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Mo Brings The Mojo - Feb. 4 2022 - Vol. 75 Issue 11 - Matt Larkin

THE HOCKEY NEWS’ 2019 Draft Preview rated Seider 22nd in his class, well below projected stars such as Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko but also behind half a dozen players who still don’t take regular shifts in the NHL today. The scouting report complimented Seider’s 6-foot-4 frame and big shot but described him as an “intriguing but raw prospect” and qualified his strong play with Mannheim of the DEL with, “The German League is not the best league in Europe, but…”

Perhaps it was the German factor obscuring Seider’s top-prospect status. At the time, his nation had produced just 15 NHL defensemen, and only three had made sizable impacts: puck-mover Christian Ehrhoff, whom Seider looked up to; rugged Stanley Cup winner Dennis Seidenberg; and Uwe Krupp, who scored the Cup-clinching goal in overtime for the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. Seider also didn’t come from a rich bloodline of athletes. His parents ran a home for the elderly before quitting to move to Mannheim to support their son’s hockey dream when he was 13.

But the new Yzerman regime saw something in Seider anyway, and not just because he’d won DEL rookie of the year in 2018-19. They identified a caliber of two-way hockey sense that’s tough to teach. The Wings had a history of hitting home runs at the draft when going off the board, having selected seven-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom 53rd overall in 1989, a pick they settled on because of his preternatural hockey sense. Yzerman, Lidstrom’s longtime teammate, was transferring that logic to pick Seider, a kid who grew up watching Lidstrom’s games “every single night,” as Seider puts it.

To get drafted far earlier than expected and attract immediate Lidstrom comparisons could leave most teenagers trembling, but Seider viewed the surprise of going sixth overall as a positive. “Honestly, it was a shock for me, too,” he said. “Other than that, I was super proud being selected by an Original Six team, especially the Wings, with all the history, and from that moment, my life changed. My confidence grew, definitely. But I was not worried about the number that was in front of that pick. I wanted to make sure I made the team as soon as possible and had a good impact.”

No kidding. The way Seider played in the months following the selection, when he came to North America to play for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, he rapidly transformed from reach to steal. Shawn Horcoff, the Red Wings’ director of player development, explains that the team staff working on the North American side hadn’t seen much of Seider before he came over. He and coach Jeff Blashill refer to Seider’s Adler Mannheim stint as when he “played in the men’s league,” which almost makes it sound like a beer league. They were taken with his character and charismatic personality upon meeting him but didn’t yet understand how much potential Seider possessed.

I was super proud being selected by an Original Six team, especially the Wings, with all the history, and from that moment, my life changed

- – Moritz Seider

As Blashill remembers it, some of the rawness was as advertised in the early going as Seider learned how to make quicker decisions with the puck. But any doubts about his ceiling disappeared quickly. Horcoff began to envision the type of all-situations defender who could play 25-plus minutes a night. “It was apparent early the kind of tools that he had and the ability to play all aspects of the game,” Horcoff said. “So, as a development staff, it was pretty clear to us, ‘This kid’s got a chance,’ a guy that can impact an NHL hockey game at all levels.”

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Seider could hit. He could shoot. He could make a strong first pass. He skated very well for a big man. He shot right-handed. He showed leadership qualities. It wasn’t long before he became the Griffins’ top defenseman, and he captained Germany at the World Junior Championship in 2020, too.

By spring 2020, in The Hockey News’ Future Watch, a panel of active NHL scouts and executives graded Seider as the No. 6 NHL-affiliated prospect in the game, second only to Colorado’s Bowen Byram among blueliners. The perception changed from “Yzerman reached” to “Yzerman’s done it,” and with the shift came calls for Seider to jump to the NHL. Would he join Detroit’s blueline by 2020-21, or would the long-term tank mission withhold him?

The decision was taken out of Detroit’s hands when COVID-19 delayed the start of the 2020-21 AHL and NHL seasons. The Wings didn’t want to waste crucial development time bouncing Seider between the AHL, NHL and taxi squad, so they sent him to Rogle of the Swedish League. “It was really important to Steve Yzerman, as it should have been, that Moritz was playing and developing at such a young age,” Blashill said. “And the decision was made for him to go to Sweden and, once he did, that he was going to be there for the year. Could he have played (in the NHL)? Yeah, he could have played, but none of us thought that was the best thing for him. You need to make sure you’re doing what's best for these prospects and make sure they’re in situations where they can thrive and not just survive.”

More Red Wings: Exclusive: Red Wings Prospect Shai Buium Eyes NHL Roster Spot: “Make It a Hard Decision”

Seider did just that, dominating the SHL and winning defenseman of the year. Working in his favor that season was his attitude. He never viewed the Swedish assignment as an insult. He’s an optimist. Horcoff describes him as a happy guy with a contagious smile. As Blashill puts it, “You know when you’re in the room with him.”

He’s a thoughtful, social person who says his favorite thing to do outside hockey is “sit downtown in Mannheim and have a coffee with my friends, and we usually just chill there all afternoon and talk. Sometimes serious topics, sometimes not the best topics, but also some fun stuff.” He was perceptive enough to know a year in the SHL would help him. “Being patient is a big strength of mine, and I just needed time first, to grow as a hockey player, to be more mature on and off the ice and develop a more complete game at both ends of the ice.”

By 2021-22 training camp, there was virtually no doubt Seider, 20, would march right to the NHL. He did, and he won rookie of the month for October. By late January, he easily led rookie blueliners in scoring while averaging 22:30 of ice time, almost two minutes more than the closest rookie defensemen. He easily held the best shot-attempt share in 5-on-5 play among Red Wings D-men. As he develops confidence and joins the rush more, his offensive play has been slightly superior to his defensive play, but it’s coming around. “That balance of when to jump in the play, when to be the guy joining and when to be the guy not necessarily leading the rush is something we’ve worked on with him,” Blashill said. “But Moritz has a real good inner confidence to him. He’s got great self-belief that way. He’s able to handle coaching. It doesn’t affect him in a negative manner. He takes the information in, and he does what he thinks is best when he goes on the ice, and that’s what the best players do.”

The best players also lead, and Seider will do that – his own way. Teammates will follow him, but they’ll laugh along the way. The young man loves to dance. It’s somewhat of a trademark. And he does it with a purpose. “Whatever our DJ plays, I’ll vibe with, and I just want to make sure I feel good, get loose, don’t have any pressure,” he said. “If that transfers to the other guys and they feel good, even better. I wouldn’t say I have a strong voice, but I just try to make sure everyone is feeling good and get the most out of their game. If it’s just telling a joke or making someone laugh, that’s a great thing, too. I’m not running around and screaming in the locker room. I just try to lead by example on the ice and hope the guys will follow.” 

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In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Joe Yerdon ranked each team's goalie tandem heading into the 2025-26 season. The Chicago Blackhawks' tandem of Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom received a tough ranking, as they finished at the No. 29 spot. 

With this ranking, the Blackhawks only finished ahead of the San Jose Sharks (Yaroslav Askarov & Alex Nedeljkovic), Philadelphia Flyers (Samuel Ersson, Dan Vladar & Ivan Fedotov), and Pittsburgh Penguins (Tristan Jarry & Arturs Silovs). 

Teams ranked just ahead of the Blackhawks on Yerdon's list are the Seattle Kraken (Joey Daccord & Philipp Grubauer), Columbus Blue Jackets (Elvis Merzlikins & Jet Greaves), and Buffalo Sabres (Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon & Devon Levi).

Knight is a young goalie looking to prove that he can be a legitimate NHL starting goalie. In 15 games with the Blackhawks after being acquired from the Florida Panthers in the Seth Jones trade, Knight recorded a 5-8-2 record, a 3.18 goals-against average, and a .893 save percentage. In 95 games over four NHL seasons, the former first-rounder has recorded a 49-33-9 record, a .904 save percentage, and a 2.83 goals-against average. 

Soderblom, on the other hand, just landed a two-year, $5.5 million contract this summer after having the best season of his NHL career thus. In 33 games, he recorded a 10-18-7 record and set new career bests with a .898 save percentage and a 3.18 goals-against average. 

Overall, while the Blackhawks' goaltending may have some doubters heading into the new season, the potential for them to improve is certainly there. Knight has the tools to blossom into a high-impact goalie, while Soderblom should be able to build off his solid 2024-25 campaign. If both young goalies take steps forward in their development, they very well could move up other goalie rankings in the future.

Former Blackhawks Forward Signs With New TeamFor the second season in a row, former Chicago Blackhawks forward Tanner Kero will be playing overseas. 

Last month, former Montreal Canadiens blueliner Josh Gorges was appointed as an assistant coach with his junior team, the Kelowna Rockets. The gritty former defenseman gave an interview to The Gazette’s Stu Cowan, then spoke to RG.org’s Marco D’Amico. Since then, one part of that interview really stuck with me.

A defensive defenseman, Gorges didn’t get to score and celebrate that many goals in his career, but he says one memory that really endures with him is that improbable playoff run in 2009-2010. That was a fantastic time to be a Canadiens fan…

Canadiens' Goalie Tandem Receives New Ranking
Canadiens: A Preview Of The Second Line?
Canadiens: Important Dates For The Season Start

Back then, I still lived in London, England, and this was before I had started writing about the team professionally, and I was just a fan, but a really dedicated one. With the five-hour time difference between Montreal and London, the games would start at midnight on my side of the pond, but I couldn’t even entertain the idea of missing a second of those playoff games. So every other night, I would stay up until at least 3:00 AM to watch my team play.

Early on, it looked like I wasn’t going to do that for much longer, but as Gorges recalls, the Canadiens came back from the 3-1 hole they had dug for themselves in the first round against the Washington Capitals. They fought tooth and nail, but they got there, and when I heard Pierre Houde say, “C’est terminé! Direction Pittsburgh!” I had goosebumps, and it was then that I knew that for me, hockey was much more than a hobby.

The next morning, as I walked to the Upminster train station to make my way to work at the Crown Prosecution Service, I had Anakin Slayd’s “Feels like ‘93” playing out loud on my phone, and believe it or not, I met a couple of Canadiens’ fans on the 10-minute walk, and when the puck dropped on the second round, I wasn’t alone watching it in my couch, I had a couple of friends.

The series with the Pittsburgh Penguins was just as spectacular and irresistible as tired as I was, running on three or four hours of sleep a night on game nights, I didn’t miss a single minute of the action. By the time the Canadiens booked their ticket to the Conference Final against the Philadelphia Flyers, there was a real buzz for the team all the way to London.

Even though the Habs went on to lose that series 4-1, that playoff run left so many people with so many memories. Whether they were on the ice like Gorges, at the Bell Centre like the 21,000 fans who were lucky enough to attend in person, or anywhere else in the world rooting them on, its impact cannot be denied.

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We’re into the month of September, which means a new hockey season is right around the corner.

In the coming weeks, the members of the Florida Panthers who aren’t already in South Florida will arrive back in their hockey home, ready to prepare for a quest to win a third straight Stanley Cup.

Usually, the time between free agency dying down in mid-to-late July and the start of training camp in mid-September tends to be on the quiet side.

Well, Thursday night the Panthers posted a new video to their YouTube channel that had me feeling anything but quiet and calm.

It’s a video of some of the most memorable and exciting moments of Panthers hockey over the past three seasons; what the team is calling their “best AURA plays.”

It was 22 minutes out of my day that felt well spent after watching.

Don’t be surprised to find yourself feeling similarly if you take the time to enjoy the show.

You can check out the video below:

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Photo caption: May 24, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

In an interesting new twist, top Philadelphia Flyers center prospect Jett Luchanko is no longer the captain of his junior team, the OHL Guelph Storm.

That distinction now belongs to forward Charlie Paquette, a 19-year-old who was drafted 222nd overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2025 NHL Draft back in June.

Additionally, Guelph also announced that defensemen Quinn Beauchesne and Rowan Topp would wear the 'A' for the Storm, which means Luchanko isn't included in the team's leadership group at all.

The timing of all this is interesting, considering there was an uproar - a brief one, to be clear - when we had the brief false start on 19-year-olds being allowed to play in the AHL this season.

That isn't the case, so the fear for Flyers fans, and perhaps the Flyers themselves, is that they would have to put up with another year of NHL or bust with Luchanko.

The 2024 first-round pick showed his stuff in a brief AHL cameo last year with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, too, scoring three assists in nine regular season games and adding six more in seven postseason contests. That's the unfortunate part.

But, nobody would be as vehemently against Luchanko returning to the OHL if he was on a better team than the storm, like Denver Barkey and Oliver Bonk's London Knights last season.

One nice hypothetical landing spot for Luchanko, should the Storm trade away the prized Flyers prospect to rebuild, is the Windsor Spitfires.

That roster features fellow Flyers prospect Jack Nesbitt, and returnees like Liam Greentree, Ilya Protas, A.J. Spellacy, and top 2026 draft prospect Ethan Belchetz.

That alone is plenty of talent to surround Luchanko and help him hone his offensive game for another year without throwing him fully into the deep end at the NHL level. It's not to say he can't swim, because he probably can, but we haven't seen that one way or the other.

Any Luchanko trade talk at this time is purely speculation, but the coincidences are starting to line up in favor of a move that benefits him and the Flyers.

After that, regardless of any trade, it will be time for the AHL, and, later on, the NHL.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will have a lot of decisions to make once training camp begins in mid-September, especially on the forward front.

And one of their newest faces figures to play a pretty key role on the team this season.

Forward Anthony Mantha was signed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal this offseason. The 30-year-old winger endured a major setback last season - as a member of the Calgary Flames - when he tore his ACL in November and missed the remainder of the 2024-25 season. In just 13 games, the 6-foot-5, 234-pound forward registered four goals and seven points.

Mantha’s history suggests that he has the ability to put the puck in the net, as he has three seasons of 20 or more goals under his belt. Although his injury history is concerning, to say the least - Mantha has never played in a full 82-game season and has played in more than 67 games just once - the signing was low-risk enough that he should provide value to the Penguins regardless.

But the real question is what role the veteran forward will play in a lineup that is progressively getting younger.

When taking a peek at the roster in its current state - according to PuckPedia - it appears quite obvious that Mantha should be playing somewhere in the top-six. Aside from Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, the Penguins don’t have any other bona fide top-six wingers to skate alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and Mantha is easily the best choice out of those remaining.

However, Mantha’s situation next season will - more than likely - heavily depend on whether or not some younger, promising players push for NHL roster spots in 2025-26.

The two prospect names at the top of the list are Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty, who both showed they belonged at the NHL level late last season. Koivunen, 22, registered seven points in eight games alongside both Malkin and Crosby, and he didn’t miss a beat with either future Hall-of-Fame center.

In fact, Koivunen’s chemistry with both was palpable. He was reading plays and working the offensive zone as if he had been at the NHL level all along, and - although he has yet to score a goal at the NHL level - showed off flashes of elite playmaking ability that would be valuable alongside Crosby, Malkin, Rakell, and Rust.

McGroarty, too, showed a lot of promise before a lower-body injury ended his season a few games early. The talented winger and 14th overall pick in 2022 - acquired from the Winnipeg Jets last summer - put up a goal and three points in five games with Crosby at the end of the season, and he showed vast improvement from his brief first NHL stint to kick off the 2024-25 season.

There’s also Filip Hallander, who was the SHL’s Forward of the Year last season, as well as Tommy Novak - acquired from the Nashville Predators in the Michael Bunting trade last season - who has some potential but played just two games for the Penguins post-deadline due to injury.

As for Mantha’s role in all of this? On paper, he should be in the top-six. But if those younger guys make a serious push, he may just be booted out and forced to play some third-line minutes, similar to the situation Anthony Beauvillier found himself in last season for the Penguins before his trade to the Washington Capitals.

Mantha has the ability to play anywhere in the middle-six. Ideally, the Penguins would want him to produce enough and make enough of an impact to fetch a solid return at the trade deadline, but it may all come down to whether or not the young guns make enough of an impression.

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Former Ottawa Senator forward Jesse Winchester has himself a new role in hockey, heading up the local junior league he once played and coached in. Winchester was named on Wednesday as the new Commissioner of the CCHL, the Junior A hockey league for Eastern Ontario. 

After a fine four-year career at Colgate University, Winchester signed with the NHL's Ottawa Senators as a free agent at the end of the 2007-08 season. He went on to play 233 games for Ottawa over the next five seasons, putting up 11 goals and 52 points. Winchester eventually moved on to the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche before a concussion ended his career in 2016 after eight seasons.

But it all started in the CCHL, where Winchester played three years with the Cornwall Colts (2001–2004), and then later returned to win the league's Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2019 with the Brockville Braves.

Recently, Winchester worked as a player development coach with the Senators from 2019 to 2024. Both he and former Senator Shean Donovan quietly parted ways with the Sens around the same time Travis Green and the new coaching staff were hired in May of 2024.

“With strong ties to the CCHL and a proven track record at both the NCAA and NHL levels, Jesse brings a wealth of experience and unparalleled insight to this role,” Sue Collis, Chair of the CCHL, said in a league press release. “His long experience with player development, and deep understanding and passion for the game makes Jesse the ideal candidate to lead the CCHL in this rapidly evolving hockey landscape. Bringing Jesse on board was the obvious choice, unanimously supported by all teams.”

Winchester described the appointment as an honour.

“The CCHL has played an important role in my hockey journey—first as a player with the Cornwall Colts and later as a coach with the Brockville Braves,' Winchester said in the league statement. "It’s an honour to return to the league in this new role, and I look forward to supporting the players, teams, and communities that make this league so special.”

From the league website:

The CCHL is a proud member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and Hockey Canada. As a development-focused league for elite student-athletes aged 16–20, the CCHL has established itself as the premier pathway in the region for players advancing to higher levels of hockey, including collegiate, major junior, and professional opportunities.

With Winchester at the helm, the league reaffirms its commitment to competition, growth, and player development, with a vision to uphold and enhance the CCHL’s tradition of excellence both on and off the ice.

By Steve Warne
This article was first published at The Hockey News-Ottawa

More Sens Headlines at THN:
Four Major Storylines This Month At Ottawa Senators Training Camp
Senators Still Own Formenton's NHL Rights – What's Next?
Our One-On-One With Drake Batherson
Senators Confirm Extension For Pinto Won't Happen Until After Season Starts
Staios: 'We're Not Dismissing That Yakemchuk Makes Our Team Out of Camp'
Ottawa Senators: Ranking The Six Best At Each Position

Los Angeles Kings captain and all-time great, Anze Kopitar is set to lace up his skates on opening night for the 20th time in his illustrious NHL career. Although it seems like he still has plenty of gas left in the tank, the 38-year-old forward has hinted at a potential retirement in 2026. In an interview with Sport Central LA's Jaime Maggie, Kopitar said "I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about it" in regards to retiring. He also went on to say "even if this is my last year, I'll give it my very best and lead it all out there."

So with that said, let's continue on with our player preview for Anze Kopitar's 2025-26 NHL season. 

2024-25 Season

Last season, 'Kopi' played in 81 of 82 games, recording 21 goals and 46 assists for 67 points. This was the 16th time that he has registered 60 or more points in a seasons, as well the 14th time he's scored 20+. Kopitar put up those productive numbers while averaging a career low 18:57 TOI (Time On Ice). The veteran centre only recorded 98 shots on goal. The lowest since the 2012-13 48 game season where he also recorded 98 shots. 

Kopitar only registered four penalty minutes last season and the NHL rewarded him for his discipline with the Lady Byng Trophy. This is his third time (2016, 2023, 2025) receiving the award.

The two-time Frank J. Selke Award winner (2016, 2018) finished eighth in voting last season, picking up two first place votes. His face-off winning percentage of 57.2% is likely the reason he received votes for the award. 

In the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Kings faced off against the Edmonton Oilers for the fourth straight year. Even though the Oilers got the best of the Kings once again, the L.A. captain was terrific. Kopitar scored two goals along with seven assist for nine points in his six postseason games.

2025-26 Expectations & Stat Predictions

PuckPedia has Kopitar playing first line centre with Adrian Kempe and Andrei Kuzmenko on his wings. However, I wouldn't be entirely shocked if he lost first line centre duties to Quinton Byfield, I wouldn't be shocked if he manned line one all year either.  

With Kempe and Kuzmenko on his line, expect the playmaking centre to capitalize off of two players who have proven they know how to put the puck in the net. 'Kopi' will also play centre on the Kings top power player unit all season. 

I'm anticipating Anze Kopitar to basically replicate his 2024-25 campaign. Playing with two snipers, he will get his chances to pass the puck, but it will also give him opportunities to find twine. I will say he scores 23 goals and has 49 assists to go with it for 72 points. I also expect him to finish in the top 10 of Selke voting once again, which isn't exactly a boiling hot take. 

It's unfortunate that his home country of Slovenia does not have enough talent to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics. If any NHL veteran deserves a chance to compete in the games, Kopitar might just be number one on that list. 

End of an Era?

If this ends up being Anze Kopitar's final season in the NHL, it would mark the. end of one of, if not the greatest career in Los Angeles Kings franchise history. Drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 draft, Kopitar has played in 1,454 games while scoring 440 goals and 838 assists for 1,278 points, and let's not forget about the two Stanley Cup's (2012, 2014) that he lead the Kings to. 

Stay tuned in with your Los Angeles Kings here at The Hockey News, as the 2025-26 season inches closer.

The NHL’s 2025-26 season is just about here, and there’s no better time here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site to keep putting together this player-by-player series breaking down expectations for every Sabres player this coming year.

Every Sabres player has one singular goal  – getting the Sabres into the Stanley Cup playoffs. But as individuals, every Sabre has their own expectations. 

We’ve just finished moving through Buffalo’s goalies and defensemen. And in this file, we’re starting with the Sabres; top-talent at forward – winger Tage Thompson. 

Thompson had a down year last season, putting together 19 fewer assists and 22 fewer points than he had in his peak season of three years ago. But at 27-years-old, Thompson is far from over the hill, and the Sabres need him to rebound on offense this coming season and be the tip of the spear punching holes in other teams’ defensive tactics.

Let’s break it down and make an educated guess as to how his upcoming season plays out.

Player Name: Tage Thompsom

Position: Right Wing

Age: 27

2024-25 Key Statistics: 76 games, 44 goals, 72 points, 18:45 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary:$7.14 million

2025-26 Expectations: Thompson led the Sabres in scoring, at nearly a point-per-game clip. But as was the case with everyone on the team last year, it felt like it wasn’t enough from Thompson. This is two straight seasons of sub-par assist numbers, and while some of the blame for that goes to Thompson’s linemates, he also has to own it.

Although he’s a relative bargain at slightly more than $7.1 million per season, Thompson has the added weight of being one of Buffalo’s highest-paid players. While that pressure is going to be on him to do at least as much in 2025-26 as he did last year, Thompson is going to be on Buffalo’s first line with center Josh Norris, but if Norris can’t stay healthy, Thompson is still going to be judged by (a) whether he’s the Sabres’ best weapon on offense, and (b) whether he leads Buffalo to end its playoff drought at 14 years.

If either of those things don’t develop in the Sabres’ favor, it could be a very long season for Thompson. We’re not here to tell you Thompson is going to be traded – he’s got five years left on his contract, and he does have some no-trade protection (although only protection that allows him to veto a trade to five teams oh his choice). He can absolutely be part of the solution in Buffalo, but that has to start right away.

But something will have to give if this season doesn’t play out the way the Sabres hope for, and while that will likely start with the firing of coach Lindy Ruff and/or GM Kevyn Adams, it could eventually lead to a point where Thompson and Buffalo find it mutually beneficial to go in different roads,

Thompson could be in for a special year, if he does as expected and makes the U.S.’s team at the 2026 Winter Olympics and gets his first taste of playoff hockey in hockey’s top league. But make no mistake – even if he wins gold at the Olympics, if Thompson fails to get into the playoffs, it will be a long and slow agony for him. 

Anything less than 40 goals and 80 points will be a problem for Thompson next year. The Sabres aren’t going to be good or bad based strictly on the performance of one star player, so it all can’t be laid at Thompson’s feet if things do go sideways for him and Buffalo’s team. 

But when you’re in the midst of this playoff drought, somebody has to step up and be the engine on a winning team. That’s the challenge ahead for Thompson, and the way he responds to it will go a long way toward determining how far the Sabres go.

The Chicago Blackhawks have pressure on them to get Connor Bedard extended. That is going to take some time and thoughtful decision-making on both sides. Bedard, however, is an RFA, so a deal with Chicago will ultimately get done. 

This pales in comparison to what former Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman is dealing with up in Alberta. The Edmonton Oilers only have superstar Connor McDavid locked in for one more season. 

After two straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers know that they must get their captain signed to have a chance of continued sustained success.

Entering the 2025-26 season, McDavid is the best player in the NHL. In 712 career games, he has 361 goals and 721 assists for 1082 points. For being 28 years old, those are legendary numbers. 

At the Team Canada Olympic Orientation Camp, McDavid was asked about his upcoming contract. He made it clear that "all options are on the table". 

The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) on XConnor McDavid finally spoke about his contract situation with the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday. @SpectorsHockey has the latest: https://t.co/MkGljSVDfP

McDavid's comments don't force optimism that he is going to stay in Edmonton on anyone, so the pressure is on the management team led by Stan Bowman to not let one of the greatest players ever walk away for nothing. 

Is McDavid worth trading if he doesn't extend before the deadline? The problem with that is the fact that the Oilers are good enough to win the Stanley Cup while he's on the roster, playing at a high level. 

If they hang onto him and he leaves for no return with no Stanley Cup to show for it, they will see it as nothing short of a disaster. This would set them back half a decade or more. It is on Stan Bowman to make sure that Edmonton makes the correct decision for the franchise, which is getting McDavid extended to another long-term deal. 

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ST. LOUIS -- NHL Network released its list for the top 10 goalies in the NHL heading into the 2025-26 season, and St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington came in at No. 7:

• 17 All-Star Game appearances
• 8 Vezina Trophies
• 6 Stanley Cups
• 3 William M. Jennings Trophies
• 1 Hart Trophy
• 1 Conn Smythe Trophy

Introducing our Top 10 Goalies Right Now list! #NHLGoalieWeek | #NHLTopPlayerspic.twitter.com/eUSmRB2gWl

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) September 4, 2025

Tony Luftman, Mike Rupp and former NHL goalie Cory Schneider counted down the best goalies based on player performance over the past several seasons, with an emphasis on the 2024-2025 regular season and 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs while also considering future upside.

The Top 10 Goalies Right Now list collectively features 17 All-Star Game appearances, eight Vezina Trophies, six Stanley Cups, three William M. Jennings Trophies, one Hart Trophy, one All-Rookie Team honor and one Conn Smythe Trophy.

Binnington, who is 173-116-36 with a 2.78 goals-against average and .907 save percentage for his career, was 28-22-5 with a 2.69 GAA and .900 save percentage in the regular season last year; he 2019 Stanley Cup champion is 23-24 with a 2.70 GAA and .909 save percentage in 48 playoff games. 

On Binnington's ranking on the countdown, Schneider said, "If I had to win a game tonight, who would I choose, and he’s at the top of that list."

A standout season for Jordan Binnington has him at #⃣7⃣ on our list!@StLouisBlues | #NHLTopPlayerspic.twitter.com/fOpv10TmVn

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) September 4, 2025

Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets was ranked No. 1, followed by Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers, Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers, Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars, Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, Binnington, Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild, Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings and rounding out the top 10 is Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators.

Do you agree with this list? Do you agree with Binnington's ranking? Voice your opinions in the comment section below: 

Five years ago today, the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from the second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite a heroic effort by goaltender Thatcher Demko, Vancouver lost 3–0 in Game 7 of the Pacific Division Finals, marking the end of their 17-game playoff run. 

While Vancouver was expected to make the 2020 playoffs during the regular season, the COVID-19 pandemic shut the year down early. As a result, teams that weren’t at the top of their divisions played in a qualifier round to earn their spot in the postseason. Despite losing their opening match in this series against the Minnesota Wild, Vancouver strung together three straight wins to officially clinch their spot in the playoffs. One of the most memorable parts of this playoff run came as a result of their 5–4 Game 4 overtime win, during which grizzled veteran Chris Tanev scored from the blueline to send the team off the bench and on the ice in celebration. 

Despite their success, the Canucks’ opponents only got more and more difficult. In the first round of the 2020 playoffs, Vancouver was matched up against the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues. With the odds somewhat against them, Vancouver stormed their way to a 2–0 series lead. However, the Blues tied things up by the end of Game 4, proving to Vancouver that there would be no easy route during the playoffs. The Canucks took this challenge head-on, winning Game 5 by a narrow 4–3 score, and ultimately defeating the Blues in Game 6 to advance to the second round.  

Vancouver seemed to have met their match in the second round, with the Golden Knights opening the series with a dominant 5–0 win. Despite winning Game 2, the Canucks dropped Games 3 and 4 to give Vegas a 3–1 series lead. Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner tallied two shutouts in this span of time, and would later add a third after Game 7. 

At the time, it felt as though Game 5 would be Vancouver’s last in the 2020 Playoffs. Things only looked worse when it was announced that Jacob Markström would miss time due to injury, leaving the door open for Demko to take the starter’s crease. There weren’t many who expected Vancouver to claw back and force a Game 7 — but sure enough, they did. Demko stopped all but one of the 43 shots piled onto him by Vegas in Game 5, cutting the Golden Knights’ series lead to one game. 

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As great as Demko was in Game 5, he was even better in Game 6. He made 48 saves to secure his first career playoff shutout, simultaneously extending the Canucks’ playoff run by one more game. To add to this milestone, Canucks captain at the time, Bo Horvat, scored his 10th goal of the 2020 playoffs, holding the lead a round past Vancouver’s elimination and finishing tied for fourth overall in the postseason. 

Even with the magical play of Demko, the Canucks’ playoff run came to an end on September 4, 2020. The game’s final score may have been 3–0, but for almost 50 minutes, neither team had found the scoresheet. Vancouver had ample chances at taking the lead, including a golden 2-on-1 opportunity from Horvat and Brock Boeser that was ultimately stopped by Lehner, as well as a five-minute power play that came as a result of a dirty play committed by Ryan Reaves. However, Shea Theodore scored on the power play to give Vegas a 1–0 lead, and after two empty-net goals for the Golden Knights, the rest was history. 

The events that followed the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs may have changed the course of the Canucks organization as a whole. During the 2020 free agency period, Vancouver opted to let go of key locker room staples in Markström, Chris Tanev, and Troy Stetcher. Alex Edler departed from the team the season after, and two years later, the Canucks traded Horvat. While it’s unknown what could have happened had Vancouver approached the 2020 off-season differently, this 17-game playoff run in August and September brought entertainment to fans when they needed it most. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Florida Panthers Sergei Bobrovsky landed at No.4 on the NHL Network's top 10 goaltenders list heading into the 2025-26 season.

The Panthers have had representatives on each position list released by the NHL Network, beginning with Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart on the wingers list, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett on the centers list, and Gustav Forsling on the defensemen list. 

Bobrovsky adds to that number.

The 36, soon to be 37-year-old, was outstanding once again during the Panthers' playoff run, recording a .914 save percentage and a 2.20 goals against average, while tending the goal for all 16 post-season wins. 

The regular season saw Bobrovsky start 54 games, notching a .906 SP and a 2.44 GAA, picking up 33 wins. 

"In helping the Panthers win back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, Bobrovsky has gone 32-15 with a 2.26 GAA, .910 save percentage and five shutouts in 47 playoff games. The 36-year-old veteran has won at least 30 games eight times in his 15 NHL seasons, including 33 last season (33-19-2, 2.44 GAA, .906 save percentage, five shutouts). Bobrovsky's 429 career wins are the most among active goalies and 10th all-time," said the NHL Network.

Finishing ahead of Bobrovsky were Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck, Tampa Bay Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy and New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin. The six goalies ranked after Bobrovsky were Dallas Stars' Jake Oettinger, New York Islanders' Ilya Sorokin, St. Louis Blues' Jordan Binnington, Minnesota Wild's Filip Gustavsson, Los Angeles Kings' Darcy Kuemper, and Ottawa Senators' Linus Ullmark.

Bobrovsky will face additional challenges this season. He isn't getting any younger, and he's played a lot of hockey the past three seasons, so fatigue could catch up to him. With that being said, he really hasn't shown any signs of slowing down and could be poised for another stellar season.

Panthers New Goaltending Tandem Have A Unique History Which Could Benefit Both PartiesThe Florida Panthers enter the 2025-26 season with their superstar goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky between the posts, but his backup netminder will be different this season, and the pair share a unique history.