St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas has been fulfilling his obligations as the top center for the team, and the 26-year-old is also earning every bit of the eight-year, $65-million contract he signed July 13, 2022.

NHL Network is also recognizing the Blues' No. 1 center on their list of top 20 in the league, checking in at No. 12 just ahead of Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho and behind New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes.

NHL Network’s Jamison Coyle, Brian Boyle and Mike Rupp counted down the best centers based on player performance over the past several seasons, with an emphasis on the 2024-2025 regular season and 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, while also considering future upside. The Top 20 centers right now list collectively features 51 All-Star Game appearances, 12 Stanley Cups, 10 Ted Lindsay Awards, eight Hart Trophies, eight Art Ross Trophies, seven Maurice Richard Trophies, six All-Rookie Team honors, five Conn Smythe Trophies, three Frank J. Selke Trophies, two Calder Trophies, two Lady Byng Memorial Trophies, one King Clancy Memorial Trophy, one Mark Messier Leadership Award and one NHL’s 100 Greatest Players Award.   

Thomas set career highs in goals (26), assists (60) and points (86) in 2023-24 playing in all 82 regular-season games and followed it up last season with 81 points (21 goals, 60 assists) but playing in 70 games after missing 12 games with a fractured right ankle blocking a shot Oct. 22, 2024 against the Winnipeg Jets.

Thomas finished last season with 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in a 12-game point streak that fueled the Blues into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in three seasons. They would lose to the Jets in seven games of the Western Conference First Round.

On his strong finish to the season, Thomas said, "Yeah, with team success comes some individual and I was very fortunate the way our team was playing to be able to produce like that. It takes the whole team for that kind of part of it. I think for myself, I talked a little bit about it last year where you see where you can get and you continue to believe it more and more every year and try and get better. For me, I think I took another step this year and looking to do the same again next year. Olympics is obviously a dream since a kid. You watch it, you have memories of whether it's Sidney Crosby's golden goal or what not. It's definitely a goal of mine. I need to really prepare this summer to have a really good chance at it."

Do you agree with this list and were Thomas is at on it? Comment below and let us know what you feel.

Our Top 20 Centers Right Now list has a total of:
• 12 Stanley Cups
• 5 Conn Smythe Trophies
• 10 Ted Lindsay Awards
• 8 Hart Trophies
• 8 Art Ross Trophies
• 7 Maurice Richard Trophies
• 3 Selke Trophies

What do you think of our list?@NHL | #NHLTopPlayerspic.twitter.com/7xSsx0hpuh

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 20, 2025

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin named to NHL Network's top 20 centres list for 2025

As the NHL offseason winds through its quietest stretch, the league’s media cycle finds new life with the annual release of NHL Network’s position-by-position rankings. 

This year, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has once again earned a spot among the game’s top centres, landing at No. 15 on the network’s Top 20 list.

NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) on XThe captain of the @DetroitRedWings is #⃣1⃣5⃣ on our Top 20 Centers Right Now list! #NHLTopPlayers

The rankings, unveiled each August in anticipation of training camp, offer a snapshot of the league’s elite talent at each position, often sparking league-wide discussion and debate among fans and analysts. The league's top 20 best wingers, defenceman and goaltenders have all be released with the centre's rounding out the media rollout. 

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

Larkin’s placement inside the top 15 follows yet another steady campaign, where the 29-year-old appeared in all 82 games and recorded 70 points. It marked his fourth consecutive season reaching at least 69 points and his fourth straight year topping the 30-goal mark.

Red Wings' Larkin, Kane Named to Team USA's Olympic Camp RosterDetroit Red Wings Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane among the 44 named players attending Team USA's Olympic Orientation Camp in Plymouth, Michigan.

Larkin isn't just an offensive weapon but a Swiss Army knife that can be relied upon as the team's best defensive forward as well as leader on the top power play and penalty kill units. Not to mention his leadership in the locker room, and ability to drive play continue to earn him league-wide respect.

The Waterford, Michigan native has been a cornerstone for Detroit since being drafted 15th overall in 2014 and over nine seasons with the Red Wings has totaled 411 points (162 goals, 249 assists) in 734 career games. His role as Detroit’s captain and first-line centre has remained steady through a transitional period for the franchise as it continues to develop into a playoff contender.

NHL Network’s ranking places Larkin ahead of young stars like Tim Stützle and Roope Hintz, while also placing him just behind former No. 1 picks like Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes. The top of the list, unsurprisingly, features perennial MVP candidates like Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby. 

“My Heart Beat Faster”: Sergei Fedorov Recaps Finding Out Of Jersey Retirement NewsThe iconic No. 91 jersey of former Detroit Red Wings forward Sergei Fedorov will soon be taking its rightful place in the rafters of Little Caesars Arena, and will be displayed alongside the eight previously retired numbers that include his teammates Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom.

NHL Network’s Top 20 Centres – 2025

1. Connor McDavid
2. Nathan MacKinnon
3. Leon Draisaitl
4. Aleksander Barkov
5. Sidney Crosby
6. Jack Eichel
7. Auston Matthews
8. Brayden Point
9. Mark Scheifele
10. Nick Suzuki
11. Jack Hughes
12. Robert Thomas
13. Sebastian Aho
14. Nico Hischier
15. Dylan Larkin
16. Tim Stützle
17. Roope Hintz
18. Tage Thompson
19. Macklin Celebrini
20. Sam Bennett

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The Buffalo Sabres need to play well against just about every opponent next season in order to get back into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in a decade-and-a-half. And one team that could stand in their way against Buffalo is a team needing a rebound year -- the Vancouver Canucks.

in our continuing series on THN.com's Sabres site, we're looking at each of the Sabres' 31 opponents next year. And in this file, we're focused on the Canucks, whom Buffalo didn't lose to in regulation time last season. Vancouver made a notable addition in former Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane, but otherwise, the Canucks are mostly the same team as they were last season.

That said, we want to know your opinion on the Sabres' rivalry against Vancouver. Do you think Buffalo will play at least as well against the Canucs as they did last year? Be sure to make your opinion known in the comment section below. And feel free to register as a community member on THN.com. Your opinion matters, and we want to hear it.

The Buffalo Sabres are going to face significant difficulty next season trying to end their Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years. To be sure, the Sabres will need every standings point they can get, and that means playing well against even the NHL's top teams.

To that end, THN.com's Sabres site has been producing a series in which we examine every one of Buffalo's 31 opponents next season. We've made our way through teams from the league's Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central divisions, and more recently, we've been focusing on the eight Pacific Division franchises.

We're nearly done looking at the Pacific teams, but in today's file, we're looking at a team looking to rebound after a disappointing 2024-25 season -- the Vancouver Canucks.

The Canucks missed the playoffs last season after being one of the league's stronger teams in 2023-24. And Vancouver has made an important addition (and a former Sabre) this summer, making them into a team the Sabres will have a tough time against next season.

With that said, let's look at Buffalo's performance against Vancouver last year, and what that may say about the Sabres' chances against them in 2025-26.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. VANCOUVER CANUCKS

NEW CANUCKS PLAYERS: Evander Kane, LW; Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-0-1, Canucks 1-1-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  December 11 at Vancouver; January 6 at Buffalo 

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Canucks were facing the loss of star winger Brock Boeser in free-agency this summer, but Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin re-signed Boeser, assuring the Canucks of a strong offensive presence. 

Then, Vancouver traded with the Edmonton Oilers for Vancouver native Evander Kane, giving the Canucks more snarl and experience up front. And the re-signing of Boeser and addition of Kane make Vancouver a deeper and stronger team.

The good news for the Sabres is they didn't lose to the Canucks in regulation time last season, dropping an overtime game in their first game in late November before beating Vancouver in the second game in late January. But this coming season, Buffalo and the Canucks will be squaring off twice in less than a one-month span. 

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Kraken Swept Buffalo Last Year -- Will This Season Be A Different Story?The Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 schedule has been out for some time now, and in this ongoing THN.com Sabres site series, we're breaking down Buffalo's chances against every team in the league.

Playing former Sabre Kane may give Buffalo some added inspiration to play well against the Canucks, but like the Sabres, Vancouver wants nothing more than to get back into the playoff mix next year. So the Sabres will have their hands full with the Canucks.

Another factor that could change things for Vancouver is new Canucks coach Adam Foote. The former star defenseman has been Vancouver's assistant coach, but when Rick Tocchet left for the Philadelphia Flyers this summer, Canucks management went in-house to replace him. And Foote inherits a Vancouver team that was a letdown on many fronts this year.

That includes the injury-absence of star Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko, who was limited to only 23 appearances last season. But Demko also signed a contract extension this summer, giving the Canucks one of the strongest goalie tandems (including veteran Kevin Lankinen) in the league. The Sabres will have to be at their best to get pucks past either Demko and Lankinen, because if they can't, Vancouver's above-average offense will put all the pressure on Buffalo's goalies next year.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Sweeping Rebuilding Sharks Should Be No Problem For BuffaloThe Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 schedule has been out for a while now. And although Sabres fans have known when and where their team will be playing at any given time, it's still worthwhile to examine each Buffalo opponent next year -- and specifically, how the Sabres should fare against team NHL team in 2025-26.

The Sabres and Canucks don't have a natural rivalry that's stood the test of time, but Buffalo needs to play at least as well as it did against Vancouver last year. Failure to do so could impact the Sabres' bottom line -- and potentially be the difference between Buffalo missing and making the post-season next season.

The Sabres will face many teams at least as good as the Canucks next year, and they can't afford to let up on any opponent. Any more disappointment will lead to major change in Buffalo -- but if the Sabres do handle their business against Vancouver and other above-average teams, Buffalo's playoff drought will come to an end.

The Los Angeles Kings have made several interesting moves this offseason, including trading Jordan Spence to the Ottawa Senators and signing Cody Ceci as a Vladislav Gavrikov replacement. However, it sounds like another move was being considered.

In recent days, it was revealed that the Kings considered trading Brandt Clarke, but management chose not to do that, at least not yet.

Michael Russo: Re Brandt Clarke: There were points this offseason where it feel like they were even gonna consider moving Clarke; I think Ken Holland wants to get his eyes on him before he makes such a major move like that - DFO Rundown (8/19)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) August 20, 2025

Clarke, who is 22 years old, has 41 points through 103 games in his career. Last season, when he had 33 points, was his first full season in the NHL, and while he looked solid, it seems as though he may still be someone the team is considering moving for different assets.

At this point, it seems as though the Kings are willing to give him a strong look out of camp next season, but his name continues to be floated as a potential trade piece.

Former New Jersey Devils forward Tyce Thompson is taking his talent overseas. 

Barys Astana of the KHL have announced that they have signed Thompson to a one-year contract.

Thompson hit the market as a Group 6 unrestricted free agent (UFA) this summer after not being re-signed by the New York Islanders. This is after the 6-foot-1 winger posted eight goals, 13 assists, and 21 points in 65 AHL games with the Bridgeport Islanders in 2024-25. He did not make an appearance in an NHL game this past season with New York. 

Thompson was selected by the Devils with the 96th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. In 11 games over three seasons with the Devils from 2020-21 to 2022-23, he recorded one assist, seven hits, and a minus-4 rating. His time with the Devils organization ended during the 2023-24 season when he was traded to the Islanders in exchange for Arnaud Durandeau. 

2 Devils Who Could Be Nice Surprises The New Jersey Devils will be looking to take another step in the right direction in 2025-26 after getting back into the playoffs this past spring. They certainly have a good-looking roster on paper, as they have big-time stars in Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt leading the charge.

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

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

Next on our list is No. 14, and this is where we cover one of the Penguins' three first-round picks this year in forward Bill Zonnon.

#14: F Bill Zonnon

Zonnon was selected 22nd overall by the Penguins in this year's draft, and he had a great year for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL. He registered 28 goals and 83 points in 64 regular season games as well as eight goals and 16 points in 13 playoff games. 

There's no doubt that Zonnon, 18, can produce, but where his value really shines is in his all-around game. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound center has a power forward-like toolset and a ton of versatility to boot, playing in all situations and capable of filling many different roles in a lineup.

He can skate and has great edgework, he is a high-IQ playmaker, he's an elite forechecker, he's deceptive, and he works relentlessly to stay on the puck and keep plays alive. He has a physical edge to his game as well, and he has a shot with some pop.

🍎 Dyllan Gill (#10 in white) picks up the primary assist on this goal. He gets the puck from Daniil Bourosh (‘04), takes the shot and the rebound is put home by Bill Zonnon (‘06).
-@HuskiesRnpic.twitter.com/4hSDtcKYdp

— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) November 27, 2022

One of the most intriguing things about Zonnon is that he's a high-floor player. If he can maximize his offensive skillset and continue to grow and round out his overall game, he has the potential to be an effective top-six player who can rotate between center and the wing. Even if he doesn't, he's more than likely going to be a higher-profile bottom-six player who can play some tough minutes and produce enough to be an important piece on a third line.

There isn't much Zonnon can't do, and Penguins fans - as well as the organization - should be excited by his upside. And, honestly, he probably should be higher in this ranking, but as is the case with some others in this range, the Penguins simply have a lot more talent in their system than they have in recent years, making some of these decisions tough.

It's very possible that at this time next year, he will be sniffing the top-five. For now, we Zonnon him at 14, and there is a ton of room for him to continue to develop into a future impact NHL forward.

The list so far:

- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Young Swedish Forward Has IntrigueHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta has reportedly found his new home and will be taking his talents overseas.

According to Blick's Gregory Beaud, Geneve-Servette of the Swiss National League will be signing Rutta.

Rutta was one of the top unrestricted free agent (UFA) defensemen still available for the taking. Due to this, it certainly seemed possible that he could have landed a contract or at least a professional tryout (PTO) from an NHL club. However, based on this report, Rutta will instead be continuing his career overseas. 

Rutta spent the 2022-23 season with the Penguins, where he posted three goals, six assists, nine points, 70 blocks, 71 hits, and a plus-3 rating. His time with the Penguins ended when he was traded to the San Jose Sharks in the deal that brought star blueliner Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh. 

In 417 career NHL games split between the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Penguins, and Sharks, Rutta recorded 23 goals, 75 assists, 98 points, and a plus-25 rating. 

2 Penguins Who Could Be Nice SurprisesThe 2025-26 season is rapidly approaching, and it is going to be interesting to see how the Pittsburgh Penguins perform after their busy off-season. When looking at their current roster, they have some under-the-radar players who could end up being nice surprises for them in 2025-26. Let's discuss two of them. 

After paying his dues in Czechia for a long time, Jan Rutta finally earned an NHL opportunity. In 2017-18, Rutta made his NHL debut in his age-27 season with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

During his "rookie season", he played in 57 games for Chicago where he tallied six goals and 14 assists for 20 points. After that, he put together a respectable NHL career. 

Midway through the next season, 2018-19, Rutta was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. There, he won the Stanley Cup twice. He was a solid depth piece on a team loaded with talent on the back end. 

Rutta had one year with the Pittsburgh Penguins after leaving Tampa, followed by two years with the San Jose Sharks, coming into this off-season. 

Now, it sounds like Rutta, 35, will end his NHL career and take his talents to Europe. According to a report from Blick, a Swiss media outlet, Rutta will sign with Genève-Servette of Switzerland’s National League.

This Swiss pro team is loaded with former NHL players, so they will have a chance to win a league title in 2025-26 with Rutta joining the squad. 

If this comes to fruition, it will end a nice NHL career for the Czech defender with 23 goals, 75 assists, and 98 points in 417 games.

For some time, Rutta was impactful enough to be a part of championship-caliber teams in Tampa Bay, which he should be proud of. He will now play overseas to end his hockey-playing career on his terms. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Much has been written about the Montreal Canadiens’ rebuild and the way the team has progressed over the last few seasons, but the Habs are not the only team in rebuilding mode. The Chicago Blackhawks are as well, and they had the opportunity to draft a generational talent in Connor Bedard in 2023, who instantly became the franchise cornerstone.

A player doesn’t make a team, though, and the Hawks had a tough season, finishing in 15th place in the Western Conference and 31st place in the league. One would have thought the Habs could have taken advantage of the Illinois outfit, but it didn’t happen; Chicago skated away with four points in their two duels with the Canadiens.

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The two teams met for the first time of the season on January 3, 2025, in Chicago, and the host team won 4-2. While the Canadiens dominated in the shots department with a 40-26 edge, it was the Hawks who managed to score the most goals, a direct result of the 15 giveaways the Habs committed. Captain Nick Foligno led the charge for Chicago with a pair of goals, and veterans Tyler Bertuzzi and Patrick Maroon also found the back of the net. Meanwhile, Cole Caufield and Emil Heineman were the only Habs able to beat Arvid Soderblom, who finished the game with a .950 save percentage, while Samuel Montembeault had a .846 SV.

The Canadiens were hoping for revenge in the second-to-last game of the season and for a win that would allow them to make the playoffs when the Hawks came to town on April 14th, but it wasn’t to be. Chicago spoiled Ivan Demidov’s debut with a 4-3 shootout win. Frank Nazard, whom the Hawks drafted with the pick the Canadiens sent them to obtain Kirby Dach, got a goal and an assist in the win. Bertuzzi added another goal to his account against Montreal, and Lukas Reichel scored their third regulation goal. The Habs had taken an early two-goal lead through Alex Newhook and Demidov (who also had an assist), but they allowed the visitor to score three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead with under 15 minutes left in the game. It was a Juraj Slafkovsky marker that allowed the Tricolore to get a consolation point. In the shootout, Nazar was the sole scorer. Montreal had 18 giveaways in the loss, and Montembeault’s save percentage stood at .880.

The second loss of the season came at the most inopportune time as the Canadiens desperately needed points to punch their ticket to the playoffs, but the occasion seemed to be too big for the young Habs, who were playing with jitters.

If Chicago’s win in the first duel was the result of veteran leadership, it was the team’s youth that stood tall in the second game. Unlike the Canadiens, though, the Hawks were skating in yet another meaningless game.

Chicago made some changes this summer, but wasn’t very active on the free agency market, only signing Dominic Toninato to a two-year, two-way deal. They acquired Andre Burakovsky in a trade with the Seattle Kraken, sending Joe Veleno the other way and Sam Lafferty from the Buffalo Sabres. They bought out veteran defenseman TJ Brodie, and cut ties with Philip Kurashev, but extended Ryan Donato with a four-year contract. Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez both retired, meaning the Hawks will be even younger this year.

Chicago is behind Montreal in its rebuilding process, and the Canadiens need to perform accordingly against Bedard and co. The Atlantic division is set to be even tougher this season, and if the Habs want to qualify for the playoffs for a second year in a row, they need to learn not to play down to the opposition.

Suppose Montembeault can get back to his former form against the Hawks; it would go a long way toward achieving that goal. In both games this season, his SV was below .900; in his three duels with them before, he had .903, .938, and .933. This is the kind of numbers the goaltender of a contending team needs to put up. Soon, there will be real competition for the role of starting goaltender in Montreal, and the Becancour native needs to stake his claim right now. While most pundits believe Jacob Fowler will be the Canadiens’ goaltender by the time the team is ready to contend, he will still need to earn that role, and the Habs brass certainly won’t complain if they end up with two starter-quality goaltenders.

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Top Philadelphia Flyers center prospect Jett Luchanko may be closer to making the NHL full-time than most realize.

Luchanko, still just 18, already played in four NHL games for the Flyers last season. Not making the Flyers' NHL roster again this season and/or failing to stick around longer would objectively be a step backwards in his development.

So, how close is the 2024 No. 13 overall pick to the NHL really?

According to EliteProspects, Luchanko is the 30th-best drafted prospect on their list of the top 100 youngsters, placing ahead of other forward prospects with NHL seasoning, like Jimmy Snuggerud, Oliver Moore, Dalibor Dvorsky, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, and Ville Koivunen.

Given that the Flyers did not use their top 2025 draft selection on a center (RW Porter Martone), a prominent role on the Flyers is still in the cards for Luchanko.

"Jett Luchanko has a clear path to a top centre role in the Philadelphia Flyers’ lineup. Already a mature defensive player, aware passer, and high-end skater, he should be able to build chemistry with some of the team’s more creative players, helping him to further develop his offensive skills," writes EliteProspects director of amateur scouting Mitch Brown.

Flyers Suddenly Boast Robust Group of Center Prospects After 2 Strong DraftsCenter has long been seen as a position of great weakness for the rebuilding Philadelphia Flyers, but that just doesn't seem to be accurate anymore.

"Luchanko added more deception to his passing this season. The next step is developing his scoring skills from afar and near the net. A high-floor prospect, he could push his upside over the next season and become a second-line pivot candidate."

As Brown alluded to, Luchanko did feature alongside Matvei Michkov for a good portion of rookie camp this time last year. Playing together in an NHL game with stakes is a different story, obviously, but maybe a year of maturing and learning helps that.

With 21 goals and 56 points in 46 games with the OHL Guelph Storm last season, Luchanko didn't blow the doors off, but Guelph is also one of the least-talented teams in the OHL.

If the key to his further development is all about scoring, like Brown noted above, the 18-year-old would be better suited playing with NHL-caliber players who can create for him and finish the chances he creates.

Flyers' Jett Luchanko Thriving in First True Playoff ExperienceTop Philadelphia Flyers forward prospect Jett Luchanko is coming into his own during his first postseason experience as a pro player.

This is especially prudent given that Luchanko is not yet eligible to be assigned to the AHL full-time. It's the OHL or the NHL, and the AHL can follow at the end of the season like it did just a few months ago.

The good news is that, while Luchanko's stock appeared to drop amongst Flyers fans after a so-so 2024-25 season, the experts have actually gotten higher on the 5-foot-11 pivot over time.

What comes next is up to him, but a top-30 placement is about as good a spot for Luchanko to be as the Flyers could have asked for.

With less than a month before the opening of training camps, there are still a number of unrestricted free agents looking to find a landing spot, either on a professional tryout contract or a one-year deal. Earlier this week, the St. Louis Blues invited veteran winger Milan Lucic in on a PTO, and on Wednesday, former Sabres winger Victor Olofsson signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche for $1.575 million. 

The 30-year-old Swede was a seventh-round pick of Buffalo in 2014 and spent four years in Sweden before coming to North America in 2018. After scoring 30 goals in AHL Rochester in 2019, the winger scored 20 goals as a rookie in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season, 20 goals in 2022, and a career-high 28 in 2023, when the Sabres came within a point of making the playoffs.

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Olofsson’s decline to seven goals in 51 games in his final season with Buffalo was due more to a demotion to a fourth-line role by head coach Don Granato than an inability to score. After signing a one-year deal with former teammate Jack Eichel in Vegas, Olofsson bounced back with an injury-shortened 15 goals in 56 games (which again would average over 20 in a full year).

The signing with Colorado appears to be to fill the role vacated by the departed Jonathan Drouin, who signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the NY Islanders Olofsson can still put the puck in the net, especially on the power play, and may be insurance as a potential top-six forward replacement with the questionable health status of veteran Gabriel Landeskog. 

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Montreal Canadiens fans and followers were shocked Lane Hutson isn’t attending USA Hockey’s Olympic orientation camp, to say the least.

"I don't understand this at all," Global TV Montreal hockey analyst Brian Wilde said onThe Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro on Tuesday. "It's crazy. The Calder winner, the guy in the playoffs that (averaged) 25 minutes is the best Montreal Canadien."

Added Habs fan Dustin Degree on X: "Not inviting Lane Hutson is ridiculous."

With the NHL’s participation in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games less than half a year away, Hutson was not among the 44 players attending the United States' orientation camp. Alex Vlasic and Jackson LaCombe were among the younger blueliners who are attending. Hutson, who ranked third among U.S.-born defenders in scoring last season, with 66 points, isn't.

We have to say to those aggrieved Canadiens fans – chill out. Hutson's absence from the camp is not the end of the world, and even if he doesn't make the actual roster, it won't hinder his development as a budding NHL star.

First of all, USA Hockey noted in its announcement that just because a player isn't attending the camp, it doesn't mean they're automatically removed from consideration for the Olympic roster. This camp is not a tryout; it is mainly happening to cover administrative topics and include some team-building activities.

As Nazem Kadri noted to The Athletic when he wasn't invited to Hockey Canada's camp, there’s still a chance, however remote, that players can sway the opinion of Olympics GMs in their favor. That could easily be a great motivation for Hutson as he kicks off his sophomore NHL season.

Canada Just Doesn't Need Flames' Nazem Kadri At The OlympicsWith Hockey Canada’s Olympic orientation camp a week away, the debate continues about who should make the men’s squad.

That said, look at the defensemen on America’s orientation camp list who are locks to make the team, and tell us who Hutson should be ahead of on the depth chart for the final roster.

For the camp itself, if budding solid NHL blueliners Vlasic and LaCombe are attending, then Hutson should have been as well, unless he was invited but couldn't make it. The same goes with Washington Capitals stalwart No. 1 blueliner John Carlson.

But ultimately, when the United States' top defensemen are easily Vancouver Canucks superstar  Quinn Hughes, the Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski,  Carolina Hurricanes' Jaccob Slavin, Boston Bruins' Charlie McAvoy and New York Rangers' Adam Fox, there's only one spot really up for grabs on the left side. The Ottawa Senators' Jake Sanderson and Vegas Golden Knights' Noah Hanifin are likely the front-runners for that spot after their time at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

That group is an elite mix of offensive production from the back end and strong defensive play. Unless any of these players are injured, they likely wouldn't get worse enough by roster selection time for Hutson to leapfrog somebody on the Americans' depth chart.

Even if Hutson ultimately fails to make it, does that take away anything from him or his career trajectory? Absolutely not.

He’s the type of generational talent teams crave, and that’s not going to change. This was true of Chicago Blackhawks star center Connor Bedard when he wasn’t named to Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off squad. They have plenty of time to make the national teams later on when older players age out, and they continue to improve.

USA! USA! Americans Embarking On World Hockey DominationWhen USA defeated Sweden 5-3 in the gold-medal game of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup on the weekend, it marked the second time less than three months that the Americans have won a tournament that they traditionally almost never win.

Ultimately, not being part of a team’s Olympic roster is definitely a snub, but that doesn’t mean it’s not warranted. The truth is there’s a plethora of talent on the United States, and there are precious few spots to accommodate them all.

Canadiens fans may not be happy that Hutson isn’t on America’s orientation camp list, but he is very much a special player, and nothing that’s happened this summer, nor in the next season, is going to change that.

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