The Buffalo Sabres were a major disappointment last season, and the 13 other seasons before that which ended without any Stanley Cup playoff action. The Sabres have been one of the NHL's worst teams, and they're now in a position where they desperately need to get into the post-season. Fans are exhausted with all the losing, and they won't be going on much longer as the same group if they miss the playoffs again next year.

With that said, this article is part of a "Know Your Enemy" series focused on the Sabres' opponenets next season. Team-by-team, we've broken down how Buffalo has fared against every franchise, and finished by offering a guesstimate as to how they'll play against them this coming season.

We've moved through the Atlantic, Metropoitan and Central Divisions, and in today's file, we're looking at the Calgary Flames. The Flames narrowly missed the playoffs last season, and the Flames have made few changes -- something that's either an endorsement of the roster by GM Craig Conroy, or there's no other legitimate alternatives out there on the trade market. So the Flames may be a stronger team if their young players evolve into above-average talent. But for now, it's safe to say Buffalo should be getting at least three of four points against Calgary when they do square off next season.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. CALGARY FLAMES

NEW FLAMES PLAYERS: Ivan Prosvetov, G; Nick Cicek, D

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

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  November 19 at Buffalo; December 8 at Calgary 

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Sabres beat the Flames in their first game last season in a shootout win for Buffalo, but Calgary avenged the loss with a convincing victory in regulation time. Thus, the Flames came away with more standings points than the Sabres did in their series last season. That's something Buffalo can ill afford to do this time around as they try to secure a playoff spot.

And all things considered, the Sabres should be dominating this series at this point in the competitive trajectories of both teams. Calgary has some promising young talent, but as we all should know by now, progress is not linear, and the Flames' youngsters may not deliver elite-level performances anytime soon.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Should Sabres Throttle Ducks Again Next Year?The Buffalo Sabres have failed in one consistent way in recent years -- namely, that they haven't played Stanley Cup playoff hockey in nearly a decade-and-a-half. Thus, there's an inordinate amount of pressure on the Sabres to be a playoff team this year. And as we've seen in the NHL's overtime/shootout era, teams can make or miss the playoffs by only one or two standings points, so it's not an exaggeration to say that just about every game is going to be important to Buffalo's playoff hopes.

To be sure, Calgary has some solid components compiled by Conroy. He's set some of the foundation for the Flames, and he deserves credit for that. But it still feels like this Calgary team doesn't have the high-end horses to run with Pacific rivals including the Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. And that's why few pundits will choose the Flames as a playoff team next season. They may have a bigger push in them, but we see no reason why they're locks to be in the post-season next year.

So yes, that's a team that the Sabres absolutely need to handle in their limited action next season. And the two teams will battle over the course of approximately three weeks starting in mid-November, so Buffalo will have to be resilient and determined if they're going to at least win one game and push a second game to overtime or the shootout. 

The Sabres finished 2024-25 twelve points out of the playoffs, so they'll need to improve on many series next season, the series against Calgary included. And If the Flames do wind up winning both games against Calgary next year -- -- especially in regulation time -- it could be disastrous for Buffalo's post-season hopes.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Are Winnipeg Jets Too Good To Lose To Buffalo?The Buffalo Sabres are facing a massive amount of pressure to end their 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought next season. But if they're to do so, they're going to need to win the majority of series they play against every NHL team. And that includes taking on top-tier teams like the Central Division-champion Winnipeg Jets.

The line between making and missing the playoffs is thinner than ever at hockey's top level. Teams like the Sabres simply cannot afford to be swept by any team, and you'd better believe Buffalo management is actutely aware of that reality. The Sabres are better than the Flames on paper, and they ought to be expected to be better than Calgary on the ice as well..

And if Buffalo has a letdown against the Flames, all their hard work the rest of the year could be for naught. 

The Edmonton Oilers are entering a make-or-break season, and the buzz is already building. Who earns a roster spot, which veterans could be moved, and what’s the plan if goaltending falters?

From Connor McDavid’s contract to trade chatter, here’s your weekly deep dive into everything Oilers. This week’s Final Period Friday (the first in a new series) digs into the biggest stories of the week. 

Mattias Janmark on the Bubble

Mattias Janmark could find his spot on the Edmonton Oilers roster in jeopardy. After a 2024-25 season where his role diminished,  Allan Mitchell of The Athletic writes that Janmark may face competition from prospects like Noah Philp.

The scribe explains:

One player who may be vulnerable is Mattias Janmark. He may lose his roster spot to Noah Philp during training camp. Philp is a right-shooting centre who would have great utility on the roster. The fact Janmark is still ahead of him owes in part to Philp’s poor faceoff winning percentage last season.

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Janmark’s future in Edmonton may hinge on his performance in camp and his ability to reclaim trust from the coaching staff.  He's already been linked in trade talks as the Oilers try to find some additional cap space. This could be a long season for the depth forward. 

Janmark, a veteran with nearly 600 NHL games, may need to demonstrate that he can still contribute in key situations. If he doesn't, the Oilers could move him in a cap dump trade. 

Trending Stories:

Oilers' Kris Knoblauch On Biggest Area To Get Better

Matt Savoie’s Role Could Shift if Oilers Chase Immediate Help

Multiple Rankings Argue Oilers’ Defense Corps One of NHL’s Best

Goaltending Fork in the Road

The Oilers enter 2025-26 with familiar faces in net, Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, but their crease remains a point of concern. Mitchell also noted that fans should anticipate either a Stanley Cup-caliber season with the current tandem or a complete mid-season overhaul.

Related: Could Marc-Andre Fleury Be the Oilers' Mid-Season Secret Weapon?

The situation in Edmonton could resemble what the Colorado Avalanche executed in 2024-25- moving out both of their netminders and bringing in two new goaltenders.

The organization has little patience for inconsistency. If Skinner or Pickard falter, management could aggressively pursue trades or free-agent options to ensure a reliable playoff-ready goalie.

Trade Speculation: Debrincat vs Ekholm

A wild and hypothetical trade idea was posted this week, linking the Oilers and Detroit Red Wings in what was deemed a blockbuster move. 

The proposed deal would see the Oilers acquire winger Alex DeBrincat.. In exchange, they would send defensemen Mattias Ekholm and Beau Akey to Detroit, along with a couple of draft picks. The trade suggestion was immediately torn apart by readers and commenters who saw the post. 

The idea of DeBrincat sounds intriguing, but his cap hit and no-trade clause make a deal improbable. Not to mention,  moving Ekholm would weaken Edmonton’s defensive depth, which has been praised this off-season as one of the best in the NHL.

PTO Rumors and Free-Agent Watch

It's about that time in the summer when teams start looking at unsigned free agents and wondering if any would make for good tryout (PTO) candidates. For players that have gone unsigned, if they haven't been contacted about a contract by an NHL team, a PTO is one of their few options to earn a roster spot for the upcoming season.

The Oilers have been connected to multiple professional tryouts, including forwards and goalies. Names like Klim Kostin, Ilya Samsonov, Max Pacioretty, and Alexandar Georgiev have surfaced, even though there has been no official link to these players.

McDavid Contract Update

Connor McDavid has yet to sign an extension, but that doesn't mean it's time to panic. NHL insider Frank Seravalli suggests there's little to worry about as negotiations are in early stages, with no numbers exchanged.

Who’s Really Sweating in Edmonton Over McDavid?Edmonton Oilers fans might want to take a deep breath before starting any “panic threads” about Connor McDavid’s contract.

McDavid has had a busy summer on the personal side of things, and he's likely just not gotten into the mindset where he needs to have the contract conversation yet.  Once he gets to that point, a deal could happen quickly.

His extension remains a top priority for the organization.

Trade-Protection Challenges

After being a point of conversation when the off-season first began, there's been little mention of the players who chose to embrace the right to use their no-trade clauses and decline a trade out of Edmonton. 

That doesn't mean these no-trade clauses won't be a factor later in the season.

Discussions with veterans like Darnell Nurse and Adam Henrique revealed that they aren't thinking about going anywhere. That either changes as their roles on the team do in 2025-26, or the Oilers get handcuffed by a lack of financial space to make trade deadline moves.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

After retiring as a player following the 2024-25 season, former New Jersey Devils forward Pat Maroon is already beginning his coaching career. 

The Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL) have announced that they have hired Maroon as an assistant coach. 

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are thrilled to announce the addition of 3x Stanley Cup Champion, Pat Maroon, to the Coaching Staff!

For more information https://t.co/xCD2PnciPnpic.twitter.com/7vlocrTarK

— Muskegon Lumberjacks (@MuskegonJacks) August 15, 2025

It is always cool to see former NHL players become coaches, and Maroon is just the latest to follow the trend. This is a good opportunity for him to gain some coaching experience and continue to stay involved in the game in the process. 

With the USHL being a league focused on player development, Maroon should be a nice addition to the Lumberjacks' bench. The former Devil, of course, won three Stanley Cups during his NHL career and was well-respected by teammates because of his motivating skills.

Maroon was acquired by the Devils from the Edmonton Oilers at the 2018 NHL trade deadline. In 17 regular-season games with the Devils that campaign, the gritty winger recorded three goals, 10 assists, 13 points, 31 hits, and a minus-4 rating. During five playoff games with the Devils that year, he scored one goal. 

Maroon's time in New Jersey ended during the 2018 NHL off-season when he signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues. 

Devils Interesting Forward Is Big X-FactorAfter getting back into the playoffs this past season, the New Jersey Devils are going to be looking to take another step in the right direction in 2025-26. For this to occur, they are going to need their top players to be on their A-game, and this certainly includes forward Dawson Mercer.

As 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.

After The Hockey News examined five centers with the most to prove, here are five wingers in a similar situation for 2025-26. In alphabetical order:

Nikolaj Ehlers, Carolina Hurricanes

Ehlers was one of the biggest names on the NHL free-agent market this summer. He joined the Hurricanes, which will likely put him on the top line and expect big things from him while they pay him $8.5 million per season from now through the summer of 2031. 

Ehlers produced above-average numbers last season, including 24 goals and 63 points in only 69 games, but the Hurricanes are banking on Ehlers being at least that good while being fully healthy next season.

Ehlers has struggled to stay healthy from year to year, as he’s missed between nine and 37 games in five of the last seven seasons. At 29, Ehlers is in his prime years, so he needs to take advantage of them. 

Carolina as a team has all sorts of pressure to get beyond the Eastern Conference final this coming season, but Ehlers has to prove he’s worth every penny the Hurricanes are paying him.

Patrik Laine, Montreal Canadiens

Laine, 27, is heading into the final season of a four-year contract that pays him $8.7 million per year, and he’ll be a UFA at the end of the year. 

After suffering an injury in the pre-season, he put up 20 goals in 52 games. That scoring rate is decent, but if Laine doesn’t produce more, his next contract will look drastically different than the one he has right now.

Laine has a chance at playing more than 56 games for the first time since 2019-20. If he accomplishes that, it will be worth waiting to see whether he can score close to his career-high 44 goals from 2017-18. If he doesn’t get to the 30-goal plateau, he’s going to be playing for a lot less money in the years after that. 

The Canadiens will look to take a massive step forward this upcoming season, and Laine has a chance to prove his full value. Otherwise, with Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov and newly acquired Zack Bolduc in contention for the top four winger spots, the coming year could be Laine’s final one in Montreal.

Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights

Just because Marner is out of the fishbowl existence of Toronto doesn’t mean he won’t be watched like a hawk in every move he makes in his Golden Knights career. The pressure for Marner is all about delivering positive Stanley Cup playoff results and showing why Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon made him the Knights’ highest-paid player.

Marner has to have solid regular-season numbers, but no one is expecting him not to. He’s a proven point producer in the regular season, but Marner has to be a difference-maker in nearly every playoff game – especially late in each round. 

If he falters in that test, you’d better believe some Leafs fans will cry out in joy. But if he can lead Vegas to its second Cup in franchise history, Marner will show everyone, cynics included, what his legacy is going to look like. And the Maple Leafs may yet still rue the day he left them.

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.

Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils

When he was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in 2023 at the trade deadline, much was expected of Meier. He had 35 goals and 76 points in 2021-22 and 31 goals and 52 points in 57 games before the trade in 2022-23. 

After his first two full years as a member of the Devils, all we have to say about Meier is – is that all there is?

Now, we’re not arguing Meier isn’t an above-average NHL player. In the past two seasons, Meier combined for 54 goals and 105 points, but his average ice time dropped to below 18 minutes with the Devils, while he averaged between 19 and 20 minutes in his final two campaigns with the Sharks. 

But Meier has the highest cap hit among Devils forwards at $8.8 million, $800,000 more than Jack Hughes’ cap hit. Only Dougie Hamilton has a higher average annual value on the squad. Clearly, he has a lot to prove in the third season of an eight-year contract, and earning more ice time help. If he fails to get the job done next year, and if New Jersey fails to do much in the playoffs, Meier’s full no-trade clause may be challenged by Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald. 

Five NHL Centers With The Most To Prove In 2025-26What makes sports, and hockey specifically, unique and intriguing are storylines. In the NHL, it's the off-ice drama, milestone-chasing and pursuit of the Stanley Cup.

Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars

Robertson has been relatively consistent for most of his NHL career. 

In his sophomore NHL season, Robertson put up 41 goals, and three seasons ago, he generated a whopping 46 goals and 109 points for the Stars. 

In the past two seasons, Robertson’s production has fallen off a bit. He had 29 and 35 goals in the last two years, as well as 80 points in each season.

Those numbers would be terrific for most NHLers, but when you’re earning $7.75 million per season on a four-year contract, as Robertson is, you’re going to be judged by a higher standard. 

Ratcheting up the pressure to prove something this year is the fact Robertson is entering the final year of his contract. He’s going to be an RFA next summer, and he can make a more convincing argument he’s worth a significant raise by improving on his past two seasons and demonstrating he’s a vital part of Dallas’ core. He already surfaced in trade rumors this year as the team signed Mikko Rantanen to an eight-year contract extension and re-signed Matt Duchene for four years, not leaving much room for Robertson to get a raise.

Robertson has a chance to quiet the speculation and force Dallas to clear cap space elsewhere. Otherwise, he could be playing for a new team in 2026-27 – or sooner.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Kick off the weekend with rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics on The Hockey News Wraparound.

https://megaphone.link/ROUST8261420674

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Stephen Kerr discussed in this episode:

0:00: Will Caleb Desnoyers’ injury impact his chances of appearing with the Utah Mammoth this season?

5:30: Do the Seattle Kraken have a competitive defensive corps?

8:30: Could 16-year-old Landon DuPont crack Canada’s world junior roster?

14:00: Will Gerard Gallant make a return to the NHL at some point?

18:50: Who should be the New York Rangers’ next captain?

23:20: Sharing our favorite ‘day with the Stanley Cup’ stories

28:00: What team has the best chance of breaking out of the ‘mushy middle’ of the NHL?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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iHeartRadio

Amazon

The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. The opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed last month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. With just over a month before training camp, the odds are that an addition like that will have to happen during the season. 

Alexis Lafreniere has been a name consistently floated in trade rumors over the last year, especially after signing a seven-year extension with the New York Rangers following a career-high 28-goal season and an excellent playoffs. The former #1 overall pick was rushed to the NHL at 19 years old, but has shown flashes of being a top-end, top-six winger, as he did in the spring of 2024, when he scored eight goals in 16 playoff games to help New York reach the Eastern Conference Final.  

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Bryan Rust

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Rangers GM Chris Drury has dealt a number of mainstays in the last 12 months, including team captain Jacob Trouba, defensemen Ryan Lindgren, and K’Andre Miller, and former second overall pick Kaapo Kakko. New York is attempting to reset under new head coach Mike Sullivan, but if the struggles of last season continue, Drury may be shopping star winger Artemi Panarin if he cannot get the 33-year-old re-signed, and possibly moving Lafreniere if he does not perform up to expectations. 

What Would It Cost?

Lafreniere has a number of traits that the Sabres undoubtedly are looking for. His contract does not have any no-trade protection for the next two seasons, which has been a roadblock for Adams in the past in trades, and he is signed for the next seven seasons at a $7.45 million AAV, which, with the increasing cap, is not a crippling number. It is likely that the Rangers are looking for help on the blueline, with the recent departures of Trouba, Lindgren, and Miller, even though they brought in former Sabre Will Borgen and signed veteran Vladislav Gavrikov. 

Owen Power’s name might be floated, but it is hard to imagine that the Sabres would make that swap one-for-one, and perhaps would try to steer the Rangers towards a deal involving Bowen Byram instead. 

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

One year ago, Travis Hamonic and Jacob Bernard-Docker were jostling for position on the right side of Ottawa’s blue line. Both were hoping to cement a role in the bottom pairing alongside Tyler Kleven. But by the time the March trade deadline rolled around, the full-time spot had been won by surprise American Hockey League call-up Nikolas Matinpalo.

Hamonic was the odd man out, getting a lot of press box time down the stretch, while JBD was out completely, traded at the deadline to the Buffalo Sabres.

Fast forward to today, and the two former Senators are back on the same side, this time wearing the winged wheel. The Detroit Red Wings have signed Hamonic to a one-year, $1 million deal, reuniting him with Bernard-Docker, who also inked a one-year free agent contract with Detroit earlier this summer.

Last season was a turbulent one for both players. Bernard-Docker overcame a serious leg injury at practice early in the season and thought he might find a new opportunity with the Sabres. But they healthy-scratched him for over two weeks after he arrived. He played the final 15 games in Buffalo, but the Sabres chose not to re-sign him.

Hamonic did a bit of everything here last season. He started in the bottom pair, then got some top-four minutes after an early injury to Artem Zub. Hamonic had more healthy scratches than any veteran pro would like, but he always made himself available to the team's young defenders, particularly during the rookie seasons of Jake Sanderson and Tyler Kleven.

It quickly became clear after the Senators’ 2024-25 season ended that Hamonic wouldn’t be part of the club’s future plans. The team immediately re-signed Matinpalo to a two-year deal, brought former first-rounder Lassi Thomson back from Sweden, and traded for L.A. Kings defenseman Jordan Spence at the draft. With that logjam on the right side, including former first-rounder Carter Yakemchuk pressing for NHL work, Hamonic’s exit was inevitable.

'Plan B': Ottawa Senators Owner Signs Three-Year AHL Extension With City Of BellevilleOttawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer and the City of Belleville have confirmed a three-year lease extension to at least the end of the 2029-2030 season. In effect, since Andlauer owns both versions of the Senators, the extension also applies to the NHL-AHL affiliation between the two clubs.

When asked about his season at the year-end media availability in May, the classy veteran took the high road and didn't dwell on any of the negatives.

"I just, quite frankly, tried to do whatever was needed from me and whatever was asked," Hamonic said. "And I kind of played a little bit of everything this year, I think, a little bit of different roles here and there. And just tried to do that as best I could and have as much fun as I could with it. Because we are blessed to play this game and do what I do for a living.

"So I just tried to show up with a smile on my face and let the chips fall where they may every day."

It's not remotely a stretch to suggest that Hamonic fell out of favour with parts of the Ottawa fan base and faced some pointed criticism, which he openly addressed when asked about it in his final session with the local media.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it is what it is. Early on in my career, I was told that you're never as good as they say you are and you're never as bad as they say you are. I was showing up every day and putting my head down and just going to work and doing whatever I could.

Senators Announce French Radio Broadcast Rights, Will TSN 1200 Renew English Rights?The Ottawa Senators have a new French radio partner. They announced today that 104.7 FM Outaouais will carry games in French for the coming season. It's a three-year deal that includes all pre-season, regular season and post-season games.

"The people that didn't like my play or don't like me, or whatever the case may be, they're part of our fan base too. And I went out there and put that jersey on for three and a half years and played my butt off for that fan base. I would have done whatever I had to do.

"They're allowed their opinion but I try to choose more positivity than the negativity, and I don't necessarily sense a good reason to knock people down all the time. I don't get that. But it is what it is."

Hamonic, who turns 35 on Saturday, also made no secret of the fact that he and his family loved living in Ottawa and that he fully intended to keep the door open to continuing his NHL career.

He now heads for Motown after three and a half seasons in the capital, posting a combined 37 points in 201 games for the Senators. Known for his shot-blocking, work ethic, and leadership, he brought a veteran presence to the Sens room with over 900 career NHL games with the Islanders, Flames, Canucks, and Senators.

But with Claude Giroux, David Perron, Lars Eller, and Nick Jensen, the Sens have probably filled their roster quota in the veteran, 35 and over category.

By Steve Warne 
The Hockey News - Ottawa

More Sens Headlines:
Brady Tkachuk Adds To His Father's Comments About The Future
Senators Reach Agreement To Buy Land For New NHL Arena At LeBreton
Former Senator Mark Borowiecki Now 'Looks At Fighting From A Different Lens'
Next NHL Expansion Fee May Be 40 Times More Than The Ottawa Senators Paid
Is The Senators' 2025-26 Lineup Is Already Set?

The NHL officially announced the Los Angeles Kings’ official schedule for the 2025-26 season about a month ago, and now the season tickets are also available to purchase. 

We already know the Kings will be playing the Colorado Avalanche on Opening Night, and in their first 11 games of the season, eight will be on the road. 

But, now that all the dates and promotional games were also announced a few weeks ago, here’s a look at five games Kings fans should be most excited about for in the 2025-26 season. 

TICKETS 𝘣𝘺 𝘓𝘈 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴

Available now: https://t.co/PiUcpHOvMppic.twitter.com/f03sKwJBpX

— Bailey LA Kings (@BaileyLAKings) August 15, 2025

Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche, October 7

Opening Night is like no other. The Kings will host their 2025-26 home opener against one of the top teams in the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche. 

The opening faceoff will be a playoff-like atmosphere, featuring special pregame ceremonies and fan giveaways. Guests Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar make this an instant early-season test for L.A.

Kings vs. Vegas Golden Knights, January 14

Two of the L.A.'s beloved teams clash — at least in a metaphoric way — on Dodgers Night as the Kings host the Vegas Golden Knights. The fans have in store for unusual Dodgers-themed Kings gear, giveaways, and playoff-like passion on the ice. 

The Kings and the Knights have developed one of the most bitter rivalries in the Pacific Division, and adding an extra special theme night has made this game all the more special.

Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers, April 11

Connor McDavid in town is must-see hockey. The Oilers have been the Kings' playoff roadblocks in the last four seasons, and this is the last time they will meet in the regular season, which could have mammoth postseason ramifications. 

It’s also a promotional game and theme night,  with Fan & Season Ticket Member Appreciation Night, presented by True Classic. Puck drop is set for 1:00 PM, and the first 10,000 fans through the doors will receive a commemorative felt pennant. 

Kings vs. Philadelphia Flyers, March 19

Celebrate hockey, community, and culture as the Kings host Armenian Heritage Night at Crypto.com Arena. The unique night will feature exclusive in-arena programming in celebration of Armenian culture, plus a ticket package including a hockey jersey for a Philadelphia Flyers vs. Kings game that features an Armenian Heritage Kings jersey. With the 7:30 PM faceoff, the game is set to be both meaningful and memorable to fans.

Kings vs. Florida Panthers, November 6

The Kings will host the Panthers, who are the two-time defending champs, winning the last two Stanley Cups against the Oilers. It will also be a theme night where both teams will be honoring and celebrating heroes in our community. 

This special evening will feature tributes throughout the game as the Kings face the Florida Panthers, one of the league’s toughest teams. Puck drops at 7:30 PM, making it a perfect midweek night to support a great cause and enjoy top-tier hockey.

Former Henderson Silver Knights players Jake Bischoff and Gage Quinney have signed one-year contracts with the KHL's Shanghai Dragons for the 2025-26 season, the team announced Friday. 

Bischoff recorded three goals and 21 points in 59 games while captaining the Knights last season. 

The 31-year-old defenseman has racked up 27 goals and 110 points in 367 career AHL games with the Silver Knights, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and Chicago Wolves.  

A seventh round pick of the New York Islanders in 2012, Bischoff is pointless in four career NHL games with the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Quinney had nine goals and 36 points in 50 games with the Silver Knights last season.

The 30-year-old is Henderson's all-time franchise leader in goals (64) and points (168) in 212 games. 

The Las Vegas, NV., native has 114 goals and 280 points in 383 career AHL games with Henderson, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and Chicago Wolves. He has one assists in three career NHL games with Vegas. 

Patrik Rybar, Jake Bischoff, Alexander Bryntsev, Pavel Akolzin, and Gage Quinney Join Shanghai Dragonshttps://t.co/eYSwEckyP5

— Shanghai Dragons (@shadragons) August 15, 2025

The Dragons recently hired former NHL coach Gerard Gallant to lead the team behind the bench.

With these signings more than 30 players who played in the AHL last season have now signed in the KHL.

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.      

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey has been named to the NHL Network's annual Top-20 list. 

Each offseason, amid the dog days of summer's slowest period through mid-August, the NHL Network slowly releases its list of the league's Top-20 players at each position. 

Released systemically and over a lengthy period of time, NHL Network compiles 20 wingers, 20 centres, 20 defencemen and 20 goaltenders in advance of training camp, sparking debate amongst NHL fans throughout North America. 

This time around, Winnipeg's top blueliner, Josh Morrissey, earned the honour of being NHL Networks' No. 6 defenceman in the league, earning a bump up the rankings from last year's No. 12 placement. 

Morrissey helped his Jets to a league-best record and a second-consecutive Jennings Trophy for the team allowing the fewest goals against. Personally, the 30-year-old blueliner racked up 14 goals, 62 points and 22 penalty minutes in 80 games for the Jets last year. He earned his second Top-5 Norris Trophy voting finish, while leading the Jets with 24:23 ice time per game last year. He was a plus-22 and had 22 power play points on the season. 

Morrissey, who is Winnipeg's heart and soul on the back-end, is up to 80 goals, 373 points and 321 penalty minutes in his 662-game career over nine seasons with the Jets. 

NHL Network's full Top-20 Defencemen list:

• Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
• Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
• Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
• Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
• Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
• Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
• Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
• Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
• Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
• Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
• Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers
• Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
• Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars
• Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
• Adam Fox, New York Rangers
• Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
• Mikhail Sergachev, Utah Mammoth
• Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens
• Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild

The Hockey Show returned this week and dove into some of the offseason fun had around the NHL over the past couple months.

Hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork were joined by NHL writer for The Athletic Dom Luszczyszyn.

They Dom’s recent story that ranked each NHL club’s efficiency with spending money and the metrics that go into determining his rankings.

Luszczyszyn was also asked about which teams he felt were the most improved this offseason, and why Nikolaj Ehlers could be a perfect fit with the Carolina Hurricanes.

This week’s wins and losses of the week included a hockey playing Barbie, a referee forcing a player to apologize to a goalie, Seattle’s mascot Buoy nearly being mauled by a bear while fly fishing, and, of course, Taylor Swift.

There was also video of former Florida Panthers star David Booth, who is currently tearing up the Australian Ice Hockey League, scoring a spinning beauty of a goal on the other side of the world.

You can check out the full episode in the video below:

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The NHL prospect pool overview series is our annual summer series breaking down every team's prospect pipeline.

Tony Ferrari looks at the top prospects every team has in its pipeline, reviews every pick from the 2025 NHL draft, analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of every prospect pool and so much more.

We’ve assembled the entire series here with links to each NHL team’s prospect pool deep dive below.

Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks have a loaded prospect pool, and they keep adding top-end talent.

They are poised to take a step forward as Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Pavel Mintyukov improve while prospects like Beckett Sennecke and the newly drafted Roger McQueen are on their way. The Ducks are on the rise, and their top-tier prospect pool will only bolster their young, promising lineup moving forward.

Read More: Anaheim Ducks Have No Glaring Weakness

Boston Bruins

The Bruins have been a contender for over a decade, but the years of trading their picks and prospects have caught up to them.

They have committed to restocking their pipeline, and 2025 first-round pick James Hagens will be the face of the next generation. The Bruins might not be down long. 

Read More: Boston Bruins Start To Stock The Cupboard

Buffalo Sabres

It’s almost impossible for the Sabres not to begin taking steps forward at this point. They have a roster with plenty of young players, and they have more on the way.

They’ve drafted high and often over the last decade. Although some of those players have moved on, the Sabres have a boatload of young talent who can help usher in a more successful era. 

Read More: Buffalo Sabres Continue to Build Strong Young Core In Hopes of Playoff Return

Calgary Flames

The Flames have been one of the most intriguing teams at the draft over the last few years under this management team, which has helped them bolster their pipeline at just about every position.

Zayne Parekh is poised to make a mark this upcoming season, but he’s far from the only high-end prospect the Flames have on the way. 

Read More: Calgary Flames Turned A Weakness Into A Strength

Carolina Hurricanes

There may not be a team in hockey that finds a way to get more bang for their buck at the NHL draft than the Carolina Hurricanes.

They don’t shy away from drafting Europeans, particularly Russians, looking just to select the best players available. They take high-upside swings late in the draft and pick players who play typical Hurricanes hockey early in the draft. They have found a way to build a strong prospect pool while competing for a Cup year in and year out.

Read More: Carolina Hurricanes Take Excellent Swings On Talent

Chicago Blackhawks

Not much went right for the Hawks last year, but the future is bright.

Connor Bedard will lead the way, but Frank Nazar and Kevin Korchinski will be effective pieces as soon as this season. Prospects like Sam Rinzel and Oliver Moore are potentially important pieces as Chicago fills out its roster. The depth and talent across the Hawks' prospect pool will make them a tough team to handle in a few years. 

Read More: Chicago Blackhawks Brought In A Stellar Draft Haul

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche are in win-now mode, which means they have been more than happy to ship out draft picks and prospects. They did so at the trade deadline last year, sending Calum Ritchie to the New York Islanders, which has left them without a prospect with any sort of guarantee of making the NHL. When they need another player, the Avalanche are unlikely to look to their pipeline. 

Read More: Yes, The Colorado Avalanche Actually Have A Prospect Pool 

Columbus Blue Jackets

There is buzz around a lot of prospect pools in the NHL, but the Blue Jackets have built up one of the most intriguing of the bunch, so they deserve more attention.

Adam Fantilli and Cayden Lindstrom could be one of the most difficult center duos to deal with in the NHL, and the addition of Jackson Smith helps fill a need on the blueline. The Jackets have a sneaky good pipeline. 

Read More: Columbus Blue Jackets’ New Generation Takes Shape

Dallas Stars

Some teams just seem to know what they are doing on draft day, and the Stars have proven to be one of the best.

Even though the Stars did not have a full cabinet of picks, they grabbed a potential top-20 player in the draft in the third round, Cameron Schmidt. The Stars may not have the deepest pipeline, but they have some really intriguing prospects who should help them continue to compete in the NHL. 

Read More: The Dallas Stars’ Masterclass Continues On Defense

Detroit Red Wings

Although they may not have a truly elite prospect, the Red Wings have one of the deepest prospect pools of any team.

They have a plethora of prospects at every level who could be legitimate NHL players. They have two of arguably the top five goalie prospects in the world right now, Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine. The Wings have some intriguing defenders who could play a depth role, and the forward corps is diversely skilled as well. 

Read More: Detroit Red Wings’ Top Tier Goalies Highlight A Deep Pipeline

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers' top two prospects, Matthew Savoie and Isaac Howard, were acquired in trades over the past two summers. They could play in the NHL this upcoming season as the Oilers look to bolster their skill and depth up front.

Beyond those two, the Oilers must figure out how to inject more talent into the pipeline because it falls off pretty hard. 

Read More: Edmonton Oilers Made Shrewd Moves To Get Top Prospects

Florida Panthers

Despite winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, the Panthers have a few sneaky good prospects in their pipeline. The team certainly isn’t loaded when it comes to prospects, but it does have a few intriguing names in its system that could eventually help bolster the lineup. 

Read More: Florida Panthers’ Pipeline Isn’t Completely Barren

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are the going example of what happens when an absolutely loaded prospect pool doesn’t quite work out.

They have certainly had a few players make the NHL, and they’ve used a few as trade pieces, but the Kings’ once-promising prospect pipeline isn’t as impressive anymore. They have some great players still, but they’ll need to bolster the prospect pool over the next couple of years. 

Read More: Los Angeles Kings Are Loaded In Net, But The Pipeline’s Weakened

Minnesota Wild

It feels like the Wild are about to break through into contender status, and their high-end prospects – Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and Jesper Wallstedt – will all be a big reason for it.

Minnesota has always looked to take the best players regardless of position and build its pipeline with high-end talent. That’s set them up for a window where they’ll be competitive and welcoming in young talent. 

Read More: Minnesota Wild Have Quality Talent Nearly Everywhere

Montreal Canadiens

The rest of the NHL needs to be on the lookout because the Canadiens will be a problem moving forward.

Ivan Demidov is set to join Lane Hutson and Co. in Montreal this season, giving the squad some of the most dynamic young offensive talent in the league. The Habs have an incredibly bright future with the talent that is set to join the NHL club in the next few years. 

Read More: Montreal Canadiens’ Newest Era Is Here

Nashville Predators

The Predators had a rough season after loading up in the summer a year ago, but they have managed to build a solid prospect pool while all of that was going on.

They had a big draft this year, and while Brady Martin may have been taken a bit earlier than some would have liked, he plays Smashville hockey. The Preds know what they want to be, and they are leaning in with their prospect pool. 

Read More: Nashville Predators Build Back Up

New Jersey Devils

New Jersey's on the rise with a young NHL core featuring players in their mid-20s and a few intriguing youngsters making the jump. Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec will bolster the Devils' blueline over the next few years. The big question is whether the young talent in the pipeline is enough to bolster that young core to build toward a title.

Read More: New Jersey Devils Have Talent, But What About Depth?

New York Islanders

With three first-round picks in the 2025 NHL draft, the Islanders hit it out of the park.

Matthew Schaefer was a fantastic addition at first overall, but the selections of Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson in the middle of Round 1 built a foundation for the future of the Islanders. Add in Ritchie, who was acquired at the deadline last year, and this prospect pool vastly improved over the past year. 

Read More: New York Islanders, Get Ready For Schaefer And Ritchie

New York Rangers

The New York Rangers must figure out their direction. Are they rebuilding, retooling or competing? Was last year a blip?

One thing they do know is they have a few prospects who could impact the NHL lineup if they're given the opportunity. It’s just going to take the trust of the coach to allow them to do so. 

Read More: New York Rangers Are Strong On One Wing, Weak On The Other

Ottawa Senators

It’s wild that the Senators haven’t built up a better prospect pool over the past decade. They’ve consistently picked high, but whether they’ve traded picks or had a few flops on draft day, the Sens don't have much in the system. They took a big step and made the playoffs last year, but they’ll need some young players to help push them over the hump once again. 

Read More: Ottawa Senators Have At Least One NHL-Ready Prospect

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers' wave of talent is a ton of fun to watch. They have added skill and size with recent draft picks, and we could start to see some of the prospects push for NHL time.

Matvei Michkov will continue to be the focal point of the new era after a solid rookie year, but incoming players, such as Oliver Bonk or Jett Luchanko, should excite fans. 

Read More: Philadelphia Flyers’ New Wave Is On The Way

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh is in a tough spot.

The Penguins still want to compete with one of the best players of all-time, Sidney Crosby, who’s still producing at an elite level, but they need to build toward the future and acquire prospects whenever they can.

The Pens have made massive strides in rebuilding their pipeline, but they aren’t a team that will likely be competing for the playoffs this year. The future is bright, but how will fans feel about watching a legend fade into obscurity at the end of his career? 

Read More: Pittsburgh Penguins Rebuild The Pipeline In Big Way

San Jose Sharks

There aren’t many teams with a future as bright as the Sharks.

Celebrini is obviously a stud, having been the best rookie forward in the NHL last year, but the selection of Michael Misa in the draft could give the Sharks the best one-two punch down the middle in a few years.

With incredible talent all over the prospect pool, San Jose fans should be smiling ear to ear when thinking about their potential juggernaut a few years down the line. 

Read More: San Jose Sharks Are Fully Loaded

Seattle Kraken

Seattle has only been in the NHL for a few years now, but the way it’s chosen to build down the middle has been impressive. The addition of Jake O’Brien to the center group, which already features NHLers Matty Beniers and Shane Wright and high-end prospect Berkly Catton, gives the Kraken some incredible depth down the middle. Converting that to success in the NHL is the next step. 

Read More: Seattle Kraken Deep Down The Middle Of The Ice

St. Louis Blues

St. Louis is the team people look to when they talk about squads retooling on the fly. This now seems like the second or third time they’ve tried it and found success.

Players like Dalibor Dvorsky, Jimmy Snuggerud and Otto Stenberg haven’t made true NHL impacts yet, and this team was back in the playoffs last season. Once some of their prospects truly start to make their marks, this team could be scary to deal with. 

Read More: St. Louis Blues Building Their Pool Through Depth 

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning’s championship window isn’t as strong as it used to be, and the prospect pool certainly won’t help them in that regard. They will need to rely on strong development and a patient approach to finding some NHLers in their system, but there are no obvious standouts who could be high-impact players.

Read More: Tampa Bay Lightning Putting Faith In Their Development Staff 

Toronto Maple Leafs

There may not be many stars in the Maple Leafs' system, but they have targeted players with fairly safe floors in the draft recently.

Easton Cowan will get a shot to compete for an NHL spot in training camp, which could help make up for some of the skill they lost this off-season, but it won’t make up for all of it. They’ve drafted with a focus on size and tools recently, which gives them plenty of intriguing development projects over the next couple of years. 

Read More: Toronto Maple Leafs Have Intriguing Depth Pieces Without Any Stars

Utah Mammoth

Calling Utah’s team the Mammoth will look all the more accurate as their prospects make the NHL. They have been building a pipeline full of massive players at forward and defense, with Dmitri Simashev, Daniil But and Maveric Lamoureux leading the way. The Mammoth are building toward a window of contention, and people may be surprised when they open it up a bit this season. 

Read More: Utah Mammoth Continue To Add Size To Their Pool 

Vancouver Canucks

For a team that has only made the playoffs twice in the past decade, the Canucks don’t have much of a prospect pool. They have a few notable players, such as Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander, but the depth falls off pretty hard. Who the Canucks can rely on to make a big jump this season in their pipeline will be the question many of their fans ask this season. 

Read More: Vancouver Canucks’ Pipeline Is Perplexing

Vegas Golden Knights

The Vegas Golden Knights have shown throughout their existence they do not care much for prospects or draft picks. They have Trevor Connelly, who is a super-skilled winger, and he could be their first drafted-and-developed first-rounder to make an impact on this team ever – unless they trade him, too. 

Read More: Vegas Golden Knights Have One Top-Tier Prospect

Washington Capitals

The Capitals are seamlessly blending their past core and the greatness of Alexander Ovechkin with the future of the franchise for when he inevitably retires. With Ryan Leonard and Andrew Cristall coming, the Capitals have pieces to build around, which is what other contenders dream of but simply don’t have. It’s hard to be relevant while building your future, but Washington has done a good job of that. 

Read More: Washington Capitals Prepare For New Era

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets have taken some swings on talent, such as Brad Lambert and Nikita Chibrikov, and those bets could be paying off soon.

The Jets also made something out of a bad situation when former first-round pick Rutger McGroarty didn’t want to sign with them, trading him for Brayden Yager.

Winnipeg’s pipeline isn’t barren, but it’s certainly not deep. They’ll need their top prospect to hit if they want to keep building and maintain an open contending window. 

Read More: Winnipeg Jets Take Swings On Talent

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

After spending the 2024-25 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, former St. Louis Blues forward Pat Maroon announced his retirement from professional hockey. This marked the end of a solid 14-year NHL career for Maroon. 

However, while Maroon's playing days are over, he will not be completely away from the ice. This is because the former Blues forward has been hired as an assistant coach by the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL). 

The Muskegon Lumberjacks are thrilled to announce the addition of 3x Stanley Cup Champion, Pat Maroon, to the Coaching Staff!

For more information https://t.co/xCD2PnciPnpic.twitter.com/7vlocrTarK

— Muskegon Lumberjacks (@MuskegonJacks) August 15, 2025

When noting that Maroon had a long NHL career and was known for his strong leadership skills, he certainly has the potential to have success as a coach. Now, he will get his first opportunity behind the bench with the Lumberjacks. 

In 74 games with the Blues during the 2018-19 season, Maroon recorded 10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points, and 135 hits. In 848 career NHL games split between the Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins, and Blackhawks, the three-time Stanley Cup champion had 126 goals, 197 assists, and 323 points.

Blues Surging Forward Named Top Breakout CandidateIn a recent article for The Hockey News' main site, Jared Clinton took a look at one breakout candidate from each Central Division team. For the St. Louis Blues, Clinton went with forward Jake Neighbours. 

The Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL) announced on Friday the hiring of former Minnesota Wild forward Pat Maroon as assistant coach.

Maroon, 37, just announced his retirement from the NHL after the 2024-25 season which he spent with the Chicago Blackhawks. He has won three Stanley Cups in his career and recorded 1,590 hits in 848 career games.

The 6-foot-3 forward spent one year in Minnesota during the 2023-24 season. He recorded four goals, 12 assists, 16 points, 60 penalty minutes and 71 hits in 49 games played.

Minnesota eventually traded Maroon to the Boston Bruins at the deadline for Luke Toporowski and a conditional pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Toporowski was in the AHL last year and now signed with the Hersey Bears.

They also traded the sixth round pick back to Boston in the Justin Brazeau deal. Brazeau just signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

Where Minnesota Wild's Brock Faber Ranks Among NHL DefensemenWe saw where the NHL ranked Minnesota Wild forwards Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov. The NHL Network has now put together a list of the top-20 defensemen.

- Wild Sign Jack Johnson To A PTO.

- Why The Minnesota Wild Signed Jack Johnson To A PTO.

- Wild's Marco Rossi Having A Big Offseason, Up 14 Pounds.

- Wild's Kirill Kaprizov Doing Offseason Training With Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin.