As we approach September, it’s a great time to post some predictions for the 2025-26 NHL season. 

Below, you’ll see this writer’s rankings of an NHL division, the picks made in The Hockey News’ Yearbook & Fantasy Guide 2025 and BetMGM's odds of each team winning the division. We will not only argue for the rankings we made but also acknowledge why we might be wrong about each team.

Today, we’re starting the predictions series with a look at the Pacific Division.

1. Vegas Golden Knights

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 2nd
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 2.50 (+150)

Why I've Ranked Them First: The addition of former Toronto Maple Leafs star right winger Mitch Marner was the biggest coup of the summer, and Vegas now has one of the best playmakers on the planet. Only two teams finished higher than Vegas in our NHL summer splash rankings, and the Golden Knights once again have a stacked roster that can excel at both ends of the ice.

Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon pushed in all his chips to bring Marner aboard, and the Golden Knights – who finished first in the Pacific last season – are primed to be an even better offensive force and emerge as one of the deepest teams in the NHL.

Why I Could Be Wrong: To afford Marner’s $12-million cap hit, the Golden Knights had to move out a couple of solid foot soldiers in center Nicolas Roy and defenseman Nicolas Hague.

But the biggest blow is losing star defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who’s stepping aside indefinitely, potentially permanently, due to injury issues. The Golden Knights’ depth on ‘D’ is not as impressive as it used to be, and that could have an impact on the performance of starting goalie Adin Hill. While we’re all but certain Vegas will be a playoff team next season, they could slip down the ranks of the Pacific and be overtaken by teams like the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks.

2. Edmonton Oilers

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 1st
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 2.70 (+170)  

Why I've Ranked Them Second: The Oilers proved to be the best team in the Pacific last season – at least, in the playoffs. 

In the regular season, Edmonton finished third in the Pacific, behind the Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings. So to argue the Oilers will make that jump to the top spot in the Pacific felt like too big a stretch from this writer’s perspective. 

Edmonton has undergone some significant roster turnover, losing veteran wingers Connor Brown, Evander Kane and Corey Perry, among others. To replace them, they’ve turned to young players, such as left winger Isaac Howard and center Matthew Savoie, but they also added Andrew Mangiapane and European free-agent David Tomasek as well. Those changes could lead to the Oilers rising higher in the Pacific standings, but it may take time for the younger players to get settled in. 

Why I Could Be Wrong: The Oilers played as well as they did despite a (relative) down season from superstar center Connor McDavid. Similarly, star left winger Zach Hyman’s goal total fell to half of what he produced two seasons ago. Getting bounce-back years from those two could elevate Edmonton to the top spot in the Pacific.

The rookies and additions could ratchet up the energy levels for this Edmonton team. The Oilers are a virtual lock to get home-ice advantage, but where they finish specifically could be a coin flip.

Oilers' Connor McDavid Has An Easy Way To Avoid DistractionsThe NHL’s biggest superstar, Connor McDavid, isn’t rushing to re-sign with the Edmonton Oilers.

3. Vancouver Canucks

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 4th
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 16.00 (+1,500)  

Why I've Ranked Them Third: After winning the Pacific in 2023-24, a lot went wrong for the Canucks last season. There was a reported feud between star center Elias Pettersson and center J.T. Miller, injuries to star players, such as defenseman Quinn Hughes, goalie Thatcher Demko and Pettersson, and inconsistent play from the rest of the roster. Most, if not all, of those situations have been addressed this summer.

The Canucks acquired Kane from the Oilers, but otherwise, their roster is largely the same as the one in the spring.

While the yearbook has the Canucks finishing fourth in the Pacific – and out of a playoff spot – we feel like a bounce-back year is coming for them. If they can get anywhere close to their level of two years ago, Vancouver can not only be a playoff team but leapfrog the wild-card spots.

Why I Could Be Wrong: The Canucks lost coach Rick Tocchet just a year after he won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s best bench boss. That’s not a positive sign for Vancouver. 

Meanwhile, the play of Demko when he was healthy, including an .889 save percentage, was nothing to write home about. 

The Canucks may not rise as high as we envision, but Vancouver missing the playoffs for two straight years would be inexcusable..

4. Los Angeles Kings

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 3rd
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 5.00 (+400)  

Why I've Ranked Them Fourth: Few teams made as many moves as the Kings did this summer.

They hired GM Ken Holland, who reshaped their roster with a slew of signings, including Perry, right winger Joel Armia, veteran defensemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin and goalie Anton Forsberg. Their biggest departure was defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who went to the New York Rangers.

While Holland changed things around the edges of his roster, we now see the Kings as now being less than the sum of their parts. 

They look more like a wild-card team. That’s a step back for L.A., as the Kings finished second in the Pacific last season. There’s still lots to like about them, but they may have bigger, foundational questions to ask themselves next summer if they do as we expect. 

Why I Could Be Wrong: Holland has earned his reputation as an above-average team-builder – he was part of the Oilers’ more recent successes when he recently served as their GM – and if he’s done nothing else with this Kings roster, he’s added a bunch of experienced hands to handle the pressure to not only get into the playoffs but to actually win a round or two. That’s something Rob Blake, Holland’s predecessor as Kings GM failed to do – once they do get into the post-season.

Either way, there’s next-to-no-chance L.A. misses the playoffs next season. There’s too much talent on the roster for that.

5. Anaheim Ducks

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 5th
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 36.00 (+3,500)  

Why I've Ranked Them Fifth: The Ducks won 35 games last season – their most since 2018-19. But for the seventh straight season, they missed the playoffs. 

While we do like the Ducks to improve on their sixth-place finish in 2024-25, it’s going to be especially difficult for them to unseat one of the teams we’ve put ahead of them in our projected Pacific standings.

Anaheim has a new coach in Joel Quenneville and new faces in left winger Chris Kreider and center Mikael Granlund. But if they’re going to climb up the Pacific standings, they’ll need their youngsters to do the heavy lifting. We can see that happening for the Ducks, but not to the degree that would make them a playoff team in ’25-26. 

The good news is they’re likely to keep getting better, but patience is a virtue for rebuilding teams, and Anaheim fans need to be patient for a bit longer as this Ducks team cements its identity.

Why I Could Be Wrong: With talent like right winger Troy Terry, center Leo Carlsson, left winger Cutter Gauthier, left winger Mason McTavish and defensemen Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov, the Ducks have the foundation of a terrific team. And with young No. 1 goalie, Lukas Dostal, signed to a long-term contract extension, Anaheim could sneak up on opponents and find a way to squeeze into a post-season slot.

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek has painstakingly built his team’s lineup into a competitive one, so the days of Anaheim languishing at the bottom of the Pacific are almost certainly over.

6. Seattle Kraken

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 7th
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 101.00 (+10,000)  

Why I've Ranked Them Sixth: The Kraken finished fourth in the Pacific in 2022-23, but they got progressively worse after that, finishing sixth and seventh in the division in the last two seasons. 

That is not a trend they wish to continue.

Seattle made major moves this summer, promoting former Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill to its GM role and replacing coach Dan Bylsma with former New York Islanders bench boss Lane Lambert.

Unfortunately for Lambert, the Kraken still have a dog’s breakfast of talent, with no truly generational players other than maybe center Matty Beniers. That’s going to keep them in the lower half of the Pacific for the time being, but we don’t see Seattle as a true bottom-feeder. 

The Kraken are still likely to be inconsistent, but as their younger players develop, they’re on the road to being an above-average team. They just won’t get there this season.

Why I Could Be Wrong: We’ve picked the Kraken to finish out of the playoff mix, but if the yearbook is correct, they’ll finish seventh again. To be fair, that is a possibility for a team that has too few needle-movers and too many middle-of-the-road players.

The Kraken are living in the shadow of another recent expansion team – the Golden Knights, which found a way to win a Stanley Cup and be a perennial mover-and-shaker. It hasn’t come nearly so quickly for the Kraken, and they may need another few years of no playoffs and high draft picks to set this team up for the long haul.

7. Calgary Flames

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 6th
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 36.00 (+3,500)  

Why I've Ranked Them Seventh: Calgary arguably overachieved last season. Even then, they finished fourth in the Pacific and out of a playoff spot. 

This summer, they added no one of significance while losing winger Anthony Mantha and goalie Dan Vladar. And we’re supposed to see the Flames as keeping up with the Joneses in the Pacific? Sorry, but we just don’t see it.

The Flames have potential trade chips – defenseman Rasmus Andersson chief among them – who can help out Calgary’s long-term potential by being traded this season. 

But in the short term, when you put the Flames’ roster alongside most other Pacific teams, it’s obvious that Calgary doesn’t have the depth or experience to be a true rival to the playoff contenders. That almost certainly makes them a reasonable candidate to plummet down the Pacific standings next year.

Why I Could Be Wrong: The Flames made the most of what they had last year. When you have proud veterans in the room, such as left winger Jonathan Huberdeau, center Nazem Kadri, captain Mikael Backlund and blueliner MacKenzie Weegar, you’re not going to be pure pushovers. 

So, could Calgary ride the performance of burgeoning star goalie Dustin Wolf to at least be in the conversation for a playoff berth in the West? Sure, we’re not ready to completely count them out.

8. San Jose Sharks

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 8th
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 301.00 (+30,000)  

Why I've Ranked Them Eighth: There’s no doubt about where the Sharks will finish. 

San Jose was 24 points behind the seventh-place Kraken last year. That should tell you how far the Sharks have to go to get back to a respectable place in the standings.

Nevertheless, we like what San Jose GM Mike Grier has been doing. He’s building a reliable winner the most proven way – by being absolutely terrible for a long span and building through the draft. While it’s going to be another long season for the Sharks, in the macro picture, San Jose is well on its way to having the core components of a long-term winner.

Why I Could Be Wrong: Let’s be honest – we may be wrong about many of our predictions, but this Sharks prediction is nearly 100 percent guaranteed to be accurate. 

Even after San Jose made veteran additions, including defensemen Dmitry Orlov and Nick Leddy, the Sharks simply don’t have the type of proven needle-movers to stay out of the Pacific basement.

Three or four years from now, San Jose may be a first-rate Cup threat. But right now, the Sharks are nowhere near good enough to even dream about the playoffs.

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The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Oliver Kylington and forward Givani Smith to professional tryout agreements on Wednesday.

Kylington was most recently with the Anaheim Ducks where he played in six games. 

This past season, Kylington was traded twice. He was first dealt from the Colorado Avalanche to the New York Islanders as part of the Brock Nelson trade, and the Islanders quickly shipped him off to the Ducks for future considerations. 

In his seven NHL seasons, Kylington has played for the Calgary Flames, Avalanche and Ducks. In 220 career games, the 28-year-old defenseman has recorded 18 goals, 42 assists, and 60 points. 

Smith was also traded twice during the 2024-25 campaign. He was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Avalanche in a deal that included Alexandar Georgiev and Mackenzie Blackwood in December. 

Right before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, he was dealt from the Avalanche to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Erik Johnson. 

In six NHL seasons, Smith has played for the Detroit Red Wings, Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Avalanche. 

Hurricanes Rank As 18th Best Team In NHL Prospect Pipeline RankingsThe Carolina Hurricanes ranked as the No. 18 team in the Athletic’s 2025 NHL prospect pipeline rankings. 

The 27-year-old forward has recorded nine goals, 13 assists, and 22 points in 168 career games.

Both Kylington and Smith will compete at training camp in hopes of earning an opening-night roster spot with the Hurricanes. 

The young core of the Philadelphia Flyers has taken an overall step forward from last year, though some rankings will leave fans scratching their heads a bit.

Led by star rookie Matvei Michkov and top 2025 draft pick Porter Martone, the Flyers jumped up from No. 13 to No. 7 in The Athletic's NHL pipeline rankings.

Martone and the 2025 draft class represented some significant additions to the Flyers' crew, though maybe too significant for some.

For instance, No. 12 overall pick Jack Nesbitt, who flashed at Flyers development camp last month, finished third overall in Philadelphia's pipeline behind Michkov and Martone.

Prospect expert Corey Pronman puts Nesbitt in the tier of "bubble top and middle of the lineup player," projecting the hulking center to become a top-six forward and, potentially, a second-line center.

That's notable, because Pronman listed the 18-year-old's skating as poor, which heavily contrasts with his NHL average hockey sense and above NHL average puck skills and compete.

Philadelphia Flyers Have a Top 5 NHL Prospect Once AgainNot long after the graduation of Matvei Michkov, the Philadelphia Flyers once again have a top five NHL prospect in their system.

As for 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko, who was a distant sixth as a middle of the lineup tier player, Pronman feels "as an average-sized player who doesn’t score a ton, it’s hard to see him as more than a third-line center currently."

Comparatively, EliteProspects gave Luchanko a glowing review in their recent ranking of the top 100 NHL-drafted prospects, bumping the 19-year-old all the way up to 30th overall on their board.

Right behind Luchanko was fellow 2024 draft pick Jack Berglund, who has generally been surging in the eyes of many with his strong play over the last 12 months. His ranking is deserved, even if Luchanko's being right next to him is a bit harsh.

Another big surprise: forward Alex Bump, whom the Flyers love and expect to push for an NHL roster spot this fall, ranked outside of Pronman's top 10 at No. 11.

Ahead of him were 2025 second-round picks Jack Murtagh and Matthew Gard.

Flyers' Porter Martone Badly Snubbed in Ranking of Top NCAA ProspectsTop Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone will undoubtedly be one of the most exciting young prospects playing in the NCAA this season, but, strangely, some would disagree.

Murtagh I can see, but Gard I cannot. Gard, for me, is likely to be a bottom-six center - probably a fourth-liner - with average scoring upside.

Pronman faulted Murtagh for having an average compete level, though that's one of the things Flyers AGM Brent Flahr liked about Murtagh the most.

That all said, the rankings get fuzzy towards the bottom of the list here.

Nikita Grebenkin, a player Flyers fans are dying to see at the NHL level sometime soon, was docked for below NHL average skating, which, in Pronman's eyes, can limit him to being a fourth-liner or depth player. He ranked 12th.

Shane Vansaghi, whose skating was graded the same, ranked eighth, even while also having below NHL average hockey sense. Pronman assessed his potential as a middle-six NHL forward.

I personally view both players as bottom-six staples with scoring potential if they find their strides at the next level(s).

Way-Too-Early Flyers Mock Draft 2026: A True No. 1 Center or More of the Same?If the Philadelphia Flyers aspire to truly take the next step in their multi-year rebuild, they must find the No. 1 center of their future and nail their first selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Lastly, Oliver Bonk was the only defenseman to be featured in the top 13, placing fourth overall on Pronman's list.

Recent second-round picks Carter Amico and Spencer Gill were both considered to have a "chance to play" NHL games, but as bigger guys who move well, they're projects who take a bit of time.

I'll be watching Amico more throughout the year now that he's with the Flyers organization, but Gill has already impressed me with his defensive improvements dating back to last training camp.

Pronman wants to see more defense out of Gill, and I tend to agree; that's his ticket to NHL success. But I maintain that he's a lot better than people think he is.

As an aside, Heikki Ruohonen or Alex Ciernik deserved to peter in at the bottom of the list over Samu Tuomaala, who's quickly running out of time to make an impression on the Flyers and stay healthy to do it.

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By Ryan Kennedy

When it comes to Stanley Cup stories, it’s tough to beat Seth Jones’ introduction to the final. The year was 2001, and a legend was about to receive the trophy he had always wanted.

“I was at Game 7 when the Avs won,” Jones said. “Sakic passing the Cup to Ray Bourque – there aren’t a lot of moments more special than that in this league. I was there with my family. I was six years old, so that was really the turning point not only for me but a lot of kids in Colorado in the youth hockey market there.”

Joe Sakic, of course, is literally the reason Jones got into hockey in the first place. To tell a well-worn story, Seth’s dad, Popeye Jones, approached Sakic when both were in Denver, Sakic as the captain of the Avalanche and Popeye with the NBA’s Denver Nuggets. One day, in the weight room at what was then the Pepsi Center, Popeye asked Sakic for advice on getting his three boys into hockey. The kids were into it, but Popeye was much more familiar with hoops. Seeing the size of their dad, Sakic told him to get the lads into skating lessons first, and the rest is history: both Seth and Caleb eventually became NHLers (oldest brother Justin played college hockey at Div. III Salve Regina).

Now, Seth is a Stanley Cup champion himself, helping the Florida Panthers win for the second straight year. It was a long road for the big and talented defenseman, but perhaps that’s what made it especially sweet for him after a dozen seasons in the NHL.

In an alternate universe, Sakic becomes Seth Jones' boss. After all, the Avalanche had the first-overall draft selection in 2013, and Jones was one of the best prospects available. Sakic was a senior advisor with the franchise at the time and a couple of years later became the GM. As the history books indicate, however, the Avalanche ended up taking center (and Jones’ pal) Nathan MacKinnon with that pick, and you really can’t fault them. MacKinnon brought the Cup back to Denver in 2022 and has won the Calder, Lady Byng and Hart Trophies, not to mention the Ted Lindsay Award, during his tenure in Colorado. Jones ended up going fourth overall to the Nashville Predators, and while it took a little longer, he too has become an NHL champion.

The past few years had been particularly trying for Jones. Before being dealt to the Panthers at the trade deadline, he’d been playing for a Chicago Blackhawks organization that ended up being much different from the one he thought he’d signed up to play for after a trade with Columbus in the summer of 2021. Those Hawks still had Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat and, after missing one season due to Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, Jonathan Toews. Dylan Strome and Brandon Hagel were also there, just getting their soon-to-be excellent careers started.

By the fall of 2023, however, all those players except Jones were gone. The Hawks had already become a doormat – so bad that they had earned the right to draft center Connor Bedard first overall that summer. For the first time since Kane and Toews were pups, Chicago was rebuilding. For a veteran blueliner such as Jones, it was a tough fit. He had yet to make a long playoff run in his first decade in the NHL, and by February of this season, the frustration was boiling over.

After a 2-1 loss to Utah, he vented to the media, stating his team was no better than they were at the start of the season and that they hadn’t made any strides to improve. Days later, Jones was on his way to the Panthers in a trade that saw Florida send a promising young goalie in Spencer Knight the other way, plus a conditional first-round draft pick.

“They put development first, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but being there for four years as an older guy is tough,” Jones said. “It weighs a lot on you. I was losing my hair for a bit there. But listen, I wasn’t playing the greatest hockey either. I’ll be the first to admit that. I’m happy for the change, and I feel like I’ve found a little bit of new life.”

Indeed he did. With Aaron Ekblad starting a 20-game suspension for a failed drug test, the Panthers needed someone to fill minutes, and Jones was a perfect fit.

“Yes, and a righty, which we needed,” Ekblad said. “He is incredible, and I remember being giddy when we got him. He’s so good, and he’s a friend – I played with him on Team North America (at the World Cup of Hockey in 2016). He’s a good person and a guy we knew would fit well. He’s everything we needed.”

In 21 regular-season games with Florida, Jones averaged nearly 25 minutes of ice time, all while still getting adjusted to his new team, which also happened to be battling a spate of injuries at the time.

“He’s been great,” said left winger Carter Verhaeghe. “He’s so big, with such a long reach and so good defensively. It took him some time to get used to our system, but you see the talent now. He makes so much of an impact on the ice offensively and defensively. He plays so many minutes, and they’re always good minutes. He pushes the pace.”

Structurally, Florida’s game plan was night and day from Chicago’s. “On the ice, it definitely took a couple of weeks,” Jones said. “It was really a 180 of a system from where I came from. The ‘D’ are forced to be aggressive in the system, or it doesn’t work. The gap control is key and something I really had to focus on my first couple of weeks.”

Having said that, Jones was having a ball. For the first time in years, he was playing on a team that had expectations, both internal and external. These were the defending Stanley Cup champions, the acolytes of coach Paul Maurice.

“The first day I came in, talking to Paul and walking around the room on a practice day, you could just feel something different,” Jones said. “Everyone understands their task every day, has a goal every day, and everyone is working toward something bigger than just the regular season or an individual game. Them being in the final the past two years, they understood what it took to get back here and what it takes to win. It’s special being in that environment.”

It would’ve been easy to discount the defending champs down the stretch this season. The injuries were concerning, plus the Cats had played a ton of hockey the past few years, going to the final in 2023, then winning the franchise’s first Stanley Cup last season. Three straight runs with largely the same cast? And playing in a division where they would have to play Tampa Bay and Toronto just to get to the conference final? Well, yes. A challenge to be sure, but perhaps not as daunting as it appeared to be.

True, most of the Panthers had played a lot of hockey, but the moves made by GM Bill Zito before the deadline made the team even better than it had been last season. Along with Jones, a legitimate top-pair defenseman joining an already strong defensive team, the Panthers also shocked the hockey world by acquiring Boston captain Brad Marchand. The same Marchand who had won a Cup with the Bruins, two world juniors, a QMJHL title and World Championship gold, not to mention the recent 4 Nations Face-Off with Team Canada. And in Florida, Marchand didn’t even have to play the hero. He was slotted onto a third line with Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen that gave teams absolute fits in the post-season.

Marchand, 37, etched his name into the history books before the final was even over by scoring in the first three games, making him the oldest player ever to accomplish such a feat.

“You want to have the best team possible, and those deals we made at the deadline, everybody brings something to the table,” said defenseman Niko Mikkola. “They’re great guys on the ice and off the ice. It brings new life to the room.”

Few players in the NHL bring as much life to a room as Marchand, in fact. For a guy who had pitched battles with the Panthers when he played in Boston, Marchand fit in seamlessly, even adding a new twist to a 30-year-old tradition in Florida. After fans had littered the ice with plastic rats following a win at home, some of the Panthers would shoot those rats at Marchand, who’d comically feign injury with every direct hit. There was also the preoccupation with ice cream and Dairy Queen runs that became part of the 2025 Cup run fable.

“As soon as he got traded here, he chirped me in the group chat instantly for our history in the last playoffs,” said Sam Bennett. “I truly don’t think we win a Stanley Cup without him. His leadership and will to win is inspiring. I told him before every game, ‘We’re going to follow you.’ And we did. He was a dawg every night. He’s a better player and person than I ever knew, and I’m grateful I got to play with him.”

For Marchand, who’d previously won the Cup with the Bruins way back in 2011, the feeling was mutual. “Once you become part of a group and get into these environments, you create such an incredible bond,” he said. “They already had an unbelievable culture that us new guys could come into and buy in, to embrace it. It made it very easy. It was definitely weird coming in initially, but they made it easy.”

Getting big performances from both Jones and Marchand was crucial to Florida’s repeat and well worth what their GM had to give up to get them.

“They came as advertised, both of them,” Zito said. “Now, I had the luxury of being with Seth in Columbus (Zito was assistant GM with the Blue Jackets), knowing what he could do, knowing him as a person, knowing first-hand how he would fit into our room and comport himself. With Brad, the whole (press) room knows. There’s no secret of what he is as a player and competitor. Getting to know him more as a human, he’s more special on that front. From that standpoint, yeah, it was really pleasant. Frosting on the cake.”

Speaking of Columbus, that’s really where Jones came into his own as an NHLer. Although he spent his first two-and-a-half seasons in Nashville with the Predators, that was a team in transition. They missed the playoffs in Jones’ rookie campaign but started on the ascent in his sophomore season. Jones was part of a monster blueline featuring Shea Weber, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm, and Nashville had franchise icon Pekka Rinne in net. The Preds made the playoffs but lost in the first round. The next year, Nashville and Columbus pulled off a blockbuster trade when the Predators, in need of more skill up front, dealt Jones to the Blue Jackets for center Ryan Johansen. Things got even more surreal when Jones and Johansen literally passed each other in the airport en route to their new cities, stopping for a brief and friendly chat.

In Columbus, Jones was part of one of the biggest upsets in NHL history when he and the Blue Jackets not only beat the Presidents’ Trophy winners from Tampa Bay but swept them in the first round.

“It was one of the weirdest, biggest upsets considering what Tampa did that year,” Jones said. “We just played a good four games against them. But we kind of created a monster, because they learned to win after that.”

Indeed, the Bolts ended up going to the Cup final three years in a row after that setback, winning twice, and their dominance over the Eastern Conference only ended when the Panthers took over. Funnily enough, the goalie who knocked them out back in Columbus was Sergei Bobrovsky, who’s also been the man between the pipes for all three Florida runs. The veteran goalie already knew what Jones was capable of thanks to their days together in Columbus, so he was happy to be reunited in Florida.

“He’s been excellent,” Bobrovsky said. “When he came into Columbus as a young player, he was excellent. I enjoyed playing with him. He’s a very reliable ‘D,’ and I was so happy and excited when he joined us this year. He’s a pro on and off the ice. Everybody loves him. He’s a great guy.”

Having familiarity with Bobrovsky also meant that Jones had confidence in the situation he was entering when he joined the Panthers.

“He’s the same ‘Bob,’ ” he said. “I know I haven’t played with a guy who has better preparation day in and day out. He knows exactly where he’s at physically and mentally to be the best he can be. We’re blessed to play in front of him, and we have complete trust when he’s in the net.”

For the other members of the Panthers, they were similarly happy to see Jones on their side of the ice after years of playing against him. “It’s not fun,” Bennett said. “He’s big. He skates well. He moves the puck well. Trying to get by him is really difficult with his long reach and his big stick. It was definitely always difficult playing against him, and now that he’s on our team, he seems to have elevated his game even more.”

In the Cup final, the Oilers found out that lesson the hard way. It took a team effort in Florida to minimize the contributions of Edmonton superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and Jones did his part. In 45 minutes of 5-on-5 play during the series, the Panthers outscored the Oilers 4-1 when McDavid and Jones were both on the ice and 4-3 in the 46 minutes when it was Jones and Draisaitl.

And just like he did in his regular-season games with Florida, Jones was a minute-muncher for the Panthers. In the end, he led the playoffs in ice time, playing more than 586 minutes, including nearly an hour of shorthanded shifts and half an hour of overtime duty. Jones averaged 25:30 overall, putting him third behind Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard and Dallas’ Thomas Harley among those who played at least 15 playoff games. He also popped in four goals and nine points.

“This guy is a Norris Trophy candidate all day long,” Maurice said. “He’s just special. It was the perfect environment for him. The camera’s not on him all the time. And I’m not disrespecting his other organizations. They were just on a different curve. Those elite guys on those teams carry a lot of pressure. He can walk into the room, and his partner is Niko Mikkola? We’re gonna be OK here. Just play, and enjoy it. We’re just starting to see how good he is.”

As the Panthers try for a dynasty with a fourth straight appearance in the final next season, Jones will play just as big a role, if not bigger.

Even with all the reasons players have to stay in Florida, that pesky salary cap could force some difficult decisions for management and the potential free agents themselves. Bennett, coming off the Conn Smythe Trophy and a league-leading 15 goals in the playoffs, is due for a big-time payday (maybe not the eight-figure numbers being thrown around on the internet, but then again, if a team is desperate, maybe so), while Marchand and Ekblad also need new pacts. With only $19 million available under the cap, Zito and his team have a challenge on their hands. But with Jones and Mikkola as a pair and Gustav Forsling still under contract, that back end is still going to be pretty stout no matter what happens to veterans Ekblad and Nate Schmidt.

Of course, nobody wants to talk salary cap at a time like this, so let’s go all the way back to the beginning, with Jones getting his own Ray Bourque moment as he finally got to lift the Cup after so many years in the NHL.

On the ice in the wake of Florida’s clinching 5-1 victory over Edmonton in Game 6, surrounded by reporters, cameras, friends, family and teammates (and plastic rats, so many plastic rats), Jones had an almost euphoric stare about him as he soaked it all in. He was the third member of the team to hoist the chalice, as captain Aleksander Barkov went to Schmidt first, who then passed it off to Jones.

The Panthers, many of whom had already won the Stanley Cup, made sure that players who had never gotten the chance before were the first to get this one. Even depth guys like Jaycob Megna and Evan Cormier went ahead of Tkachuk and Bennett, which became a point of pride for their coach in post-game festivities.

So what was it like going from watching Bourque get his first (and only) Cup to becoming the guy who got his first after a lot of ups and downs?

“Yeah, it’s what you dream about every day when you’re a kid, right?” said Jones, 30. “You want to have a chance to play for a Stanley Cup, and I can’t praise this organization enough. The players here, everyone loves each other. Everyone wants the best for each other, and that’s the only way this thing works.”

Perhaps somewhere in the stands of Amerant Bank Arena that night, there was a little kid with big hockey dreams who saw Jones lift the Cup and began to think about what it’d be like to live out those same aspirations two decades from now. If that kid turns out to be 6-foot-4 with great wheels and a solid two-way game, then perhaps history will repeat itself once again.

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#15 - Anton Wahlberg  – Forward (Rochester - AHL)

Wahlberg was the Sabres second-round pick (39th overall) at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. The Malmo, SWE native split time between his hometown junior-level and SHL club in his draft year, as well as playing for Sweden in the Five Nations and Under-18 World Championships. The big forward played the full year in the SHL and was linemates with Sabres 2022 first-rounder Noah Ostlund at the 2024 IIHF World Junior in Gothenburg, where he had three points in seven WJC games.

After scoring 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in 43 games and completing the SHL campaign, Wahlberg came to North America to play with Rochester, where he fit in nicely in the AHL during his brief stint, with four points in nine regular-season games with the Amerks, and a goal in Rochester’s brief playoff appearance.

In his first full season in North America, Wahlberg finished with 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 63 games, and made a big impression on the international stage, finishing third in scoring for Sweden with eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) in seven games at the 2025 World Junior in Ottawa, but went pointless in six playoff games. 

The Sabres are looking for the 20-year-old to take a step forward offensively in Rochester, and Wahlberg should get more of an opportunity to play higher in the lineup with the turnover in the Amerks roster. 

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New NHL 26 ratings stir up conversation around the Red Wings lineup. 

The EA Sports NHL video game franchise recently added another edition to its lengthy catalog with NHL 26 releasing on September 12th. One of the more interesting aspects of the early stages before the game's release is examining where they rank certain players and what are their ratings. 

The top player in the game is not surprising Connor McDavid with a 97 overall rating. It begs the question of where are the Red Wings players? Who's rated the highest on Detroit's roster? Today we're going to list some of the players mentioned and their ratings in NHL 26 including interesting overalls and x-factors that seperate the player from others. 

Dylan Larkin (89 Overall – X-Factor Player)

Being slotted alongside elite talents like Tage Thompson, Robert Thomas, and JT Miller is a testament to Larkin's status as one of the NHL’s premier centres. The only drawback in his player profile is a slightly underwhelming defensive rating.

Recognized as one of the top two-way forwards in the game, Larkin's all-situations usage, whether it’s even strength, power play, or penalty kill, deserves more than the 88 defensive awareness rating he received. 

Lucas Raymond (89 Overall – X-Factor Player)

Raymond’s back-to-back campaigns near a point-per-game pace have vaulted him into conversations with top-tier wingers like Brady Tkachuk, Jason Robertson, and Jake Guentzel.

Being placed in the same tier as someone like Robertson, who’s eclipsed the 100-point mark, signals EA’s acknowledgment of Raymond’s development and hints at the potential for a true breakout year in 2025–26.

Alex DeBrincat (88 Overall – X-Factor Player)

DeBrincat continues to produce at a steady 65–70 point pace, and his X-Factor status puts him among elite company including Adrian Kempe, Cole Caufield, and Seth Jarvis.

His lethal shot isn’t being overlooked either with his 92 ratings in both wrist- and slap-shot accuracy reflecting just how dangerous "The Cat" remains from the hash marks in.

Exclusive: Red Wings 2025-26 Complete Team Preview Released in THN YearbookExplore 76 Years of Hockey History with THN + Get a Free Yearbook Preview

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Moritz Seider (88 Overall – X-Factor Player)

Seider’s bruising, shutdown presence on the blue line earns him top-end physical ratings, including a 92 in body checking and a 91 in shot blocking.

The game ranks him alongside a rising generation of star defenders like Evan Bouchard, Thomas Harley, Lane Hutson, and Noah Dobson, proving that Seider has firmly cemented himself among the NHL’s elite.

Patrick Kane (86 Overall – X-Factor Player)

Now entering his 19th NHL season, Patrick Kane continues to prove he’s got plenty left in the tank after a resurgent 59-point effort last year. 

A former EA Sports NHL cover athlete, the veteran winger’s 86 overall rating reflects his ability to contribute as a top-six forward, even at age 36.

Cam Talbot (85 Overall)

Talbot’s rating is puzzling, considering his performance last season was statistically worse than several peers. Yet EA places him in the same bracket as goalies like Anthony Stolarz, Jeremy Swayman, Lukas Dostal, and Joey Daccord, who all arguably outperformed him and deserve higher overalls. 

Red Wings Reveal Uniform Numbers For New Players Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was active in both the trade market and free agency this offseason, not only unloading Vladimir Tarasenko but acquiring goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks.

John Gibson (84 Overall)

Despite being long considered a trade target for goaltending-starved teams like Edmonton, Gibson finds himself tied with Stuart Skinner in overall rating, which seems questionable.

While 84 might be fair for Gibson given his recent numbers, it’s the inconsistent goalie ratings around him that make the ranking feel disjointed and lacking context.

Erik Gustafsson (83 Overall)

A reliable journeyman, Gustafsson lands with an 83 overall despite playing mostly bottom-pairing minutes. His grouping with Mario Ferraro and Connor Murphy feels generous, though it reflects his offensive upside and veteran experience. 

Marco Kasper (83 Overall)

After a strong finish to the season, Kasper earns a respectable 83 overall. His rating puts him among promising names like Morgan Geekie and Will Smith, signaling EA’s belief in his high-ceiling potential.

Simon Edvinsson (83 Overall)

Following a breakout 31-point season in his first full NHL campaign, Edvinsson sees his stock rise significantly in EA’s eyes. Grouped with fellow 83-rated blueliners like Gustafsson, his inclusion among full-time NHLers reinforces his emergence as a key piece of the Red Wings’ future on the back end.

NHL Insider: Red Wings' Axel Sandin-Pellikka Has Top-4 Potential One of the most anticipated prospects within the Detroit Red Wings system is Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellika, who was Detroit's opening round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft. 

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It has felt like a remarkably slow off-season for the New Jersey Devils. Aside from a few moves at the start of free agency, not much has happened in the past month when it comes to trades or roster changes.

And it’s not just the Devils. A recent post from @NHL_Rosters pointed out that the NHL hasn’t had a trade since July 25. Today is August 28, when the San Jose Sharks acquired Oskar Olausson from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Danil Gushchin. 

There hasn't been any trades in the NHL since July 25th. There were 8 trades during August of last year, plus the Dylan Holloway/Philip Broberg offer sheets.

— NHL Rosters (@NHL_Rosters) August 28, 2025

That’s right, one month and three days without a single trade. The Devils aren’t alone here; the entire league seems to have been on pause since just a few weeks after free agency opened.

This is unusual. Last August, there were eight trades across the NHL. Now, as we approach the final days of the month, it looks like August will close out with zero.

So why the standstill?

There isn’t just one answer. Some teams may simply be taking the time to map out their long-term plans. For the Devils, it likely comes down to managing cap space and preparing for a new long-term deal for 21-year-old defenseman Luke Hughes.

New Jersey currently sits just under $7 million in cap space. Not every team is as fortunate; many are already over the limit or right up against it. That’s allowed in the off-season, but teams must be cap-compliant by opening night.

Of course, there’s still time. In the next few days, the Devils, or any team, really, could make a splash that shakes up the league.

Still, August has been uneventful. The Devils don’t open their 2025–26 season until October 9, giving GM Tom Fitzgerald plenty of time to maneuver. He’s made it clear that locking up Hughes before then is a top priority.

The question is: at what cost? Signing Hughes could mean moving out another player currently eating up cap space.

When that deal will be finalized remains unknown. But one thing feels certain: the off-season won’t end quietly. Big news could drop any day now.

Is it October yet? 

Unfortunately, no, but we're here to help pass the time. From Aug. 8 to Sept. 1, The Hockey News Nashville Predators will be counting down 24 players in 24 days, profiling every current or potentially rostered player. 

Today's player profile is forward Jonathan Marchessault. 

24 Nashville Predators in 24 days series 

Adam Wilsby

Jordan Oesterle

Andreas Engulund

Cole Smith

Michael McCarron

Justin Barron

Zachary L’Heureux

Matthew Wood

Nick Blankenburg

Brady Martin

Michael Bunting

Justus Annunen

Nick Perbix

Luke Evangelista

Nic Hague

Erik Haula

Fedor Svechkov

Brady Skjei

As an NHL prospect 

From Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Marchessault spent his four seasons with the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. 

playing in 254 regular-season games from 2007 to 2011, scoring 98 goals and 239 points. In his final junior season, 2010-11, he scored 40 goals and 55 assists for 95 points in 68 games. He was a First-Team All-Star that season. 

In the postseason, he played 52 games, recording 54 points. The Remparts' best finish in Marchessault's time with the team was the 2011 playoffs, where they got as far as league semifinals, losing to Gatineau in seven games. 

Professional career 

Marchessault went undrafted, signing with the Connecticut Whale, the New York Rangers' AHL affiliate at the time, in 2011. During the 2011-12 season, Marchessault scored 64 points in 76 games and was named to the AHL All-Star Game. 

The following season, Marchessault signed an entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, playing in two games during the season. He spent nearly the entirety of the season with the Springfield Falcons, scoring 67 points in 74 games and earning a second straight AHL All-Star Game bid. 

Marchessault returned to Springfield for the 2013-14 season, playing in 56 games and scoring 41 points before he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the deadline. He'd finish the season with the Syracuse Crunch, scoring 15 points in 21 games. 

The following season, he played two games in Tampa, scoring his first NHL goal and earning a point in each contest. Marchessault played 68 games with the Crunch, scoring 67 points and earning the third AHL All-Star Game bid of his career. 

The 2015-16 season was when Marchessault began to see more NHL minutes. He played 47 games with the Lightning, scoring 18 points. That offseason, he signed as a free agent with the Florida Panthers and followed with a 51-point season in 2016-17. 

Marchessault moved again in the 2017 offseason, as he was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights eighth overall in the Expansion Draft. The move to Vegas would end up skyrocketing Marchessault's stock as a player in the league. 

In seven seasons with the Golden Knights, Marchessault played in 514 games, recording 193 goals and 225 assists for 418 points. In his first season with the Golden Knights, he recorded a career high of 75 points in 77 games. 

During the 2023-24 season, Marchessault scored a career-best 42 goals. And that's only his regular-season stats.

In the playoffs, Marchessault recorded 36 goals and 39 assists for 75 points in 95 playoff games in six postseason appearances, which included the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, 2021 Western Conference Finals, 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals and the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. 

In 2023, Marchessault won the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smyth Trophy, scoring 25 points in 22 games as the Golden Knights defeated the Florida Panthers in five games. 

During the 2024 offseason, Marchessault became a free agent after the Golden Knights couldn't settle on a new contract. He'd sign a five-year, $27.5 million deal with the Nashville Predators. 

Marchessault saw a 13-point dip from the previous year during the 2024-25 season, scoring 56 points in 78 games.  

What role will he play this season? 

The Predators are likely expecting Marchessault to stay consistent. 

56 points in 78 games isn't bad considering the Predators were the worst scoring team in the NHL, but it's the whole "what if" of it all and how good Marchessault would've been last season if the Predators had a decent team. 

This is still a player in the prime of his career and last season put some fog over that. The Predators have him on a long contract, which will expire when he is 38 years old, but he's a late bloomer who's still playing very well. 

It's worth noting that since 2021, he has had fewer than 55 points in a season, peaking at 66 points in 76 games during the 2021-22 season. Funnily enough, the Golden Knights had missed the playoffs that season. 

Marchessault was a player who didn't take a huge dive last year and should be thrown into that first line mix. Alongside Ryan O'Reilly and Filip Forsberg, two other players who were also positives coming out of last season, this is the line that should lead the Predators' offensive charge. 

The Predators wanted a scorer when they signed Marchessault and considering last year's situation, they got one. Establishing consistency across the entire roster will enable Marchessault's game to truly flourish. 

EA Sports revealed the highest-rated players in NHL 26 this week.

Not only did the video games giant reveal the ratings for the top players by position, but it also listed the top 10 players on each NHL team. That means ratings are known for 320 players so far, with Calgary Flames right winger Martin Pospisil sitting 320th, with an overall rating of 80.

Here are the top 10 players in the game, some standout stats from NHL Edge and whether they improved from this time last year. For more NHL 26 coverage, check out The Hockey News' dedicated gaming site.

Honorable Mentions

Six players have a 94 rating, but EA Sports did not give them the same ranking. The first tie involves 38 players at No. 99 with an 87 rating.

That means Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov sit 11th, 12th and 13th, respectively, despite having an overall rating that's tied with eighth place.

Kaprizov is the highest-rated left winger in NHL 26, while Eichel and Matthews are ranked sixth and seventh among centers.

10. Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets

NHL 26 Rating: 94
NHL 25 Rating: 93

At 32, Hellebuyck's rating continues to increase. That 93-overall rating in NHL 25 was two notches higher from his 91 overall in NHL 24.

His 2.00 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and eight shutouts last season were career highs. He's won the Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy in each of the last two seasons, and he was voted the Hart Trophy winner in 2024-25.

Hellebuyck posted at least a .900 save percentage in 44 games last year, five more than Andrei Vasilevskiy in second place. Yes, he started 62 games, but recording at least a .900 SP in 71 percent of his starts also led NHL netminders.

9. David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins

NHL 26 Rating: 94
NHL 25 Rating: 95

Pastrnak's rating takes the slightest dip after exceeding 100 points for the third straight season. His 43 goals last season were down from 47 in 2023-24 and 61 in 2022-23, and his 106 points fell from 110 and 113.

The right winger's 94-overall rating is a whopping 10 points higher than Boston's second-best forwards in the game, Casey Mittelstadt, Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha, with 84 ratings. If the retooling club hung onto Brad Marchand, they'd at least have another forward with a top-50 rating.

Pastrnak led NHL forwards in slapshots last season, with 68, scoring on five of them. He had a maximum shot speed of 98.03 miles per hour, which backs up his 93 slapshot-power rating.

8. Sidney Crosby, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL 26 Rating: 94
NHL 25 Rating: 94  

Crosby's still got it.

The Penguins captain cracked 90 points for the third straight year and the ninth time in his 20 NHL seasons, which doesn't even include some outstanding performances in years shortened by injury, the 2012-13 lockout or COVID-19.

At 38 years old, Crosby skated 264.12 miles (425.04 kilometers) last season, which ranked him in the 97th percentile of NHLers. That's longer than the distance from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh to Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

Crosby ranked 15th in assists last year and continues to be an elite playmaker, reflected by his 95 passing rating.

7. Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers

NHL 26 Rating: 95
NHL 25 Rating: 94 

Barkov's rating gets a boost after winning the Stanley Cup again.

The Panthers captain received a 95 passing rating after putting up 51 assists in 67 games and another 16 in 23 playoff contests. Barkov has exceeded 50 helpers in each of the last three seasons, despite not playing more than 73 regular-season games each year.

Barkov is known for his elite two-way ability, winning the Selke Trophy in the last two seasons and three times overall. His offensive and defensive awareness ratings are both 96, and he possesses an X-factor ability in NHL 26 called "Quick Pick," which enhances his interceptions and defensive deflections.

He Gets Everyone 'Gunned Up': Matthew Tkachuk Has A Unique X-Factor In NHL 26As the latest cover model for the NHL 26 video game, it’s safe to say that Matthew Tkachuk has officially entered superstar status.

6. Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche

NHL 26 Rating: 95
NHL 25 Rating: 95

Makar won the Norris Trophy for the second time in his career last season, and he finished a career-high sixth place in Hart Trophy voting.

The 26-year-old's 94 speed and 95 acceleration ratings are no surprise. He had a top skating speed of 23.63 mph last season, which ranked seventh among NHL defensemen. He did rank first in speed bursts of 20-plus mph, with 206, and 22-plus mph, with 27.

Makar also deserves credit for his goal-scoring. He was the first D-man to score 30 goals in a season since Mike Green in 2008-09, and he took 33 shots of at least 90 mph, which are the eighth-most among blueliners.

5. Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks

NHL 26 Rating: 95
NHL 25 Rating: 95  

Hughes' 94 acceleration rating is lower than Makar's 95, but the Canucks captain has a higher speed rating, at 96.

Hughes had only 115 speed bursts over 20 mph and seven over 22 mph, which are still among the most in the NHL. But his top speed of 24.56 mph is the fastest among defensemen and second-fastest among all players, next to Avalanche left winger Miles Wood, who reached 24.82 mph.

The 25-year-old had 16 goals and 60 assists for 76 points in 68 games last season, missing time due to injury. He also has the edge over Makar in the passing rating, but the latter has higher ratings in slapshot and wrist shot power.

4. Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning

NHL 26 Rating: 96
NHL 25 Rating: 95    

Kucherov was tied with Nathan MacKinnon for recording the most assists last season, with 84. But over the previous three seasons combined, nobody's had more helpers than Kucherov. If his 267 assists in that span were points, he'd be tied with Lightning teammate Brayden Point in 13th place.

As a result, he has a massive 98 passing rating in NHL 26.

The 32-year-old's top shot speed of 96.28 was ranked in the 97th percentile. His 17 goals in high-danger areas ranked in the 93rd percentile, and his 10 goals from mid-range were in the 90th percentile.

Kucherov is the highest-rated right winger in the video game.

3. Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers

NHL 26 Rating: 96
NHL 25 Rating: 95

The top three players in NHL 26 are centers, and even still, Draisaitl has only the second-highest rating among Oilers players.

He does have a higher slapshot and wrist shot power than that "other elite Oilers center" after winning the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy last season. Draisaitl recorded 52 goals, seven more than Leafs right winger William Nylander in second place.

Draisaitl has exceeded 50 goals in three of the last four seasons and 100 points in six of the last seven seasons – although getting 84 points in a 56-game year in 2020-21 is masterly.

The 29-year-old scored 25 times in high-danger areas (99th percentile) and 14 from mid-range (97th). That said, his top shot speed was 87.42 mph, which is in the 62nd percentile.

2. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche

NHL 26 Rating: 96
NHL 25 Rating: 96

Remember how Crosby skated about 264 miles last season?

Well, his fellow Nova Scotian ranked first among forwards in skating distance, with 291.89 miles (469.73 km). That's roughly the driving distance from Ball Arena in Denver to... Dull Center, Wyo. Go figure.

MacKinnon also had the most speed bursts of at least 20 mph among forwards last season, with 547. He has a 98 acceleration rating in NHL 26 as a result. 

The 29-year-old has the second-most points of all NHLers in the last four seasons, with 455 in 297 games. After winning the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award in 2023-24, he finished fourth in Hart voting in 2024-25.

Nylander Or McDavid: Which Player Deserves An X-Factor For Having 'Elite Edges'?If it's in the game, then it's in the video game.

1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers

NHL 26 Rating: 97
NHL 25 Rating: 97

McDavid remains the best of the best.

The Oilers captain actually finished 10th in Hart Trophy voting last season, which is the lowest he's placed since his rookie campaign, when he didn't receive a vote.

He still had 100 points in 67 games despite suffering an ankle injury earlier in the year and a lower-body injury in March. His top skating speed last season was 23.97 mph, a small decrease from the 24.19 mph burst he recorded in 2023-24, which ranked second among players that year. His acceleration and speed ratings are 97 and 98, respectively.

McDavid has the most points in the last three seasons, with 385 in 225 games. In the last five seasons, he has 613 points, 79 more than Draisaitl in second place. His passing rating is 98, while his slapshot and wrist shot power ratings are 91 and 92. 

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Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman was active in both the trade market and free agency this offseason, not only unloading Vladimir Tarasenko but acquiring goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks.

Additionally, the Red Wings inked free agent forwards James van Riemsdyk and Mason Appleton, along with defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker, Travis Hamonic and Ian Mitchell. 

Early on Thursday afternoon, the Red Wings released the uniform numbers that all of the above new players will be donning this season. 

As he's done in multiple cities throughout his NHL career, van Riemsdyk will be wearing No. 21; it was last worn by Auston Czarnik during the 2023-24 season. Gibson will keep his No. 36 he wore for the entirety of his tenure with the Anaheim Ducks; it was most recently worn by Christian Fischer from 2023 through earlier this year when he was claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Appleton will also be keeping his No. 22 that he previously wore with the Winnipeg Jets. The most recent Red Wings player to wear No. 22 was depth forward Matt Luff in 2022-23. 

Bernard-Docker will be the first Red Wings player since Taro Hirose to wear No. 25, while Hamonic will be the first No. 52 in a Red Wings uniform since Brogan Rafferty in 2024; it was also recently worn by Jonatan Berggren and, for over a decade, Jonathan Ericcson. 

New guys, new numbers! pic.twitter.com/JwRS11Ts9w

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 28, 2025

Red Wings Add Blue Line Depth With Signing of Travis Hamonic Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has already signed defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Ian Mitchell so far this offseason, but another new name has been added to Detroit's blue line. 

Gibson immediately slots into the top spot on Detroit's goaltending depth chart, giving Cam Talbot, who was signed last offseason, to settle comfortably into the backup role. 

van Riemsdyk could potentially play a top-six role with the Red Wings, while Appleton is expected to slot in on Detroit's third or fourth line. 

Bernard-Docker, Hamonic and Mitchell will all be competing for a roster spot with one another in Training Camp. 

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It's time to discuss more big NHL and hockey topics on The Big Show.

Who Will Be The NHL's Biggest Star In 10 Years? by The Big Showundefined

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

0:00: Is it only a matter of time before Connor McDavid re-signs in Edmonton? 

08:50: Who will be the biggest star in the NHL 10 years from now?

12:20: Which NHL team has the best in-arena experience?

17:15: Which second-year coach is on the hot seat?

21:45: Which newly hired coach will have the most success?

28:30: Will Alex Ovechkin break Gordie Howe's age-40 goals record?

29:50: Will the Washington Capitals be able to replicate their success from last season?

33:00: Which of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ biggest assets is most likely to be dealt?

36:50: Which throwback jersey would you most want to see return?

37:45: Which player do you expect to fall off this upcoming season?

38:50: Who is one player not enough people are hyping up going into next season?

41:00: Should the NHL start the season earlier or end the season earlier when it goes to 84 games?

42:30: Picking Team Canada’s 13th forward for the 2026 Olympics

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

The Minnesota Wild drafted five players for the 2020 NHL Draft. Marco Rossi, who was taken ninth overall, is the only player still with the team.

Daemon Hunt was taken in the third round of that draft with pick No. 65. He played 13 NHL games with the Wild and 125 in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Iowa Wild.

He was eventually traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets along with a first round pick in the 2025, a third and fourth round picks in 2026 and a second round pick in 2027 for defenseman David Jiricek.

Hunt, 23, recorded two goals and 14 points in 48 AHL games for the Cleveland Monsters during the 2024-25 season. He has now signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Blue Jackets for the 2025-26 season.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

- Minnesota Wild To Have 16 Games On National Television.

- Where Wild's Filip Gustavsson Ranks Among NHL Goaltenders.

- Minnesota Wild: What's Next After The Marco Rossi Signing.

- Wild Sign Marco Rossi To A Three-Year Deal.

- Minnesota Wild First Rounder Named Assistant Captain Of Michigan State.

- Where Minnesota Wild's Brock Faber Ranks Among NHL Defensemen.

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The London Knights and Kitchener Rangers are two OHL organizations that are regarded as having the most “pull” in player recruitment. However, there is another team in the Western Conference that is putting its name into that ring: the Saginaw Spirit.

Saginaw has recently been able to pull high-end junior players from other leagues to wear their uniform. Examples: former USNTDP forward Kristian Epperson, who was a dynamic forward for them last season. San Jose Sharks top prospect Igor Chernyshov. Although he was only around for a quarter of the season last year, his 55 points in 23 games gave the Spirit fans lots of excitement down the stretch. Lastly, for the upcoming season, the organization was able to secure a couple of talented forwards from the USHL: Egor Barabanov and Nikita Klepov. 

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Now, another USHL forward is leaving America’s top junior league to play in the OHL, and his bloodlines run deep in Slovak hockey. 

Miroslav Satan Jr. has signed a Standard Player Agreement with the Saginaw Spirit. The organization secured his rights via the league entry waivers back on Aug. 21. He had spent the 2024-25 season playing in the USHL for the Sioux Falls Stampede and Omaha Lancers. Satan Jr. struggled in his first season playing in a different country — played his minor hockey in Slovakia — recording only four points (3 goals, 1 assist) in 45 games. He did get the opportunity to play at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Junior Championship for his country and should be a shoo-in to return to the 2026 event later this year. 

We have signed Miroslav Šatan, to an OHL Standard Player Agreement.

DETAILS: https://t.co/8NUTg0OOVHpic.twitter.com/cUoDdIIBuy

— Saginaw Spirit (@SpiritHockey) August 27, 2025

The new 6-foot-7 Spirit forward towers over his father, who had an incredible playing career both in the NHL and internationally. His dad is none other than Miroslav Satan, the current President of the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation. 

Satan was inducted into the IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019, following an international career which saw him win gold at the World Championship and MVP in 2002, two WC silver medals, and one WC bronze. Additionally, he was named to the World Championship’s All-Star Team twice (2000 and 2002), after finishing the tournament as its leading scorer. Satan is Slovakia’s all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, and points at the World Championship. 

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The great Slovak forward won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. Satan is one of the greatest stories of a player who went late in the NHL draft. He was picked 111th overall in the fifth round in 1993 by the Edmonton Oilers. He played in the NHL for 14 seasons, stringing together 735 points (363 goals, 372 assists) in 1,050 games. 

His son, just like his dad, was a late pick, selected near the end of the 2024 NHL Draft, 212th overall by the Washington Capitals. Washington saw one of their prospects leave the USHL for the OHL last season, Ilya Protas, who was a dominant presence on a nightly basis for the Windsor Spitfires. 

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Saginaw plays its first pre-season game on Friday, Aug. 29, against the Oshawa Generals. Fans may get the chance to see their new towering forward, who will be wearing the #43 for the upcoming season. 

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The Toronto Maple Leafs’ top-10 ratings for EA Sports’ NHL 26 have officially been released.

Atop the rankings is none other than Toronto’s captain, Auston Matthews, who’s sporting a 94 rating, the 12th-highest rating within the game. The 27-year-old’s rating dipped by one point when comparing it to his NHL 25 rating.

Matthews’ wrist-shot power, however, is the best in the game at 95, tied only with Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak. Matthews is also the only Maple Leafs player to have a 90 or above rating in all five categories (acceleration, speed, deking, passing, slap shot power, and wrist shot power).

The Scottsdale, Arizona, native is tied as the fourth-best center in the game, behind Jack Eichel (94), Sidney Crosby (94), Aleksander Barkov (95), Leon Draisaitl (96), Nathan MacKinnon (96), and Connor McDavid (97).

Second on Toronto’s list is William Nylander. He’s rated a 92 overall (one rating above his NHL 25 total of 91) and is the 25th-best player in the game. Nylander is ranked one spot above former Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (also a 92-rated player), who one-ups the Swede in only one category: passing.

John Tavares is next on the list with an 88 rating. He’s also the 25th-highest center in the game. Matthew Knies and Morgan Rielly each have an 87 rating. Knies is tied for 15th in the game’s top left-wingers, while Rielly is tied with 11 players for the 20th spot in NHL 26’s best left defensemen.

Among the other players in Toronto’s top-10 are Brandon Carlo (86), Anthony Stolarz (85), Chris Tanev (85), Jake McCabe (85), and Joseph Woll (85). Three of those five players are coming off their first season with the Maple Leafs organization.

Carlo was acquired from the Bruins at the trade deadline in March for Fraser Minten, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2025 fourth-round pick. Tanev’s rights were traded to Toronto before the start of free agency last summer, and he then signed a six-year, $27 million contract with the Maple Leafs.

Stolarz inked a two-year, $5 million contract with Toronto on July 1, 2024, and is entering the final year of his deal. The 31-year-old had an up-and-down season with injuries, but finished the regular season with a .926 save percentage in 34 games.

He appeared in seven games during the playoffs for the Maple Leafs. Stolarz had a .901 save percentage in that span before leaving Game 1 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers following a Sam Bennett forearm to the head.

Toronto’s full top-10 ratings in NHL 26 are as follows: 1. Matthews (94), 2. Nylander (92), 3. Tavares (88), 4. Knies (87), 5. Rielly (87), 6. Carlo (86), 7. Stolarz (85), 8. Tanev (85), 9. McCabe (85), and 10. Woll (85).

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The 2025-26 NHL season will begin on Oct. 7, with training camps set to start the week of Sept. 17, followed shortly by preseason games starting on Sept. 20.

Eight RFAs remain unsigned league-wide, including high-profile core pieces like Luke Hughes, Connor Zary, and Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish.

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Two young and similarly high-profile players recently came to terms with their respective clubs: Marco Rossi signed a three-year contract with the Minnesota Wild that carries an AAV of $5 million, and Frank Nazar signed a sizable seven-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks at a $6.6 million cap hit that will begin in 2026-27.

There’s been little to no information regarding McTavish’s negotiations with the Ducks, but his name has appeared in countless trade and offer sheet speculations since the offseason began.

“I think that Anaheim likes the player (McTavish),” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on his most recent ’32 Thoughts’ podcast. “I think they recognize how good the player is. I think there's a difference of opinion on where the salary should go at different terms.

“I have heard just gossip-wise that, say you're talking about a seven-year deal, what Anaheim sees on a seven-year deal and what McTavish's representatives at Newport (Newport Sports Management Inc.) see on a seven-year deal is different. And so, I think that's the case in a couple of these terms. And I think that's one of the reasons that it hasn't happened yet.”

The Ducks traded Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers on June 23, with part of general manager Pat Verbeek’s stated reason for pulling the trigger being his belief in Leo Carlsson and McTavish down the middle.

“(Zegras) is more creative in the middle of the ice, and having to play from the wing, we're fortunate that there's Leo (Carlsson) and there's Mason (McTavish),” Verbeek said. “We find that they're two pretty good centermen. So Trevor has to get pushed to the wing.”

Though chatter and speculation have died down of late concerning the Ducks potentially moving McTavish, as training camp gets ever-closer, there still seems to be lingering discussion from multiple media outlets surrounding McTavish’s future in Anaheim.

So why does McTavish discussion persist when questions surrounding Hughes and the New Jersey Devils (who only has a projected $6.13 million in cap space to get a deal done) or Zary and the Calgary Flames (who has the fifth most projected cap space, $15.41 million) remain nonexistent?

The answer lies in the summer of 2023, when similar scenarios played out with previously regarded core pieces of the organization: Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale. As the saying goes, “the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior,” and we’ve seen this playbook from Verbeek. Both players are no longer with the organization.

With those negotiations and taking Troy Terry down to arbitration day with his contract negotiations, Verbeek cemented a reputation as a shrewd negotiator, specifically with RFAs, and more specifically with RFAs coming off of their ELCs, where the team holds significant leverage.

“I think the Ducks like the player. I think that they believe in him. I just think that you've got a lot of grinders in this negotiation,” Friedman said. “Pat Morris, who represents McTavish, he's a grinder. Pat Verbeek is a grinder.

“I think Pat Verbeek kind of looks at it like, ‘before the guy gets the super big money, I want him to really earn it. I don't want to give it to him too early.’ I think that's a philosophy. Jeff Solomon, who handles the contract negotiations in Anaheim, he's a grinder.”

Laying out the pieces (though it can change with one phone call), an agreement and an end to negotiation seems currently out of sight. The Zegras and Drysdale negotiations lasted well into training camp, leading to both players sustaining injuries in efforts to get themselves up to speed in their first camp under a brand-new head coach (sound familiar?).

Friedman reported that McTavish’s representation was hoping or seeking out a potential offer sheet from opposing teams. Whether that was because they’re truly seeking another destination or because they wanted to reattain some leverage and force a decision from Verbeek remains unknown.

“I think that McTavish representatives looked for an offer sheet, it didn't happen,” Friedman said. “There's been a lot of talk about why offer sheets didn't happen this year after what St. Louis did last year.

“I really believe the whole thing with Gavin McKenna has terrified teams from doing the offer sheet. This is a player with a chance to do some great things in the NHL. (Teams) can’t protect (and) say, ‘This pick is top two protected or top ten protected.’ You can't do that with an offer sheet. And I think that really scared teams away, not only with McTavish, but with other players. So I'm not surprised that didn't happen.”

A negotiation lasting into training camp isn’t ideal, regardless of player or circumstance. However, that date is closing in, and if talks extend to that point, it would be beneficial to both parties to do everything in their power to ensure McTavish is eased into camp upon an agreement. Injuries are unpredictable as is, and can occur at any point, but adding risk is unnecessary.

It would be beneficial for both sides to get the deal done as soon as possible. McTavish would be afforded the runway to pick up where he left off last season, where he scored 33 points (16-17-33) in his last 36 games, and the Ducks would enter a pivotal training camp before a season in which the stated mandate is to make the playoffs, with their projected second-line center of the present and future under contract.

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