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

#23 - Gavin McCarthy - D (Boston University - NCAA)

McCarthy was the Sabres third-round pick at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. The Western New York native is well known to GM Kevyn Adams and the club’s scouting staff since he played three seasons with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres.

The 6’2”, 185 lb. blueliner scored 27 points (8 goals, 19 assists) and 88 penalty minutes with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL in his draft year, and moved on to play with 2024 top overall pick Macklin Celebrini at Boston University. The 20-year-old had five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 38 games in his freshman year and was invited to Team USA’s summer camp for the 2025 IIHF World Junior squad, but did not make the WJC gold medal-winning squad last December. 

In his sophomore year at BU, McCarthy showed some offensive growth, tripling his freshman point total with 16 (3 goals, 13 assists) in 39 games. Elite Prospects says he is “part-robust defender and part-clever creator” and that “there’s plenty of flash to McCarthy’s puck game” with an “angle-changing wrister and a non-stop activation game make him a constant threat.”

The Sabres will be looking for the young defender to take a big step as a junior, which will determine whether they pursue signing him to a pro contract or let him sty in college for his senior season.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The Hockey News Big Show has a special guest on this summer episode: longtime NHL netminder Devan Dubnyk, who launched Dubnyk Development.

Devan Dubnyk On The Mental Side, Stuart Skinner, Sergei Bobrovsky And More by The Big Showundefined

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

1:19: Why did Dubnyk start Dubnyk Development?

6:12: Looking back, what are some of the most important bench marks in your career getting to the NHL ? 

17:38: How important was Sean Burke (and the role of a "mentor") for Dubnyk midway through his career, when confidence may have been waning?

23:17: Why is the mental side to being a goalie more difficult than the mental side of other positions?

25:49: Which goalies in the NHL does he admire for their ability to process the highs/lows and stay consistent?

29:38: Thoughts on Stuart Skinner and the fact that Edmonton change the goaltending in the off-season?

37:30: How much time did Dubnyk spend on puckhandling during his playing days?

41:44: Which goalie do you want in a do-or-die Game 7?

44:21: Favorite goalie mask?

47:04: Who’s your favorite or the best goalie of all-time?

49:00:  Who will win the Vezina Trophy this year?

50:18: Dustin Wolf or Joseph Woll: who would you pick to start a franchise?

Watch the full Episode here 

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

Czech defenseman Jan Rutta is about to sign with Genève-Servette of Switzerland’s National League, according to a Swiss media report.

Gregory Beaud reports that his media outlet Blick has information that indicates the deal is imminent. No details about the length of the contract are mentioned, other than “for the upcoming season.”

If correct, it would mean a return to Europe after eight years in the NHL for the 35-year-old. Rutta has 98 points and 219 penalty minutes in 417 NHL regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks. He also has 11 points in 49 playoff games and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay.

Earlier this off-season, Blick reported that Jesse Puljujärvi was on his way to Switzerland.Two weeks later, the Finnish winger indeed signed with the same Genève-Servette team.

CONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in Switzerland Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi, 27, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Tuesday.

According to the report, Genève-Servette sports director Marc Gautschi has said that he wants to start the upcoming season with seven import players. The club already has under contract for the 2025-26 season Finns Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund, Sakari Manninen and Vili Saarijärvi, Canadian Taylor Beck and American Jimmy Vesey.

Genève-Servette team won its first-ever national championship in Switzerland in 2023-24 after a century of existance and then won the Champions Hockey League in 2024-25, but has missed the playoffs the last two National League seasons. 

Jan Rutta grilled by Swedish media after semifinal; suspended for finalThe Czechs will play for the gold medal on home ice in Prague but they’ll do so without defenseman Jan Rutta, who has been suspended one game by the IIHF World Championship Disciplinary Panel for an elbow to the head of Swedish forward Isac Lundeström.

The St. Louis Blues' goal this upcoming campaign will be to build off their strong 2024-25 season. When looking at the Blues' current roster, it is clear that they are trending in the right direction. This is especially so when noting that they brought in some good new talent this off-season.

With the Blues' season opener starting to get closer, let's take a look at two of their players who could be surprises for them during the 2025-26 campaign. 

Mathieu Joseph

Mathieu Joseph had a tough first season with the Blues, as he posted four goals, 10 assists, and a minus-6 rating in 60 games. While Joseph struggled to produce offensively in 2024-25, his past seasons demonstrate that he has the potential to bounce back. 

Just back during the 2023-24 season with the Ottawa Senators, Joseph scored 11 goals and set career highs with 24 assists and 35 points. With this, the possibility of Joseph getting his offense back up and being a nice surprise for the Blues next season should not be ruled out. 

Logan Mailloux

Earlier this off-season, the Blues traded forward Zack Bolduc to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux. While Bolduc was a promising young forward for the Blues and had a solid 2024-25 season, fans should not ignore Mailloux. He has the potential to become a key piece for the Blues moving forward. 

Mailloux is a former first-round pick who is still trying to cement himself as a full-time NHL defenseman. The promising blueliner should get more opportunities on the Blues, and it will be fascinating to see if he can break out for the Central Division club because of it. In seven games last season with the Canadiens, he had two goals and four points. 

Blues: 2 More PTO Targets To ConsiderThe St. Louis Blues signed forward Milan Lucic to a professional tryout (PTO) on Aug. 19. With training camp still being roughly a month away, there is still time for the Blues to bring in another player or two on a PTO before the pre-season begins if they wish to. 

The Montreal Canadiens are undoubtedly one of the NHL's most exciting teams heading into the 2025-26 season. They have plenty of young talent who have the potential to break out but also have a nice veteran core.

Yet, let's look at two Canadiens who could end up being nice surprises for the Original Six club next season.

Owen Beck 

Owen Beck will be an interesting prospect to watch heading into the 2025-26 season. The 21-year-old forward is still working on his development, and he certainly possesses good upside. With this, it would be significant for the Canadiens if he took a nice step forward next season and cemented himself a spot on their NHL roster. 

Beck had a solid first AHL season with the Laval Rocket in 2024-25, posting 15 goals and 44 points in 64 games. He also played in his first 12 career NHL games with the Habs in 2024-25, posting one assist. With a year of professional hockey experience under his belt, Beck is a sneaky breakout candidate to keep an eye on for next season. 

Joe Veleno

Joe Veleno is one of the new players the Canadiens have brought in this off-season. While he may not be as flashy as fellow newcomers like Noah Dobson and Zack Bolduc, he is a player who fans should not sleep on.

Veleno showed during the 2023-24 season with the Detroit Red Wings that he can chip in offensively, as he posted career highs with 12 goals and 28 points in 80 games. If he can get his offense back up to these totals while maintaining his heavy style of play, the 25-year-old could end up being an excellent addition to Montreal's bottom six. 

Canadiens Soaring Goalie Should Only Get BetterIt is an exciting time for the Montreal Canadiens right now. The Atlantic Division club is a clear team on the rise due to their nice mix of impactful veterans and promising young players. With this, they are undoubtedly among the most intriguing teams to watch heading into the 2025-26 season. 

William Strömgren is a smooth-skating Swede with Top-Six potential.

Player Snapshot

Strömgren is a 6’3”, 175-pound left winger from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Selected by the Flames in the second round (45th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, he spent time in the SHL before making the jump to North American hockey. Known for his size-skating combo, Strömgren has the frame of a power forward but the finesse of a playmaker, making him an intriguing offensive piece in Calgary’s system.

Last Season in Review

In 2024–25, Strömgren appeared in 70 games for the Wranglers, scoring 14 goals and adding 35 assists for 49 points. It was a steady step up from his first full season in North America, where he posted 27 points (7 g, 20a) in 68 games. His confidence with the puck grew noticeably, as did his willingness to attack defenders one-on-one.

He also saw more time on the power play, where his quick release and ability to find soft spots in coverage helped generate scoring chances.

Playing Style & Strengths

Strömgren combines long, powerful strides with deceptive hands, allowing him to carry the puck through the neutral zone and into dangerous areas. He’s comfortable on either wing, has a strong reach, and can protect the puck effectively along the boards.

His offensive instincts are sharp — he knows when to pull the trigger and when to look for a teammate — but his defensive game has also improved, earning him more trust from the coaching staff.

What’s Next for 2025–26

This season is about pushing his offensive ceiling. A 50 to 60-point season in the AHL would signal he’s getting ready to push for NHL looks. He’ll also aim to add a bit more size and strength to withstand the grind of top-six minutes and sharpen his play without the puck.

Bottom Line

With size, speed, and skill, Strömgren has the tools to develop into an NHL-caliber winger. Continued offensive growth and consistent defensive play will be his ticket to the next level.

Entering a new NHL season, all 32 teams begin with the same record, but each of them has different goals.

Most teams are on the pursuit of greatness, looking to win a Stanley Cup, while others are in a different phase, looking for small wins to use as stepping stones.

Predicting who wins the Stanley Cup is always fun to put together, even if it's quite challenging to get it right. Each contender has their strengths and weaknesses.

Here are the five teams with the best odds of winning the Stanley Cup in 2025-26, according to sportbook BetMGM, and why they could or could not win it all.

Florida Panthers

To the surprise of very few, the Panthers are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup, currently at 7.00 odds (+600).

The Panthers are back-to-back Stanley Cup champions and are returning with virtually the same roster. Although some moves will need to be made to fit under the salary cap once Matthew Tkachuk returns from his injury, the Panthers are expected to roster a lineup as strong as it was last year after the trade deadline, when they added Brad Marchand and Seth Jones.

Why they could win: The Panthers have more depth and experience than any team in the NHL. They play a physical brand of hockey that translates to playoff success, and whether they are outmatched in skill or not, they'll outwork their opponents until they win. They have the true makings of a modern-day dynasty. 

Why they could not win: Fatigue will eventually play a role. They've been to the Stanley Cup final three straight times, have had significant injuries to key players, such as Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, and their top players are expected to go to the 2026 Olympics. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is also 36, and he's played a lot of hockey that could catch up to him.

Chasing History: Can the Panthers Pull Off the NHL’s First Three-Peat Since 1983?By Anthony Carbone, The Hockey News intern.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche are tied for the second-best odds of winning the Stanley Cup at 9.00 (+800), according to BetMGM.

With superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, the Avalanche are always a threat to make a long run. Valeri Nichushkin, Artturi Lehkonen and Gabriel Landeskog will hopefully be healthy all season long, and Martin Necas' chemistry with MacKinnon should only improve. 

Why they could win: The Avalanche have the playoff experience as well and the stars to back it up. MacKinnon and Makar alone have the skill to win a series, but their secondary scorers and the value they provide outside of their offense can win them games.

The Avs are the fastest team in the league, according to NHL Edge. If they can use their home-ice advantage effectively, they can beat any team.

Why they could not win: Although they were crowned Cup champions in 2021-22, they haven't made it past the second round since then. In fact, they have only made it past the second round once in the MacKinnon Era. They have the roster to do so, but putting it together has proved to be a difficult task to replicate. Considering the time Landeskog and Nichushkin have missed since the Cup win, it's uncertain whether they will be able to play the full season.

Vegas Golden Knights

Tied with the Avalanche in odds are the Golden Knights, which used this off-season to bolster their lineup with superstar playmaker Mitch Marner.

Their post-season experience stretches further than the Avalanche's, and their play style differs, but they remain a threat to win their second Stanley Cup championship. 

Why they could win: The Golden Knights are the last team to defeat the Panthers in the playoffs, and they did so by being stingy defensively and physical.

Led by Jack Eichel, the Golden Knights blend skill and grit to a tee. Marner's playmaking should elevate Eichel's game, and they can balance out their scoring by separating Mark Stone from Eichel.

Why they could not win: The Golden Knights are an older team, and fatigue has caught up to them in recent years. When the playoffs roll around, the Golden Knights seem to be getting worse, increasing the mental errors a team usually cleans up by the playoffs. If their offensive philosophies remain the same and they enter the playoffs fatigued, similar results will occur. 

Mitch Marner Should Make Golden Knights' Jack Eichel A Rocket Richard ContenderNew Vegas Golden Knights teammates Mitch Marner and superstar Jack Eichel are expected to create magic in Sin City.

Carolina Hurricanes:

The Hurricanes, too, went out and continued to chase big names, adding Nikolaj Ehlers to their core. Their odds now sit at 9.25 (+825).

Ehlers may not solve Carolina's size or physicality issue, but he'll improve the quality and the quantity of chances the Hurricanes create. The Canes never seem to have much of an issue escaping the Metropolitan Division, but the Eastern Conference final has proved to be a task too big for them to tackle.

Why they could win: Like the Avalanche, the Hurricanes play fast, are relentless on the puck and use home ice to their advantage, going 31-9-1 at home last season. The Hurricanes, at their best, can skate teams out of the building, and they are more than equipped to do so again this year. 

Why they could not win: Physical teams that shrink the ice, such as the Panthers and previously the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers, have not only defeated the Hurricanes but steamrolled them.

The Hurricanes have yet to find a way to break down these teams' defensive structure and are unwilling to change their play style to do so. If nothing changes, it'll be another year of similar results for the Hurricanes. 

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers came out empty-handed in their two straight runs to the Stanley Cup final, but just accomplishing what they did is no small feat. The Oilers find ways to win in the playoffs, and that's a valuable trait that not many teams possess. Their odds of winning the Stanley Cup in 2025-26 are 9.50 (+850). 

Why they could win: With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers always have a chance to win. The duo steals games singlehandedly more than any other duo in the NHL, and it's why they've gone on long playoff runs.

Why they could not win: Goaltending and depth have been issues for the Oilers since McDavid was drafted, and it appears to be an issue again heading into the 2025-26 campaign.

At times during their playoff runs, the Oilers got plenty of depth scoring and strong goaltending, but it came in spurts. When the well dried, the Oilers felt out of place. The 2026 NHL trade deadline will be key for the Oilers, but it's hard to imagine roster changes that can fix all their holes. 

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William Nylander was already heading to Italy in February to represent Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but the Toronto Maple Leafs forward is going a bit earlier. The player is one of 25 who will take part in the annual NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour on Friday.

For the first time, the tour will be in Italy as the NHL and Lega Serie A begin to reveal more details about their content collaboration partnership that was announced last month. The media tour takes place one day before the 2025-26 Serie A season kicks off. Nylander is no stranger to the European media tour, having participated in it before. He spends his offseason in Sweden, so he doesn’t have to cross the world for it.

Both leagues have framed the partnership as an opportunity to promote both their brands and sports and create cross-sport opportunities ahead of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The partnership was inspired by a collaboration back in March that saw Scudetto’s Andrea Pirlo and Marco Materazzi exchange jerseys with New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad at Madison Square Garden.

This partnership may even lead to bigger cross-sport opportunities in the not-too-distant future, such as an exchange of jerseys between Nylander and a Serie A club player, or even the NHL's Global Series games expanding to Italy.

The Story Behind NHL's Serie A Partnership

Here's what actually matters about this NHL-Serie A collaboration.

It started back in March when Rangers center Mika Zibanejad exchanged jerseys with some Serie A legends at Madison Square Garden. Now both leagues are trying to milk this cross-sport promotion ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. The media tour happens right before Serie A's 2025-26 season kicks off. Smart marketing timing, if nothing else.

What This Could Mean for Future Maple Leafs Content?

The partnership isn't just about photo ops and jersey swaps. We might actually see some interesting crossover content coming. Think Nylander trading jerseys with AC Milan or Inter Milan players. Maybe even some behind-the-scenes content showing how European hockey players and soccer stars train differently. Could this lead to NHL Global Series games in Italy? The league is definitely planting seeds for that possibility.

Will This Impact Nylander's Season Preparation?

This is essentially a one-day media commitment in Europe. Nylander does these European tours regularly anyway. He knows the drill, and it's not going to mess with his training schedule. The guy spends his entire offseason in Sweden, so he's already in European time zones. This won't affect his readiness for training camp or the season.

The Bigger Picture for Hockey in Europe

This NHL-Serie A partnership shows how serious the league is about European expansion. Italy isn't exactly a hockey hotbed. But with the 2026 Olympics coming to Milano Cortina, the timing makes perfect sense. The NHL wants to capitalize on that Olympic spotlight. Having star players like Nylander involved helps legitimize these international partnerships.

What Leafs Fans Should Actually Care About?

This is mostly just good PR for the NHL. Nylander gets some international exposure, which is never bad for his brand. The Leafs benefit from having a player involved in league-wide initiatives.

Latest stories: 

Matthew Knies Invited To USA Olympic Camp Alongside Maple Leafs Teammate Auston Matthews

Maple Leafs 2025-26 Regular Season Tickets Go On Sale Wednesday

Why The Maple Leafs’ Best Chance to Replace Mitch Marner Will Come At The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline

The Columbus Blue Jackets have only had two players wear #54, and none since 2019. 

Today we'll look at who has worn it, what they did, and where they are now. 

Scott Harrington - Harrington played 185 games for the Blue Jackets after being traded to Columbus by Toronto with a conditional pick in 2017 NHL Draft for Kerby Rychel on June 25, 2016. Those 185 games would be spread out over six seasons, with 2018-19 being the year he played the most games at 73. He scored 7 goals and totaled 37 points in his career with Columbus, with the 18-19 season being his most productive with 17. 

During his time in the Columbus organization, he would also play 52 games for the Cleveland Monsters, scoring 7 total points. 

Harrington would sign with San Jose in 2022 and then be traded to New Jersey in February of 2023. New Jersey would then put him on waivers a few days later, where he would be picked up by Anaheim and play 17 games. 

In 2023, Harrington would leave for Europe and play for the ZSC Lions of the Swiss League. After playing just 14 games in 23-24, he would return to North America for the 24-25 season and play for the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL. 

As of now, he hasn't signed on anywhere to play for 25-26. 

Adam McQuaid - Columbus originally drafted McQuaid in the 2nd round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. McQuaid would never play for the CBJ, though. While he was still in the OHL, he was traded to Boston by Columbus for Boston's 5th-round pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, on May 16, 2007. The pick that the Jackets sent to Boston ended up being Jamie Benn. 

After playing nine years in Boston, he was traded to the Rangers in 2018. But in 2019, McQuaid was traded to Columbus from New York to help the Jackets with their playoff push. He played in 14 games to end the season before suffering an injury that would ultimately end his career. 

On March 28, 2019, Montreal’s Andrew Shaw gave McQuaid a nasty blindside shot that took him out of the game, and his career. McQuaid told The Athletic, “I definitely wasn’t in a good place physically. Then it weighed on me mentally. I wasn’t feeling like myself. I had many injuries throughout my career, unfortunately. That became part of my story. I look at it more as having overcome different injuries, come back, try to play the same way and not have it affect my outlook on playing. But I was probably at a point where I had the most going on. I had so many different things that were really nagging me. I felt like I wanted to give more. But you hear guys say that they’re asking their bodies to do things and just not getting the response they want.”

McQuaid would finish his career 73 points and one Stanley Cup. 

Who was your favorite #54?

There are 54 days to go until opening night at NWA. 

Let us know what you think below.

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

Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. 

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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski Invited To Team USA Olympic CampThe Columbus Blue Jackets' defensemen Zach Werenski has been officially invited to the Team USA Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp.  Blue Jackets Sign Brendan Smith To A PTOThe Columbus Blue Jackets have signed long time veteran Brendan Smith to a PTO today.  Gaudreau Family Scholarship Golf Outing Set For Friday, August 22The legacy of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau continues to live on. 

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.

Yet, the Devils have some players who could be nice surprises for them in 2025-26, too. Let's discuss two of them now. 

Cody Glass

Cody Glass proved to be a solid fit after the Devils acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. In 14 games with the Devils following the trade, he posted two goals, seven points, and a plus-4 rating. This was after he had just four goals in 15 points in 51 games with the Penguins before the trade.

Clearly, the move to the Devils benefited Glass, and it is going to be interesting to see if he can build off it in 2025-26. The potential for the 2017 first-round pick to be a strong part of the Devils' top nine is there if he can tap into his offensive potential a bit more next season. 

Thomas Bordeleau 

Earlier this off-season, the Devils acquired forward Thomas Bordeleau from the San Jose Sharks. While this was one of the smaller moves the Devils made this summer, fans should not sleep on Bordeleau. He has shown in the past that he can produce at the NHL level, and it will be interesting to see if the change of scenery benefits him, like it did Glass. 

Bordeleau showed promise with the Sharks during the 2023-24 season, specifically, as he recorded six goals and 11 points in 27 games. If he gets the chance to play on the Devils' NHL roster, the 23-year-old could give them their solid secondary scoring, which is a real need. 

New Devils Projected Top Six Has Interesting LookThe New Jersey Devils certainly have some decisions to make when it comes to their NHL roster. After bringing in multiple new players, there should be plenty of competition during training camp. This is especially so when noting that they also have young players who should be competing for spots, too. 

New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov sat down for an interview with The Slippery Ice program, and he touched on a lot. 

ЦЫПЛАКОВ | Из-за Овечкина остановили игру, Разборки со Спартаком, Штрафы в НХЛ | ЛЕДИнтервью с Максимом Цыплаковым: переход в НХЛ, адаптация в «Айлендерс», жизнь в США. Максим делится историей отказа от контракта со «Спартаком», выбором «Айл...

With the help of Hockey News Hub, here's some of the tranlsation from the interview: 

Why did Tsyplakov choose the Islanders?

“I had offers from Boston, Vegas, and Florida, but with the Islanders I saw the best chance to actually play — not just 5–7 minutes a game."

“They told me they saw me with Palmieri and Nelson. At first I didn't believe it, but then I was really playing on that line."

Tsyplakov also made a note that he wasn't chasing a dream to come to the NHL and would have stayed in Russia had Spartak offered him a fair team. 

What was his first NHL season like?

“I scored in my very first game — over 21 minutes of ice time. I was exhausted."

"The NHL game is different. It's more direct - everything forward, no risky passes. At first it felt robotic compared to Russia."

“I proved to myself I can play at this level.”

Tsyplakov wished he had scored more than 10 goals, but said that he saw a lot of growth in his game and is hopeful that he can make more of an impact on the scoresheet in year two. 

Lamoriello & Fines

"Lou Lamoriello is strict - clean shave, dress code, everything. But I actually like that kind of discipline."

“I got fined around $15,000 after my suspension — that money goes into a league fund. It stings.”

“Fines for small things in the locker room are $500. You learn quickly.”

Tsyplakov was fined and suspended for his hit against Philadelphia Flyers forward Ryan Peopling back on Jan. 16. 

“I still don't fully understand why I was suspended. To me, it was a clean hit.”

“The team supported me. Lou said, 'Better not to fight this one, so they don't target you later.'”

“My mistake was not fighting right away — then the guys kept coming after me.”

"In Philly, they kept cross-checking and chirping all game. Finally I dropped the gloves with Lawton. We wrestled more than punched, but at least it was done."

“Matt Martin gave me advice - who you can fight, who you shouldn't. That helped."

On his teammates:

“I asked if I could play music in the room. They said no. I put it on anyway - same as I did in Spartak.”

“Sorokin sold me out — he told everyone I blasted my playlist on day two.” (laughs)

“Palmieri, Bailey, Cizikas, Clutterbuck — the older guys all help. Having Russian guys like Sorokin, Romanov, and Varlamov also made it easier.”

Adapting to a new way of life:

“My English isn't perfect, but I studied with a tutor and forced myself to talk to foreign teammates. It gets easier.”

My wife had it harder - she didn't know English at first. Luckily, we found Russian-speaking neighbors with kids the same age."

“We rented a place, didn't buy. With a rookie contract, you don't know if you'll stay.”

"American food is so greasy. At first, it was uncomfortable. In Moscow, you get small portions - in New York, they bring a bucket of salad."

“I miss buckwheat and dumplings — we'd drive to Brighton Beach for Russian groceries."

On Patrick Roy: 

"Patrick Roy can be fiery. He once screamed at me for a mistake in the last 30 seconds of a period. He said, 'In the last five minutes, no risks — just dump it in.' I learned quickly.”

"The hardest thing was the long preseason — I felt overtrained before camp even started. Then came Roy's brutal conditioning drills. My legs were dead."

“Compared to Jamnov, Roy is more emotional and explosive.”

"Kovalchuk worked with me a lot in Spartak. He taught me how to create space near the boards and how to change tempo - slow down, then burst past a defender. That helped me in the NHL."

Agency Issues:

“My first agent disappeared after I signed. Didn't help me with housing or anything. Luckily a Russian-speaking friend of Romanov's helped with everything.”

“I later changed agents. Now I have people who actually care.”

Tsyplakov is now represented by Ryan Barnes of Quartex. 

On Facing Ovechkin:

“When Ovechkin scored, the game basically stopped. We just stood there, legs burning, watching. It was special.”

“After the game I shook his hand and told him, 'You're a machine.' It was my first time meeting him.”

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

The 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. 

Philip Tomasino 

The Penguins acquired Philip Tomasino during this past season after he had a cold start to the campaign with the Nashville Predators. After posting one assist in 11 games with Nashville in 2024-25, Tomasino had 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games with Pittsburgh following the trade. Overall, the 24-year-old had a solid start to his Penguins tenure and will be looking to build off it. 

Tomasino has also shown early on in his career that he has the potential to provide decent offense when playing at his best. Perhaps this will be the year that the 2019 first-round breaks out and cements himself as a true top-six forward.

Justin Brazeau 

Justin Brazeau is a new Penguins forward who fans should not sleep on in 2025-26. The 6-foot-6 winger has shown promise early on in his NHL career, as he can provide decent secondary offense in addition to grit. During this past season, he set career highs with 11 goals, 11 assists, 22 points, and 123 hits in 76 games split between the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild. 

When noting that Brazeau is only entering his third NHL season, the possibility of the 27-year-old breaking out should not be ruled. Thus, he could end up being a nice surprise for the Penguins in 2025-26. 

New Penguins Top Six Projection Has Intriguing LookThe Pittsburgh Penguins brought in several new players this off-season, so their lineup will certainly look different next season. They will also have plenty of decisions to make when it comes to assembling their lineup, so they will need to be watched closely during the pre-season.

After their eight-year playoff run ended last season, the Boston Bruins made moves to bolster their roster for a bounce-back performance in 2025-26. 

They acquired right winger Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers and signed free agents Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, Michael Eyssimont and Jordan Harris. 

Nevertheless, there's speculation suggesting the Bruins might not be done making moves during this off-season. 

RG.Org's James Murphy recently reported Casey Mittelstadt's future in Boston could be in question. The Bruins acquired the 26-year-old center and prospect winger William Zellers from the Colorado Avalanche in the Charlie Coyle deal before the March NHL trade deadline. 

Murphy claimed some observers believe the promising Zellers was the real target for the Bruins as they restock their prospect pool. They wonder if Mittelstadt could be dangled in the trade market at some point. 

If so, it'll mark the third time since March 2024 that Mittelstadt would be on the move. Back then, he was sent to the Avalanche by the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Bowen Byram.

The Hockey News’ Michael DeRosa said Mittelstadt is one of the Bruins’ top centers, but he only put up six points and a minus-17 rating in 18 games after last season’s trade. At his age, he has bounce-back potential.

Murphy also indicated that trade rumors have dogged Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and forward Pavel Zacha since the NHL draft in late June. However, Korpisalo's agent denied that his client was unhappy in Boston and wanted out, while Zacha's representative dismissed the chatter as “just rumors.”

Boston Hockey Now's Andrew Fantucchio dismissed the notion of Mittelstadt or Zacha being shopped this summer. He indicated the Bruins intend to contend for a playoff berth this season, which they can't do by further depleting their depth among their top-six forwards.

DeRosa, however, says it would not be surprising if the Bruins shake up their roster during the season if they struggle again.

NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No. 17, Boston BruinsWe’re now reaching the halfway point of The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash series with the Boston Bruins at No. 17.

Meanwhile, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal cited a recent rumor suggesting the Bruins could be cooking up a deal that would see them ship right winger Fabian Lysell to the Oilers. 

Lysell, 22, was the Bruins' first-round pick in the 2021 draft. However, he's struggled to establish himself as a full-time NHL forward. 

Staples rejected speculation suggesting the Bruins' asking price for Lysell might be promising forward Matthew Savoie or speedy winger Vasily Podkolzin. He doesn't see Lysell as a fit with the Oilers unless he's a ferocious checker like Savoie. 

The move would make sense if the Oilers were attempting to shed Podkolzin's $1-million cap hit. They currently have around $225,000 in cap space. However, acquiring Lysell's $835,000 wouldn't be much of a savings. Sending him to the minors after trading away Podkolzin would leave them thinner up front.

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NHL GMs are under pressure every year to prove they can craft a successful squad.

Every team's GM must ensure they have the pieces in place to compete for a Stanley Cup, whether it's right away or down the line. If their team's stuck in a rut, and they can't prove they can craft a roster, coaching staff and management group that takes the franchise to another level, then it's time to swap them out for someone else.

Some of the five NHL GMs with the most to prove in 2025-26 are undoubtedly on the hot seat, while others might not be at risk of getting fired but do have to show their vision can work.

In alphabetic order, here are five NHL GMs who must prove they're on the right track with their clubs.

Kevyn Adams, Buffalo Sabres

No GM in the NHL has more to prove than Adams, who's held the Sabres job since June 2020.

Instead of ending a lengthy playoff drought, the Sabres have extended it by five years under Adams to a shocking 14.

Not only does Adams have to prove he can build the Sabres into a playoff team, but he also has to prove he can make Buffalo an attractive destination for NHL players. 

That has been a serious challenge for Adams’ predecessors in the Sabres’ front office. Until Buffalo makes the playoffs, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Adams & Co. to convince NHLers the Sabres are a legitimate threat to win the Stanley Cup. 

Adams likely has only this year to get that job done, because if Buffalo fails to make the playoffs for the 15th straight season, someone else will likely be Sabres GM next season. The Sabres are a laughingstock, and nothing less than a post-season appearance will prevent Adams from being dismissed next summer – or sooner.

Kyle Dubas, Pittsburgh Penguins

Dubas has been Penguins GM since June 2023.

While he did prove he could build a championship team at the AHL level by steering the Toronto Marlies to a Calder Cup victory in 2018, he hasn’t done the same thing in the NHL. His five years as Toronto Maple Leafs GM resulted in only one playoff series win – and Pittsburgh has failed to make the playoffs both years under Dubas.

Dubas now has to prove he’s putting the Penguins on the right road to success, including guiding them to a playoff spot in the next season or two and/or setting up the franchise to thrive in the long term. Thus far, Dubas hasn’t achieved either goal, and Pens fans accustomed to consistent playoff runs aren’t going to sit by idly if Pittsburgh’s struggles continue. He has made steps to restock the prospect cupboard, which is a decent start toward looking toward the long term, but there are still veterans he could move and hasn't, which makes it important that they be a competitive squad.

Dubas can still show he’s the right man for the job this upcoming season. But the pressure to achieve something positive is very real, and time will tell whether he’s succeeded in one form or another.

Five NHL Goaltenders With The Most To Prove In 2025-26With the skill level and speed at which the current game is played, NHL goaltenders have struggled to perform at a high level season-to-season.

Bill Guerin, Minnesota Wild

The Wild made the post-season in five of the last six seasons, but winning a round has been another story altogether. They haven't won any in that span, including the qualifying round in 2020. Guerin has to be given credit for running things for the Wild since August 2019, but at the same time, he has yet to make a roster that can go deep in the post-season.

Guerin has the respect of the hockey world – you don’t get named GM of Team USA for the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Winter Olympics team if you’re not doing a lot of things right. That said, Minnesota fans have been aching to have a Wild team capable of winning a Cup.

Sooner or later, Guerin needs to demonstrate he can be the architect of a team that’s a playoff menace. Securing a contract extension for Kirill Kaprizov and doing something with Marco Rossi would be crucial steps.

Barry Trotz, Nashville Predators

Trotz has enjoyed tremendous success as an NHL coach, winning a Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2017-18. However, he’s still in his early days as a GM in hockey’s top league, rejoining the Predators as GM in 2023. Since then, the Preds have lost in the first round in Trotz’s first year as GM, then missing the playoffs completely last season.

Needless to say, Trotz has to show that last season’s disappointing results were an anomaly, and the Predators can not only make the playoffs in 2025-26 but also do some actual damage once they get there.

As a coach, Trotz has nothing to prove to anyone. But he understands that the Preds haven’t had many long post-season runs in their 26-year history, and he has to show fans the future is bright. 

Right now, the Preds’ future is cloudy. And Trotz’s job is to clear that up and instill a sense of optimism that better days are immediately ahead.

Five NHL Wingers With The Most To Prove In 2025-26As is the case in every NHL season, certain players are coming in with something to prove. Whether it’s to justify a pay raise or a trade or to bounce back from a subpar year, some players have every motivation to improve on their results at any given time.

Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings

Yzerman has a ton of pressure to prove himself in Detroit. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs for the past nine seasons, and although Yzerman has only been GM for six of them, there's not much time left to be patient.

Yzerman’s was an on-ice legend with the Red Wings, and he’s had a lot of trust and time to rebuild the roster and develop a new Stanley Cup contender. But Red Wings fans accustomed to decades of playoff appearances and four Cup wins in the last 30 years are clearly nearing their wits’ end watching this team flail and wail.

Yzerman won’t have much longer to prove to Wings fans that his blueprint for success is working. If there is more misery this coming season, you’d have to think Yzerman’s time running the team will be coming to an end.

If he gets the Red Wings into the playoffs this year, Yzerman buys himself more time. But if Detroit is once again on the outside of the post-season picture looking in, Yzerman will be looking to prove himself a top-tier GM with another organization.

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