The Pittsburgh Penguins weaponized their salary cap space this week. 

On Thursday, the Penguins acquired veteran defenseman Matt Dumba and a second-round draft pick in 2028 from the Dallas Stars in exchange for depth blueliner Vladislav Kolyachonok. 

The reality of the Stars’ cap situation necessitated this deal, as Dallas was over the cap with Dumba’s $3.75-million cap hit. But after dumping Dumba’s last year of his contract onto Pittsburgh, the Stars have $1.95 million in cap space – enough to eventually add another depth veteran or accrue space ahead of a bigger acquisition during the season.

On Pittsburgh’s end, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas still has about $13 million in cap space after acquiring Dumba. In theory, at least, the Penguins had a roster spot open for a defenseman after veteran Matt Grzelcyk hit the UFA market this summer. 

Dumba’s best days are behind him, as he posted only nine assists and 10 points in 63 regular-season games, and in the playoffs, Dumba was a healthy scratch.

Clearly, there was no future in Dallas for Dumba, just one year after signing a two-year contract last summer. Dubas recognized that fact and stepped in to offer cap relief at the cost of a second-rounder – not an insignificant pick by any means.

Given where the Penguins are in their competitive cycle, they could afford to take on Dumba’s contract and give their amateur scouts an additional swing at the plate three years from now. By that point, the Stars may have fallen in the standings, setting up the second-round pick to be relatively high.

Those are exactly the type of deals that other teams like the Penguins can make. 

For instance, the Chicago Blackhawks retained $2.5 million of defenseman Seth Jones’ contract in each of the next five seasons when they sent him to the Florida Panthers around the trade deadline. That deal might not have happened otherwise, and they got Spencer Knight and a first-round pick as a result. 

Chicago also traded Joe Veleno to the Seattle Kraken for Andre Burakovsky. His $5.5-million cap hit was more than double Veleno’s cap hit, but he scored 37 points this past season, compared to Veleno’s 17.

The Anaheim Ducks used some of their space to eat goaltender Petr Mrazek’s $4.25-million cap hit when sending John Gibson to the Detroit Red Wings. That sweetened the pot in getting a deal done and giving the Ducks a second-round pick in 2027 and a fourth-rounder in 2026.

The Ducks could still weaponize their cap space in case other NHL teams have bloated contracts they want to clear. Anaheim still has about $28.9 million in cap space. Their Pacific Division rival, the San Jose Sharks, have $20.5 million in space after signing Jeff Skinner on Friday and trading for Ryan Reaves on Thursday. Their lineup has started to come into focus, but nothing should stop them from getting more assets by eating a contract as well.

This is how the NHL’s food chain operates in the cap era: different teams are at different points in their competitive trajectories, and not every team needs to spend to the cap ceiling – or anywhere close to it, for that matter. Teams like the Penguins, Ducks, Blackhawks and Sharks can justify absorbing bad contracts when it results in them being able to stockpile picks and prospects to address their long-term needs. 

Even as the cap ceiling rises this season and in the foreseeable future, there will always be NHL teams needing to clear space and other squads looking to capitalize on that. It’s the way the system pushes teams, and it’s not going to change anytime soon.

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On this day in 2013, New Jersey Devils right winger Ilya Kovalchuk announced his retirement from the NHL. At the time, Kovalchuk still had 12 years and $77 million remaining on his contract.

Kovalchuk was acquired by the Devils on February 4, 2010, and became a free agent that July. On July 19, 2010, the Devils signed him to a landmark 17-year, $102 million deal, the largest contract in NHL history at the time.

But the deal didn’t come without controversy. The NHL rejected the contract, ruling it violated the league’s salary cap structure. The league argued the deal was designed to circumvent the cap by extending well into Kovalchuk’s 40s at a lower salary to reduce the average annual value.

As a result, the Devils were penalized with a $3 million fine and the forfeiture of a first-round pick. Although the league later allowed the team to retain a first-round selection, ultimately awarding them the 30th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, the penalty marked a significant moment in NHL contract history.

Fans are comparing Kovalchuk's contract to Florida Panthers’ Brad Marchand, who just signed a six-year $31 million contract. Marchand’s contract was not rejected by the NHL, but raised similar concerns over his age. 

Following the NHLPA’s appeal, the original contract was voided. The Devils and Kovalchuk then agreed to a revised 15-year, $100 million deal, which was approved by the NHL in September 2010.

Twelve years later, the hockey world still reflects on what could have been. Had Kovalchuk honored the full length of his contract, it would still be active today, set to expire in a little under two months (as of July 11, 2025).

Instead, in a stunning move during the 2013 offseason, Kovalchuk announced his retirement from the NHL at just 30 years old. He then signed with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), where he continued his career for several years.

In 2018, the 2001 first overall draft pick made his NHL return, playing four more seasons with the Kings, Canadiens, and Capitals before stepping away once again.

Today marks the 12th anniversary of Kovalchuk walking away from the Devils and one of the most ambitious contracts in league history. It’s wild to imagine a 42-year-old Kovalchuk skating alongside Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jake Allen in today’s lineup.

Since Kovalchuk’s departure in 2013, the Devils have posted a record of 414–410–121 and are 7–15 in playoff games. His early exit marked the end of a chapter in New Jersey Devils history.

Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas was busy on the trade market again on Thursday, sending defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok to the Dallas Stars in exchange for fellow defenseman Matt Dumba and a 2028 second-round pick. 

The Stars were over the salary cap at the time of the trade and had been looking for a team to take Dumba off their hands. He has one year left on his contract and will make $3.75 million this upcoming season. The Penguins easily absorbed that contract because they had over $15 million in cap space going into the trade. 

If the Penguins were still trying to win, this move would be a headscratcher, but that's not where they are right now. They are in transparent rebuild mode and have been since they traded Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes before the 2024 NHL trade deadline. They've been stockpiling assets over the last year and a half and now have 29 picks over the subsequent three drafts, including 17 in the first three rounds. They may not even use that 2028 second-rounder that they got with Dumba and could package it for a young player when the time is right. 

All of their moves throughout this offseason so far indicate that they don't care that much about the 2025-26 season. They see how good the 2026 NHL Draft is and could be in line to get a high pick, especially if they trade at least two of Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell. They are asking for good returns on all three, and so far, no team has been willing to meet their price. Karlsson feels like the most likely to go right now since there's a bit of a logjam on the right side with him, Kris Letang, Connor Clifton, Dumba, and Harrison Brunicke waiting in the wings. 

Speaking of Dumba, he played in 63 games for the Stars during the 2024-25 season, finishing with one goal and 10 points. He was healthy for the playoffs but got scratched in all of their playoff games. That's telling, considering the Stars had Cody Ceci, Ilya Lyubushkin, and even Alex Petrovic logging big minutes on their blue line. 

Dumba is only 30, but the fall-off in his game has been drastic. Throughout his career, he has been a player who can drive offense and bring some snarl, but the offense has dried up over the last few seasons. The last time he finished with more than 25 points in a season was during the 2021-22 season when he compiled seven goals and 27 points in 57 games with the Minnesota Wild. Dumba has also been below 50% in shot attempts per 60 minutes in six of his last seven seasons and has an expected goal share below 50% in four consecutive seasons. 

He spent 10 seasons with the Wild before bouncing to the Arizona Coyotes (now Utah Mammoth), Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, and now the Penguins. The Penguins will attempt to get him back on track a little so that they can try to flip him at the 2026 trade deadline. That means likely starting him on the third pairing and potentially moving him up to the second pairing to "showcase" him to other teams.

It's somewhat similar to when they signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year deal in free agency last year, aiming to "rehab" his game. Yes, he didn't get dealt to a contender at the deadline, but they still wanted to showcase him as much as possible in a top-four role at 5v5 and on the top power-play unit. The Penguins will likely rely on one of Karlsson (if he's not traded) or Letang to quarterback the top unit since Dumba only has a little over 65 power-play minutes over the last three seasons. He used to compile well over 100 PP minutes with the Wild before his game started to fade. Dumba may get a little bit of time on the second PP unit this season, but that's about it. 

The Penguins will "try" to get some of Dumba's 5v5 offense going a bit again to pair with the snarl and physicality that he has brought to the table throughout his career. They want to get a bit bigger, meaner, and tougher to play against after looking a little soft in front of their net last season. 

The Dumba deal isn't a trade that will "wow" anyone, but it provides the Penguins with another body for the right side of their defense and a good future asset that they don't necessarily have to retain. They are also set up to gain more future assets at next year's deadline, as Dumba is one of several players who don't have a contract beyond this season, including Connor Clifton, Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, Blake Lizotte, Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar, and Danton Heinen. In other words, the rebuild is proceeding as planned. 

(Data via Natural Stat Trick). 

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Featured Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Hockey Show returned on Friday for the first episode of the offseason.

This week, hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork starting off by reviewing their Rescue Paws fundraising drive, which raised $300 over the course of the postseason.

Before getting into the meat of the show, the boys played a viral video of former NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky begrudgingly getting into a fight with a drunk man on the golf course.

Joining The Hockey Show this week is Florida Panthers radio color commentator and NHL Network analyst Bill Lindsay.

He spoke about the difference between experiencing Florida’s first Stanley Cup win last season and then going through the run to their second straight title this year.

The boys also asked Billy about Panthers GM Bill Zito missing out again on the GM of the Year award, Florida’s moves in the offseason to re-sign all their big free agents and his favorite nicknames from during his playing days.

Additionally, this week’s wins and fails of the week included Roy re-upping on his hatred for the New York Islanders over their re-signing of defenseman Tony DeAngelo, some amazing audio from goaltender Alex Lyon after he signed with the Buffalo Sabres and Sam Bennett breaking out the Panthers goal song at his wedding earlier this month.

You can check out the full show in the video below:

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The NHL free agency market grew remarkably thin after the initial rush of signings in the opening week. One of the more prominent names unsigned was former Buffalo Sabre Jeff Skinner, but the veteran winger found a home on Friday, signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the San Jose Sharks.  

The 33-year-old was bought out of the final three years of his eight-year, $72 million contract last June and quickly signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Skinner was thought to be an option for the Oilers in their top-six playing alongside either Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid with another former Sabre Evander Kane expected out for the entire regular season.  

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The former 40-goal scorer was relegated mostly to a bottom-six role last season and scored 16 goals during the regular season and one goal in five games in his first Stanley Cup Playoff action. The Oilers did not show much interest in bringing back Skinner even after trading Kane to Vancouver Viktor Arvidsson to Boston, and losing Corey Perry and Connor Brown in free agency,    choosing instead to re-sign Trent Frederic and Kasperi Kapanen, and add Andrew Mangiapane and Curtis Lazar as UFA’s.

The Sharks are at best a longshot to make the playoffs and since July 1 have been more focused on adding veterans on short-term deals to get to the cap floor and establish a support structure around youngsters Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. GM Mike Grier signed defenseman Dmitri Orlov to a two-year deal, John Klingberg to a one-year deal, and claimed Nick Leddy off of waivers from St. Louis, adding $14.5 million in salary. 

If Skinner has a productive season playing in the Sharks top-six, his contract will be easily movable at next season’s trade deadline. 

   

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Isaak Phillips will be staying put with the Winnipeg Jets.

The Jets have announced that they have signed Phillips to a two-year, two-way contract. Starting next season, Phillips will have a $812,500 cap hit at the NHL level with the Jets.

We've signed defenceman Isaak Phillips to a two-year contract ✍️ pic.twitter.com/KTY0Uqva3R

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) July 11, 2025

Phillips, 23, was traded by the Blackhawks to the Jets back in January in exchange for defenseman Dmitry Kuzmin. Following this, Phillips played in 39 games with the Jets' AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, where he posted three goals and eight points.

Phillips was selected by the Blackhawks with the 141st overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. In 56 games over four seasons with the Blackhawks, Phillips posted two goals, 10 assists, 12 points, 31 penalty minutes, and 89 hits. He also played in three games during the 2024-25 season with the Blackhawks before being traded to the Jets, where he scored a goal and threw three hits. 

Phillips also recorded one goal, eight points, 54 penalty minutes, and a plus-8 rating in 28 games this past season with the Rockford IceHogs before being traded to Winnipeg. 

Now, after signing this new contract with the Jets, Phillips will look to continue to improve his game. It will be interesting to see if he can earn a spot on the Jets' NHL roster next season from here. 

Former Blackhawks Goalie Signs With New TeamFormer Chicago Blackhawks goalie Collin Delia is taking his talents overseas.

Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It came as good news for any hockey fan that the negotiations for the new CBA between the NHL and the NHLPA went so smoothly that they were able to ratify it a year before it even came into force. No strike, no lockout nonsense, just uninterrupted hockey for the next five years (the last year of the current CBA and the four years of the new one).

But amongst the highlights of the new deal is a disposition which could have a significant impact on one Montreal Canadiens player. From the 2026-27 season, the NHL teams will be playing 84 games rather than 82 like they have been for some time now, this means the Habs will be playing 166 games in the next two seasons. That’s the exact number of games Brendan Gallagher needs to reach the all-important 1,000 games milestone.

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The alternate captain has two seasons left on his six-year, $6.5 million AAV contract. Although some fans were once critical of his contract, hoping it would be bought out, his recent season has appeased the masses, as he played all 82 games and scored 38 points.

It was the first time since the 2018-19 season that he managed to play all 82 games of the season, and on top of that, 21 of his 38 points were goals. It had been a long time since he reached the 20-goal mark; in fact, the last occurrence was in 2019-20, when he put up 22 goals in a 59-game Covid-shortened season.

The devoted veteran has now played 834 games with the Sainte-Flanelle, and if he manages to stay healthy and isn’t traded or bought out, he could finish his contract having played exactly 1,000 games all wearing the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge.

ALL 21 BRENDAN GALLAGHER GOALS OF THE 2024-25 SEASON! 21 BUTS!Brendan Gallagher had a remarkable bounce back season. He got himself back up the 20 goal mark, hitting 21 total. Here's a compilation of all 21 goals he sco...

It would be a fitting end for the man who was fifth in team scoring this past season and third in goals scored. Not so long ago, I would have laughed at the suggestion that Gallagher could play a full season with his injury track record, but he did manage to do it this past season, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

It would be hard not to be happy for the veteran if he did reach the 1,000-game milestone, after all, the odds were hardly in his favour. A fifth-round pick and 147th selection overall at the 2010 draft, who was only 5-foot-9, most counted him out without knowing anything about him, but straight from his first training camp, two things were obvious: he was playing like a player much bigger than he was, and his determination was without limit.

The alternate captain has stuck with the Habs through highs and lows and never wanted to move elsewhere. This season, he climbed his way into the Canadiens’ record book and reached several milestones. His 834 games with the Sainte-Flanelle are the 20th most games played in the storied uniform, with 239 career goals, he is the 15th most prolific goal scorer in franchise history (and that’s a long history), his 225 assists are the 39th highest total. His 464 points are the 27th highest total.

Only five players have played 1,000 games with the Canadiens: Henri Richard (1,258), Larry Robinson (1,202), Bob Gainey (1,160), Jean Beliveau (1,125), and Claude Provost (1,005). That’s some pretty elite company, and for everything he has accomplished on the ice, Gallagher is deserving of joining it. For that to happen, though, everything will need to play out perfectly. It would be agonizing for fans to see Gallagher’s career come to an end just short of the milestone. Think of how many of them still mention Andrei Markov’s 990 games and the way he fell just short…

Photo credit:  Douglas DeFelice-Imagn Images

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The Toronto Marlies are bringing back two more depth players.

The club announced on Friday afternoon that they've signed Cedric Pare and Sam Stevens each to one-year AHL contracts. Both players spent the entirety of last season with the Marlies, with Pare appearing in 59 games and Stevens appearing in 21 games.

Pare played a majority of his minutes as a center in Toronto's bottom six. In 59 games with the club, the 26-year-old scored 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points, his second-highest total in the AHL since he turned pro.

The forward signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Maple Leafs last summer and became a restricted free agent on July 1. You might remember Pare because of his accidental knee-on-knee collision with Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine during preseason last September, which forced the Finnish forward out for two months.

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Pare has 39 goals and 56 assists in 207 career AHL games over four seasons. The 2017 sixth-round pick by the Boston Bruins has yet to appear in an NHL game. Pare became a restricted free agent after Toronto didn't qualify him as a restricted free agent in June.

Stevens is also a center who spent most games down the middle of the Marlies' top six last season. AHL Toronto first signed the forward after his final season (2023-24) at Boston University, where he scored 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 40 games.

The 25-year-old scored two goals and two assists in 21 games with the Marlies this past season. In 142 games at Boston University, Stevens had 26 goals and 24 points. This is going to be the forward's second pro season.

Ranking Every NHL Arena's Media Meal Part 1: The Bottom 8 Revealed (Nos. 25–32)As I write this, I feel blessed that I get to travel as often as I do. And while on the road covering the Toronto Maple Leafs, I like to see what every city has to offer in terms of restaurants, amenities, etc.

It's been a busy couple of days for the Marlies, who revealed their regular season schedule on Thursday and made a significant number of AHL signings earlier in the week. Toronto signed Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Ben King, and Nick Rheaume to one-year AHL contracts, while also re-signing Marko Sikic and defenceman Ryan McCleary to one-year deals on Tuesday.

The Marlies also signed former Marlie Marc Johnstone to a two-year AHL contract, Ken Appleby to a one-year contract, and re-signed Reese Johnson. Toronto's regular season begins on the road on October 10 against the Rochester Americans.

(Top photo of Pare: Thomas Skrlj / Toronto Marlies)

St. Louis Blues prospect Justin Carbonneau, the No. 19 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, has made his choice and it's a familiar one.

The forward has decided to return to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and play for Blainville-Boisbriand Armada next season.

The 18-year-old, who was with the Blues for prospect camp last week and made terrific impressions on team management, coaches and notably, the fans, was contemplating a choice between a return to the QMJHL or to play college hockey at Boston College.

He made his choice on Friday, announced by the Armada:

Ça, ça commence bien le week-end 😎🎱#LeFuturEstMaintenant⚡️ pic.twitter.com/XNq2GcfBa2

— ArmadaBLB (@ArmadaBLB) July 11, 2025

Carbonneau, who had 89 points (46 goals, 53 assists) in 62 regular-season games last season, projects to play for a squad that will be among the favorites to win the QMJHL and potentially represent a side competing for the Memorial Cup.

He conferred with the Blues last week, but ultimately made the decision with his family that it was best to advance his playing career where he's familiar.

And by doing so, Carbonneau can attend Blues training camp in September, leaving the options open that there's at least a chance of being a player that can come in and steal an NHL job, or if not, he has that option of going to juniors, something that wouldn't have been available had he chosen the college route.

Should Carbonneau somehow made the opening night roster, the Blues can showcase him for nine NHL games before deciding whether he remains with the big club or heads to junior for the season, but it all depends on if he signs an entry-level contract. Stay tuned.

ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild issued a qualifying offer to forward Mikey Milne on July 1st. The Wild have now announced they have re-signed the forward to a one-year, two-way contract.

He will make $775,000 in the NHL and $100,000 in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2025-26 season.

Milne, 22, appeared in one NHL game for the Wild during the 2024-25 season. He played 6:34 of ice time and had three hits in a game against the Dallas Stars. 

The 5-foot-10 forward is a speedy and aggressive winger who was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft. 

The native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, recorded 15 goals, 11 assists, and 26 points in 60 AHL games with the Iowa Wild last year. He had two power-play goals and one shorthanded goal. 

In three seasons with the Wild, Milne has 30 goals, 30 assists, 60 points and 90 penalty minutes in 157 career AHL games.

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Jack Eichel is yet to sign a contract extension just yet with the Vegas Golden Knights as questions about his future are beginning to be discussed. 

The growing speculation is that Eichel will sign a contract extension with the Golden Knights at some point, but if that were not to happen for whatever reason, the New York Rangers have been linked as potential destinations for the superstar. 

“I think other teams around the league are expecting it (Eichel contract extension with the Golden Knights) to get done,” ESPN’s Emily Kaplan said.

“I haven’t heard anything about Eichel not wanting to get it done, so my expectation that is something that gets done this summer, but we shall see, and if he does happen to say ‘oh wait, I would rather go play on the East Coast or maybe I’m not ready to make a decision yet,’ then obviously the Rangers would be very high on the list of teams he’d be interested in along with the Boston Bruins of course.”

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Vegas is already working out what Eichel’s contract extension could look like. 

Rangers Finding A Way To Make It Work With Mika Zibanejad And Avoid NoiseWith the dust mostly settled, it appears as if Mika Zibanejad will return to the New York Rangers for the 2025-26 season.

Friedman also added that Eichel’s potential contract extension could be even more expensive than Mitch Marner’s new eight-year, $96 million contract. 

The Rangers have been rumored to have their eyes on some big-name players during the 2026 offseason.

The NHL and NHLPA have released details about the new CBA that will come into effect for the 2026-27 season. The new agreement features numerous changes, including a playoff salary cap, the elimination of team-enforced dress codes and contract length limits. The 167-page document also includes a new rule regarding AHL eligibility, which will affect WHL players moving forward. 

The 21st item in the new CBA has to do with what age players can join the AHL. The exact wording is, "NHL will reopen its agreement with the CHL to seek to eliminate the mandatory return rule for 19-year-old Players. NHL will seek to limit NHL Clubs to Loaning no more than one (1) 19-year-old Player per year to the AHL without the requirement of first offering such Player to his junior Club." In short, this means that a select number of players can make the jump to the AHL a year early if their drafted NHL team feels they are ready to turn pro. 

Just like the new NCAA rule, this will impact the WHL. While only 32 players will be eligible for this rule, some will likely be from the WHL. Ultimately, this could impact how teams prepare for the season, as WHL franchises may lose their best players a year early. 

The first players that this rule will impact are those born in 2007. Some notable names who could make the jump to the AHL early include Ben Kindel, Braeden Cootes and Radim Mrtka. These three players were all drafted in the top 15 of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and could be deemed ready at 19 to join the AHL. 

Ultimately, these new eligibility rules will impact not only WHL teams but also organizations across the CHL. While it is a positive that players have new options available, management groups from all 61 teams will need to adjust how they plan for the future. In the end, it will be interesting to see which players are selected to make the jump to the AHL early, as the list is sure to include those from the WHL.

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more from The Hockey News.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets are the latest focus in our NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Blue Jackets’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises.

Initial Thoughts

The Blue Jackets are on the rise. They are starting to see the youngest members of the squad make a major impact as they look to return to the post-season for the first time since the 2020 COVID-19 playoffs. Although a few players remain from that team, this is a new generation of Blue Jackets hockey, and Adam Fantilli leads it. 

Fantilli reached the 30-goal plateau as a 20-year-old center last year, finishing fifth on the team in scoring. His value as a two-way center has also begun to show itself. As Fantilli enters his third NHL season, there could be a significant step in production this year, bringing him closer to point-per-game production. 

The Jackets found their franchise center in Fantilli. Now, it’s just about surrounding him with talent. 

Kent Johnson helps bring that talent. This past year seemed like the first time an NHL coach embraced that Johnson is one of the most purely skilled players in the NHL. Johnson blossomed because of it with 57 points in 68 games. Johnson is capable of things most players could only dream of. He’s a video game in real life. He and Fantilli showed some amazing chemistry at times. Going into his age-23 season, Johnson is primed for a true breakout. 

Fantilli and Johnson don’t qualify as prospects, but the Blue Jackets do have quite a few very solid prospects. 

Headlining the group is Cayden Lindstrom, the fourth overall pick from the 2024 NHL draft. The big, physical forward has a fantastic blend of power and skill to his game. He will crush a player along the boards as they look to break out of their defensive zone, steal the puck and power his way to the net and get a shot off with a defender on his back. After missing most of this past season recovering from his back injury, Lindstrom is headed to Michigan State University, where he will get to test his skill against bigger, faster competition.

James Malatesta and Luca Del Bel Belluz got into a few NHL games but spent most of this past season in the AHL. Malatesta had a slightly more challenging season than his rookie campaign, but his intelligence and tactical play remained. Del Bel Belluz, meanwhile, took a major step up at the AHL level, which earned him an extended call up, getting into 15 NHL games. He put up eight points in his NHL stint, which is probably good enough to keep him in a roster spot going into next season.

Luca Pinelli finished his OHL career with a solid season in Ottawa despite the team missing the playoffs. Pinelli plays with his heart on his sleeve. He was a two-year captain for the 67’s and gave his all on every shift. Pinelli has a great shot, some wicked vision and tenacity that helps mute the concerns about his 5-foot-9 size. He must prove he can handle the physical nature of pro hockey. He had a brief stint in the AHL at the end of this past season and played well. 

After an incredibly high-scoring QMJHL career, Jordan Dumais was injured for the first half of the year before jumping into the AHL. He had 11 points in 21 games, but he never really got up to speed. The 21-year-old will aim to return to his high-end offensive production. Dumais’ most effective play has always been in the offensive zone, using his passing and vision to open up chances for teammates.

On the back end, the Blue Jackets have a few notable players, highlighted by Charlie Elick. He is a big, mobile defensive blueliner who shows some flashes of puck-moving ability, but he’s not ever going to be mistaken for a high-end producer. His value comes from shutting play down and getting involved physically.

Stanislav Svozil is a two-way defender who has been solid in each of his two years with the Cleveland Monsters. He skates well and uses that to his advantage at both ends of the ice. He mirrors attackers, closes out at one end of the ice, evades pressure and makes crisp passes at the other. He doesn’t have much high-end skill, but he should be able to play a decent depth role with solid breakout passing and good defensive play at the NHL one day.

Corson Ceulemans has had an interesting development path. He has all the physical tools, including skating, size, strength, puckhandling and passing, but he hasn’t put it all together just yet. He went from the BCHL to the NCAA to the AHL, and each level put him to the test. This will be a big season for the 22-year-old, as he will look to finally start building and providing steady value in the AHL in hopes of earning an NHL call-up.

Key U-23 Players Likely To Play NHL Games This Season

Adam Fantilli (C), Denton Mateychuk (D), Cole Sillinger (C/W), Kent Johnson (LW/C), Luca Del Bel Belluz (C)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 14th overall - Jackson Smith, D, Tri-City (WHL)

Round 1, 20th overall - Pyotr Andreyanov, G, Krasnaya Armiya Moscow Jr. (Rus)

Round 3, 76th overall - Malte Vass, D, Farjestad Jr. (Swe.)

Round 5, 160th overall - Owen Griffin, C, Oshawa (OHL)

Round 6, 173rd overall - Victor Raftheim Hedin, D, Brynas Jr. (Swe.)

Round 7, 198th overall - Jeremy Loranger, C, Sherwood Park (BCHL)

The Blue Jackets hope the 2025 NHL draft is the last where they pick in a non-playoff position for a while. 

Big right-shot defender Jackson Smith is arguably the second-best defender in the class. He is incredibly mobile and has some of the most enticing physical tools. He’s shown flashes of puck-rushing ability and offensive creation. His most valuable trait is his transition defense, where he mirrors opposing players, steps up and either takes the puck off their stick or finishes with the body. Smith must find some consistency, but he has the tools to become a very solid No. 2 or No. 3 defenseman. 

A few picks later, Columbus selected the first goalie of the draft, Pyotr Andreyanov. The highly touted Russian is one of the most athletic goalies in the class. His skating is surgical, rarely wasting a movement and consistently finding ways to stay square with the puck. Andreyanov instantly shoots to the top of the Jackets' goalie depth chart, and he could be the goalie of the future for the franchise. In the meantime, he signed a five-year contract extension with CSKA Moscow as he continues to develop.

Malte Vass is a strong defensive player, using intelligent reads and strong skating to ensure he is in a good position to kill plays. The Swede’s play on the puck is best when he keeps things simple and doesn’t try to do too much. Vass is a simple passer who finds the first outlet and hits it quickly. He’s not fun to watch from a skill perspective, but he’s effective, and his physicality gets people out of their seats. 

Owen Griffin epitomizes a player who excels in many aspects of the game but doesn’t have a standout trait. Griffin shows some skill, a steady 200-foot game and a predictability in his play that coaches will love. If he were a bit bigger, teams would likely have seen him as a bottom-six option more easily, but at 5-foot-10, he must prove his worth in the bottom six to get to the NHL level one day. 

In the sixth round, Columbus swung on a toolsy, raw defender with some size, Victor Raftheim Hedin. The 6-foot-4 blueliner tries to get involved in plays, whether that's jumping up to join the rush, creeping down off the point in the offensive zone or cheating over to help in the defensive zone. Raftheim Hedin must play a more structured game and learn to refine the little things, but his mobility, tools and athleticism are all interesting traits to build on. 

The Blue Jackets’ last pick was a massive swing on a scoring forward from the BCHL, Jeremy Loranger. His 105 points led the league with an 18-point margin over the second-place scorer. Loranger is small, and he plays accordingly, avoiding physical play whenever possible. This was a major concern for teams, as you need some sort of ability to handle physical play. Loranger is a creative passer who weaves through traffic with the puck and fires off passes. In the seventh round, this is exactly the kind of swing you want to take.  

Strengths

For a team that struggled for so long down the middle, center has become a bit of a strength in its pipeline. 

Fantilli and Cole Sillinger are U-22 players already on the roster and playing center. You can add Del Bel Belluz to that list this year, in all likelihood. 

Their top prospect, Lindstrom, could be the center the Jackets pair with Fantilli to form a dangerous one-two punch on the top two lines. Griffin was a nice addition in the draft. Pinelli and William Whitelaw are potential wingers at the next level, but they still have a chance to play down the middle. That’s an impressive group. 

Weaknesses

The Jackets have a pretty solid prospect pool all around, but the left wing lacks some talent. Malatesta is a solid prospect, but he wouldn’t be considered a high-end player. Oiva Keskinen is a fine prospect who could be a depth scoring option, and he’ll play his first AHL season this upcoming year after a couple of solid campaigns in the Liiga. Beyond that, Columbus could use a forward or two on the left side.

Hidden Gem: Luca Marrelli, D

The activation in Marrelli’s game has always been there, but in his final OHL season, he took full advantage of it. The Oshawa defender consistently joined the rush or jumped into the fray off the blueline. It allowed him to take advantage of his ever-improving shot and continue to impact the game as a facilitator. Marelli was second in playoff scoring as he helped lead his team to the final, where they lost for a second straight year to the London Knights. He will take his talents to Cleveland in the AHL next season.

Next Man Up: Luca Del Bel Belluz, C/W

For all the high-quality prospects the Jackets have, many of them are already in the NHL, or they are a year or two away. Del Bel Belluz is next up, and although he’s less exciting than some of their other youngsters, he’s still a solid prospect. He’s a tactical scorer who finds ways to connect plays with effective passing and intelligent positioning. He’s not a star, but he will be a solid contributor.

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: James Malatesta, Oiva Keksinen

C: Cayden Lindstrom, Luca Del Bel Belluz, Luca Pinelli, William Whitelaw, Owen Griffin 

RW: Jordan Dumais, Kirill Dolzhenkov, James Fisher

LD: Jackson Smith, Stanislav Svozil, Malte Vass, Andrew Strathmann, Aidan Hreschuk, Daemon Hunt

RD: Charlie Elick, Corson Ceulemans, Luca Marrelli

G: Pyotr Andreyonov, Sergei Ivanov, Evan Gardner, Melvin Strahl, Nolan Lalonde

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.

American goaltender Collin Delia, 31, has signed a one-year contract with Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Friday.

“My family and I are incredibly happy to have this opportunity to represent a prestigious club like Brynäs,” said Delia. “The team’s passionate fans combined with its proud history made our decision easy. I’m looking forward to the season and I want to contribute to us going all the way and winning Swedish championship.”

Winning a title wouldn’t be such a huge leap for Brynäs who, despite being promoted from the tier-two HockeyAllsvenskan last season, finished first in the SHL regular-season standings and went all the way to the league finals, losing to Lulea in six games.

Delia joins a Brynäs team that has several big-name players, including Jakob Silfverberg, Johan Larsson, Robert Hägg, Oskar Lindblom, Michal Kempný and Christian Djoos.

Delia is the only healthy goaltender under contract right now, as former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Erik Källgren isn’t expected back until early 2026 after undergoing hip surgery.

“Collin is well-deserved and we have followed him for a long time,” said Brynäs sports director Johan Alcén. “He’s a goalie who always gives his best for the team and knows what is required at the highest level. He is very well-educated and incredibly good on his skates. It will be exciting to work with him and see what he can achieve in our environment.”

Ex-NHL D-Man Moves From Czechia To Sweden Czech defenseman Michal Kempný, 34, has signed a one-year contract with Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Friday.

Born in Rancho Cucamonga, Cal., Delia played three years of NCAA hockey at Merrimack College and then signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017. Between 2017 and 2022, he played 32 NHL games with Chicago, spending the rest of the time with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.

In 2022, Delia signed with the Vancouver Canucks, starting the season in the minors, third in the team’s goaltending depth chart, but played 20 NHL games that season after Thatcher Demko was injured and Spencer Martin faltered in the starting role.

Delia spent the last two seasons in the minor-league systems of the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers.

In 52 NHL games, Delia has a goals-against average of 3.51, a save percentage of .897, a record of 19-18-7 and no shutouts. This is his first contract to play in Europe.

Photo © Bob Frid-Imagn Images.

Goalie Spencer Martin Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Spencer Martin, 30, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

From time to time over the summer, we like to head for the library to look back on some memorable moments in Ottawa Senators history, just waiting there to relive in The Hockey News Archive. The archive is free to all THN subscribers, and you can subscribe here.

Last season, it was great to see Dany Heatley be welcomed back into the Senators family for a reunion of The Pizza Line. It's hard to believe it's already been 20 years since they were formed. Back in December of 2025, Mike Brophy wrote a great piece on the 24-year-old Heatley, including his first few weeks in Ottawa, his comeback from the accident, and the incredible start on what might have been the best team in Sens history.

A fascinating read from our Dec 13, 2005/Vol. 59, Issue 13:

---

Turning Point

By Mike Brophy

Dany Heatley spots a friendly face on the other side of the visitor’s dressing room at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre and motions for the reporter to wander over.

As Mark Brender, senior writer for The Hockey News, draws near Heatley, the big left winger offers the now familiar dentally challenged smile and says, “Thirty-five?! Whoa!”

Heatley is referring to his rank in The Hockey News’ annual ‘Top 50’ list of NHL players in our 2005-06 Yearbook. It’s quite a drop from his No. 5 position of a year earlier. Brender, who can handle himself with the toughest opponents, rolls with Heatley’s jabs.

Reminded later of the encounter, Heatley laughs and says, “I was only kidding. I wasn’t really upset.”

For a young man who has been to hell and back, not much upsets Heatley these days. He’s playing on the top line on the NHL’s top team, along with Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson. And, with points in all 22 of Ottawa’s games this season, he was one away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s mark for points in consecutive games from the start of the season with a new team. Gretzky had points in his first 23 games with the Los Angeles Kings in 1988-89.

Gretzky also holds the NHL record for longest point streak ever, 51 straight games with the Oilers in 1983-84. He managed 61 goals and 153 points in that span.

Heatley, 24, insists he doesn’t dwell on his own streak.

“It’s not a distraction for me,” he says. “I’m just trying to go out and play with those two guys and make things happen. The key for us is, if we are skating and moving the puck, good things will happen. The record (51 games) is so far away, it’s not even worth talking about.”

And if his head happens to get a little too big because of the streak, there’s always coach Bryan Murray to reel him in. In mid-November, Murray was concerned Heatley’s play was starting to slip. So, following an effort that left Murray wanting more, he walked past Heatley in the dressing room and grunted: “Is that (expletive) streak over with yet?”

Replied Heatley: “No. I got a point on a power play goal.”

“Are you sure?

“Yes.”

“We’ll let’s get it over with. You’ve got to play better. Dany, you’re stickhandling all the time. What the hell is that all about?”

Murray made his point.

“After that he got right back to playing the way he had been from the start of the year,” the coach says. “And he has been a star since.”

The Dany Heatley story has been told and retold ad nauseam. The Reader’s Digest version goes something like this: young hockey star with untold riches buys sports car, then crashes sports car while racing through a city street. He’s seriously injured and his passenger, teammate and friend, Dan Snyder, is killed. Snyder’s family offers Heatley support and helps him avoid jail time. Heatley resumes his career only to suffer an eye injury while playing in Europe during the NHL lockout. His play deteriorates. This past summer, seeking a change of scenery, he asks to be traded.

Sadly, this storyline will always be a part of his life. But the time has come to concentrate on the new chapters he is writing. His trade from Atlanta to Ottawa – in exchange for right winger Marian Hossa and defenseman Greg de Vries – was the first step toward a fresh start. Heatley is in a bona fide hockey market, he is healthy and he is thriving.

After a year in which he was called out for sub-par performances during the World Cup, World Championship and while playing in Europe, some wondered if the toll of what happened was too much for him to handle. Not Heatley, though.

Ask him if he is back and his response is quick and blunt.

“Back?” he says with a chuckle. “I was never gone.

“The lockout was a year off for everybody. I consider myself an NHL hockey player and there was no NHL hockey. I was anxious to get back to playing in this league and I’m happy to be back.”

Heatley defends himself when asked to explain his play at the World Championship and World Cup.

“Those two tournaments, in my opinion, are short-term events and the bottom line is, we won the World Cup,” he says. “I mean, I was not burying a bunch of goals, and that’s what I do, but sometimes it just doesn’t go in for you in a short tournament like that. Same thing with the worlds. I had a couple of good tournaments the two years before that and again, because in the last one I didn’t score nine or 10 goals, all of a sudden I’m no good?”

There were rumors in the hockey world that Heatley’s play was affected by alcohol consumption. Heatley denies it was ever a problem, saying, “I think it was a misconception. The people that know me, know me.”

Murray says he, too, heard the rumors. But after making a few calls to people who know Heatley well, the Sens coach was assured it was not an issue. Murray talked with Heatley prior to the season and told him Ottawa was a fishbowl because of the Senators’ popularity. Heatley assured his new coach he simply wanted to be the best player he could be.

“He worked hard at training camp, got in shape right off the bat and he has been successful,” Murray says.

Heatley loves his new surroundings. He lives in nearby Kanata, where the team plays, and feels the move has been good for him. An avid music fan, Heatley has attended U2 and Pearl Jam concerts at the Corel Centre and would love to go to Toronto to see his favorites, the Dave Matthews Band, in early December, but doesn’t think the team’s schedule will allow for it.

If anyone doubted whether he would return to the level of his first three NHL seasons, when he scored 80 goals and 181 points in 190 games and was the NHL’s top rookie in 2001-02, they need wonder no longer. Heatley was fifth in scoring with 17 goals and 38 points in 22 games (a 63-goal, 142-point pace). Linemates Spezza and Alfredsson were 1-2 in league scoring and the trio was on pace for 179 goals and 444 points.

The record is so far away, it’s not even worth talking about.

Dany Heatley on catching Gretzky’s record 51-game point streak

Murray originally intended to keep Alfredsson on a different line to spread the scoring around. But when rookie Brandon Bochenski needed more development time, Alfredsson was bumped up to the top unit. It was like Ringo joining The Beatles: they have made sweet music ever since.

“I thought we could get away with putting Alfie with them from time to time late in games like we did in our season opener,” Murray says, “but eventually we felt that giving them a world-class player like Alfie would give the other two guys a boost.”

Alfredsson could not be more pleased.

“I was hoping to play with Dany from the moment I heard we traded for him,” Alfredsson says. “I know he’s a special player and I knew it would be a lot of fun, especially on offense. He plays with a lot of creativity and he does things on the ice that make life easy for me.”

Spezza and Heatley played at the 2000 World Junior Championship for Canada, but were not linemates. “Actually we did play on the same line during tryouts,” Spezza recalls. “That’s probably why I made the team.”

Spezza says the key to the line’s success is communication.

“We have great chemistry on the ice and we get along real well off the ice, too,” he says. “We have the type of relationship where, if he does something I don’t like or I do something he doesn’t like, we just tell each other and we don’t take it personally. You don’t offend the other guy by pointing out something that goes a long way toward us having on-ice success. We can have rifts during the game and get upset at each other and it’s really no big deal. It never carries over to off the ice.”

Alfredsson didn’t know quite what to expect in being teamed up with Heatley.

“I thought he was a great shooter and really skilled 1-on-1, but the biggest thing I have found is he can create something out of nothing. His vision on the ice is good.”

Atlanta GM Don Waddell, for his part, is not surprised at Heatley’s recent success.

“He’s a great hockey player,” Waddell says. “Whether he could have enjoyed that kind of success in Atlanta, that was the question. We knew a change of scenery would be beneficial to him and obviously going to a good hockey club has helped.”

For the first quarter of the season at least, Heatley had people in the hockey world checking game summaries each morning to see if his point streak was still alive. And the smile he wears is one of genuine happiness.

“I’m happy for simple reasons,” he says. “We’re back playing and practicing and doing the things I like to do. I love being back in the routine and hanging with the guys. I missed that last season with the lockout and half-a-season before that (after the accident). Hockey should be fun and it is. I’m liking what’s going on now.”

You don’t need to tell us, Dany. It shows.

Three forwards on the same team, all in the top five in NHL scoring? Here’s a look at trios to pull this trick since 1967.

BOSTON BRUINS

1970-71 Points

1. P. Esposito 152

2. B. Orr, Bos 139

3. J. Bucyk 116

4. K. Hodge 105

5. B. Hull, Chi 96

NEW YORK RANGERS

1971-72 Points

1. P. Esposito, Bos 133

2. B. Orr, Bos 117

3. J. Ratelle 109

4. V. Hadfield 106

5. R. Gilbert 97

BOSTON BRUINS

1973-74 Points

1. P. Esposito 145

2. B. Orr 122

3. K. Hodge 105

4. W. Cashman 89

5. B. Clarke, Phi 87

EDMONTON OILERS

1986-87 Points

1. W. Gretzky 183

2. J. Kurri 108

3. M. Lemieux, Pit 107

4. M. Messier 107

5. D. Gilmour, StL 105

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

1995-96 Points

1. M. Lemieux 161

2. J. Jagr 149

3. J. Sakic, Col 120

4. R. Francis 119

5. P. Forsberg, Col 116

OTTAWA SENATORS

2005-06 Points

1. J. Spezza 41

2. D. Alfredsson 40

3. J. Jagr, NYR 39

4. P. Forsberg, Phi 39

5. D. Heatley 38 ■

By Mike Brophy
The Hockey News
Dec 13, 2005/Vol. 59, Issue 13
Get full access to The Hockey News Archive here.

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