Dustin Wolf is one of the pillars of the Calgary Flames rebuild. As a former two-time AHL Goalie of the Year and one-time MVP, he's yet to duplicate that level of success in the NHL. In the minors, his record was 97-32-10, and through 128 games with the Flames, he's 60-52-12.
According to Wolf's career splits at Hockey Reference, he's already secured a victory against 24 NHL teams. Still, he has yet to pick one up against some of the league's heavyweights, including several Western Conference powerhouses.
For the Flames to take the next step in their rebuild and become serious contenders, Wolf is going to need to slay some past demons and start piling up victories against these clubs.
Which NHL teams has Wolf not beaten yet?
Detroit Red Wings (0-2-0)
The Detroit Red Wings haven't been to the playoffs since 2016-17, when Wolf was still playing U16 AAA hockey. During their meeting on Feb. 1, 2025, he allowed two goals in a 2-1 loss, and last year, Wolf allowed four goals in a 5-1 loss on Mar. 16, 2026. Heading into next season, the Red Wings remain one of two Original Six franchises he has yet to beat.
Ottawa Senators (0-2-0)
Since becoming the Flames' number one goalie in 2024-25, the Ottawa Senators have been a playoff team, losing in the first round in each of the past two seasons. Interestingly, Wolf's first NHL loss (4-1) came against the Senators on Nov. 11, 2023, and then Ottawa defeated him a year later on Nov. 25, 2024. They didn't play against one another in 2025-26.
Tampa Bay Lightning (0-2-0)
In the past two seasons, the Tampa Bay Lightning have had the NHL's fourth-best record at 97-53-14, including two wins over Wolf in his only appearances against the club. The Lightning shut out the Flames, 3-0, on Feb. 27, 2025, before defeating them 5-1 on Nov. 26, 2025. Surprisingly, in their last meeting, Wolf played a career-low 5:52, allowing three goals on just four shots.
Washington Capitals (0-2-0)
Against the NHL's all-time leading scorer, Wolf has given up two goals to Alex Ovechkin, while the Washington Capitals remain a perfect 2-0-0 against the young netminder. He lost a 5-2 decision on Mar. 18, 2024, the night Ovechkin had two, and they followed that up with a 3-1 victory at the Saddledome on Jan. 28, 2025.
Dallas Stars (0-3-0)
The Dallas Stars are one of the top teams in the Central Division and in the Western Conference. Since Wolf's debut on Apr. 12, 2023, the Stars are 6-1-2 against the Flames, while their star has remained winless in three games. During their first meetings in 2024-25, Wolf gave up ten goals in 6-2 (Dec. 8) and 5-2 (Mar. 27) losses. In their only meeting last season, the Stars walked away with a 6-1 win, chasing Wolf after four goals and 26:02 of ice time.
St. Louis Blues (0-4-0)
Over the past three seasons, the St. Louis Blues are 124-96-26, good enough for the 16th-best record in the NHL. However, they are 4-0-0 against Wolf and are 8-0-1 overall against the Flames. In their meeting, St. Louis picked up a 5-3 victory on Mar. 28, 2024, and followed that up with a 4-1 win on Jan. 16, 2025. Last season, Wolf gave up seven goals over two meetings, losing 4-2 on Oct. 11 and 3-2 on Nov. 11.
Toronto Maple Leafs (0-4-0)
The Toronto Maple Leafs, along with the Red Wings, remain the only Original Six franchises Wolf has yet to beat, with a 0-4-0 record against them. In their first two meetings, on Feb. 4, 2024, and Mar. 17, 2024, Wolf surrendered five goals in each contest on the way to 6-3 and 6-2 losses. Despite being the second-worst team in the Eastern Conference last season, Toronto put eight goals past Wolf, picking up a 4-3 victory on Oct. 28 and a 4-2 win on Feb. 2.
Colorado Avalanche (0-5-0)
Over the past two seasons, no other team has won more games than the Colorado Avalanche, who are 104-45-15 and won the Presidents' Trophy in 2025-26. Meanwhile, the Avalanche are just one of two teams to collect 17 points against the Flames since 2023-24, with an 8-0-1 record dating back to the year Wolf first faced them.
His first appearance against the club was a no-decision, on Mar. 12, 2024, a 6-2 loss. In 2024-25, Wolf went 0-2-0 with seven goals against, losing 4-2 contests on both Feb. 6 and Mar. 14. Meanwhile, last season, he was 0-3-0, losing 9-2 on Mar. 30, finishing the night with a .750 SV%, his fourth-worst total of the campaign. He then lost two games 3-1 within seven days of one another on Apr. 9 and Apr. 14.
23 years ago today, the NHL held its annual draft, and it was one for the ages. One of the most spectacular crops of first-round talent seen in years. That year, the Montreal Canadiens had the 10th overall pick, and they opted for Belarus-born forward Andrei Kostitsyn.
While he was no doubt a talented player, Kostitsyn played only 398 NHL games, during which he recorded 222 points. When the Canadiens gave up on him and traded him to the Nashville Predators for a couple of draft picks at the 2011-12 deadline, he finished the season with them, then headed to the KHL and never looked back.
In an average draft year, taking the Belarusian might not have been a bad pick, but in 2003, when the Canadiens drafted him, there were plenty of highly talented players still available. At number 11, the Philadelphia Flyers picked Jeff Carter, who would go on to play 1321 games in the NHL, putting on 851 points and winning two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings.
Speaking of the Kings, at number 13 they picked Dustin Brown, who played 1,296 NHL games, scoring 712 points, and led them to two Stanley Cups as team captain, with Carter as a teammate. In 2023, Los Angeles installed a statue of Brown outside its arena.
Just after the Kings, at number 14, the Chicago Blackhawks grabbed Brent Seabrook, who spent his whole 15-season career in Chicago, playing 1114 games, and was an integral part of the core that netted the Hawks two Stanley Cups.
At 17, the New Jersey Devils picked Zach Parise, another member of the 1,000 games club. At 19, the Anaheim Ducks selected Ryan Getzlaf, and they made out like bandits when they also picked up the almost immortal Corey Perry, who has yet to retire at 28th overall. The pair would lead them to a Stanley Cup win a couple of years later. The list goes on and on. Brent Burns, Ryan Kessler, Mike Richards, and Brian Boyle were also picked in the first round.
But the steal of the draft was the Boston Bruins, who selected Patrice Bergeron with the 45th overall pick, straight out of the Canadiens’ system. The elite two-way center became a regular Frank J. Selke trophy winner, led the Bruins to a Stanley Cup, and will likely be inducted into the Hall of Fame shortly. The Nashville Predators are a close second, though, as they acquired Shea Weber with the 49th overall pick. It’s also worth mentioning that in the seventh round, the San Jose Sharks landed Joe Pavelski, while the Hawks also landed Corey Crawford in the second round and Dustin Byfuglien in the eighth round.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens also added Cory Urquhart, Maxim Lapierre, Ryan O'Byrne, Corey Locke, Danny Stewart, Christopher Heino-Lindberg, Mark Flood, Oskari Korpikari, Jimmy Bonneau, and Jaroslav Halak, who can probably be seen as their best selection, in the ninth and final round.
Hindsight is always 20/20, as they say, but it’s hard to fathom how the Canadiens could leave so much talent on the table when it was right there ripe for the picking.
For well over a century now, the sport of hockey at its various levels has helped galvanize the bonds between fathers and their children. Whether it's playing on an outdoor rink, at the local arena, or just watching on TV, when a game of hockey breaks out, even the grumpy or stoic tend to open up with the people around them.
Not a single player in the NHL, including the Senators, would be where they are today without the support of at least one of their parents or guardians. But quite a few current Senators had a little extra nudge, with fathers who actually played in the NHL.
As kids, they heard all the NHL war stories from their dads, who coached them and shared what it takes to play in the league.
The list has grown smaller over the past few years with the exits of Josh Norris, Jakob Chychrun, Mark Kastelic, Patrick Brown, and Roby Jarventie, who all had Dads who played in the league.
Here are the current Ottawa Senators who grew up completely immersed in NHL hockey before stepping out of their father's shadow and into the limelight.
Drake and Norm Batherson
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Okay, we're taking liberties. Drake's father, Norm, never actually played in the NHL, but since he was briefly part of the Senators organization, playing for their top farm club in PEI, we're going to make an exception. Former Senators enforcer Dennis Vial is Batherson's uncle.
Ridly and Mark Greig
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Ridly Greig's father, Mark, played nine seasons in the NHL, suiting up for the Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers. Ridly's late uncle, Bruce, briefly played for the California Golden Seals. Greig's sister, Dara, will play for the Ottawa Charge this fall.
Jake and Geoff Sanderson
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With Geoff having eight different NHL stops in his career, the Sanderson family moved around a lot. Geoff had 700 points in just over 1100 NHL games, with stops in Hartford, Carolina, Vancouver, Buffalo, Columbus, Phoenix, Philadelphia and Edmonton. The Sandersons may have chosen to play different positions, but they share the gift of phenomenal skating ability.
Brady and Keith Tkachuk
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Keith had an outstanding NHL career with Winnipeg, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Atlanta. He's one of the NHL's few 500-goal scorers not in the Hall of Fame. It will be interesting to see if he gets the call on Monday to be part of the 2026 class.
Jorian and Shean Donovan
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The Donovans hold the distinction of being the only father-son team to both play for the modern-day Senators. With the wild number of injuries on Ottawa's blue line, Jorian got into his first two NHL games this season. Shean had a well-travelled NHL career, playing 951 games with seven organizations. His final three seasons were in Ottawa.
With the emergence and success of the PWHL, it won't be long before we can do this list on Mother's Day, making a list of Senators whose moms played pro hockey.
For now, whether you're celebrating your dad or you're the one being celebrated (or both), we wish you a Happy Father's Day.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was published first at The Hockey News, read more at THN at the links below:
Zakhar Bardakov’s exit from the Colorado Avalanche wasn’t a surprise inside the organization. It was a path that had always been on the table.
When the Avalanche signed Bardakov out of Russia, his contract included a clause allowing a return to the KHL if he was assigned to the American Hockey League — a detail that quietly shaped the ceiling of his NHL opportunity from the start.
When he arrived in Denver ahead of training camp, his struggles in defensive-zone drills were noticeable. Still, he gradually adapted to the North American game and earned praise from captain Gabriel Landeskog for his work ethic and physical tools.
"He's a really good skater, a powerful guy, and he continues to adapt to this game here," Landeskog said following a December win over the Vancouver Canucks. "I thought he's done a great job. Training camp, he earned that spot, continues to work well and work hard, and it's not easy for anybody."
That early progress, however, never fully translated into a consistent role.
Bardakov scored his first career goal in an 8-4 win over the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 28 and finished the season with one goal and nine assists in 60 games. While he showed flashes of effectiveness, his role remained limited throughout the year.
For much of the season, he averaged roughly six minutes of ice time per game, often buried near the bottom of Colorado’s forward rotation. There was a late-season bump in usage, with his average climbing to just over seven and a half minutes per night down the stretch as injuries and lineup adjustments created additional opportunity, but it didn’t meaningfully change his standing within the group.
The Avalanche also briefly assigned Bardakov to the Colorado Eagles, where he scored a goal in his lone AHL appearance. Under normal circumstances, that assignment would have marked the beginning of a longer developmental stretch in the minors. Instead, it became a turning point.
Because Bardakov wasn’t a traditional prospect.
At 25 and already established in Russia’s top league, he wasn’t arriving in North America as a long-term project meant to spend extended time in the AHL. And with a contractual clause allowing him to return to the KHL if that scenario came into play, the framework of his decision was already in place.
Most players in Colorado’s system work through the AHL to earn NHL opportunity. Bardakov’s path was built differently from the start.
With no clear route to a larger role in Colorado and the option to return home still available, he ultimately chose to continue his career in the KHL.
For the Avalanche, it’s another roster departure in a season defined by turnover. For Bardakov, it’s a return to a league where a more defined role — and more consistent ice time — already awaits.
Bardakov’s departure also doesn’t necessarily close the door on a future NHL return. In most cases involving European signings, the organization retains the player’s NHL rights for a set period of time, meaning the Avalanche would still control his path back to the league if he chooses to revisit North America later.
For now, however, the forward shifts his focus back to a more familiar environment in Russia after a brief and limited stint in Colorado.
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken acquired young forward Mackie Samoskevich from the Florida Panthers for the No. 25 pick in the NHL draft on Friday and a second-rounder next year, the teams announced Sunday.
Samoskevich is a 23-year-old with 64 points in 160 regular-season and playoff games who gives the Kraken a much-need infusion talent after they missed the playoffs for the fourth time in their five years of existence. He is a restricted free agent who needs a new contract.
“Mackie is a talented young player who we are excited to bring into the fold,” Seattle general manager Jason Botterill said. “He has speed, skill and scoring ability. A Stanley Cup champion with the Panthers in 2025, Mackie’s a player who can contribute offensively and add a spark to our lineup.”
Trading Samoskevich for picks clears space as the Panthers retool following a season that got derailed by injuries after they won the Stanley Cup back to back in 2024 and ’25. The 25th pick, a late first-rounder, originally belonged to rival Tampa Bay, while the second will be the higher of Winnipeg's or Columbus'.
Samoskevich was the No. 24 pick in the 2021 draft who then played at Michigan alongside new Kraken teammate Matty Beniers.
When the San Jose Sharks sent the 20th overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the 27th overall selection and Michael Kesselring, a question immediately popped in my mind: just how different are the players often available at 20th overall and 27th overall?
Of course, the obvious fact of the matter is that the Sharks will have seven less players to choose from when they take the stage, but is there a major difference in the caliber of player at each draft choice? Let’s take a look.
Hockey Hall of Famers
The most obvious place to start: how many players from each draft position have found themselves enshrined at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto?
Three players drafted 20th overall have been inducted to the Hall of Fame at this point, but more could follow in the near future.
The first 20th overall pick inducted into the Hall was Larry Robinson in 1995. The legendary defenseman was drafted 20th by the Montreal Canadiens during the 1971 NHL Draft. He went on to play 1,384 games in the NHL, the majority of which came in Montreal, although he finished his career with the Los Angeles Kings. He’s the NHL’s all-time leader in plus/minus, finishing his career with a +722, and won six Stanley Cups as a player.
Michel Goulet was the next 20th overall selection inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame, earning that honor in 1998 after 15 seasons and 1,089 games in the NHL. He was selected 20th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1979.
Most recently, legendary goaltender Martin Brodeur, who was selected 20th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1990, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 after setting numerous records throughout his career.
27th overall is a bit tricky in regards to the Hockey Hall of Fame, as technically two players drafted with that pick have gone on to be enshrined at the Hall of Fame, but only one was inducted as a player. Joe Nieuwendyk is the sole 27th overall pick to be inducted into the Hall for his playing career.
The Calgary Flames selected Nieuwendyk in the 1985 NHL Draft, and at the time, the 27th overall pick was in the second round. He went on to play 1,257 career games in the NHL for a number of different teams, and he was a three-time Stanley Cup Champion.
Colin Campbell was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a builder, but he was also selected 27th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 1973 NHL Draft.
For the sake of the on-ice argument, we won’t count Campbell toward the total of 27th overall picks to make it to the Hockey Hall of Fame since it wasn't based on his playing performance. As a result, there were three Hall of Famers drafted 20th overall and only one Hall of Fame player drafted 27th overall.
While the Hall of Fame is a nice accomplishment, quite a few great players never get that honor and it's far from the only milestone worth looking at.
1000+ Games Played
Longevity is key to a successful NHL career. If a player makes it past the 1,000-game plateau, it means they were an impact player in some regard, even if they weren’t necessarily a superstar. With a late first-round pick, general managers aren’t looking for the next Macklin Celebrini or Sidney Crosby; typically, they’re looking for their long-term third-line center or second-pairing defenseman. While they certainly won’t be disappointed if they strike gold, it’s not the expectation.
Five players drafted 20th overall have played 1,000 or more games in the NHL: Brent Burns, Robinson, Brodeur, Goulet, and Travis Zajac.
At 27th overall, there have been six players to pass the 1,000-game threshold. Scott Mellanby, Nieuwendyk, John Carlson, Tie Domi, Scott Gomez, and Steve Staios all were able to hit that milestone before retiring, and Carlson is still going.
200+ Games Played
Now that we’ve gone over impact players, the next question becomes, how many legitimate NHL players have been picked with each selection? Although calling someone an NHLer is often subjective, the threshold we’ll use for this is 200 games played, as it’s very difficult for a player to hang in the league for that long if they’re playing above their skill level.
There have been 32 players selected 20th overall who have gone on to play in 200 or more NHL games during their career. California native Beau Bennett was the last player to meet the criteria, as he finished his playing career with exactly 200 games played.
That number drops slightly with the 27th overall selection, as only 28 players drafted 27th overall have appeared in 200 or more NHL games. With that being said, it’s not a substantial difference.
Overall, it appears that, as expected, the 20th overall pick does have a higher chance at producing a superstar player and an NHLer in general. With that being said, the 27th overall pick has historically had quite a few effective role players with lengthy careers.
While the 20th overall selection gives the Buffalo Sabres a wider prospect pool to choose from, the 27th overall pick produces effective players at a similar rate, meaning the Sharks didn’t give up much value at all to add a useful defenseman, Michael Kesselring, to their blue line.
All-in-all, it appears both teams got exactly what they needed from the trade. The Sabres get a slightly higher chance of getting a player that will eventually crack the NHL, while the Sharks kept their lottery ticket and added the exact type of player they’d hope to get with the 20th overall selection in Kesselring.
The Ducks' 2025-26 season has been over for just over a month and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft just around the corner, it feels like a good time to start recapping this past season for each player in the organization.
Today's edition of 'By the Numbers' will feature players who wore Nos. 41-50 this season.
If you missed the previous edition of 'By the Numbers', you can click here to read it.
Nathan Gaucher
After playing in almost 200 AHL games, Gaucher finally got the call to the NHL at the end of the regular season. He appeared in three games and while he didn’t get much ice time due to his limited role on the fourth line, he showed that he should probably be in the NHL as a full-time depth option next season.
More of a defensive stalwart than an offensive dynamo, Gaucher spent most of his third professional season in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls. He found himself in a middle-6 role as head coach Matt McIlvane’s choice to center the Gulls’ checking line. He set a new career high with 29 points in 62 games, scored his first professional hat trick and also spent time on the Gulls’ penalty kill.
Gaucher has battled injuries throughout his pro career, which has stalled his development slightly. But his call-up this past season was a nice reward for the work that he’s done over the past three seasons. Capable of playing on the wing in addition to down the middle, Gaucher could slide into the hole left by Jansen Harkins, should the Ducks decide not to bring him back.
Tim Washe
Washe joined the Ducks late last season, signing with them right after winning an NCAA Championship with Western Michigan. He appeared in the final two games of the 2024-25 NHL season.
After being one of the final training camp cuts, Washe spent the first three months of the season with the Gulls, putting up 27 points in 36 games. He was named an AHL All Star and represented the Gulls at the AHL All-Star Game in Rockford alongside goaltender Calle Clang.
Apr 28, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Anaheim Ducks forward Tim Washe (42) follows the play against the Edmonton Oilers in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
Washe was recalled by the Ducks in January, filling the role of fourth line center while Leo Carlsson recovered from Morel-Lavallée surgery. He scored his first NHL goal on Jan. 16 in a 3-2 shootout win against the Los Angeles Kings and never returned to the AHL, finding a role as the Ducks’ fourth line center even after players like Carlsson and Mikael Granlund returned from injury.
In the playoffs, Washe, along with Jeff Viel and Ian Moore was tasked with keeping Connor McDavid off the scoresheet. The unorthodox line fared quite well in their expedition, too, though perhaps it can be argued that McDavid wasn’t at full health. But who is during the playoffs?
Washe is in the final year of a two-year contract that he signed with the Ducks last August. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the 2026-27 season and have arbitration rights. As of now, the expectation is that he will begin the 2026-27 season as the Ducks’ fourth line center. He was also used heavily on the penalty kill as the season progressed, with his knack for winning faceoffs being heavily valued.
Nik Brouillard
Now the Gulls’ all-time leader in games played, Brouillard returned to San Diego after stops in Hartford and Coachella Valley. Brouillard also became the all-time leader in goals scored among Gulls defensemen. On top of all of that, he was also chosen to represent Team Canada at the Spengler Cup, where he put up two points in three games and was named to the Spengler Cup All-Star Team.
A versatile player, Brouillard set the blueprint for Ian Moore, able to rotate between forward and defense. Brouillard didn’t spend as much time on the wing this past season as he had previously, though, primarily suiting up as a defenseman on the Gulls’ bottom pair.
With his AHL-only deal expiring this summer, it would make sense for both parties to reunite for another season. The Gulls recently signed captain Ryan Carpenter to a one-year extension, bringing back an experienced veteran. Brouillard would provide the same qualities.
Ross Johnston
If this is the end of Johnston’s tenure with the Ducks, then what a run it’s been. General manager Pat Verbeek claimed him off waivers from the New York Islanders during preseason in 2023. His acquisition at the time was a puzzling one, but did add forward depth with players like Brock McGinn injured at the time.
While Johnston’s physicality and size made him a nasty customer, his lack of foot speed didn’t fare very well at times in Greg Cronin’s man-to-man defensive scheme. He often drew the ire of Ducks fans, who called for other players to fill his spot in the lineup.
Feb 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Ross Johnston (44) controls the puck against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Johnston was much more of a spectator during his second season with the Ducks, playing in just 43 games due to healthy scratches and two separate injuries. But he did play alongside Cutter Gauthier early in his rookie season, when Cronin wanted Gauthier to focus on getting back to basics. Mason McTavish also had a stint on the fourth line alongside Johnston for similar purposes.
With Joel Quenneville entering the picture this past season as the new head coach, Johnston once again got the first crack of being on the fourth line. But contrary to the previous two seasons, he was sprinkling in some offense alongside his physicality and the occasional fight.
He picked up his first career Gordie Howe hat trick in October in a 5-2 win against the Nashville Predators, collecting three points that night. He had two multi-point efforts this past season and set a new career high in assists (11) and points (14). A lower-body injury prematurely ended his regular season in March, but he returned for the playoffs, drawing in against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Johnston is a pending UFA and it’s unclear whether he’ll be returning. Quenneville and Verbeek do seem to like his grit, physicality and overall nastiness. But Johnston is also 32 and his play style doesn’t necessarily hold up well as players age.
Beckett Sennecke
Sennecke was one of the Ducks’ top performers this season. It was unclear at the start whether he would remain with the Ducks all season long, but he quickly put that notion to bed. He was the beneficiary of Ryan Strome suffering an oblique injury just before the season opener, being elevated to the second line after spending most of training camp on the fourth line.
60 points was good enough for third among all Ducks skaters in 2025-26, third in Calder Trophy voting and a spot on the NHL All-Rookie team. Sennecke became the eighth NHL All-Rookie Team selection in franchise history, joining Cutter Gauthier, Trevor Zegras, John Gibson, Hampus Lindholm, Frederik Anderson, Bobby Ryan and Paul Kariya.
Apr 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke (45) controls the puck against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Sennecke isn’t short of confidence, attempting crafty moves whenever he can. Sometimes, those moves would be performed recklessly, leading to turnovers and scoring chances against. It’s a situation that isn’t unfamiliar for many young players trying to make their mark in the league. Quenneville benched Sennecke at various points throughout the season, with Sennecke understanding that there’s a time and a place for these moves.
With Troy Terry expected to be out until December while recovering from hip impingement surgery and a torn labrum, Sennecke is one of the players who will be relied upon to shoulder the load. Depending on what offseason moves the Ducks make, Quenneville might even opt to stack his top line with Gauthier, Carlsson and Sennecke.
Eric Nilson
The Ducks selected Nilson in the second round of last year's draft. He spent the past season in the NCAA with Michigan State, playing mostly on the second line with Nashville Predators prospect Ryker Lee.
A defensively responsible player, it was difficult for Nilson to consistently generate his own offense during his first collegiate season. He had just 11 points in 35 games, but also missed time while competing for Sweden in the World Juniors. He had three points in seven games at the tournament, helping Sweden win gold for the first time since 2012.
With Michigan State's No. 1 center Charlie Stramel now signed to the Minnesota Wild, there is an opportunity for Nilson to grab more ice time. 2024 fourth overall pick Cayden Lindstrom, who would be Nilson’s main competition, didn’t fare much better than him in 2025-26, putting up just 10 points in 31 games.
Another offseason full of strength and conditioning should allow Nilson to have a much more productive season offensively in 2026-27.
Noah Warren
It’s been slow-going for Warren, whose development has been plagued by injuries. He’s played 60 games in consecutive seasons, which is encouraging, though most of his playing time this season came on the Gulls’ bottom pair.
Warren is the protypical stay-at-home defenseman, using his size and length to negate opposing opportunities before they can develop. His speed and agility while defending the rush has improved since his arrival in San Diego, which has turned him into a reliable defender. He isn’t going to shock anyone with his offensive abilities, but he did manage 12 points this past season.
Sep 22, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Utah Mammoth left wing Brandon Tanev (13) moves the puck against Anaheim Ducks defenseman Noah Warren (47) during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Though the Ducks’ right-hand side of defense is a bit in flux right now with John Carlson departing and Jacob Trouba and Radko Gudas also potentially on their way out, it’s difficult to imagine Warren having a spot on the Ducks next season, at least right away. He’ll have to beat out the likes of Ian Moore, Drew Helleson and Tristan Luneau, who all have NHL experience.
But with Luneau expected to be in the NHL full-time next season, Warren will likely slide into a top-4 role with the Gulls and be able to prove that he is getting closer to deserving an NHL call-up.
Nico Myatovic
Myatovic’s offensive ceiling probably isn’t as high as most guys who are drafted where he was (33rd overall). He’s scored 19 points in consecutive seasons, his first two as a professional. Where he thrives the most is defensively and on the forecheck. Alongside Gaucher and Judd Caulfield, the trio was relied upon to be a defensively stout line. Myatovic also spent plenty of time on the Gulls’ penalty kill.
He’s still a couple of years away from an NHL call-up, thought his play style would be complementary to the likes of Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke. A puck hound who can forecheck well, recover pucks and feed high-level playmakers is exactly the type of player you need on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. Just ask the Carolina Hurricanes.
Whoever the Gulls’ next head coach is may be able to find an expanded role for Myatovic, who spent time on the top line at various points of the season.
Stian Solberg
In his first full season in North America, Solberg logged big minutes on the left side of the Gulls’ defense. He spent most of the season as part of the top-4, playing alongside both Roland McKeown and Tristan Luneau. He had 24 points in 71 games and racked up 102 penalty minutes.
Solberg’s trademark physicality was on display all season, which became a double-edged sword at times if he decided to go out of his way to finish a thundering hit and inadvertently pulled himself out of position.
Jul 1 2025; Irvine, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks prospect Stian Solberg looks on during a drill at Anaheim Ducks Development Camp at Great Park Ice. Mandatory Credit: Derek Lee-The Hockey News
For as promising as Solberg has already looked, especially recently in the IIHF World Championship, the Ducks can afford to be patient with his development. Jackson LaCombe mans the helm on the left side of the Ducks’ defense, followed by the likes of Pavel Mintyukov and Olen Zellweger. Tyson Hinds received a late-season call-up and showed that he could be an NHL regular next season as well.
Solberg will likely begin next season with the Gulls again, logging heavy minutes as one of their top left-handed options. Injuries can come at any time, so it’s possible that he sees NHL action at some point next season. But it seems unlikely for now.
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers re-signed Jason Dickinson to a five-year contract worth $20 million on Sunday, preventing the defensive-minded center from testing the free agent market.
Dickinson will count $4 million against the salary cap through the 2030-31 NHL season. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, three days before his 31st birthday.
Instead, Dickinson will be counted on to provide depth in Edmonton as the organization looks to get over the hump and win the Stanley Cup following a decade of trying and falling short despite having two of the best players in the league in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Dickinson fit in well with the Oilers after they acquired him from Chicago in early March ahead of the trade deadline. He averaged roughly 15 minutes of ice time a game the rest of the season and 12 in the playoffs, becoming one of the team's most frequently penalty killers.
Re-signing Dickinson was one item on a lengthy offseason checklist for general manager Stan Bowman. Hiring a coach could be next, along with potentially trading longtime defenseman Darnell Nurse and upgrading the goaltending position.
The Calgary Flames aren’t exactly grabbing headlines for it just yet, but there’s a quiet sense building around the organization that their rebuild may be tracking a little cleaner—and maybe a little faster—than most teams in a similar position.
A big part of that comes down to what they’re about to walk into at the 2026 NHL Draft.
Heading into KeyBank Center in Buffalo, Calgary owns 11 picks in total, including two first-round selections and six picks inside the top 55. That kind of draft capital doesn’t guarantee anything, but it does give a rebuilding team something invaluable: flexibility. At this stage of the cycle, that’s often the difference between staying stuck and actually moving forward.
The 2026 NHL Draft begins Friday, June 26 at 5 p.m. MT with Round 1, followed by Rounds 2 through 7 on Saturday, June 27 at 9 a.m. MT. Both days will be broadcast on Sportsnet.
Here’s how the Flames’ draft board currently sits:
What stands out isn’t just the sheer volume—it’s how tightly packed those early picks are. Calgary will be on the clock repeatedly in quick succession across the first two rounds, giving them the ability to go in multiple directions: swing for upside, target organizational holes, or package selections if a meaningful trade opportunity presents itself.
Of course, none of it matters in theory. Draft capital only becomes real value when it’s used well—and the league has plenty of examples of teams both maximizing and wasting it.
The Colorado Avalanche, for instance, have shown both sides of that coin in recent years. Some picks have developed into key contributors, while others were moved out in pursuit of another Stanley Cup run that ultimately fell just short. It’s a reminder more than anything: stockpiling assets is only step one. Execution is everything.
For Calgary, that’s the warning label attached to all of this. The opportunity is real—but so is the risk of getting it wrong.
One potential swing at the top of the board is Swedish center Viggo Björck at sixth overall. He’s not the biggest player on the ice, but Calgary has been searching for more long-term center depth, particularly after moving Nazem Kadri back to Colorado.
Björck’s production with Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Hockey League—six goals and nine assists last season—doesn’t jump off the page at first glance, but his impact has been more noticeable in flashes and in international play. At the IIHF World Juniors, he added three goals and six assists in his debut tournament, helping power his country to a gold medal.
For a Flames organization trying to restock skill down the middle, he represents the kind of bet that can quietly reshape a depth chart over time.
There’s also a broader philosophical shift taking shape in Calgary. The organization still wants veteran presence in the room, but the runway for younger players is getting longer—and more meaningful.
Ryan Lomberg, for example, appeared in just two of Calgary’s final 19 games as the coaching staff increasingly leaned into extended auditions for younger players like Tyson Gross and Aydar Suniev. It wasn’t subtle, either. It felt like a preview of where things are heading.
General manager Craig Conroy didn’t fully tip his hand on Lomberg’s future when asked at season’s end, but he acknowledged the balancing act the organization is now managing.
“We’ve got to take a couple days because everything is emotional. I’ll reflect and see where we think this is going. We have a lot of players under contract right now. When you have players, there needs to be room to play, too.”
That “room to play” part matters—and it’s becoming harder to ignore in Calgary.
Among the young players already forcing the issue is Gross, who scored in just his third NHL game during a 3–1 loss to Colorado on April 9. The goal stood as his first at the NHL level, though he briefly thought he had two before a second was overturned for offside.
Even so, it was a glimpse of something the Flames haven’t had enough of in recent years: young players arriving and looking like they belong.
And that’s really the hinge point for all of this. Calgary’s rebuild won’t be defined by how many picks they have, or even where they pick. It’ll come down to whether those players turn into everyday NHLers—and how quickly they can push the roster forward.
Because if they do, this doesn’t stay a long rebuild for very long. If they don’t, all this draft capital is just paper again.
Should the Philadelphia Flyers try to add a top-six center for the second consecutive offseason, a familiar foe in the Eastern Conference could provide one... at the right price.
North of the border, the Ottawa Senators, fresh off a first-round sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, are looking for moves they can make to give themselves a better chance at Stanley Cup contention.
Defensive depth has been a question mark, but they have a strong foundation, led by Tim Stutzle, Linus Ullmark, Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot, and Jake Sanderson.
At center, Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, and Ridly Greig are all coming along nicely... and the Flyers reportedly have varying degrees of interest in all three.
"According to team sources, the Flyers have interest in Senators centers Shane Pinto, Dylan Cozens and Ridly Greig – in that order. DFO was told that the Flyers and Senators have had on and off trade talks going back to the 2024-25 season; per sources, the Senators were unwilling to move any of their pivots other than Josh Norris," NHL insider Anthony Di Marco recently reported for Daily Faceoff.
Pinto and Cozens are the two most attractive options of the three as the established top-six centers.
Pinto, 25, is coming off a career year, having scored 23 goals, 23 assists, and 46 points in 72 games for the Senators. He's the most expensive at a $7.5 million annual cap hit, though it should be noted that he has one goal in 10 career playoff games.
As for Cozens, he's the most established of the group, as well as the biggest.
The 6-foot-3 former No. 9 overall pick already scored 30 goals in his third NHL season with the Buffalo Sabres back in 2022-23, when he scored 68 points overall.
Cozens hasn't reached that peak since then, but he put together a nice 59-point campaign last season. Notably, the 25-year-old has four seasons remaining on his contract at a $7.1 million cap hit, and he will have a five-team no-trade list kick in next summer.
If the Senators become convinced that Cozens can't reach another gear by then, they could be motivated to strike a deal with the Flyers, even if the latter's preference really is Pinto.
Greig, son of Flyers scout Mark Greig, is more of a third-line center at this stage, though he is young at 23 years old and comes cheap with a $3.25 million cap hit.
The Flyers don't need to save the money, but they could cut corners on a future Noah Cates extension; both players have three seasons remaining on their contracts, but Cates is already older and more expensive.
At the same time, it goes almost without saying that the Flyers would not pursue a virtually pointless trade such as that.
Di Marco notes that "the Senators have shown on and off interest in Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen," and we can assume that this would be the starting point for any trade between the two teams.
Ristolainen's trade value should be going up after a strong playoff run with the Flyers, and that value should be even greater to a team like the Senators who wouldn't be forced to play him in a top-pairing role behind Chabot, Sanderson, and Artyom Zub.
The Flyers won't be unearthing the next superstar this summer, but it is becoming increasingly clear that they will, at the very least, have options to upgrade at the center position via trade.
The 2026 NHL Draft is quickly approaching in just five days and Free Agency begins in just ten days.
This means teams have ten days to re-sign expiring contracts.
One former Wild player re-signed a contract in a pretty cool way.
Nicolas Deslauriers won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes and during the team parade, he went up on stage with Canes' General Manager Eric Tulsky and announced a new contract.
The former Wild bruiser announced a two-year contract to stay in Carolina.
NIC DESLAURIERS JUST SIGNED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARADE 🔥🔥🔥
Deslauriers, 35, was the only trade acquisition for the Canes at the deadline. He played in seven games for the Hurricanes after being acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers for a conditional 7th-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
The 6-foot-1, 218-pound left-winger, recorded one assist in seven regular season games for Carolina and played in just one playoff game during the Canes' run.
In his time with the Wild, Deslauriers played in 20 regular season games in 2021-22. He recorded three goals and 53 hits. In five playoff games, Deslauriers recorded 13 hits. He has played in six career playoff games. Five with Minnesota and one with Carolina.
He has now signed a two-year contract. The deal will pay Deslauriers $850,000 in 2026-27 and $900,000 in 2027-28.
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The Colorado Avalanche announced on Saturday that the organization has hired Zack Stortini as the head coach of the franchise’s ECHL affiliate, the New Mexico Goatheads.
“We’re happy to welcome Zack to the Avalanche and Goatheads organizations,” Avalanche Scout Mike Battaglia, who oversees ECHL operations for the Avs. “Over his first seven years coaching in the AHL and OHL, Zack has established himself as a rising coach, and we feel he’s a great fit for the Goatheads as we embark on their inaugural season.”
We have announced today that the organization has hired Zack Stortini as the head coach of the franchise’s ECHL affiliate, the New Mexico Goatheads. pic.twitter.com/UIbqIOT0mM
Stortini spent parts of six seasons in the NHL, five of which were with the Edmonton Oilers.
Selected by the Oilers in the third round of the 2003 NHL Draft, Stortini played parts of 15 professional seasons, appearing in 860 games across the NHL and AHL.
He made his NHL debut on January 20, 2007, against the Calgary Flames, and played all but one of his 257 NHL games with the Oilers. Through his 257 NHL appearances, he tallied 41 points (14g/27a). He was known primarily as an enforcer and physical presence rather than a scorer.
In 2011, he became a full-time minor league player. His 603 AHL games were spread across teams including the Charlotte Checkers, San Jose Barracuda, Binghamton Senators, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Norfolk Admirals, Milwaukee Admirals, Oklahoma City Barons, Hamilton Bulldogs, and others, totalling 109 points (55g/54a).
He accumulated 1,825 penalty minutes during his professional career and served as captain or alternate captain at multiple stops. He was also a three-time nominee for the AHL's Yanick Dupre Memorial Award for community contributions.
Stortini did get chances to return to the NHL, hoping to breakthrough in preseason with the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers. He did not make either team.
After retiring, he returned to the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL as an assistant coach. Most recently, he spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners before being named the first head coach of the new ECHL expansion team, the New Mexico Goatheads.
One specific area that the Blue Jackets should look to improve this off-season is their defensive depth. When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea stands out as an interesting potential target for them to consider.
When Sergei Bobrovsky decided that he didn’t want to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets any longer, fans were gutted. How could the best goalie to ever wear the Union Blue want to leave? He owns just about every organizational record there is for goalies, including games played, wins, goals-against, saves, shutouts, minutes played, and points scored.
First up will be the 2026 NHL buyout window. The first buyout period this year starts 48 hours after the Stanley Cup playoffs end. So, with Carolina ending it last night, clubs will start the process of figuring out if they wish to buy a player out, and that process must conclude by June 30th at 5pm ET.
According to BetMGM's odds, the CBJ are listed at +5000 to win the 2027 Stanley Cup. That's the 16th-best odds in the league. Other teams at +5000 are the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers.
After being drafted 1st overall, Nash went on to sign his first NHL contract, a deal that was signed minutes before the deadline. That contract, at the time, was the most lucrative ever signed by an NHL rookie, valued at $1.2 million per season, with bonuses and incentives ranging from $8 million to $12 million.
When looking at this year's pending UFAs, one players who stands out as a potential option for the Blue Jackets to consider is Minnesota Wild forward Vladimir Tarasenko.
Adam Fantilli is the future of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and with him needing a new deal, many fans are worried that he won't get signed before July 1st, leading to an offer sheet that the CBJ won't be able to afford.
I'm here to tell you that there's nothing to worry about. At least, that's my humble opinion.
Former Columbus Blue Jackets forward and Cleveland Monsters Captain Ryan Craig has been promoted by the Vegas Golden Knights to be their next head coach. He replaces John Tortorella, who just took the VGK to the Stanley Cup Final. It was announced on June 16 that Tortorella would not be back to coach Vegas.
One way that the Blue Jackets could look to improve their group this summer is through free agency. There are some interesting pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) who could hit the market on July 1, and one of them is Dallas Stars forward Michael Bunting.
"The league has completed its review of Mike Babcock's tenure in Columbus, and of certain alleged conduct associated therewith. Our investigation has concluded that, even in the light least favorable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the league."
Everyone is the media expects and hopes GM Don Waddell does something to bolster the lineup. From trading up to trading down, to trading players, everything seems to be on the table.
When looking at this year's pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs), one player who could be an intriguing addition to the Blue Jackets' roster is Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen.
The Blue Jackets have announced that they have signed defenseman Corson Ceulemans to a one-year, two-way contract extension. At the NHL level, the 6-foot-2 defenseman will have an $850,000 cap hit. He will have an AHL salary of $95,000.
Jake Christiansen has a lot to prove next season if he wants to remain a member of the CBJ. He'll be a UFA at the end of 26-27, and will be playing for his future.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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On Monday, the Hockey Hall of Fame will announce its latest crop of inductees, and one former Montreal Canadiens player should keep his phone within reach. Goaltender Carey Price was eligible to enter the Hall last year, but he didn’t get the call then; the selection committee instead opted for Zdeno Chara, Duncan Keith, Joe Thornton, Alexander Mogilny, Brianna Decker, and Jenniffer Botterill on the players’ side and Daniele Sauvageau and Jack Parker on the builders’ side.
While Price’s contract comes to an end this season, he hasn’t made an official retirement announcement, but being officially retired is not a criterion for entry; a player only needs to have not played professional hockey for three years to be eligible. The former face of the franchise last manned the Canadiens’ net on April 29, 2022, in a 10-2 rout of the Florida Panthers’ “C-team”, since the Cats rested most of their regulars.
The goaltending great's resume leaves little doubt that he should be in the Hall. From an individual standpoint, Price won every trophy he was up for in 2014-15, netting the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender, the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player for his team, the William M. Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed, and the Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player as voted by the members of the NHLPA. In 2021-2022, he was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy for his dedication to the game and his perseverance. Price overcame substance abuse with the help of the Player Assistance Program and fought through numerous injuries in his career.
The one blemish on his record is that he couldn’t bring a 25th Stanley Cup to Montreal; that wasn’t on him, though. From the 2013-14 season onward, Price was clutch in the playoffs, posting brilliant numbers and achieving save percentages of .919, .920, .933, .936, and .924, along with goals-against averages of 2.36, 2.23, 1.86, 1.78, and 2.28. He came up just short in 2021, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the final. If the Canadiens never won the Cup with him in net, it was no fault of his own; it was down to Montreal’s anemic offense. Price and the Tricolore might have reached the Cup Final in 2013-14 as well had it not been for the infamous Chris Kreider incident. The goaltender was dominant that year, but when Kreider crashed into him in Game 1 of the Conference Final against the New York Rangers, the Canadiens’ dream of a 25th Stanley Cup came crashing down as well.
This year, there are a few big names who will be in their first year of eligibility, including Boston Bruins mainstays Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, and Stanley Cup Champions Phil Kessel and Eric Staal. The likes of Rod Brind'Amour, Vincent Damphousse, and Keith Tkachuk are still waiting for their turn as well. The official announcement will take place on Monday, June 22, at 3:00 PM ET. Watch this space to find out if Price made the cut.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 14: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins warms up before a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Utah Mammoth at Delta Center on March 14, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Eli Rehmer/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Kyle Dubas makes such frequent transactions around the Penguins that plotting a long-term path can be difficult. It only takes one call to dramatically alter the future in ways that can’t be imagined these days.
With that in mind that this exercise is likely to have more hits than misses, what could the Penguins look like for the 2027-28 season? Let’s take a shot.
Top-6 forwards: Sidney Crosby, Egor Chinakhov, Ben Kindel, Bryan Rust, ?, ?
The forward group is going to need a lot of work. We’ll project that Crosby signs an extension and plays as a 40-year old in 2027-28 and Evgeni Malkin heads on to a happy retirement. Rickard Rakell is still under contract for this season, but we’ll put an outlook that he’s traded, which isn’t the case for Bryan Rust.
By this point, McGroarty ought to be in the NHL lineup, though it’s not a certainty. Similarly, is a then 21-year old Bill Zonnon ready for prime time after one year in the AHL coming up in 2026-27? It’s a possibility but also a big leap to even pencil him in as a full-time NHLer by then, as can be said for all the other players a rung below the NHL.
Right shot defense: Harrison Brunicke, ?, Kris Letang
Kris Letang is under contract, he’ll also be 40 this year and his decline could push him elsewhere by the start of 2027-28. He might well have a spot here. There could be an outside chance that Erik Karlsson sticks around, but it seems better odds than not by 2027 that he will be gone. Beyond Brunicke, there isn’t a lot in the even intermediate picture here, though that could be solved in the coming days or weeks if the Pens are able to acquire the services of a defender on a multi-year contract.
Left shot defense: ?
On this, we’re drawing a complete blank. Maybe one can hope Owen Pickering and/or Jake Livinavage will be in the picture by this point. It’s certainly possible, though nothing to bank on with confidence. The Pens have a lot of work to do, whether that means re-signing Parker Wotherspoon or bringing in more NHL bodies soon, the canvas is pretty blank and needs a lot of painting to be done. This could be one reason why those Darnell Nurse rumors are lingering, Nurse might not be the most optimal potential option out there, but the Pens do need some material here.
Goalie: Sergei Murashov, ?
It’s possible Arturs Silovs could grow into some staying power and come back for a third season as a Penguin in 2027-28. The pliable nature of goalies makes us think this could be something at least TBD more than baking in an expectation at this point.
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There’s not much material above, which is kinda the point to emphasize how open-ended the situation is for Pittsburgh moving forward. They only currently have seven players who finished the season in the NHL (Kindel, Rust, Rakell, Lizotte, Dewar, Letang, Graves) even under contract in 2027-28, several of those names being veterans that they may even trade in the next 15 months. That small number is bound to change soon, including once they get through the heavy player movement seen at next week’s draft and through the thick of free agency in the opening days of July.
It emphasizes a ton of options available and flexibility of how to move forward. Some answers will find themselves, like if players like McGroarty, Avery Hayes, Ville Koivunen and Elmer Soderblom step up and prove they should have a spot moving forward or if mid-level veterans like Wotherspoon, Novak, and Sam Girard entrench themselves into a longer stay.
Otherwise, at this point, the Penguins have a position that looks both risky and also exciting in a medium-term outlook. From 2021-23, tons of players like Rust, Rakell, Letang, Malkin, Graves, Tristan Jarry and Noel Acciari all got 3-6 year contracts, lately that’s been eradicated. Only Lizotte (three-years) and Jack St. Ivany (2024, a near-minimum deal for three seasons) have received term of more than two seasons since July 2023, not counting the requisite three-year deals that go to entry level rookies.
As a result, the future is wide open for the Pens to steer in any number of directions. Dubas already indicated not to expect Pittsburgh to be involved in high-end free agents that will sign for lots of dollars and term this summer. Trades could be a way to bolster the lineup, and progress of any young players in the next 12 months would also be very welcome for a Penguin team that is going to need a lot of material to develop for their club in an intermediate outlook.
