The Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers are set for what could be their fifth consecutive playoff meeting, according to a recent projection from JFreshHockey. 

This recurring matchup has quickly become one of the most intense rivalries in the NHL playoffs, with both teams battling it out every year, and fans getting in on the action. 

small tweak to the projection based on updated depth charts. will answer any question on these projections (which i'll post updated the day before the season and hope, as every year, will be among the least incorrect ones) pic.twitter.com/1s1qwMKIc7

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) August 27, 2025

Who has the Edge?

When it comes to which team has the star power, the edge goes to the Oilers. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to be a problem for the Kings' defense to find any way of containing both stars.

Those two alone make the Oilers so tough to beat in any series and always have the edge because of that, which is the reason why they’ve been in the last two Stanley Cup Finals. 

On the other hand, the Kings lack a big star name or a superstar like the Oilers. LA has solid veterans and young stars on the rise, including Anze Kopitar, Brandt Clarke, Quinton Byfield, and Darcy Kuemper. 

Kings may have the edge in depth and defense because they have more players that could attack and defend on the ice, but when it comes down to significant moments in the series, the Oilers own LA. 

But, still, each time these two teams have met in the playoffs, they’ve been tightly contested games that have come down to the last few possessions.

Each playoff meeting does add more familiarity between the squads, making adjustments and execution even more critical. Many Kings fans argue that the series' last seasons would’ve been there’s.

But if head coach Jim Hiller hadn’t made the obvious coaches' challenge that wasn’t going to go their way, or failed to make any in-game coaching adjustments, maybe LA wouldn’t have blown the 2-0 series lead and three straight game collapses in the second and third periods.

Final Thoughts

If these projections hold, fans can expect another highly contested and intense series complete with high-speed action and scoring.

The Kings will look to finally overcome their postseason hurdle against Edmonton, while the Oilers will aim to continue their dominance, looking at the top of their throne as they dispatch LA. 

The loophole that helped the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Vegas Golden Knights earn a competitive advantage and win multiple Stanley Cups is finally closed.

No, we're not talking about removing the tax breaks for teams that play in states with no income tax.

But the NHL and NHLPA's reported decision to immediately implement several new changes to the collective bargaining agreement, including a playoff salary cap, could be just as instrumental.

It's about time. Some would argue, this move took way too long.

After all, how many championships have been won and lost because of a salary cap loophole?

Going back a decade, when Chicago's Patrick Kane broke his collarbone a week before the 2015 trade deadline and then remained out until the start of the playoffs, teams have put an injured player on long-term injured reserve, and they have only returned to action in the post-season so the team could add a player and avoid exceeding its cap space during the regular season.

It was a smart move. It was also not in the spirit of the CBA, which aims to provide a level playing field for all 32 teams. Of course, all rules are meant to be broken, or at the very least manipulated. And it didn't take long for teams to realize that being cap compliant only applied to the regular season. If you had a player who was injured, there was nothing stopping a team from waiting until the playoffs to re-activate him from injury, as many teams took advantage of.

In 2020-21, the Tampa Bay Lightning won back-to-back championships while being $18 million over the cap after Nikita Kucherov returned for the playoffs after sitting out for the entire regular season while recovering from surgery. Kucherov, who later trolled critics for his well-timed return, led the playoffs with 32 points.

Two years later, the Golden Knights exploited the same loophole when Mark Stone took until Game 1 of the playoffs before finally returning from back surgery. The NHL investigated Vegas, which was able to acquire Ivan Barbashev, Teddy Blueger and Jonathan Quick, but found no wrongdoing. A year later, Stone remained out again, allowing the Golden Knights to acquire Noah Hanifin, Anthony Mantha and Tomas Hertl at the trade deadline.

This past season, Matthew Tkachuk curiously also remained out until the very start of the playoffs following an injury at the 4 Nations Face-Off. His long-term absence allowed the Panthers to acquire Brad Marchand at the deadline.

None of that can happen again.

New NHL CBA Changes Take Effect Immediately—How They Impact the Maple Leafs This SeasonEarlier this summer, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to a four-year extension of their collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The deal included a number of amendments. With the current CBA terms expiring at the end of the 2025-26 season, there was a question as to which changes would apply immediately and which would go into effect a year from now when the extension officially kicks in.

Under the new CBA rules, teams must be under the cap limit of $95.5 million for the playoffs. Previously, the salary cap only applied to the regular season, allowing teams to activate injured players once the post-season began. Now, teams will have to submit a playoff roster, where the aggregate cap hit of all active players cannot exceed the upper salary cap limit.

Which means, if you had suspicions that Vegas would activate Alex Pietrangelo for Game 1 of the playoffs after having already announcing it's unlikely his body will recover to the standard required to play NHL-level hockey — think again.

Those days are over.

Then again, with one loophole closing, chances are another will open. Just give it time.

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Once again this year, The Athletic’s Corey Pronman has released his rankings of under-23 players that are either in the NHL or on the cusp of it. This time around, the Montreal Canadiens have seven players in the 173-player list. To be eligible, a player must be 22 years old or younger as of September 15, 2025.

The young Habs included in the rankings are Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher, Zack Bolduc, Michael Hage, and Oliver Kapanen. Pronman’s rankings are divided into six tiers; the first one is for elite NHL players, tier two for NHL All-Stars, tier three for bubble NHL All-Stars and top of the lineup players, tier four for Top of the lineup players, tier five for bubble top and middle of the lineup players, and tier six for middle of the lineup players. Let’s have a look at where each Hab stands.

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Slafkovsky gets the seventh spot in the ranking and is considered in the second tier. Pronman deems his skating average, his puck skills above average, just like his hockey sense, and his compete high-end. The journalist praises the youngster’s use of his big frame and concedes that even if he never reaches the highest of tiers in points total, he could be a star because of the special role he plays.

I’m surprised to see the power forward come so high in the ranking and receive a high-end rating for his compete. Personally, I believe this is what Slafkovsky could eventually be rather than what he is at the moment. It’s been written time and time again that the youngster knows what to do to be successful, but he has yet to manage to do it consistently. I do not doubt that it’s coming, but it’s not there yet. Last year, he was 15th on the list.

The second Canadiens player in the ranking is Demidov, who lands in the second tier as well, in 10th place. Pronman rates his skating as below average, his puck skills as elite, his hockey sense, compete, and shot as above average. Unsurprisingly, it’s the winger skating that makes him go down in the ranking, and anyone who’s watched Demidov play last season knows what the writer means when he mentions his “awkward/knock-kneed skating stride. However, this is one of the areas on which the young Russian has focused this summer in Brossard, and while at times he reverts to that particular style, it’s on the verge of being a thing of the past.

It's tough to argue with the rest of Pronman’s assessment, however, and if I were a betting woman, I’d wager that Demidov will be climbing up those rankings next season, and it’s worth remembering that he is still only 19 years old. Regardless of how you look at it, Demidov should be a diamond in the rough at his age, but he’s not that rough and shows a lot of promise. Last season, he was in 17th position and in the third tier, just like Slafkovsky.

The third Hab to feature in the list is Calder Trophy-winning blueliner Lane Hutson, who lands in 34th place and in the fourth tier. This one is puzzling. Pronman rates his skating as above average, just like his puck skills and compete, while he deems his hockey sense high-end. What makes him slip all the way to 34 then? His defensive play.

The Athletic’s journalist argues that he’s a minor defenseman without high-end feet or physicality, which makes him ill-suited to defend against the top players in the league. I disagree with this statement. I can’t deny that Hutson’s offensive game is better than his defensive game, but he can still defend against the best players. To me, his mobility and compete make up for his lack of physicality, and those who have seen him skate in 82 games last season and five playoff games will agree. Last year, Pronman had him as a tier seven player in 87th place, so that’s a healthy jump. However, expect him to move up in next September’s edition of those rankings; he’ll be 22 by then and in his last year of eligibility.

The next Hab is in tier five and comes in 44th place: David Reinbacher. The article describes his skating and puck skills as average, while his hockey sense and competitiveness are above-average. This is probably Pronman’s most accurate assessment, as he explains that the right-shot defenseman won’t be the best in any category, but is a good all-around defenseman.

This is precisely what the youngster showed last season in the playoffs with the Laval Rocket, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does at training camp. Given that he was injured in the previous preseason, he may be a bit behind schedule, but defensemen typically take longer to develop, so that’s not an issue. Last year, he was in 69th place in the rankings.

The next Canadiens on the list are all the way down at spot 100, in tier six. Pronman clearly sees the Habs' new acquisition as average, that’s how he evaluates his skating, puck skills, hockey sense, and compete, but does add that his shot is high-end. Last year, he didn’t even make the ranking.

For Pronman, the deficiencies in Bolduc’s game are without the puck; if that’s the case, he landed in the right place. The winger has a good hockey sense, and under Martin St-Louis, he will be given every opportunity to learn how to make the right reads to improve his play without the puck. We won’t see where he lands in these rankings next season, as this is his last year of eligibility.

Next up is Michael Hage, who has dropped from 118th to 131st place in the sixth tier. Pronman considers his skating and hockey sense to be average, his puck skills above average, his compete level below average, and his shot above average.

Despite conceding that Hage has had an impressive freshman season, the journalist notes that the youngster has a history of inconsistency and streakiness, and that playing too much on the outside could hinder his chances of success in the NHL. If this comes to be, the Canadiens’ need for a legitimate number two center will be even greater.

I had noticed that Hage does pick points in bunches, but he’s still very young and has time to turn things around. Furthermore, the culture being developed in Montreal should also enhance the competitive level. When numerous leaders go all in at all times, it’s challenging for a young player to dip his toe in the water.

Finally, Kapanen comes in at number 139 in tier six. His skating is deemed below average, while his puck skills, compete, and shots are above average, and his hockey sense is average. In a nutshell, it’s his footspeed that drags him down the ranking.

Although Pronman believes Kapanen made significant progress last season as a key player with Timra IK, he thinks the youngster's lower foot speed could be a drawback and might lead to him being shifted to the wing. This is Finn’s first appearance in the rankings, and if he improves on his training camp showing from last season, he could make the team and stick around this year.

Having seven players in this ranking and four in the top 100 is quite an impressive feat; some teams do not even have a single player who cracked the top 100, like the New York Rangers, for instance, and it goes to show just how good a job the Canadiens are doing with their rebuild.

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The Philadelphia Flyers knew exactly what they were getting when they selected Jett Luchanko in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft: a remarkably poised, intelligent, and versatile player who was far ahead of his age curve.

What they may not have expected, at least not so soon, is how quickly he’d force them into a developmental riddle with no perfect answer.

At just over 18 years old, Luchanko already turned heads last fall when he made the Flyers’ opening-night roster out of training camp. For four games, fans got a glimpse of what made him such a tantalizing prospect: the smooth skating stride, the vision that makes him look like he’s processing plays in slow motion, and the sheer maturity of his decisions with the puck. He didn’t look overwhelmed. He didn’t look like a kid clinging to a roster spot. He looked like he belonged—or at least, he would belong in short order.

But hockey development rules are nothing if not cruel. The Flyers made the prudent choice to return Luchanko to the OHL’s Guelph Storm before burning the first year of his entry-level contract. It was ultimately the smart move, but anyone who followed him throughout the 2024–25 season could see the problem looming: he was simply too good for junior hockey. On a Storm team that has struggled in recent seasons, Luchanko stood out like a beacon in a fog—his skillset was already past the level of many of his peers. He wasn’t just surviving; he was controlling games.

That leaves the Flyers with a conundrum this fall: what’s the right next step for a player who’s too polished for one level but not quite polished enough for the one above it?

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The AHL Problem

In an ideal world, this wouldn’t be an issue at all. The AHL exists precisely for players in Luchanko’s position: a league full of grown men, some still clawing toward NHL careers, others carving out professional lives as reliable minor leaguers. It’s faster, more physical, and tactically closer to the NHL than junior hockey, but still provides space to learn and grow without the spotlight of being in the show.

But, having just turned 19 years old in August, that’s not an option for Luchanko. Players drafted out of the CHL cannot join the AHL until they turn 20 (with very few exceptions). There was a glimmer of hope when reports surfaced earlier this week that a loaning system for 19-year-olds would be coming to the AHL but, ultimately, those reports were untrue (at least right now).

According to a league source, the AHL loan for one 19-year-old player per team is NOT one of the CBA changes that is effective immediately. Therefore, for the #Flyers and Jett Luchanko, it looks like it will either be the NHL or CHL.

— Jackie Spiegel (@jackiespiegel93) September 2, 2025

For Luchanko, it means he’s stuck between two extremes: NHL or OHL.

And that’s where the Flyers have to be delicate. Push him into the NHL before he’s truly ready, and they risk stunting his growth against stronger, smarter competition where mistakes are punished mercilessly. Send him back to the OHL, and they risk wasting another season of his development in games that may not challenge him the way he needs.

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What Does “Ready” Really Mean?

One of the fascinating wrinkles with Luchanko is that he already checks many of the boxes teams typically look for when determining NHL readiness. His defensive instincts are mature beyond his years; he backchecks with purpose and reads lanes as if he’s played hundreds of pro games already. His skating is not just good, it’s a real separator—smooth, explosive, and efficient. And his hockey IQ? That’s been his calling card since scouts first started raving about him.

Jett Luchanko has 3 primary assists after just one period against the London Knights (feat. fellow #LetsGoFlyers prospects Denver Barkey and Oliver Bonk). Barkey said during training camp that he and Bonk had been trying to get Luchanko on the Knights (but didn’t get very far).

— Siobhan Nolan (@SGNolan) November 10, 2024

But there are still the physical and experiential gaps. He’s still only a teenager, still filling out his frame, and the grind of an 82-game season against the biggest, strongest, and most relentless players in the world is a different beast. Where he might’ve dominated time and space in the OHL, he’ll find that NHL defenders close gaps faster and punish mistakes harder.

That’s why NHL teams typically want that “bridge” step in the AHL. And it’s why the Flyers face such a tricky balance: acknowledging how advanced he is without putting him in a situation where he’s overexposed.

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The Flyers’ Development Playbook

For the Flyers, this isn’t uncharted territory. They’ve had to walk this line with young players before—guys like Matvei Michkov (albeit under very different circumstances), Tyson Foerster, or even former Flyer Morgan Frost when he was caught in the limbo of not quite being NHL-caliber but too good for the minors. What Rick Tocchet and Danny Brière will need to decide is whether Luchanko is better off playing limited NHL minutes and learning on the fly, or dominating in the OHL once again while continuing to refine his strengths.

There’s a case for each.

The NHL case: Even in sheltered minutes, practicing every day with NHL players, learning from NHL coaches, and adapting to NHL systems can accelerate development. He doesn’t need to play 20 minutes a night in the big league to benefit; 10–12 thoughtful, situational minutes could expose him to just enough challenge to keep growing.

The OHL case: Sometimes, even if a player looks “too good” for junior, there’s value in confidence, in running the show (Luchanko was named Guelph's captain last season), in having the puck on your stick every night. The Ontario native could benefit from being “the guy” one more year, further building his offensive creativity and continuing to round out his game before the inevitable jump.

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What Should the Flyers Do?

The best path forward may lie in a hybrid approach of sorts. Give Luchanko another long look in camp. If he forces their hand—if he looks NHL-ready in more than just flashes—don’t be afraid to keep him in Philadelphia, even if it means managing his usage carefully. Surround him with veterans, give him sheltered matchups, and let him learn.

If he’s close but not quite there, another year in Guelph doesn’t have to be wasted. The Flyers can work closely with the Storm to tailor his development, setting benchmarks for what they want him to accomplish. Dominate offensively. Kill penalties. Drive matchups against top lines. Add strength. In short: make sure it’s not just a “repeat” year but a targeted step in the process.

The Flyers should also explore opportunities for him to spend time with the Phantoms when his OHL season ends. Even a handful of AHL games in the spring could provide that crucial “bridge” experience the CHL–NHL gap often denies.

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The Bottom Line

The Flyers drafted Jett Luchanko because he’s the kind of player you build around: smart, versatile, and fearless, with the work ethic to back it all up. But the road to the NHL can have a few potholes (this is Philadelphia, after all), and in his case, the challenge is navigating a system that doesn’t quite fit his timeline.

The Flyers can’t treat him like just another prospect, because he isn’t. He’s already ahead of schedule. But they also can’t treat him like a savior ready to carry NHL minutes when he's barely 19. The margin between those two extremes will define his next season—and possibly the shape of his career.

One thing is certain: this is a good problem to have. Players like Luchanko are real gems to have in the pipeline, and while the Flyers may be wrestling with how to handle him, they’ll take that problem every time. Because whether it’s in Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley (eventually), or one last year in Guelph, Jett Luchanko’s trajectory is pointed exactly where the Flyers want it to go: straight up.

Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman made several moves during the off-season to bolster his roster for the coming season.

Yzerman's most notable deal was acquiring goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks. He also shed the remaining year of Vladimir Tarasenko's contract, shipping him and his $4.75 million average annual value to the Minnesota Wild.

The Wings GM also re-signed right winger Patrick Kane and turned to the UFA market for veteran depth, signing James van Riemsdyk, Travis Hamonic, Mason Appleton, Ian Mitchell and Jacob Bernard-Docker.

However, a significant move to add a top-four defenseman or a top-six forward failed to materialize.

Max Bultman of The Athletic was asked if Yzerman might address one or both needs before the regular season begins. He suggested that Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and a Penguins winger, such as Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell, might be the best options.

Karlsson, Rust and Rakell regularly surfaced in this summer's trade rumors. However, Bultman's not expecting any of them to don the Winged Wheel jersey, citing Karlsson's expensive contract and the Penguins' asking price of a first-round pick for Rust or Rakell.

Earlier this summer, the Red Wings were linked to Ducks center Mason McTavish in the rumor mill. Some observers suggested the close ties between Yzerman and Ducks GM Pat Verbeek could make Detroit a landing spot for the 22-year-old RFA center, but Bultman doubted Verbeek would part with McTavish.

Bultman also suggested that the Wings monitor high-scoring winger Kyle Connor's contract status with the Winnipeg Jets. The 28-year-old Michigan native is UFA-eligible next summer. Bultman doubted the Jets would move him this early in the season if he remains unsigned, but suggested the Wings should be ready to inquire just in case.

Turning to the Chicago Blackhawks, Frank Seravalli of Bleacher Report noted they still haven't signed RFA defenseman Wyatt Kaiser.

Seravalli indicated that the Blackhawks have nine or 10 young NHL-ready defensemen on their blueline. They could end up shopping one of them, but he doesn't anticipate Kaiser will be a trade candidate.

Four of the Blackhawks' young rearguards – Artyom Levshunov, Kevin Korchinski, Sam Linzel and Nolan Allen – are waiver-exempt, so they could demote one or two if necessary. They could also attempt to trade Connor Murphy, who is UFA-eligible next July, though that move would take away their most experienced blueliner.

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From winning the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery to a general manager change, a move that brought even more internal changes outside of just roster construction, things have fundamentally shifted within the New York Islanders organization. 

The focus, and rightfully so, is on the on-ice product for the Islanders, who missed the playoffs last season. While not at the forefront, the amount of change that has occurred for the Bridgeport Islanders, their AHL affiliate, cannot be overlooked and should come with just as much excitement. 

Following a horrid 15-50-4-3 season, the organization elected to fire Rick Kowalsky and his assistants, holding on to only goaltender coach Sergei Naumov, after the team won just four games at home the entire season.

Enter Rocky Thompson, the newest head coach for Bridgeport and one who previously lifted hardware in the OHL, leading the Windsor Spitfires to the Memorial Cup as their head coach back in 2017.

In his introductory press conference, Thompson said all the right things, discussing how hard the team will work and how much he’s learned serving as an assistant coach under John Tortorella and new Islanders assistant coach Bob Boughner. 

What sticks out the most still today is his tagline from that day: “We’re not going to be the punching bags anymore.” 

For all the many flaws the Bridgeport team had last year, confidence likely became the biggest. No longer will the Islanders roll over. The entire identity has flipped. 

That’s per the Bridgeport prospects who spoke at development camp about their excitement to play for Thompson and showcase that the organization’s future is brighter after the light dimmed following some tough seasons. 

Beyond the coaching change, the roster adjustments will be quite enticing for fans as well. The franchise struck a balance between retaining former star veterans and overhauling the vast majority of the team’s leadership.

Defensively, the team underwent a massive makeover. The headliner of the additions is Ethan Bear, one of the best defensemen in the AHL over the last couple of seasons.

The Regina, SK native led the division-winning Hershey Bears in points (46) and assists (36) last season and represented Hershey at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic. He was also named to the AHL’s Second All-Star Team, one of the highest honors in the league.  He has a chip on his shoulder as he tries to fight for another chance in the NHL. He’ll be a great leader within that younger room. 

Other defensive additions include Cole McWard, Luke Rowe, and Sean Day. It’s very possible that Day, more than any other signing, could prove to be the coup of the lot. One of the best skaters around, Day received exceptional status back in his junior hockey days, and there are believers there’s still an NHL player within the 27-year-old still. 

The offense will look different, too.  Franchise record-holder Chris Terry returns to lead this group into its next era. Julien Gauthier returns following missing all but nine AHL and one NHL game last year due to a season-ending upper-body injury. Iis offense is something Bridgeport desperately could’ve used. 

Matthew Maggio and Alex Jefferies are both looking to take that next step forward. Maggio has always been a leader, with that skillset heavily on display during development camp this past July.  

External addition Matthew Highmore will be a key presence for the team at the center position. 

Most significantly, the team will have its late-season college free agent signings playing for the entire season. Cam Berg, a 2021 fourth-round pick, will play the full season with Bridgeport,  along with Gleb Veremyev, who looks like a player who may not only be a hulking presence for Bridgeport but a dark horse candidate for a potential NHL call-up at some point throughout the upcoming season.

There will also be an exciting local flavor to the team. 

Laurel Hollow’s Marshall Warren returns and only looks better with every passing game he plays.  Warren’s close friend and Copaigue native Ross Mitton returns after signing as a college free agent. 

Mitton will quickly become a fan favorite behind his hard-nose, high-energy game, which he brings as a self-described power forward. While Max Dorrington is from Massachussets, he played his final college season down the road from Bridgeport with Sacred Heart. Veremyev is from New Jersey. These local pieces only enhance the bond that the team looks to grow with the fanbase.

The final part of this roster reconstruction and one of the most important upgrades comes in the goaltending department. 

David Rittich’s addition to the NHL squad as Ilya Sorokin’s backup, if Semyon Varlamov isn’t ready to go once the season begins, bumps Marcus Hogberg further down the depth chart, guaranteeing the Swedish netminder will open as a key figure for Bridgeport. 

Parker Garhagen, an AHL veteran, joined the room as well. Tristan Lennox and Henrik Tikkanen return, too, but they seem more likely to start in the ECHL. Hogberg and Garhagen, on paper, look to be one of Bridgeport’s best tandems in a long time. 

If Varlamov is ready to go, there’s a chance that Rittich plays in Bridgeport, that is, if he passes through waivers. That’s not likely, especially given his $1 million cap hit and his NHL backup track record. 

While all of these reasons are compelling for excitement, there’s one player who has generated more excitement and buzz this summer than any other. Calum Ritchie. 

The centerpiece of the Brock Nelson trade and now a top prospect for the Islanders, Ritchie will attend New York’s NHL training camp with the hopes of making the roster. If he does not do so, and currently Stefen Rosner’s roster projection has him missing the cut, Ritchie immediately becomes the headliner for this entire Bridgeport team.

The 20-year-old posted 70 points (15 goals, 55 assists) in 47 OHL regular-season games last season with the Oshawa Generals, then added another 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 21 playoff games. 

The level of excitement surrounding Ritchie is very high, and if he starts in the AHL, he will be at the top of their lineup and consistently one of the most exciting players not just for Bridgeport, but in the entirety of the AHL this upcoming season.

Bridgeport opens its season on Saturday, October 11, against the Providence Bruins at Total Mortgage Arena. To get tickets and learn more about game-night promotions and events, click HERE

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Sportsnet’s Eric Engels is at the GM meeting in Detroit, and he had the opportunity to speak to Tampa Bay Lightning and Team Canada coach John Cooper. The bench boss had very nice things to say about the Montreal Canadiens captain, Nick Suzuki.

Engels reports that while Cooper was impressed by Suzuki in 2021 (the year the Canadiens and the Lightning met in the Stanley Cup final), he is even more now after hosting him as one of the 42 players at Team Canada’s orientation camp. He told Engels:

The one thing I didn’t know about him was his personality. I made a point to spend time with him in Calgary, and I learned he’s a phenomenal kid. He’s pretty quiet, reads the room, but very engaging when you sit with him one-on-one. I had a great time with him, so that’s just another box checked in the cosmic trajectory of Nick Suzuki.

- Jon Cooper on Nick Suzuki

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That statement doesn’t guarantee Suzuki a roster spot on the Canadian team for the upcoming Olympic Games, but it’s a step in the right direction. Cracking the roster won’t be easy, after all, following Canada's win in the 4 Nations Face-Off, the coach likened the Canadian brass’ job to fine-tuning a Ferrari.

The Canadiens captain certainly performed like a Ferrari after the international break last season; he put up the fourth most points in the league after the tournament, carrying his side to the playoffs. The Olympic roster is expected to include 25 players, and traditionally, teams take three goalies, meaning there are only 22 spots left for skaters. Suzuki’s body of work indeed suggests that he has what it takes to make the selection.

The Canadian team is in good hands with GM Doug Armstrong and Cooper behind the bench. The Lightning pilot has plenty of experience and knows how to get a team to become a winning one. He has a 572-306-83 record in 961 NHL games, two Stanley Cup Rings, and two more conference championships.

Furthermore, the Lightning coach is a good and generous man. For several years, a group of fans has gathered in Montreal to attend an event called the Habs Summit. They all catch a game together, but they also hold a fundraiser for the Montreal Canadiens’ Children Foundation. One year, the game the group attended was against Cooper and the Bolts. When he heard about the fundraiser, the coach not only donated one of his sticks to help raise funds, but he also got one of his alternate captains, Victor Hedman, to provide a stick as well.

While some believe Cooper is biased and favors his own players when it comes to roster composition, I think he tends to go with the players he knows will help him win. This season, when the Canadiens take on the Lightning on December 9, you can be sure Cooper will be keeping close track of what the Habs captain does on the ice. The final rosters are due on December 31, 2025, and the Canadian brass will be taking notes until then.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 40 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today we look at the history of jersey #40. 

Let's take a look.

Bill Bowler - 2000-01 - Bowler was undrafted out of Toronto, CA. 

Bowler played a total of 9 games for the Jackets during their inaugural season and had two points. He spent most of that year with the Syracuse Crunch and totaled 79 points in 72 games. In 2002, he spent one season in Germany before retiring. 

Bowler has worked for the Windsor Spitfires as the VP. of Hockey Operations and General Manager since 2019. 

Brad Moran - 2001-04 - Moran was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 7th round of the 1998 NHL Draft. 

 The Jackets signed Moran as a free agent in 2000. He only played in 5 games as a Blue Jacket and had 2 points. He spent most of his time playing for the AHL Syracuse Crunch. In his final year with the Crunch in 2004-05, he played in 80 games and had 72 points. 

Moran left for a second stint in Europe in 2011 and played the last six years of his career there. He would retire after playing two seasons in the EIHL in 2017. 

Moran would be the GM and HC of the Calgary Canucks in the Alberta Junior Hockey League from 2018 to 2025. For the 25-26 season, Moran is signed on to be the Asst. Coach of the WHL's Calgary Hitmen. 

Duvie Westcott - 2001-08 - Westcott was undrafted and signed by the CBJ in 2001.

Wescott played in 201 games for the Blue Jackets from 2001 to 2008. He scored 11 goals and totaled 56 points. Wescott was described as "a gritty defenseman with a solid all-around game. Has good passing ability and powerplay skills." 

After playing for Columbus, Wescott went to Europe and played the next seven seasons in the KHL, DEL, and Swiss National League. He retired in 2015. 

Fred Brathwaite - 2003-04 - Brathwaite was undrafted out of Ottawa, Canada. 

Brathwaite played in 21 games for the Jackets in the 2003-04 season. He went 4-11-1 with an .897 SV %. After his year in Columbus, he bounced back and forth between North America and Europe. He didn't play from 2012 to 2020. He was hired by the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights as their goaltending coach in 2020, where he remains. At age 48, he dressed as a backup for Henderson when Logan Thompson was unavailable. 

Jaroslav Balaštík - 2005-07 - Balaštík was drafted in the 6th round of the 2002 NHL Draft by Columbus. 

Jaroslav Balaštík played in 74 career games for the CBJ. He scored 13 goals and totaled 24 points during his tenure. After his time with Columbus, he returned to his home country of Czechia, where he would play until 2015. 

Jared Boll - 2007-16 - Boll was drafted in the 4th round of the 2005 NHL Draft.

Boll played in 518 games for the CBJ and totaled 62 points. He is #1 all-time in CBJ history with 1,195 and has 154 fights to his name. 

Jared Boll was a big man in his playing days. Standing 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, there weren’t too many who would willingly step up to Boll. He was an old-school enforcer who would not hesitate to stand up for his teammates and take one on the chin if necessary. In his career, he fought the St Louis Blues more than any other team. He had four seasons where he had fight totals over 20 and there were a few seasons that were 15+. His most common opponent was Krys Bach (5), and he fought the likes of Paul Bissonnette (4), George Parros (4), and Clayton Stoner. Boll is the best enforcer the CBJ has ever had.

After retiring from the Anaheim Ducks, Boll returned to Columbus, where he is now an assistant coach. 

Daniil Tarasov - 2021-25 - Tarasov was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2017 NHL Draft.

Tarasov started 61 games for Columbus during his tenure, going 19-34-6 with a SV% of .898. Used primarily as a backup, Tarasov's time is Columbus in generally looked at as a failure, but it's mainly due to injuries. 

Unfortunately for Tarasov, he was stuck behind Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzļikins for a few years. While Merzļikins was struggling, he had every opportunity to grab the bull by the horns and take off, but he did not do that. 

Last season, everything kind of came unglued for the young Russian. He was benched in favor of Jet Greaves on several occasions and even had to be sent to Cleveland on a conditioning assignment. Things were not going well. He ended last season with a SV% of .881.  

On 26 June 2025, Tarasov was traded to the Florida Panthers, in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft. The book on Daniil Tarasov in Columbus was finally over. 

There are 40 days to go until opening night at NWA. Who was your favorite #40?

Let us know what you think below.

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

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More From THN Columbus

Blue Jackets’ September Timeline: Key Dates To WatchWe’ve officially entered the month where hockey returns. For most teams, that means rookie challenges, training camps, pre-season, and big roster decisions are all packed into the next 30 days. 41 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #41The Columbus Blue Jackets have 41 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today we look at the history of jersey #41.  Blue Jackets Players Donate To Local Hockey Player With Brain Tumour Yesterday, a story surfaced on social media about local Columbus hockey player Quinn Halstead, who has recently been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Earlier this summer, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to a four-year extension of their collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The deal included a number of amendments. With the current CBA terms expiring at the end of the 2025-26 season, there was a question as to which changes would apply immediately and which would go into effect a year from now when the extension officially kicks in.

Now we have our answer.

As listed by Puckpedia.com, the rule changes now in place as part of the CBA include:

• New Playoff Salary Cap
• Limits/changes to LTIR, reducing the benefits a team receives on LTIR
• No Deferred Compensation (effective Oct 7, 2025)
• Restriction on Paper Loans
• Restriction on a second retention on a traded contract
• Four Recall rule

New Playoff Salary Cap

The new playoff salary cap is the most significant change and will go into effect for the upcoming playoffs. Under the new rule, there is now a 'playoff salary cap compliance requirement'. This means teams must submit a playoff roster where the aggregate cap hit of all active players cannot exceed the upper salary cap limit. The upper limit for the 2025-26 season is $95.5 million.

This effectively closes a loophole that the Leafs have used in the past, where they could load up on players without any restriction once the playoffs began and bolster their lineup. The Leafs, of course, were not the only team to do this, nor were they the team that exploited this rule the most. Previous Stanley Cup champions like the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights were teams that used the mechanism regularly.

There are also some daily cap accumulation accounting changes that may prohibit teams from acquiring a dead contract, for example. If a team does acquire Carey Price’s cap hit, that contract may still count for the playoff roster, even though he didn’t play. Dead caps, buyouts, and overagers would hit the playoff cap on a pro-rated basis.

Limits/changes to LTIR, reducing the benefits a team receives on LTIR

In the past, when a player was placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), a team could maximize the player's full salary cap hit. Now, that number will not be allowed to exceed the lower of the player’s cap hit or the average salary from the previous season. The average salary last year, according to Puckpedia, was $3,817,293. There is still a provision where the team could get more in cap relief, but the player has to be determined to be medically unfit for both the remainder of the regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs to be eligible.

No Deferred Compensation (effective Oct 7, 2025)

A contract that consists of money paid out after the end of the contract is no longer permitted as of Oct. 7. This is the first day that the NHL starts calculating the salary cap for the 2025-26 season. If the Leafs want to extend a player with that type of provision, they have until Oct. 6. The Maple Leafs used the provision twice last season. The Leafs re-signed defenseman Jake McCabe and used deferred money to bring his salary cap hit down to $4.51 million. Toronto did that again this summer when they signed John Tavares to a four-year extension with a salary cap hit of $4.38 million.

Restriction on Paper Loans

When a player is sent down to the minors, they must report every time and play in at least one AHL game before being permitted to be recalled. This effectively eliminates situations where teams would game daily cap accrual or save money by paying players at their AHL level of compensation on days off instead of at the NHL level. This was particularly in place with a player like Nick Robertson two seasons ago, when he was bouncing up and down.

Restriction on a second retention on a traded contract

When the salary cap was flat in 2021, NHL teams began to get creative when it came to trying to get a player’s cap down. Teams like the Leafs would use a third team as a broker to get a player’s cap hit reduced to as much as 25 percent. They first did this when they acquired forward Nick Foligno from the Columbus Blue Jackets. They required the help of the San Jose Sharks to retain an additional 25 percent of Foligno’s $5.5 million cap hit.

Four Recall Amendment

The NHL only allows four non-emergency recalls from the NHL trade deadline to the end of the AHL season. That number will now be modified to five for this season, but only four of those recalls can be on the NHL roster at any time. This has generally not been anything the Leafs were too affected by as most of their recalls toward the end of a season have been emergency recalls. There is also word that pending an agreement with the Canadian Hockey League, an AHL loan of a 19-year-old player will be permitted for one person per team. The Leafs would have likely utilized that last year when prospect Easton Cowan was returned to the London Knights.

A Shift in the Maple Leafs Strategy?

With all the changes the Maple Leafs have undergone this year, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Leafs keep their roster the way it is to start the season. With all the restrictions in LTIR, being a salary-cap accrual team will still help when it comes to roster flexibility. We wrote about this and with many of the LTIR rule changes now going into effect this season, it is by far the most prudent strategy as Toronto navigates under some new accounting rules.

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Latest stories:

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving And Darren Ferris Discuss Free Agent — Could It Be Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk?

Maple Leafs Sign Dennis Hildeby To 3-Year Deal—Is He Their Third Goalie This Season?

Mitch Marner’s Agent Preferred Former Maple Leaf To Go Through ‘Dog And Pony Show’ Of Free Agency Instead Of Sign-and-Trade

One after another is how the Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be negotiating new extensions with their goaltenders.

Hours after signing Dennis Hildeby to a three-year, $2.53 million deal on Tuesday, the Maple Leafs reportedly began contract discussions with Anthony Stolarz’s camp, according to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta.

“In Toronto, after going the summer without negotiating, sources tell me the Maple Leafs have now started contract extension discussions with goaltender Anthony Stolarz.”

After signing a two-year, $5 million contract with Toronto following a Stanley Cup Championship with the Florida Panthers last summer, there were question marks about how he’d fare with a larger workload.

The 31-year-old, however, had the best season of his career in his first go-around with Toronto and is looking to do the same in his second year with the club. 

Stolarz played 34 games—the most he’s ever played in a season—and recorded a 21-8-3 record, plus a .926 save percentage in that span (the most among NHL goaltenders who played 30+ games).

Despite suffering a knee injury mid-season, which forced him to have surgery and miss nearly two months, Stolarz played well in his return and earned himself the number-one goaltender job entering the playoffs, ahead of Joseph Woll.

Stolarz had a .901 save percentage after eliminating the Ottawa Senators in six games during the first round of the playoffs. However, his health took a turn for the worse in Game 1 of the second round against the Panthers, after taking a forearm to the head from former teammate Sam Bennett.

The netminder remained in the game for a few moments after taking the bump, but left a short while later after throwing up on the bench. Woll came in and strung together three wins and an .886 save percentage before Toronto went out in Game 7 to Florida.

Stolarz revealed after the season was over that he went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion following Bennett’s hit.

“I missed that little part in the middle of the season, but I was extremely happy with the way I was able to bounce back, come back, and find my game. I owe a lot to [Maple Leafs goaltending coach Curtis Sanford] and Woller,” Stolarz said during his end-of-season media availability in May.

“Curtis was working hard with us ever since training camp and really put in the extra effort for me to get back during that injury, and just kind of the techniques and just the way he prepared us really helped me. I think myself and Woller, just being able to push each other all year, I mean, we had a great relationship, and I got along with him extremely well. Looking forward to the opportunity to come back with him next year.”

It’s expected that the Maple Leafs will follow the same plan in net from last season: Rely on both Stolarz and Woll until the playoffs, where they’ll then go with the goaltender who had the better season.

That is, unless one of the two netminders puts together a strong string of games during the early portion of the season. Even then, Toronto would likely give Woll and Stolarz equal opportunity so that they can limit any potential injuries.

But it’s a positive that both the Maple Leafs and Stolarz’s side are already reportedly beginning contract negotiations. We’ll see where it goes as we enter training camp and beyond.

Latest stories:

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving And Darren Ferris Discuss Free Agent — Could It Be Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk?

Maple Leafs Sign Dennis Hildeby To 3-Year Deal—Is He Their Third Goalie This Season?

Mitch Marner’s Agent Preferred Former Maple Leaf To Go Through ‘Dog And Pony Show’ Of Free Agency Instead Of Sign-and-Trade

The Philadelphia Flyers have had a leadership opening since the NHL trade deadline, and Travis Sanheim is a prime candidate to step in and step up.

Captain Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny, who wears the 'A' for the Flyers, remain from last season's leadership group, but Scott Laughton and his 'A' were traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the NHL trade deadline last year.

That leaves new Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet with a decision to make ahead of opening night, though it's a fairly obvious choice at this juncture.

Sanheim, 29, is the best choice to join the Flyers' leaders going forward, cementing his rise from trade candidate to acting No. 1 defenseman for the team that drafted him in 2014.

Sanheim, along with Couturier, was on hand for the Flyers for the official unveiling of Xfinity Mobile Arena on Tuesday, which says a lot about him and how the Flyers see him.

Drafted 17th overall by the Flyers just over a decade ago, Sanheim has seen the playoffs and missed the playoffs, had great seasons and had bad seasons, but still managed to continue to work every day, every season, and improve to where he is today.

Flyers Late-Round Draft Pick Already Looking PromisingIt's still early, but the Philadelphia Flyers are certainly looking to have a potential draft steal on their hands with Max Westergard.

Regardless of how good you think Sanheim truly is, he's represented Canada, and he's the backbone of the Flyers.

He, Couturier, and Konecny all have this in common: they were all first-round picks of the Flyers, became NHL regulars early in their careers, and have been through the highs and lows of the NHL to become the leaders they are today.

This is exactly the kind of message the Flyers want to convey to their rising young players, like Tyson Foerster, Cam York, and Matvei Michkov.

The Flyers have other candidates for assistant captaincy, too, like Nick Seeler and Noah Cates, but Sanheim has been in Philadelphia the longest and has undergone the ascent reflective of a long-term leader.

Expect the smooth-skating defender to tack on even more responsibility under Tocchet with the Flyers in the 2025-26 season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have signed goaltender Dennis Hildeby to a three-year contract.

The deal has an $841,000 AAV and will pay him $350,000 while in the AHL in 2025-26. The contract is a two-way deal for the first two seasons and becomes a one-way in 2027-28.

Hildeby had a record of 16-9-7 with a .908 SP and 2.55 GAA with the Toronto Marlies and a 3-3 record with a .878 SP and 3.33 GAA with the Maple Leafs last season, the first NHL starts of his career. 

The 24-year-old has a 37-21-14 record with a .908 SP in 73 career AHL appearances and represented the North Division at the 2023-24 All-Star Game. 

A fourth round selection of the Maple Leafs in 2022, Hildeby has now completed two full seasons in North America and appears to be a significant part of Toronto's plans in the future. 

Hildeby will likely start the majority of games for the Marlies and seems to be first in line for a recall to the Maple Leafs. 

We’ve signed goaltender Dennis Hildeby to a three-year contract extension pic.twitter.com/cjEmwXc1Zk

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 2, 2025

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization. 

We go back-to-back with goaltenders for No. 8, as prospect Joel Blomqvist came in at No. 9. This next young netminder may be new to the Penguins' organization, but Arturs Silovs certainly has some upside.

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#8: G Arturs Silovs

It's definitely fair to question whether or not Silovs - acquired in July from the Vancouver Canucks - should still be considered a prospect by certain standards. Technically, he has not met the 25-game NHL rookie requirement, as he has appeared in only 19 regular season games and has been up and down between the NHL and AHL for the past three seasons.

But Silovs is still young and unproven enough at 24 to be held to the same standards as Blomqvist, who has appeared in 15 NHL games and is just one year his junior. And he definitely has upside.

Silovs's defining NHL moment was a 10-game playoff run in 2023-24 that helped lead the Canucks past the Nashville Predators in the first round and brought them to seven games in the second round against the Edmonton Oilers, who eventually went on to the Stanley Cup Final and lost to the Florida Panthers. In those playoffs, Silovs went 5-5 with an .898 save percentage.

Penguins Facing Uncertain Goalie Split Entering 2025-26 SeasonOnce again, the Pittsburgh Penguins face goaltending questions heading into a season. 

Even though those numbers don't jump out by any means, he did put together some solid performances, including a shutout. He was also only 23 years old with only nine regular season games under his belt at the time, which made it all the more impressive that he was able to step in and give the Canucks a chance.

The 6-foot-4, 203-pound Latvian netminder has a lot of untapped potential. And that really showed itself during the Abbotsford Canucks' Calder Cup run last season - which was, certainly, the best run of Silovs's professional career to date.

En route to an AHL championship last season, Silovs was remarkable. He posted a 16-7 record to go along with an astounding .931 save percentage and five playoff shutouts, and those five shutouts put him just one shy of the AHL record for a singular playoff run by a goaltender.

BREAKING: Abbotsford Canucks Win 2025 Calder Cup After a magical playoff run filled with standout performances, the Abbotsford Canucks have officially won the 2025 Calder Cup. This is Abbotsford’s first Calder Cup win in franchise history and their first time making it out of the second round since their inaugural season in 2021. They clinched the Calder Cup after a 3–2 Game 6 win against the Charlotte Checkers in the Calder Cup Finals. The last time the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate made it to the Calder Cup Finals was when the Utica Comets did so in 2015. 

He showed off his athleticism, quickness, range, and potential in that run, and it almost solidified his standing as Latvia's top goaltender for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan Cortina.

To put it plainly, the Penguins may have landed on a gold mine here. Silovs very much has the chance to supplant Tristan Jarry as the go-to guy in Pittsburgh this season, so - given the Penguins' goaltending depth behind him in Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov - this season will be critical in terms of his future in Pittsburgh and in the NHL.

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The list so far:

- No. 9: G Joel Blomqvist
- No. 10: F Tristan Broz
- No. 11: F Will Horcoff
- No. 12: F Mikhail Ilyin
- No. 13 F Filip Hallander
- No. 14: F Bill Zonnon
- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Goaltender Entering 'Make-It-Or-Break-It' SeasonHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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Join the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins Community to follow and chime in on the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

On Tuesday, the NHL released its transition schedule for the new rules under the Collective Bargaining Agreement that is set to take full effect during the 2026-27 season. 

But some of those changes will be occurring sooner. 

According to PuckPedia, there are several new provisions that will take effect in 2025-26, which include a new playoff salary cap, changes to long-term injured reserve (LTIR), no deferred compensation, restrictions on paper loans, restrictions on second retention with traded contracts, and a “four recall” rule post-trade deadline. But there is one new provision that - although not finalized - could take effect this season and have a potentially large impact on the Pittsburgh Penguins and other NHL organizations.

The NHL and NHLPA are pushing to negotiate with the CHL for a new rule this season that would allow 19-year-old players to play in the AHL. Each organization would be limited to one 19-year-old junior player to be on loan to the AHL per season, and the rule will take effect in 2026-27 if not implemented this season. 

As of now - according to PuckPedia - the negotiations have not yet started, but the NHL and NHLPA hopes to have the change take effect this season.

And if it does take effect, there is one Penguins’ prospect who could very much benefit. 

What Is The Best Developmental Path For Top Prospect Harrison Brunicke In 2025-26?For 19-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins' defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke, it is only a matter of time. 

19-year-old defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke impressed Penguins’ brass last year during training camp, as the 44th overall pick in 2024 nearly broke the NHL roster. Despite an injury setback last season - Brunicke missed two months of action after breaking his wrist in November, which also caused him to miss out on the World Junior Championship for Team Canada - he picked up right where his training camp left off with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), registering five goals and 30 points in 41 games. 

His performance during his junior season - in addition to his performance during camp - led to an assignment to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) at the conclusion of Kamloops’ season. Although there were some growing pains in his first several AHL games, Brunicke showed he belonged, putting up two points in 10 games and a goal and two points in two playoff games for WBS.

Not only did Brunicke play in the AHL playoffs, he supplanted some veterans that had been with WBS the entire season - and he played in the top-four, too. It was enough to catch the eye of WBS head coach Kirk MacDonald, who had a lot to say about Brunicke’s growth in that short period of time.

“Huge,” MacDonald said. “Honestly, it was. Credit to him, he figured it out quick. Came in initially, and - you know, he had junior habits where you can just skate by people and hold on to the puck for a long time - I thought he did a really good job with the last couple of regular season games and the playoff stint. He was moving pucks quick, jumping into the rush… that goal he scored in the playoffs was outstanding. I thought his ability to kill plays, again… the less he does in certain areas, the more he accomplishes just by making a really good first pass, activating and jumping in the rush. 

“We want our D to be aggressive in trying to create offense, but it doesn’t mean necessarily having to skate through everybody. And, I think, once he kind of recognized that, he was a little bit more patient with his game, and the offense came to him. He did a great job.”

MacDonald wasn’t the only one who noticed the 6-foot-3, 202-pound blueliner’s growth last season. When asked after development camp in early July about whether or not the NHL and CHL should consider a rule change for junior players to be AHL-eligible, Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos confirmed that such a rule would benefit a player like Brunicke.

“I think that’s something that the league should look at,” Kostopoulos said. “Because he’s probably played his way out of junior hockey and might be ready for a step up. I’m not in charge of those rules, but you’re probably right.”

Kelsey Surmacz (@kelsey_surmacz4) on X#LetsGoPens Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos on whether the AHL ineligibility rule presents any challenges on the developmental side for players like Harrison Brunicke: @TheHockeyNews #NHL #AHL

Two months later, that rule may become a reality for the 2025-26 season, and it would certainly benefit Brunicke, who - barring a disaster of a training camp - is certainly the frontrunner to earn that distinction out of the 19-year-olds in the Penguins’ organization. This is especially the case with Brunicke because he is the best player on a struggling Kamloops team and often tries to overcompensate, and his only other option if the rule doesn’t take effect this season would be cracking the NHL roster.

And that might not be so easy to do. The Penguins already have a logjam on the right side with Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Matt Dumba, and Connor Clifton, making Brunicke’s path to making the NHL roster out of camp far more difficult. Being AHL-eligible next season is also probably best for Brunicke’s development because he may not be quite ready for the NHL jump, anyway.

Of course, the rule would benefit the Penguins in the future regardless. Someone like Ben Kindel could see the AHL next season, too, if the provision takes effect next season.

But in the present, Brunicke’s development would greatly benefit from the rule being implemented in 2025-26. He is the exact kind of special case who should serve as an example for the NHL and CHL to show why allowing 19-year-old junior players in the AHL could be of benefit to player development across the league.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects: Goaltender Entering 'Make-It-Or-Break-It' SeasonHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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Devils' Jack Hughes and Oilers' Connor McDavid both have serious value on player prop markets and begs the question of who the better value is?

More NHL: Why A Healthy Jack Hughes Could Be the NHL's Best Betting Value

More NHL: McDavid to Lead Oilers Offense And Score More Amid Injuries, Rookie Lineup Changes

The NHL season is nearly here, and we're back targeting player props after a big year, including hitting Connor McDavid’s under 51.5 goals and nailing picks like Hellebuyck’s Vezina-winning campaign. This year, we’re flipping the script and backing McDavid to go over 34.5 goals (-115 at BetMGM), expecting him to take on more scoring with Zach Hyman out and a rookie on his wing plus, it’s his contract year. We're also eyeing Jack Hughes to go over 32.5 goals and 83.5 points, assuming he stays healthy, with past production showing he can clear both lines in just 70–75 games. Which bet do you like more? McDavid or Hughes? Let us know in the comments 👇🏼