game, Toronto's top players can return to the scoresheet in a big way.

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New York's top duo of Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad headline Best Bets options for Tuesday's marquee matchup between the Rangers and Oilers.  

Tuesday promises to provide a loaded slate of NHL action on Monday with several marquee matchups including two of the best teams from each of their respective conferences in the New York Rangers hosting the Edmonton Oilers. The Blueshirts have had a mixed start to the season with a 2-2-0 record as they still search for their first home win of the season while the Oilers will go on the road for the first time this season, looking to improve on a 1-0-1 record. 

It should set up to be a thrilling night of games with several chances to hit it big and win cash along the way. We're looking to build off a successful beginning to the season as well as some player props from last season in Mitch Marner, Mark Scheifele, Wyatt Johnston, Rasmus Dahlin, Teuvo Teravainen and Connor Hellebuyck. 

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM. 

Expect Tavares, Stamkos Scoring in High-Scoring Leafs-Predators ShowdownToronto's John Tavares and Nashville's Steven Stamkos headline Best Bets options for Tuesday's marquee matchup between the Leafs and Predators. 

New York Rangers vs Edmonton Oilers Best Bets:

Rangers ML (+115)

Artemi Panarin anytime goal (+190)

Mika Zibanejad Over 0.5 Points (-166)

Oilers Under 3.5 Goals (-153)

The Oilers have dominated this high-scoring matchup with a 9-2-1 record over their last 12 matchups against the Rangers. The majority of the games were high-scoring shootouts with six or more goals scored in six of the past nine clashes. However, two of their last four games in New York have stayed under that mark, making the total a tricky call this time around.

 It'll be a risky game when it comes to the total but one thing we know is that Rangers bench boss Mike Sullivan doesn't like to lose at home. During his tenure in Pittsburgh, he guided the Penguins to two Stanley Cups and maintained a stellar 245-107-39 home record, second only to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who reached three Finals and captured two championships in that span. New York fans have experienced heartache in recent years with their sharp decline from winning the President's trophy down to out of the playoffs the following year. 

With Sullivan behind the bench, this team has a new feel to it with many pegging the Rangers as one of the best in the East once again. What’s missing so far is production from their stars as winger Artemi Panarin has yet to score, managing just two assists, while his center Mika Zibanejad has one goal and no helpers.

That could change against a shaky Oilers defense that surrendered four goals to a mediocre Calgary Flames offense in the season opener. Panarin has three goals and ten assists for 13 points over his last eight games against the Oilers while Zibanejad has also excelled in this matchup with seven goals and three assists for ten points over his last 13 games versus Edmonton. 

The Rangers should be able to jump out to an early lead and hold it, thanks in part to their upgraded blue line anchored by former Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov. Widely regarded as one of the league’s premier shutdown defenders, Gavrikov posted a +26 rating last season, among the top 12 in the NHL, while averaging over 23 minutes per game, second-most on Los Angeles. He also led the Kings with 140 blocked shots (36th overall in the league) and logged nearly 270 shorthanded minutes, the third-highest total in the NHL, underscoring his value as an elite penalty killer.

Since joining forces with Adam Fox, the pair has allowed just one goal, and with that level of defensive stability, New York should be equipped to contain Edmonton’s top threats, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and close out the game with a win.

Why New York's Shesterkin Presents Best Case for 2026 Vezina TrophyNew roster additions help Rangers' Igor Shesterkin appear to be the best bet early on in the 2025-6 Vezina trophy race.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will start their run through California on Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks. 

This will be the first of two meetings against the Ducks this year before the Penguins play the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday and the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. The Penguins are 2-1-0 on the season and are coming off a loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday. The Ducks are 1-1-0 after beating the Sharks on Saturday. 

The Penguins practiced in California on Monday, and based on some of the lines, head coach Dan Muse could be making some changes to his lineup. Harrison Brunicke was paired with Kris Letang on the second defensive pairing, though Muse confirmed that Letang being on the left side was just for practice. Still, there's a chance Muse could put Brunicke on the left side of the second pairing since Ryan Shea has really struggled in that spot. 

Matt Dumba took Caleb Jones's spot on the third pairing during practice with Shea, a sign that Jones could be a healthy scratch after playing the first three games. 

Philip Tomasino was back on the third line with Benjamin Kindel and Tommy Novak and may draw back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the past two games. 

Here were the full practice lines: 

Forwards

Rakell-Crosby-Rust

Mantha-Malkin-Brazeau

Novak-Kindel-Tomasino

Dewar-Lixotte-Hallander/Acciari

Defense

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Letang-Brunicke

Shea-Dumba 

The Penguins won't have a morning skate before Tuesday's game, so nobody will know who starts in goal until Muse meets with the media before the game starts.

Puck drop is set for 10:30 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

Seattle Kraken prospect Jake O'Brien is off and flying in the OHL, returning to the Brantford Bulldogs as the captain, and leading his team to a 6-0-2 record.

The Bulldogs sit atop the Eastern Conference in the OHL, posting a league-best 0.875 win percentage—one of the main reasons why is the play of O'Brien.

In six games, the 18-year-old has notched five goals and 13 points, two points back of the league leader despite playing five fewer games. The Bulldogs roster features several NHL-drafted prospects, and the top line of O'Brien, Minnesota Wild's Adam Benak and Chicago Blackhawks' Marek Vanacker is carrying plenty of the offensive load. 

The Bulldogs roster also features St. Louis Blues defenseman Adam Jiricek, Winnipeg Jets' Edison Engle, Toronto Maple Leafs' Sam McCue and top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Caleb Malhotra. 

Over the weekend, O'Brien posted a hat trick and five points in an 8-5 victory over the Ottawa 67's. 

Bulldogs Dynamic Duo👀@SeattleKraken prospect, Jake O'Brien and @NHLBlackhawks prospect, Marek Vanacker combined for 6 goals with a hat trick each!#Blackhawks | #SeaKrakenpic.twitter.com/Jl5dltPJFA

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) October 12, 2025

O'Brien picked up an assist on the first of Vanacker's three goals in the first period, before notching his first goal of the game early in the middle frame. With the game tied at 5-5, O'Brien scored his second goal of the game to break the deadlock before adding his hat trick goal into the empty net. 

The Kraken's eighth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is off to an electric start, and it's exactly what was required of him. O'Brien is vying for a spot on Team Canada's World Junior Championship roster and is aiming to impress the Kraken organization, with the goal of placing himself in a position to compete for a roster spot next year. Each game is an audition for both, and so far, O'Brien has been impressing. 

ST. PAUL, Minn - It has been one heck of a journey for goaltender Jesper Wallstedt. It is just one game, but there is no doubt Wallstedt is riding high after the win on Monday.

“It would have been nice if we could have kept it away from shootouts and overtime," Wallstedt said after the game. "But two points on home ice against a (conference) team, we’ll take it.”

Wallstedt, 22, was drafted as a high pick, which is rare for a goalie. He was deemed the goalie of the future when the Wild took him 20th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft.

The Wild liked him so much they made a trade with the Edmonton Oilers just to move up and take him.

But, his journey to professional hockey has not been the smoothest.

As a 19-year-old, Wallstedt had a great first season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Iowa Wild. He went 18-15-5 with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in 38 games. He was even an all-star.

The next year Wallstedt went 22-19-4 with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. Things were looking up and Wallstedt even made his NHL debut at the age of 20 during the 2023-24 season.

He went 2-1-0 with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. He even picked up his first career shutout in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks that year.

Jesper Wallstedt becomes youngest goalie in Wild history to record a shutoutIn the Wild's game last night, Jesper Wallstedt became the youngest goalie in Wild history to record a shutout.

The following season was a struggle for Wallstedt. He posted a 3.59 goals-against average and a .879 save percentage in 27 AHL games and went 9-14-5. He was given a mental reset during the season and was even called up to the Wild just to escape the season he was having in the minors.

Wild fans and people were writing the so called "goaltender of the future" off. The Wild continued to believe in him and signed him to a two-year contract extension worth $2.2 million for a goaltender who had only played in five NHL games.

In two NHL games, Wallstedt went 0-2-0 with a 4.09 goals-against average and a .843 save percentage.

Yet through it all, Wallstedt has had a positive attitude about it.

“I think all the experience from last year. I think that comes into play," Wallstedt said after the win on Monday. "I know what it’s like losing. I know what it’s been like to have bounces go against me. I know what it’s like to break down mentally. I’ve done it now. I know what that feeling is like. I know what mindset I should have to find success instead of failure. And I felt like no matter what faced me, no matter what happened, if goals were scored or not, I felt like I always had a clean mindset and focused on the job to win the game.”

Minnesota had a 3-0 lead after two periods of play but surrendered three third period goals to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday and Wallstedt had to be sharp. 

When Matt Boldy took a penalty in overtime I think everyone in the arena clenched their teeth. A 4-on-3 power play for the Kings with 1:25 left in overtime is never a good thing. And for a young rookie goaltender, that is not easy.

But, Wallstedt stopped three shots in that span on six attempts. It was desperation mode for the Wild and when Minnesota needed its' goalie of the future the most, he stepped up and delivered.

“I said it out on the ice, as well, I felt we played a really good game defensively. We kept them most of the time on the outside, let me make the first saves and help out on the rebounds," Wallstedt said. "We blocked a lot of shots. I think we did what we needed to do in our own zone in the defensive game to win and then obviously they get some bounces and score some goals, that’s hockey. That’s going to happen. But I really liked our effort and the way our team sacrificed itself.”

Not only did he save the game in overtime, but Wallstedt stopped all four shootout attempts from the Kings and stroked Andrei Kuzmenko to end the game on the last shooter in sudden death.

🗣️ WALLY WALLY WALLY pic.twitter.com/tl7Xk75PfY

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 14, 2025

“I had no idea. I like to keep it that way. A clean slate. Just go out, make the read, play off your feet and what you see," Wallstedt said on the shootout. "And then we scored I just thought to myself this is the moment you’ve been dreaming for. You have the chance to win it for your team. Just go out and make the save the same way I’ve been doing it three shots before. Obviously, that happened.”

After the win, Wallstedt let out a big celebration.

“I don’t know. I used to do it in Iowa last year the times we won in the shootout. Just ended up happening out of excitement.”

Jared Spurgeon added: “I actually didn’t see it. I’m pretty short, so I couldn’t see over the guys.”

Jokes aside, it was a huge win for Wallstedt.

“You can see by the way he plays the game, he has a lot of confidence and he made some huge saves," Spurgeon said. "For him to come up big in overtime and the shootout was great to see.”

Kirill Kaprizov added: "Yeah, he does great job, especially on the PK he had so many good saves from the seams. He played so good. We’re happy for him. He’s happy. And yeah, it’s nice."

This was more than a win for Wallstedt. It was a statement for the young goaltender. He feels it was  a chance to prove haters wrong. And after a night like that, I think he did.

“Obviously, I wanted to start the season with a win," Wallstedt said. "With everything that’s been talked about and all the people that have doubted me, this felt really good. Just proving that I can do it. I would have loved to have kept it a low-scoring game but it’s hockey. It happens. I felt like I played a well-structured game. I saw pucks. I kept them in front of me. Rebounds were good. And we won the game, which is all I care about.”

Nonetheless, it was a confidence booster for both Wallstedt but for the Wild in general. They now trust the young goaltender. Which is good. It is important to have two good goaltenders and the Wild believe they can have the best goalie tandem in the league.

“It certainly does," Hynes said on if this game gives him confidence and trust in Wallstedt. "He’s building trust and confidence in himself I think by the commitment that he made starting in the summer and coming into training camp and now I thought even his exhibition games I thought he played well and he had some different situations to handle then. No different tonight.”

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. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

- Wild Place Nico Sturm On Injured Reserve.

- Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov To An Eight-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild Claim Defenseman Daemon Hunt Off Waivers.

- Wild Sign Filip Gustavsson To A Five-Year Contract Extension.

- Wild's Mats Zuccarello Out For Two Months With Lower-Body Injury.

The Flames (1-2-0) will be hosting the defending Pacific Division champions Vegas Golden Knights (1-0-2) on Tuesday evening.

Despite a two-goal game by Matt Coronato, the Flames came up short 4-2 against the St. Louis Blues in their most recent tilt.

Their opponent on Tuesday evening, the Golden Knights, will be tough competition considering they are amongst the favorites for the Stanley Cup, as has been the case every year since the team's first season in 2017-18.

The team made headlines in the off-season by acquiring winger Mitch Marner on July 30 from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade for an eight-year $96 million deal.

However, the Knights were not done dishing out lucrative contracts, as just a week ago, they signed alternate captain and forward Jack Eichel to an eight-year $108 million extension, the fifth-richest deal in NHL history.

Both Eichel and Marner scored 100 points last season.

Their first line with Ivan Barbashev has produced the most goals (2) and given up the least (0) while playing the most minutes (28:39) so far this season, as per Natural Stat Trick. So, expect Vegas to run with this again.

Mark Stone is tied with a league-high five assists and certainly doesn't lack the ability in offensive production.

His second line partners include William Karlsson, who with the exception of last season, hasn't scored less than 35 points in his eight years in Sin City.

So far, Vegas has scored 10 goals in the season. Four of those have come off the power play, all by Pavel Dorofeyev.

Dorofeyev for his credit, is also leading the league with five goals.

So, Calgary's penalty-kill needs to watch out for the 24-year-old Russian.

On defence, the biggest name that comes to mind is Shea Theodore, who is one of the league's premier offensive-minded defenceman. He received a vote in last season's Norris Trophy selection, albeit it was for fifth place.

His pairing partner this season, Brayden McNabb, pulled in a rating pf +41 last season, the highest in the league.

So far this season, the pairing of Jeremy Lauzon and Kaeden Korczak has produced the third-lowest Expected Goals Against (xGA) for pairings that have played at least 30 minutes of ice time, as per Natural Stat Trick.  

Calgary can breathe a sigh of relief as Alex Pietrangelo, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and another two-way defenceman had pulled out of the season due to an injury that will require surgery.

It will be a added, but welcomed, pressure to another *yet again* offensive-minded defenceman in Noah Hanifin.

Bottom Line

I'm not going to sugar-coat this. This Vegas team is well-balanced offensively and defensively and will be a huge test for the Flames.

If Calgary is to win, it will be a VERY ugly win, but on the bright side, they will have proven their worth to themselves and the league.

The Montreal Canadiens announced five-year contract extensions for GM Kent Hughes and the newly promoted president of hockey operations, Jeff Gorton.

Gorton and Hughes were in the final year of their contracts and made significant changes to the Canadiens' roster and hockey operations department.

"Their commitment to building a world class organization has been unrelenting and will only get better as we progress in the years to come,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said in a news release. "I would like to thank Jeff and Kent for taking this team and organization to where it is today, full of talent, size and speed with a support structure that is second to none, an objective from Day 1. I look forward to many more years working with them."

Since the end of last season, the Canadiens acquired 25-year-old defenseman Noah Dobson to anchor the right side of the blueline on an eight-year deal, traded for right winger Zack Bolduc and re-signed Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson to an eight-year contract extension.

Those moves followed the team making the playoffs for the first time since 2021, losing in the first round. It was the first time Hughes made the playoffs as Canadiens GM, having joined the team on Jan. 18, 2022. He quickly replaced coach Dominique Ducharme with current bench boss Martin St-Louis in 2021-22.

Gorton, who joined the team on Nov. 28, 2021, as executive VP of hockey operations, established the Canadiens' first analytics department and also hired Hughes, as well as co-director of amateur scouting Nick Bobrov and special advisor to hockey operations, Vincent Lecavalier.

"We believe our team has made significant progress, and we look forward to building on the foundation in place and competing at a high level for years to come," Gorton said in the announcement. "I would also like to acknowledge that this announcement is a reflection on the tireless work and efforts our entire staff has put in."

Montreal has a core group signed through at least 2030, including captain Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Dobson, Kaiden Guhle and Hutson. Their young players include Ivan Demidov and prospects David Reinbacher, Michael Hage and Jacob Fowler.

As for this season, the Canadiens have about $5.7 million in cap space with one first-rounder and two second-rounders as part of their 2026 draft picks. Montreal is 2-1-0 to start the campaign.

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. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

For years, I've done a top 100 NCAA hockey players to watch list, and for some reason, despite the fact the CHL has about the same number of teams, I always felt a major junior list would be harder.

You've got players that might stick in the NHL, others who get a nine-game tryout, imports who could be superstars or duds – it's a lot. But I'm throwing caution to the wind here and diving in.

There are so many exciting names to highlight, so for the first time ever, I'm doing a top 100 major junior hockey players to watch.

The rules are the same as with my NCAA list: it's a meritocracy, so some teams will have multiple names, and others will have none. I favor NHL prospects over veterans who might break out in their final season and, of course, players expected to go high in the 2026 NHL draft (plus a couple for 2027).

I'm excluding Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa because I assume they're going to stick in the NHL. But because this is the beginning of the season, there are a number of players here who started off in the NHL and may or may not come back to junior after nine games. I wasn't going to wait that long to put out this list, so I'll just mark those players with an asterisk, and if they stick all year in the NHL, good for them.

With all that out of the way, let's get to it.

*1.Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): He made Nashville's opening roster, so the Hounds might not see him, but wherever he ends up, Martin will be a play driver with surprising strength.

2.Landon DuPont, D, Everett (WHL): With Gavin McKenna in college, DuPont becomes the phenom to watch in major junior, even though the slick blueliner isn't draft-eligible until 2027.

3.Caleb Desnoyers, C, Moncton (QMJHL): He'll miss the start of the season due to wrist surgery, but once the Utah first-rounder returns, look for a dominant two-way performance each night.

4. Ryan Roobroeck, LW, Niagara (OHL): Currently the top 2026 draft prospect playing in major junior, Roobroeck is a big winger who can really put the puck in the net.

*5. Beckett Sennecke, RW, Oshawa (OHL): Power forward who can crush you with a hit or a goal. Sennecke scored in his NHL debut with Anaheim, so let's see if he sticks.

6. Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna (WHL): With the Rockets hosting the Memorial Cup, Iginla is guaranteed great experience. The Utah first-rounder is a sharp goal-scorer with power.

7. Jake O'Brien, C, Brantford (OHL): Elite, two-way center flirted with 100 points last year; let's see if the Seattle Kraken can hit triple digits on a powerhouse Bulldogs squad.

8. Justin Carbonneau, RW, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL): Another young gun on a juggernaut, Carbonneau is a St. Louis Blues first-rounder with power and hockey IQ.

*9. Sam Dickinson, D, London (OHL): Had an offensively explosion with the Knights last year, but Dickinson's size and defensive play might be his calling cards in the NHL with San Jose.

10. Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL): An absolute monster of a teen at 6-foot-5, 226 pounds, the 2026 draft prospect has lots of skill, but he also plays with a great physical edge.

*11. Braeden Cootes, C, Seattle (WHL): Cootes was The Guy with the Thunderbirds last year, a complete player with smarts. The Vancouver Canucks agreed, grabbing him in the first round.

12. Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL): Has put up a ton of points in the 'Dub' and is still eligible for the world juniors, though Catton was strong enough to make the Kraken out of camp.

13. Kashawn Aitcheson, D, Barrie (OHL): The New York Islanders first-rounder added a bunch of offense to his game last year, while maintaining the nasty, physical game he was known for.

14. Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL): Awesome draft year was cut short by injury, but Bear showed he's a complete player who can rack up points. He's a Detroit Red Wings first-rounder.

15. JP Hurlbert, RW, Kamloops (WHL): An early candidate for biggest surprise, the 2026 draft prospect and ex-NTDPer has been a scoring machine for the Blazers. NCAA Michigan commit.

16. Radim Mrtka, D, Seattle (WHL): Really blossomed with the Thunderbirds last year. Mrtka is a big Buffalo Sabres first-rounder who plays with an edge and has two-way abilities.

17. Alexis Joseph, C, Saint John (QMJHL): If anyone can dethrone DuPont as the No. 1 pick in 2027, it's Joseph. He's a big, powerful center who is already off to a great start in the 'Q.'

18. Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver (WHL): An absolutely dazzling offensive defenseman who skates well and handles the puck easily, Lin is one to watch for the 2026 draft.

19. Liam Greentree, LW, Windsor (OHL): The Los Angeles Kings first-rounder is coming off a 119-point season with the Spitfires and should be a great option for Canada's WJC team.

20. Lynden Lakovic, LW, Moose Jaw (WHL): After showing well at Washington Capitals camp, the first-rounder heads back to junior, where he should dominate with his size, skating and shot.

21. Aleksei Medvedev, G, London (OHL): After a nice apprenticeship, Medvedev gets the starting role in London. The Canucks pick is a big, competitive netminder.

*22. Ben Kindel, C, Calgary (WHL): It was shocking when Pittsburgh took him 11th overall, but the two-way center with a great motor then went out and made the Pens' opening night roster.

23. Bill Zonnon, C, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL): Another Pittsburgh first-rounder, Zonnon got traded to the powerhouse Armada in the summer, where his intangibles will be a plus.

24. Olivers Murnieks, C, Saint John (QMJHL): The 2026 draft prospect from Latvia had a great USHL campaign with Sioux City last year and has started off his Sea Dogs career hot.

25. Adam Benak, C, Brantford (OHL): The pint-sized Minnesota Wild pick has never had a problem putting up points, whether it was in the USHL or now with the Bulldogs.

The Top 100 NCAA Players To Watch In 2025-26Welcome to The New, folks. Thanks to the new NCAA eligibility rules, we have one of the most highly anticipated college seasons of all-time coming up, one loaded with all your traditional kids, plus a cohort of former major junior stars heading stateside for the first time. 

26. Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener (OHL): A great skater who defends with his feet, Reid had a ton of points last year, but the Predators first-rounder projects as more of a stopper.

27. Kevin He, LW, Niagara (OHL): Began last season on a tear for the IceDogs, now the Winnipeg Jets prospect has the chance to do even more damage with his scoring prowess.

28. Terik Parascak, RW, Prince George (WHL): One of the most pleasant surprises of the 2024 draft class, the Capitals first-rounder knows how to find the scoring areas.

29. Egor Shilov, C, Victoriaville (QMJHL): Another USHL transplant (Green Bay), Shilov is a 2026 draft prospect who has already found his scoring touch with the Tigres.

30. Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL): One of the top defensemen available in the 2026 draft class, Rudolph has ideal NHL size and has been a demon on the power play for P.A.

31. Cole Beaudoin, C, Barrie (OHL): A power forward who plays a complete two-way game, Beaudoin is a Utah prospect who could be valuable at the world juniors for Canada.

32. Harrison Boettiger, G, Kelowna (WHL): The former NTDP goalie has game-stealing potential, and he'll get a great challenge with the Memorial Cup hosts before heading to NCAA Denver.

33. Joshua Ravensbergen, G, Prince George (WHL): Speaking of goaltenders, Ravensbergen was one of the best in the 2025 draft class, and now, the big tender is a San Jose prospect.

34. Jack Nesbitt, C, Windsor (OHL): A big pivot just coming into his own, Nesbitt is a Philadelphia Flyers first-rounder who could put up some nasty numbers in Windsor this year.

35. Adam Jiricek, D, Brantford (OHL): The physical defender has been plagued by knee injuries, but now healthy, he'll be a difference-maker for Brantford. Jiricek is a Blues pick.

36. Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL): One of the most exciting prospects for the 2026 draft, Villeneuve makes up for his lack of size with an abundance of skill.

37. Sam O'Reilly, C, London (OHL): As a veteran on the Knights, it's O'Reilly's chance to shine. He's a two-way center and a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect with two OHL titles already.

38. Mathis Preston, C, Spokane (WHL): The talented center and 2026 draft prospect will have to do the heavy lifting for the Chiefs until (or if) Catton returns. Production will not be a problem.

39. Colin Fitzgerald, C, Peterborough (OHL): Skilled and competitive, Fitzgerald got even bigger over the summer and could be a force for the Petes. He's a 2026 draft prospect.

40. Braidy Wassilyn, LW, Niagara (OHL): Another talented forward from the OHL, Wassilyn started the season on the shelf, but he's a dynamic 2026 draft prospect.

41. Haoxi ‘Simon’ Wang, D, Oshawa (OHL): Getting reps with the Gens last year was a bonus for the raw Boston U. commit. Now a San Jose prospect, Wang has upside thanks to size and skating.

42. Blake Fiddler, D, Edmonton (WHL): Second-generation talent has enviable size and projects as a defensive defenseman, though the Kraken pick will put points in junior.

43. Maxim Masse, RW, Chicoutimi (QMJHL): Big winger has been on a goal-scoring tear to start the campaign, and that's one of his strengths. He's a Ducks prospect.

44. Maddox Schultz, C, Regina (WHL): The top pick in the WHL draft isn't eligible for the NHL draft until 2028, but he'll be a key player for Regina in the 34 games he's allowed to play.

45. Emil Hemming, RW, Barrie (OHL): The Finnish national and Dallas Stars first-rounder got used to the OHL last year; now it's time for him to dominate with his big-time shot.

46. Miroslav Holinka, C, Edmonton (WHL): Had some impressive moments in the pre-season with Toronto, and now, the Maple Leafs pick has taken his quick shot back to the Oil Kings.

47. Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL): Manny's son is off to a lightning-fast start with Brantford, where the 2026 draft prospect will cut his teeth before heading to Boston U.

48. Carter George, G, Owen Sound (OHL): One of the top goalies in the CHL, George is a Los Angeles Kings prospect who will undoubtedly return to Canada's crease for the world juniors.

49. Giorgos Pantelas, D, Brandon (WHL): A skilled defenseman who likes to get involved, Pantelas is a 2026 draft prospect who has already nearly surpassed last year's point totals.

50. Henry Brzustewicz, D, London (OHL): Well-rounded and composed, Brzustewicz will be counted on heavily by the Knights, especially if Dickinson is gone. He's an L.A. Kings pick.

2026 NHL Draft Rankings: Ryan Kennedy's Early Top 32With the Hlinka Gretzky Cup completed, it felt like time to kick off the 2026 NHL draft race with some rankings. 

51. Charlie Elick, D, Tri-City (WHL): Big, tenacious shutdown defenseman is a point-per-gamer early on this season, which is a nice bonus for the Columbus Blue Jackets pick.

52. Cameron Schmidt, RW, Vancouver (WHL): Size is the knock, but goal-scoring is Schmidt's calling card: he had 40 last season. The Dallas pick will be crucial for the Giants.

53. Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): Dynamic 2026 draft prospect joined Soo from the NAHL last year and took off immediately. Reid is off to a hot start this season, as well.

54. Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL): Another 2026 draft prospect with a ton of skill from the back end, Carels can dazzle with the puck and also brings some edge with his game.

55. Lars Steiner, RW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL): Injury will rob him of the next couple months, but the Swiss import and 2026 draft prospect is strong on the puck and puts up points.

56. Ethan Czata, C, Niagara (OHL): Drafted by Tampa Bay, Czata was a two-way center last year but has exploded offensively early on this season – so maybe the ceiling is even higher.

57. Samuel Meloche, G, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL): The Sabres prospect is a workhorse goaltender with good size, playing for a Huskies team that's off to a solid start.

58. Trenten Bennett, G, Owen Sound (OHL): Skyscraper netminder (he's 6-foot-8) is off to a hot start for the Attack, a team with a crowded crease situation. Bennett is a New Jersey Devils pick.

59. Julius Miettinen, C, Everett (WHL): Recently signed his entry-level contract with the Kraken, Miettinen has great size and is poised for a breakout year with the Silvertips.

60. Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw (OHL): The 2026 draft prospect won gold with Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky and kicked off his OHL career as the league's early points leader.

61. Gabe Smith, C, Moncton (QMJHL): Big, tough center showed off his fist-work in the pre-season with Utah; now he's back with the Wildcats in search of another title run.

62. Pierce Mbuyi, LW, Owen Sound (OHL): Won OHL rookie of the year honors and is off to an even better offensive pace early this campaign. The 2026 draft prospect is a Penn State commit.

*63. Harrison Brunicke, D, Kamloops (WHL): Great size and skating ability are Brunicke's calling cards, and he just got his first NHL goal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

64. Kieron Walton, LW, Sudbury (OHL): Giant winger had breakout season with the Wolves last year, so let's see what he can do as an encore. Walton is a Jets prospect.

65. Adam Jecho, C, Edmonton (WHL): Another towering forward, Jecho is a Blues pick who will once again be crucial to both the Oil Kings and the Czech world junior squad.

66. Jack Pridham, RW, Kitchener (OHL): Originally committed to Boston U., Pridham elected to stay with the Rangers after joining them last season. Chicago Blackhawks pick thrived there.

67. David Lewandowski, LW, Saskatoon (WHL): Edmonton Oilers pick is a deft playmaker with pretty decent size. The German import is piling up points early for the Blades.

68. Teddy Mutryn, C, Moncton (QMJHL): Coming over from the USHL, the stocky Mutryn plays with an edge and is already providing secondary offense for the Cats. He's a San Jose pick.

69. Christian Kirsch, G, Kitchener (OHL): Another San Jose prospect, Kirsch comes to Kitchener via Switzerland and the NAHL. Big goalie is off to a nice start with the Rangers.

70. Max Psenicka, D, Portland (WHL): Big defenseman with a lot of upside was snagged by Utah in the draft this summer. Has almost surpassed last year's point totals already.

71. Everett Baldwin, D, Saint John (QMHL): Former U.S. prep schooler brings skill from the back end to Sea Dogs before he heads to Providence College. He's a Tampa Bay pick.

72. Tyler Hopkins, C, Kingston (OHL): The combination of size and skating is alluring with the Maple Leafs pick. Hopkins is in a good development place with the Frontenacs.

73. Jacob Kvasnicka, RW, Penticton (WHL): Former NTDPer has really found his stride early with the Vees as one of the league's top producers. He's an Islanders pick.

74. Lucas Beckman, G, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL): One of the league's top goaltenders last season, the Ottawa Senators pick will now have to push through a Drakkar rebuild.

75. Christian Humphreys, C, Kitchener (OHL): Came over from NCAA Michigan last year and made an instant impact. Now the Colorado Avalanche prospect is back for more.

'How Big Are His Feet?' How Hockey Scouts And Agents Predict A Teen Prospect's GrowthIt may be the dead of summer and a quiet time in the hockey world, but I've still been to the rink once a week thanks to a numberofcamps, either skills-based or for international tournaments.

76. Markus Ruck, C, Medicine Hat (WHL): The 2026 draft prospect has a great motor and has been a difference-maker for the Tigers and Team Canada during international play.

77. Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat (WHL): Of course I had to put the twin brothers together. They've got that intrinsic chemistry together, and Liam is also up for the 2026 draft (duh).

78. Owen Griffin, C, Oshawa (OHL): Two-way center took off for Generals during the playoffs, and he's elevated his game even further early on this year. Columbus grabbed him in the draft.

79. Matias Vanhanen, LW, Everett (WHL): Undrafted, but already making GMs look silly. The Finnish import has awesome hockey sense and is one of the Dub's top scorers already.

80. Ben Danford, D, Oshawa (OHL): Two-way defender showed well at Maple Leafs camp, now he enters his final year of junior as captain of the Generals.

81. Luca Romano, C, Kitchener (OHL): Great at short bursts, Romano is an Islanders pick who just needs to iron out his consistency, and Kitchener is a great place to do so.

82. Peyton Kettles, D, Swift Current (WHL): An excellent skater who plays hard, Kettles is a right-shot D-man with lots of potential. He's a Penguins draft pick.

83. Ryder Cali, LW, North Bay (OHL): The 2026 draft prospect went from the OJHL to North Bay last year, and now he's back for a full OHL campaign. Nice size and skill package.

84. Brooks Rogowski, RW, Oshawa (OHL): Monster of a winger is a 2026 draft prospect who won gold with Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament and is headed to Michigan State.

85. Matthew Gard, C, Red Deer (WHL): The Flyers pick plays the game the right way and has a great frame to build on. Might be another tough year in Red Deer, though.

86. Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough (OHL): Highly anticipated Czech import and 2026 draft prospect arrives in Peterborough, where the Petes should have the weapons to make noise.

87. David Bedkowski, D, Owen Sound (OHL): Big converted forward plays with a physical edge and has great length. Bedkowski is a Sabres pick who thrives in his own end.

88. Blake Vanek, RW, Wenatchee (WHL): Former Minnesota high schooler and son of Thomas Vanek is a Senators pick who brings a great shot and power forward game to Wild.

89. Alexey Vlasov, LW, Victoriaville (QMJHL): Another Tigres import off to a hot start, Vlasov doesn't have a lot of size, but he can ring up points. He's a 2026 draft prospect.

90. Miroslav Satan, C, Saginaw (OHL): The towering son of the former NHLer arrives in Saginaw from the USHL. He's a Capitals pick and a shutdown forward.

91. Kaden McGregor, C, Peterborough (OHL): The top pick in the OHL draft brings a lot of skill and drive to the Petes. McGregor isn't eligible for the NHL draft until 2027.

92. Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL): The 2026 draft prospect is off to a promising start after a trying rookie year in the 'Q.' Dagenais has the size and pedigree to be a player.

93. Marek Vanacker, LW, Brantford (OHL): Blackhawks prospect is coming off an injury-shortened campaign, but his early numbers are already back up to his high standard.

94. Evan Gardner, G, Saskatoon (WHL): Though he doesn't have ideal size, the Blue Jackets prospect just stops pucks and in junior, that's all you can really ask for.

95. Emile Guite, LW, Chicoutimi (QMJHL): His draft year was a frustrating nightmare, but the Anaheim Ducks scooped him up anyway, and Guite is now off to a fantastic start to this season.

96. Beckham Edwards, C, Sarnia (OHL): All this kid does is produce. Edwards is a 2026 draft prospect who finished second in Sting scoring as a rookie and currently leads the team early.

97. Liam Pue, C, Regina (WHL): The Pats' other extremely young gun, Pue is a 2028 draft prospect who tore up the new JPHL out west and is now testing his skills in the Dub.

98. Nathan Villeneuve, C, Sudbury (OHL): The type of player you simply do not want to line up against, Villeneuve is a Kraken pick who plays a hard, nasty game.

99. Jan Larys, G, Drummondville (QMJHL): The 2026 draft prospect is a Czech import with size who is off to a nice start with the Volts and will play at the QMJHL's Top Prospect Game.

100. Jaakko Wycisk, C, Guelph (OHL): Big center with great hands in tight. Wycisk was the second overall pick in the OHL draft and is eligible for the NHL version in 2027.

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. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.