Author: NHL Hockey News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Over the three days that the Montreal Canadiens’ development camp lasted, fourth-round pick and 133rd overall selection LJ Mooney stood out to me. It wasn’t because he was only 5-foot-7 and 157 pounds; no, it was because of how intensely he played on the ice. He skated with Gallagher-like determination or Hutson-like intensity when trying to recover a puck that had just been stolen from him.

Martin Lapointe said post-draft that they were trying to hit a homerun when they selected Mooney in the fourth round despite his small frame, because the talent and the skills were there to make him a much earlier selection. Those words came back to me while watching him, and it made sense.

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Since then, I came across a scouting report written by Elite Prospects’ USHL/NCAA scout Sebastian High (with an assist from @HabsOnReddit), and it was an interesting read, especially considering how vital size and physicality turned out to be in the playoffs this past season.

Thinking back to this LJ Mooney game report I wrote (while on a bus through the Rockies to Canmore).

The Montreal Canadiens are the perfect organization to optimize the odds of Mooney’s NHL upside.#GoHabsGo have both a good eye for development paths and the patience required. pic.twitter.com/0Tm8dYcmCN

— Sebastian High (@high_sebastian) July 9, 2025

High praised the impressive level of violence in his play, and that he had no qualms launching himself into players that were a foot taller and 50 pounds heavier than himself, he even called him a pint-sized hurricane to deal with.

Of course, like most, if not every, 18-year-old prospect, Mooney is not a finished product, and High did cover his downsides. Most notable was the fact that he tends to try the impossible play, the Hail Mary passes. To me, that’s not overly worrying. Lane Hutson had a tendency to try too hard when he first joined the Canadiens, but he learned to pick his spots in time, and the Canadiens are the type of team that will allow for growing pains, especially under Martin St-Louis.

It used to be that if you made a mistake in Montreal, Michel Therrien or Claude Julien would sit you on the bench, and you’d spend the rest of the game with a front-row seat to watch the action. This is no longer the case. Not for young players learning in any case, it takes quite a few occurrences for the coach to crack the whip.

High even concludes by saying that the prospect will need to work on numerous aspects of his game in college, but that there's a path, even if it’s a narrow one, to a top-six role in the NHL. Encouraging words to say the least, but it’s now all down to the play and how hard he’ll be willing to work in college, but watching him at development camp made it abundantly clear that there is nothing to worry about there. Mooney said it himself; he uses his side, and the fact that people doubt him serves as motivation to work harder and prove them wrong. That’s always been a winning formula.

Photo credit: © Pierre Bourgault/Club de hockey Canadien inc.

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The Hockey News Big Show is here to discuss the biggest topics as the NHL off-season is well underway.

How Many 2025 NHL Draft Picks Could Immediately Make The Jump? by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Drew Shore discussed in this episode:

01:30: Are hockey’s enforcers the same off the ice as on the ice?

04:00: Gavin McKenna commits to Penn State. What does it mean for the junior hockey and NCAA landscape? For Drew, what was it like playing college hockey?

06:55: Does college hockey benefit players more than major junior?

09:00: Is the NCAA more difficult than the WHL?

11:30: The Edmonton Oilers traded Sam O’Reilly to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Isaac Howard. Thoughts?

14:30: Where do we see Howard playing? Is it OK when young players call their shots and refuse to sign with the team that drafted them? Why didn't Howard want to play for the Lightning? 

16:40: What was Drew’s experience like in rookie and development camps?

18:30: Are there any surprises from the NHL’s summer development camps?

21:00: Summer training: what are the early summer routines like? How long after a season ended should someone start to train? What’s the diet like? What kind of gym work happens?

23:00: Would Drew be on the ice constantly in the off-season?

25:30: How much did Drew’s diet change in the off-season?

28:40: How many players from the 2025 draft could go straight to the NHL?

32:45: What makes you able to tell if players are ready for the NHL level right away?

35:00: Who's the best UFA still on the market?

40:00: In honor of the Nittany Lions signing McKenna, what's your favorite NCAA mascot name?

42:00: What's the best summer food?

42:55: Yay or nay: kids playing organized hockey in the summer

Watch the full Episode here 

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform.

Last off-season, the Chicago Blackhawks went on a shopping spree in free agency. They added an array of veteran players, including Teuvo Teravainen, Tyler Bertuzzi, TJ Brodie, Alec Martinez, Craig Smith, and Pat Maroon, in hopes of taking a step forward in their rebuild. 

However, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson had a different game plan when it came to July 1 this year. Instead of using their high amount of cap space to bring in new talent, the Blackhawks were incredibly quiet in free agency, only signing depth forward Dominic Toninato to a two-year, two-way contract.

During a recent episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Blackhawks were not very happy with how last season went with some of their veteran additions, so they went in a different direction this year in free agency. 

"They weren't exactly thrilled with how things went last year with some of their vets, and I think they just decided 'we're not going to do that again,'" Friedman said about the Blackhawks. "So, I'm not surprised they were pretty quiet."

Friedman then noted that the Blackhawks aren't a club that the NHL's top free agents will sign with as they continue to build their roster.

"I can understand why the Blackhawks did not want to repeat what happened a year ago. The best free agents, they aren't going there right now. They aren't going there right now. So, you're not going to sit there and say we're making some of the same mistakes we thought we had a year ago."

With this, it is understandable that the Blackhawks took a more conservative approach with free agency this year. This is especially so when noting that this year's free agency class was notably weaker. In addition, the Blackhawks have several impressive prospects who should be competing for spots on the NHL roster in training camp.

Nevertheless, it is going to be fascinating to see how the Blackhawks perform next season after their quiet off-season from here. 

NHL Rumors: Blackhawks Should Target Top Free Agent LeftThe Chicago Blackhawks currently have over $22 million of cap space to work with. Because of this, they are in a prime position to add to their roster, and one area that they could look to improve before the season is here is their forward group. 

Photo Credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images

LAS VEGAS -- Golden Knights star Jack Eichel knows what it means to leave an organization and city that brought you into the NHL, and then having to start over in a brand-new city.

Which is why the 2015 second overall pick is more than willing to lend a hand with the newest Golden Knight, Mitch Marner, who arrived last week via a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Marner, an area native of Toronto, was taken by the Maple Leafs two picks after Eichel in the same draft.

"Having went through the situation of leaving an organization in the city and having a fresh start in Vegas, I think I can relate, to a point, to some of the things he's going through," Eichel said. "I think he's obviously had his own situation, and however that ended, I'm sure he's super excited to have a fresh start and be in a place like Vegas, and I know he'll excel.

"I'm looking forward to continuing to get to know him and then getting the opportunity to play with him."

Eichel spoke to The Hockey News via phone call Tuesday, discussing the Marner acquisition, his summer vacation on the East Coast, preparation for the 2025-26 campaign, and looking forward to returning with a fresh mindset in September.

During the "Leaf Morning Take" podcast, Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said it's hard to predict if Eichel and Marner will end up on the same line, but he is looking forward to seeing the two when camp opens in September.

"There needs to be chemistry, first of all," Cassidy said. "And there might be some automatically, and there might be none, you never know. They're going to get an opportunity at some point, whether it's early on or later, to play together. Because you want to see what it looks like.

"Mark Stone was up there with Jack last year, pretty good hockey player, right? So we have (Tomas) Hertl, we have (William) Karlsson, so (Marner's) going to get a good center, and what's the best fit where he can play his game? I'll say this about Jack and Mitch, they're probably both distributors first, so it'll be interesting to see if they do play together. And I'm sure they will in situations, even if they're not in the same line, and see how that works out if one of them becomes more of a shooter. But those questions will all get answered as we go along."

Said Eichel: "Obviously, incredible signing in addition to our team, world-class player and somebody whose game I really admire and respect. Somebody who can create so much and do so much in different areas of the game. Had some brief conversations with Mitch, and everyone that I've spoken to that knows him, that's been around him, has the best of things to say about him. So we're super excited to have him in Vegas."

With training camp still a couple of months out, Eichel said his summer vacation at home in Massachusetts has been nothing short of relaxing.

"It's been good," he said. "I mean, it's always nice to be able to come home and see some friends and some family and catch up.

"Obviously, the season is a whirlwind and you're constantly in the mode of preparing for the next game and trying to put your efforts towards winning hockey. In the offseason, I think it's just a little bit of a mental reset, given the time and demand of the season. Give your body a rest, and then get back to training and figure out what you want to try and do to improve yourself and come back in good shape."

Outside of spending time with family and friends, breathing in life off the ice, Eichel said he hasn't done anything special or out of the ordinary in the gym during the offseason, but has stuck to a regimen that will have him ready for the start of camp in September.

"I think it's about being consistent and then obviously finding ways or things that you want to try and improve on in your body, and something that will help you respond better on the ice," he said. "So, for me, it's always been the simple things. You want to lift weights, you want to try and get some running in, obviously keep your conditioning and cardio at a good point, and just try and give yourself the opportunity to feel as good as you can on the ice. I don't really think that there's necessarily a special sauce. It's more so, for me, about consistency."

Eichel is coming off his best season, which saw him register career-bests in points (94) and assists (66). The 28-year-old earned his fourth All-Star bid, and finished fifth in voting for both the Hart and Selke awards.

He also finished third in the voting for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, presented each year to the "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."

His high character has been on display this week, with time dedicated toward community outreach, beginning Monday with Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy's second annual Cassidy Murray Golf Classic.

The event benefits the Cassidy Murray Foundation, named in honor of 13-year-old Cassidy Murray, who was killed in a water accident in Aruba in 2022. Cassidy Murray and Bruce Cassidy’s teenage daughter, Shannon, were classmates and best friends.

On Tuesday, the star center was in Vermont, making an appearance at a hockey camp.

Saturday, the fan favorite will captain a squad of current and former Golden Knights in the Battle For Vegas charity softball event at Las Vegas Ballpark.

Later this month his JE9 Hockey Camp will be held at City National Arena.

With most of the components in place and the Knights signing players almost daily, questions continue to revolve around a contract extension that could make Eichel the highest-paid player in franchise history.

Eichel, who helped deliver Vegas its first Stanley Cup in 2023, said it's the last thing he's worried about while enjoying his summer vacation.

"Obviously, happy in Vegas, the organization has been great to me," Eichel said. "I think that that stuff kind of takes care of itself, and I kind of worry more so about the things I can control and try to prepare for next season."

Many Seattle Kraken fans are excited to get to know Lane Lambert, the coach, for this upcoming NHL season, but did you know that Lambert had a lengthy career as a right-handed center in his playing days? Let's take a look at Lane Lambert, the player, before we get a chance to see Lane Lambert, the coach, in the next few months.

Lambert was born in Melfort, Saskatchewan in Canada in 1964. He began his junior career in 1980 with the Swift Current Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, scoring 97 points in 55 games. After that standout season, he signed to play in the Western Hockey League with the Saskatoon Blades notching an impressive 237 points in 136 games between two seasons. Lambert was also was very familiar with the penalty box, serving a total of 237 penalty minutes in those two years.

The Detroit Red Wings selected Lambert in the 2nd round of the 1983 NHL Draft. The 25th overall pick shared the draft stage with Hall-of-Famers such as Pat LaFontaine, Cam Neely, and Steve Yzerman. In addition, fellow head coach Bruce Cassidy, who is currently the head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, was also drafted in 1983, by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Lambert Immediately started playing for the Red Wings in the fall of 1983, where he spent two full and one partial seasons. In his Red Wings tenure, he scored 65 points (36 goals and 29 assists). Lambert also racked up 349 penalty minutes in 176 games, mostly due to fighting. In his first three NHL seasons, he dropped the gloves a total of 37 times.

The 1986-87 season saw Lambert start on the New York Rangers roster, playing only 18 games, before being traded to the Quebec Nordiques where he played the remainder of the season and until 1989. In his time with the Nordiques, he recorded 55 points and 139 penalty minutes in 89 total games. 1989 would be the last season that Lambert would play in the NHL.

Between 1989 and 1996, Lambert played overseas primarily in Germany for Duesseldorf EG and Switzerland for Ajoie HC and Langnau SC, with an additional 58 games for the Canadian National Team.

From 1996 and 2001, Lambert played the remainder of his pro career in the International Hockey League, splitting time with the Cleveland Lumberjacks and Houston Aeros. In 1999, he helped the Aeros win the Turner Cup which was the IHL championship trophy at the time. Once he was done playing, he quickly turned to coaching, starting as an assistant coach with the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors in 2002.

Even though Lambert is well past his playing days, he still has quite a bit in the tank as a coach. We look forward to seeing the energy and competitiveness he brings to the bench this upcoming season as the Kraken look to rebound from last year.

Related

Video: Lane Lambert Officially Introduced As Kraken Head Coach — “Felt Like Joining a Family”

Lambert featured photo by - via hockeydb.com

Lambert hero photo by - via Detroit Free Press

The Colorado Avalanche are today’s focus in an NHL off-season series examining each team’s prospect pool.

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

Initial Thoughts

I’m not going to sugarcoat things. The Avalanche have one of the most barren prospect pools in all of hockey. 

They traded their one high-end prospect at the deadline this past year when they acquired Brock Nelson, sending Calum Ritchie to the New York Islanders. They recently acquired Gavin Brindley in a trade that saw Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood head to the Columbus Blue Jackets. That helped, but it’s not nearly enough.

Brindley is a fantastic middle-six prospect who brings a high-end motor and some impressive skill. He’s always been questioned because of his stature, but he’s never let that get in the way of his ability to make a positive impact. He struggled in his first full AHL season, but he was constantly using his speed and tenacity to get involved. His style of play should fit right in with the Avs’ top players.

Oskar Olausson’s time to prove himself is getting shorter, as the speedy Swede hasn’t found his footing in the AHL. The 22-year-old has shown himself to be an excellent transition player and a decent playmaker, but he hasn’t found a way to consistently impact the game offensively. Olausson is a good shooter, skilled passer and a decisive puckhandler. He has all of the tools, but he hasn’t figured out how to leverage them in the North American game. 

The Avalanche have a bit more promise on the back end. 

Mikhail Gulyayev is a potential impact player, with high-end skating and some nice puck-moving as a passer. Gulyayev plays the game with a ton of speed, and he could be a valuable depth offensive blueliner for the Avs one day. His KHL contract runs through this season so we could see him make the jump at the end of the year. His defensive game needs a bit of work, but he’s a fun player to watch. 

One of the Avs’ most promising defensive prospects, Sean Behrens, missed all of this past season with a knee injury he suffered during a practice scrimmage in October. Behrens has been a very successful defender who plays a sound two-way game and uses his skating to take the puck away. A healthy season will go a long way, but we may not see Behrens at full strength until the latter half of the season. 

Tory Pitner played his freshman season at the University of Denver and registered just one assist, but his game has always been centered on the defensive side of the puck. His best shifts are when the opposing team can’t get anything going, and Pitner closes lanes down and uses an intelligent stick to kill momentum. He’s not a fun player to watch, but coaches love a no-nonsense defender.

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 3, 77th overall - Francesco Dell'Elce, D, UMass-Amherst (NCAA)

Round 4, 118th overall - Linus Funck, D, Lulea Jr. (Swe.)

Round 7, 214th overall - Nolan Roed, C, Tri-City (USHL)

In the third round, Colorado picked Francesco Dell’Elce, a 20-year-old defender from UMass. He had a unique path, going from prep school in his original draft year to the BCHL and then the NCAA this past season. Dell’Elce has always had an offensive touch, using his skating to escape and open lanes against forecheckers, but he’s never been truly elite, which has held him back. The Avalanche made an interesting swing on a late bloomer. 

In the fourth round, Colorado took a bet on a big, Swedish blueliner who has shown some flashes of puckhandling and passing ability that could translate to the next level. In Funck’s own end, he is more of a stick-checker than a player who takes the body. He dislodges the puck, jumps on it and makes a quick first pass. He isn’t quite dynamic enough to be a big offensive performer, but he has the tools to be a solid, defensively focused transition defender. 

After splitting 2023-24 between high school and the United States League, Nolan Roed garnered some NHL attention as a draft-plus-one forward who put up almost a point per game for the Tri-City Storm. He’s heading to St. Cloud State next season, and his game will be tested there. His offense comes from being an off-puck complementary player to his linemates. Roed times play well and gets into pockets at the right moment. It will be interesting to see how his NCAA campaign goes in the fall.

Strengths

Most teams have at least one area of strength. The Avalanche have a couple of nice prospects, but calling any one position or any group of prospects a true strength is being too optimistic. 

For the most part, Colorado’s best prospects play Avs-style hockey. Brindley, Gulyayev and Olausson are all high-pace speedy players. Having a type and sticking to it is important. The Avalanche, at the very least, do that when they can. 

Weaknesses

While you could realistically say everything is a weakness, the Avs don’t have any players who realistically have a chance of playing center at the next level. 

A few players are listed as centers, but they are long shots to play, and if they do, they’ll likely move to the wing. Max Curran, Christian Humphreys and Nolan Roed are all potentially centers, but the upside is quite low. 

The Avs have no centers in the system if we're being blunt. Losing Ritchie at the deadline in March took away their top prospect and their lone center prospect. 

Hidden Gem: Mikhail Gulyayev, D

Just about every prospect in the Avalanche’s pipeline could be considered a hidden gem, but Gulyayev plays in the KHL, and he doesn’t get the love some of the top players from that league get because he doesn’t rack up an insane amount of points. That said, he’s a gifted skater and a puck-mover. The Avs thrive with defenders who can make plays on the back end and evade pressure. Gulyayev might be the next man up in that line.

Next Man Up: Gavin Brindley, RW

Colorado doesn’t have anyone who is immediately ready to jump into the lineup, but Brindley could make the most immediate impact if he’s called up. His speed and energy could bring some value to the bottom six, or he could be used in spots in the top six. He has the requisite skill, but he just needs a bit of time to adjust after a middling AHL rookie year. Brindley has the highest upside of any forward they have in the system, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to jump into the NHL. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Nikita Prishchepov, Christian Humphreys, Cooper Gay, Chase Bradley, Taylor Makar

C: Max Curran, Nolan Roed

RW: Gavin Brindley, Oskar Olausson

LD: Sean Behrens, Mikhail Gulyayev, Francesco Dell’Elce, Saige Weinstein, 

RD: Tory Pitner, Linus Funck, Nikita Ishimnikov

G: Ilya Nabokov, Ivan Yunin, Louka Cloutier

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

Here are five reasons why Gabe Perreault will have a successful rookie season. 

1. Perrault has had success at every level. He dominated both junior hockey, with the USNTDP, and collegiate hockey with Boston College… Is the NHL next? Very possible. 

2. He’s primarily a playmaker, but is also capable of scoring. A potential dual threat. 

3. He has a mentor with 859 NHL games and 516 points to his name. An invaluable resource to lean on. Gabe calls him Dad, the rest of us know him as Yanic. 

4. According to PuckPedia.com, he is expected to play on the second line, alongside J.T. Miller and Will Cuylle. Not a bad line to start your first professional season. 

5. He got a taste of NHL action. Using his experience from his five game stint at the tail end of last season, he knows what’s expected at the NHL level.

After ending the season in the Colorado Avalanche's system, former New York Islanders prospect William Dufour has signed a one-year deal with the KHL's HC Lada for the 2025-26 season:

Nouvelle aventure en KHL pour mon grand ti-loup pour la saison 2025-2026 🏒🥅 pic.twitter.com/pGIyqffNxC

— 🎗️ Karine Côté 🎗 (@KarineCote1974) July 9, 2025

Dufour, drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, played three seasons in Bridgeport, recording 44 goals and 47 assists in 169 games. He did play one NHL game against the Boston Bruins during the 2022-23 season.

Known for his scoring prowess, recording 56 goals in his final season with the OHL's St. John Sea Dogs, he ultimately did not develop in the Islanders' system.

Dufour was part of the trade that sent Brock Nelson to the Avalanche in the early morning of Trade Deadline Day. 

In 12 games with the AHL's Colorado Eagles, Dufour had one goal and three assists for four points. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

PHOTO: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Only 73 players in NHL history have played at least 20 seasons. 

The 2024-25 campaign saw four players accomplish this major milestone, as Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Corey Perry and Ryan Suter all just completed their 20th seasons.

Now, unless there are any sudden changes, four more players under contract are set to play in their 20th NHL seasons in 2025-26. (Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jack Johnson can also join the list if they sign a new contract. They're currently UFAs.)

Evgeni Malkin, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin entered the NHL during the 2006-07 season and immediately cemented himself as a legitimate star with the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 78 games as a rookie, he posted 33 goals, 52 assists and 85 points.

Malkin, 38, undoubtedly has put together a Hall of Fame-worthy career. In 1,213 NHL games with the Penguins, he’s put up 514 goals, 832 assists, 1,346 points and a plus-28 rating. He has also won an array of awards, including the Calder Memorial Trophy, Art Ross Trophy (2009 and 2012), Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. He also helped lead the Penguins to three Stanley Cup championships and is a three-time first-team all-star.

While Malkin’s time as one of the NHL’s top superstars has passed, he is still a solid top-six forward at this stage. The 6-foot-5 Russian recorded 16 goals and 50 points in 68 games this past season. With numbers like these, he is still a key part of Pittsburgh’s roster, and it will be intriguing to see what kind of season he puts together in the final year of his contract.

Kris Letang, D, Pittsburgh Penguins 

Kris Letang has been a crucial part of Pittsburgh’s blueline throughout his career, and that should remain the case next season.

The 38-year-old defenseman reaching his 20th season is quite impressive, as he’s recovered from two strokes and surgery to close a small hole in the heart.  

In 1,161 career games with the Penguins, he has recorded 175 goals, 597 assists, 772 points and a plus-85 rating. The Montreal native is also a two-time second-team all-star, a Masterton Trophy winner and a three-time Stanley Cup champion.

Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings 

The Los Angeles Kings captain has not shown any signs of slowing down. Anze Kopitar, 37, is still one of the NHL’s top two-way centers, posting 21 goals, 67 points and a plus-14 rating in 81 games this past season.

In 1,454 career NHL games, all with the Kings, Kopitar has put up 440 goals, 838 assists, 1,278 points and a plus-108 rating. The 11th overall pick in 2005 has won the Stanley Cup and Selke Trophy twice each, the Lady Byng Trophy three times and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2022. He’s also played in the All-Star Game five times.

Overall, Kopitar has been one of the game’s top forwards for so many years now, and that should remain the case during his 20th season. The Slovenian superstar is easily one of the greatest players in Kings history.

Jordan Staal, C, Carolina Hurricanes 

At just 36 years old, Jordan Staal could be the first player taken in the 2006 NHL draft to play his 20th NHL season in 2025-26. After being selected second overall by the Penguins, Staal immediately made their roster in 2006-07 and has been one of the game’s top defensive forwards since. 

Fast forward to today, and Staal is currently the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes. In 75 games this past season with the Metropolitan Division club, he posted 13 goals, 36 points and a plus-15 rating. He remains a key part of the Hurricanes’ roster, just like he has been for his 13-year tenure there. 

In 1,328 career games split between the Penguins and Hurricanes, Staal has recorded 298 goals, 413 assists, 711 points and a plus-62 rating. He is also a Stanley Cup champion and a two-time Selke Trophy finalist.

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The Montreal Canadiens have had themselves an active off-season. Their biggest move was acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. However, the Canadiens also made another trade that has the potential to a very good one for them. 

On July 1, the Canadiens acquired forward Zach Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux. While Mailloux has the potential to emerge as a good NHL defenseman, it is hard not to like the Canadiens bringing in Bolduc to their roster.

Bolduc just had a breakout season with the Blues in 2024-25, as he set new career highs with 19 goals, 17 assists, 36 points, and 108 hits. With numbers like these, he is already capable of providing solid offense and should give the Canadiens' middle six a nice boost immediately.

Yet, when noting that Bolduc is only 22 years old and just getting his NHL career started, he should only improve as he continues to gain more experience. The potential for Bolduc to emerge as a legitimate top-six forward is there, as he already has a nice mix of skill, speed, and grit. Thus, he is precisely the kind of young, promising forward a team on the rise like the Canadiens should be taking a chance on. 

Overall, Bolduc is already a very solid player, and he likely has not hit his ceiling yet. If he takes another step forward in this campaign, he could emerge as a key part of the Canadiens' roster. It will be fascinating what kind of season he puts together in 2025-26 from here. 

Will The New CBA Bring Big Changes To Players’ Style?The League and the NHLPA announced on Tuesday that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement has been ratified. As expected, the new deal, which will take effect at the start of the 2026-27 season, will bring numerous changes, and one of them should be particularly popular with the players.

Photo Credit: © Connor Hamilton-Imagn Images

Jordan Kyrou surfaced as a trade candidate leading up to last month's NHL draft. 

While the 27-year-old  right winger remains with the St. Louis Blues, he's been linked to the Montreal Canadiens in the rumor mill.

Following the Canadiens' acquisition of defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders on June 27, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported they weren't done making trades. He said they were among several teams expressing an interest in Kyrou. While the Canadiens need a second-line center, they're also open to adding a scoring winger.

LeBrun indicated that teams weren't sure how serious Blues GM Doug Armstrong was about moving Kyrou. He's in the third season of his eight-year contract with an average annual value of $8.125 million. LeBrun pointed out that Kyrou's no-trade clause would have kicked in on July 1. He subsequently noted the Canadiens' interest in Kyrou remained throughout the draft weekend but felt it would take multiple assets for the Habs to land him. 

On June 28, The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford claimed the Blues were in the market for a center, but that's something the Canadiens can't help them with. Armstrong has since added centers Pius Suter and Nick Bjugstad via free agency.

Kyrou's no-trade clause is now in effect, but reports persist claiming the Canadiens are still pursuing him. RG.Org's Marco D'Amico reported a source claiming they're still trying to add to their top-six forwards and still have the Blues winger among their targets.

Montreal and St. Louis have a recent trade history, with the Canadiens shipping defenseman Logan Mailloux to the Blues for gritty winger Zack Bolduc. However, the possibility of the Habs landing Kyrou rests on whether he's willing to waive his clause and if they could meet what could be a steep asking price from the Blues.  Both options appear remote.

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Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios has been on the job since November 1, 2023. He and owner Michael Andlauer had only been running the Senators for a few weeks before it became clear they didn’t like what they were seeing under Pierre Dorion.

The club opened the 2023–24 season jammed up against the salary cap, so much so that they played the season opener a man short. Shane Pinto was suspended 41 games for violating the NHL’s gambling rules. Then the team was penalized a first-round draft pick for its role in the bungled Evgenii Dadonov trade to Vegas.

That's a pretty tough first month, and as they say, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Dorion was dismissed, and Staios, also the President of Hockey Operations, became the ninth general manager in Senators history.

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Staios took a patient approach, watching and evaluating his roster for eight months before making any serious changes. The only trade he made in that time was unloading winger Vladimir Tarasenko at the 2024 trade deadline for what turned out to be two third-round picks. Tarasenko’s contract was about to expire, and with his no-movement clause, he was able to broker a trade to the Florida Panthers. Staios had to take what he could get for a player who wasn’t in the team's plans.

If the last two offseasons are any indication, where the Senators didn’t make a single hockey trade between July and the March deadline, things are likely to go quiet now for some cottage and golf time. Staios all but confirmed that eight days ago, saying the Senators were "most likely" done making NHL additions this summer.

So we thought we’d look back at Staios’ top five trades so far as he took on this “fixer-upper.”

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June 24, 2024: Fixing the Goaltending

The Senators acquired Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins for Joonas Korpisalo, Mark Kastelic, and a 2024 first-round pick (#25).

Not only did Staios manage to secure the 2023 Vezina Trophy winner, he convinced the Bruins to take on Korpisalo’s contract, which still had four years and $16 million remaining. The Senators agreed to retain $4 million of that. Unfortunately, Ullmark battled injuries throughout the season, which likely affected his overall performance, which ran hot and cold. He will begin a four-year contract this fall worth $8.25 million per season, and the Senators will need him to better next season. But in terms of value and potential impact, this stands as Staios’ best trade so far. Trade Grade: A

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March 7, 2025: Trading a Core Piece

The Senators traded fan favourite Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker to the Buffalo Sabres for Dylan Cozens, Dennis Gilbert, and a 2026 second-round pick.

Norris was long considered a key piece of Ottawa’s future, but his repeated injuries changed that. He’s set to make $7.95 million annually for the next five years, and even when healthy, his production and impact haven’t justified that price tag in the past couple of seasons.

You could make a similar case for Cozens, whose remaining deal ($7.1 million AAV) runs just as long, but he offers more durability. Both players need to return to form, but the safer bet will always be the one who isn’t constantly out with a bad shoulder. Trade Grade: A

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June 28, 2025: Picks for Spence, Sens the Richer

The Senators acquired Jordan Spence from the Los Angeles Kings for a 2025 third-round pick (#67) and a 2026 sixth-round pick.

Spence will be in the mix at training camp, competing with the right-shot incumbents, Nick Jensen, Artem Zub, and Nikolas Matinpalo, not to mention former first-rounders Carter Yakemchuk and Lassi Thomson. But any time you can get a useful NHL player for next to nothing, it’s a win.

What makes this deal more impressive is that Staios acquired the #67 pick by sliding down just two spots in the draft. So, effectively, Spence cost the Sens a sixth-rounder. What his impact will be remains to be seen, but it was a slick move to help shore up depth on the right side. Trade Grade: B+

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March 7, 2025: Shark Week

The Senators acquired Fabian Zetterlund, Tristen Robins, and a fourth-round pick from the San Jose Sharks for Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor, and a 2025 second-round pick.

Zetterlund is another player Staios is counting on to rebound. Two seasons ago, he led the Sharks with 24 goals and was tracking for a similar total when the trade went down. But after arriving in Ottawa, he went ice-cold with zero goals in his first 15 games. He finished with five points in 20 games and then signed a three-year deal worth $4.25 million annually.

Still only 25, his underlying numbers were solid, and he created chances even if the puck didn’t go in for him. Besides, given what Ottawa gave up, it's not a huge risk. As a side bonus, if the Zamboni breaks down this winter, the muscle-bound Zetterlund can step in and carry it off the ice. That's a nice intangible. Trade Grade: B+

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July 1, 2024: Rebalancing Act

The Senators traded Jakob Chychrun to the Washington Capitals for Nick Jensen and a 2026 third-round pick.

By the end of the 2023–24 season, Chychrun sounded noncommittal about signing an extension with Ottawa. Even if both sides had wanted to make it work, having three puck-moving defencemen on the left side, all making north of $8 million wouldn't be ideal. Washington needed one, eventually handing Chychrun an eight-year deal worth $9 million per season.

With Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot already on the left side, the Sens desperately needed a shutdown righty. Enter Jensen – he's not flashy, but he's exactly what was needed, and he also helped Chabot have one of his best seasons in years.

But straight-up, not many would rank Jensen as a better D than Chychrun, so it's hard to be a fan of the Sens having to throw in a third-rounder in the deal. Trade Grade: B

There it is. Your top five Steve Staios trades so far. Let's see if they pay off this fall.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa

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The Anaheim Ducks held their annual development camp from June 30 to July 2. This year’s camp was shorter than the last couple of years, typically a five-day camp concluding with a 3v3 scrimmage.

The camp is used more as an instrument that allows newly drafted prospects to familiarize themselves with the organization, meet staff and potential future teammates, and take a nugget or two back home to train for the summer before rookie camp begins in Sept.

Though most of the drills are done at half or three-quarter speed and don’t necessarily simulate game situations, players were available to the media, and there were on-ice takeaways to be had from each player.

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The Ducks selected Roger McQueen with the tenth overall pick in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. Between hearing his name called by actor Joshua Jackson (star of the original Mighty Ducks films) and the end of development camp, McQueen had been on a wild ride, literally.

Moments after walking off stage and briefly meeting with media, McQueen was helicoptered to Disneyland for photo opportunities and to experience some of what the “most magical place on earth” has to offer, including meeting a character with the same last name, Lightning McQueen from Pixar’s “Cars” film franchise. The next day, he met with Ducks management and ownership, was spotted on a boat in the Pacific Ocean, and threw out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Angels baseball game.

“I always knew it was a great organization, everyone always talks about that,” McQueen said following the camp. “I learned management is so professional here, and just how they do things. I think the staff around the Ducks is unbelievable and probably the best. Just being able to work with all of them through everything, as far as workouts go on the ice or recovery after, it's ridiculous how good they are at that.

“And I think just all the guys that they have here, they really draft for the person, too. They're not just drafting on the ice, so I think just being around all the guys, they’re all great guys and guys you can really gel.”

McQueen has been considered a “unicorn” by some of the most expert prospect analysts in the sport. If he were healthy and had played a full season in the WHL for his club, the Brandon Wheat Kings, he would likely have been selected in the top three or five picks.

He spent most of his draft season recovering from a fracture in his vertebrae, originally misdiagnosed as a bulging disc. He was only able to suit up for 17 regular season games, where he totaled 20 points (10-10=20) and three playoff games. He sustained an injury during the playoffs, reportedly a muscle strain from overcompensation in a return to full game speed.

“Very, very extensive. We dug deep and consulted our doctors, Mike Barwis, our sports science guy,” Ducks general manager said of the work the organization put into exploring McQueen’s medicals. “There was a lot of due diligence put into this, into Roger, making sure that we did our homework. At the end of the day, we felt comfortable that he’s going to be able to overcome any of the setbacks he had last year.”

McQueen’s full participation in development camp was encouraging for fans and the organization alike. His situation was often compared to that of Cayden Lindstrom’s one year ago, who, like McQueen, suffered a back injury that caused him to miss the majority of his draft season.

Unlike McQueen’s injury, Lindstrom’s involved a disc in his back. Also unlike McQueen, Lindstrom only participated in one day of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ development camp, and he wasn’t able to return to game action until April of the following year. The hope is that, like with any broken bone, McQueen’s is fully healed and at no risk of re-aggravation.

Watching McQueen run through on-ice drills, one wouldn’t have guessed he’d missed such extended periods in the previous calendar year. It was also easy to see why, heading into the 2024-25 season, he was considered a top-five pick. His skill level is simply different than most of the prospects at this camp.

The aspect that immediately separates him is his puck skills. He has the quick-twitch, fast hands that get a multitude of clicks on social media, but more impressively still is the control he displays. Control of the puck in and out of tight turns, control of it when it’s far from his body, showing the extent of his reach, and control of it close to his feet, a skill rarely possessed by the tallest players in the NHL, were all exceedingly impressive.

His shot is NHL-caliber already, and he’s able to change angles on it, release it quickly, deceptively, and off either foot.

The skating, while far from flawless, is one of his biggest strengths, nonetheless. Long, powerful strides enable him to cover extraordinary distances on the ice. He can close on puck carriers board-to-board in the blink of an eye. He’s in complete control of his edges, again, something incredibly impressive for any player, young or veteran, of his size. With a touch more quickness and explosiveness, it could become a weapon unmatched by the time he’s in the NHL.

His camp culminated in a highlight reel rep in a one-on-one drill against Ducks 2024 first-round pick Beckett Sennecke, where McQueen shifted his weight, pulled the puck outside-in, caught Sennecke playing the puck, beat him wide, and pulled the puck between his own legs to beat Italy’s Olympic goaltender Damian Clara in tight and over his glove.

There aren’t many players in the NHL today who can do what McQueen can do at 18 years old and still growing into his body. The next steps will be to reincorporate these elite tools at game speed and in game situations, whether that’s back at the CHL level or taking the next jump to the NCAA, and add needed strength to his frame.

If he can truly put the vertebrae fracture and extended recovery behind him, as it seems he has, the potential for this player is nearly unfathomable. The tools are all present and elite, the IQ is impressive from game film, and if the toolbox is durable, look out.

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Dave Hakstol is back behind an NHL bench.

The Colorado Avalanche announced on Tuesday that Hakstol was hired by the club as their new assistant coach.

Hakstol served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs under then-head coach Sheldon Keefe during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. During his time in Toronto, Hakstol was a key part of Sheldon Keefe's coaching staff, focusing heavily on the team's defensive systems and penalty kill. His analytical approach was a significant asset as the Maple Leafs navigated those two seasons.

We have hired Dave Hakstol as Assistant Coach.

Welcome to Colorado, Dave! pic.twitter.com/QosruRCrOF

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 8, 2025

He departed after being hired by the Seattle Kraken as their first head coach in franchise history. It was there that Hakstol led the club to their first postseason berth in 2023 after posting a 46-28-8 record. Hakstol was also a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, handed out annually to the NHL’s top coach. However, the Kraken failed to make the playoffs in his third season with the club, and he was dismissed in the weeks that followed.

During his year away from the NHL, Hakstol served as an assistant with Team Canada at the annual Spengler Cup hockey tournament.

It’s Hakstol’s fourth stop behind an NHL bench. He made the jump to an NHL head coach when he was hired by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015. Before that, he spent the previous 15 years coaching the men’s University of North Dakota team, the last 11 as head coach. He also spent three years as a player for that college team, serving the last two as team captain.

The defensive-minded coach should be an excellent fit for an Avalanche team that is regularly in contention in the postseason. If Hakstol’s second go-around as an NHL assistant is anything like his second go-around as a head coach, he should be able to help a team improve from a defensive standpoint in a very competitive Central Division.

(Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

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With the 3rd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Swedish forward Anton Frondell. This came after the New York Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer and the San Jose Sharks took Michael Misa.

Due to Chicago's overwhelming depth on defense and the prominent forward draft class, it was always certain that they'd end up taking a forward. A lot of factors went into Frondell being the guy. 

Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar are seen as the catalysts up front for the Blackhawks at this time. Each of them is there to create offense. Both of them are undersized but widely talented with the puck. Kyle Davidson wanted to make sure to balance things out with his forwards selected in 2025.

Frondell, a 200-foot center, is exactly the type of player that the Blackhawks needed. He can provide offense, but you know you're getting an honest two-way effort from him on every shift. 

Everything that makes Frondell a high-end prospect is what makes him a great fit for Chicago's roster in 2025-26. He isn't going to be a star right away, but he has the tools to help the team as soon as he touches NHL ice. 

If the Blackhawks are up a goal late and need to protect the lead, Frondell may be someone tapped to go out there and defend it. 

Frondell compared himself to Aleksander Barkov after he was drafted. Well, being one of the greatest two-way players of all time is a stretch. However, that play style is welcomed by every team in the league. 

Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) on XAnton Frondell (2025) out here breaking ankles at the 5 Nations

Anything can happen, and there are things in Frondell's game that need work, but he declared that his goal is to make the team out of camp. The current state of the franchise makes that goal attainable. 

If the Blackhawks had Bedard, Nazar, and Frondell as a three-headed monster down the middle, they'd have three lines that bring something different. 

Frondell is also the perfect age for this group. Most of the roster is going to be under 24 years old in 2025-26, so they can grow up together. 

At first, it seemed like Frondell was destined to go back to Sweden for one season. Now, there is a very real chance that he begins in the NHL right away. 

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