When the San Jose Sharks take the ice for training camp next month, there will be likely two jobs up for grabs on the blue line. The bottom-pairing role will likely go to a young player like Luca Cagnoni, Nolan Allen, or Eric Pohlkamp. While theoretically one of the two who miss out on that job could be used as the Sharks' seventh defenseman, it would make much more sense to let them get more playing time under their belt at the American Hockey League level.
In order to allow a younger defenseman to get sent down, the Sharks would then need to find a player who can step in and out of the lineup as needed. On paper, there's no better fit for that role remaining than former Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg.
Despite being undersized at 5-foot-9, Blankenburg has proven himself with multiple different teams as an effective depth player. While he's not the type of player who should likely be playing for a contending team on a day-to-day basis, the 28-year-old has the ability to play both sides of the blue line and does so effectively when his number is called. There's a reason that the Colorado Avalanche went out of their way to add him to their roster at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline.
Blankenburg is often more regarded for his offensive capabilities from the blue line, although he's not a one-dimensional player. He's effective on both ends of the ice, considering he's still a free agent, he'd likely be a cost-effective option, and he's a right-shot which is often a plus for depth defensemen.
With that being said, Blankenburg isn't the type of player who the Sharks would likely want to slot in on special teams. He's not an overly effective penalty killer, nor is he a game-changer on the power play. He could fill the role if needed, but it would be less than ideal.
As an undrafted player, Blankenburg's play is often defined by his work ethic. He's had to overcome the odds due to his size and he's had to overcome being passed on in the NHL Draft on multiple occasions. As a result, his personality could be massively beneficial to some of the Sharks' young defensemen as well.
Given his rapid improvement through his late 20's, it's somewhat surprising that Blankenburg has yet to find a home for the 2026-27 season. Although it's likely not an ideal outcome for him, as he'd hope to someday become an everyday player in the NHL, he could certainly bring a lot to the table for the San Jose Sharks.
It's officially another season, another prospects ranking for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In years past, this has been a bit easier of an exercise, as there used to be a more clear-cut line between prospects with NHL upside and longshots. However, because of the work that general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and his staff have put in during the last several years, the line is blurring a whole lot more - and there is a substantially higher volume of talent in the system.
This time around, making a top-20 list was challenging. So, a few criteria were put into place: To make our list, prospects must be under the age of 26 and have played less than 50 NHL games. This excludes names such as Ben Kindel, Filip Hallander, Oliver Okuliar, and Alexander Alexeyev.
At No. 17, we put a spotlight on playmaking center Zam Plante, as his year-to-year growth has continued to raise his floor and ceiling. For No. 16, we look between the pipes, where a still-valuable goaltender is entering a critical season in his development.
For some, seeing the 24-year-old Blomqvist this low on our list might come as a bit of a surprise. And, really, this is not so much Blomqvist's doing as it is a case of several guys simply surpassing him in terms of NHL potential and intrigue.
That said, the product of Uusikaarlepyy, Finland is at a crossroads in his development, and this season may just determine his future with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With the emergence of fellow young netminder Sergei Murashov - currently the organization's best bet as its next franchise goaltender - someone else has, likely, surpassed Blomqvist on the depth chart despite some legitimate promise he has shown throughout his professional career up to this point. But that doesn't mean things are over for Blomqvist or that the Penguins no longer see him as part of their future.
In fact, Dubas has mentioned Blomqvist on several occasions, including in his end-of-season press conference when he suggested that either him or Murashov would have an opportunity to seize one of the two NHL roster spots for the 2026-27 season - with the other belonging to the recently re-signed Arturs Silovs. He is very much still in the mix, and for good reason.
After dealing with an injury in the latter part of the 2024-25 AHL regular season and yet another during training camp last season, Blomqvist's luck hasn't exactly been top-notch. But his performance has earned him the opportunity to remain in the NHL conversation. In 26 AHL appearances in a 1B role alongside Murashov in 2025-26, he was 16-5-4 with a .913 save percentage and 2.40 goals-against average, which were comparable numbers to Murashov's .919 and 2.20, respectively.
In addition, his first career NHL stint - which occurred at the beginning of the 2024-25 season when injuries paved the way for him to debut - showed some promise, as he had a .913 save percentage in his first seven NHL appearances before a disaster showing against the Dallas Stars sent him back to the AHL for a bit. His second stint that same year did not go as well, and he was eventually sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), where he was injured shortly after.
Blomqvist is an athletic, well-positioned goaltender when he is on. The strengths in his game are his quickness post-to-post, his tracking, his rebound control, and his reads. Those should continue to be strengths as he, hopefully, progresses even further in his development this season, which will likely be as the 1A in WBS to Taylor Gauthier's 1B, assuming Murashov shows well in camp.
He did not appear in any Calder Cup playoff games for the WBS Penguins last season, as Murashov played in all 15. But if there's one glaring degree of separation between Murashov and Blomqvist, it's the "big-game" reputation.
In the previous two postseason appearances for WBS, Blomqvist was the goaltender of record, and he posted sub-.895 save percentages in both years within a short, three-game sample size. In order to take the next step in his development, he has to show that he can come up big in the biggest games and in the biggest moments, akin to what Silovs and Murashov have already shown.
Given that he will turn 25 this season - and with two promising young goaltenders ahead of him on the depth chart - this season is the most important of Blomqvist's career to date. Assuming it's the other two in the NHL, he not only needs to assert himself as first in line for a call-up, but he needs to assert himself as a valuable piece of the future with his performance this season.
Winnipeg hockey fans will have an opportunity to get up close and personal with the Stanley Cup on Monday.
Winnipeg product and newly-crowned Stanley Cup champion Seth Jarvis will bring hockey's most famous trophy to the Tuxedo Community Centre on Aug. 10 for a public meet-and-greet from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Photo by James Guillory/USA Today
The community centre announced details of Jarvis' appearance Friday evening, inviting fans to attend the free event at 368 Southport Blvd.
“Come on down and help us congratulate Seth Jarvis as he brings the Stanley Cup home,” the community centre wrote in its announcement.
The event is open to all ages, with attendees encouraged to bring cameras for an opportunity to see Jarvis and the Stanley Cup up close. The community centre noted that Jarvis will only be on site for the two-hour window.
Monday's celebration will cap off a memorable year for the 24-year-old, who helped the Carolina Hurricanes capture the second Stanley Cup in franchise history in June.
Jarvis finished the regular season with 32 goals and 66 points in 71 games, leading Carolina in goals for the first time in his NHL career. It was also his third consecutive 30-goal season.
He then played an important role in Carolina's run through the postseason, which culminated in a six-game Stanley Cup Final victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.
One of Jarvis' biggest moments came in Game 2 of the Final. With Carolina facing the possibility of falling behind 2-0 in the series, Jarvis scored a power-play goal 3:56 into overtime to give the Hurricanes a 4-3 victory and even the series.
For Jarvis, the moment had a particularly fitting connection to Winnipeg.
Earlier in the series, he reflected on growing up shooting pucks in his driveway and imagining himself scoring Stanley Cup-winning goals.
“I might be undefeated,” Jarvis joked of those childhood Cup scenarios. “I might never have lost a Cup in my mind. But this is a little more real now, and way more exciting.”
Less than two weeks later, the Hurricanes defeated Vegas 3-0 in Game 6 to capture the Stanley Cup.
Jarvis was one of several Manitobans featured prominently in the Final. Winnipeg's Mark Stone and Brett Howden and Brandon's Keegan Kolesar suited up for Vegas, while former Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers won the Cup alongside Jarvis with Carolina.
When the Rookie Faceoff starts in just over a month, the San Jose Sharks will have an undrafted player joining their ranks.
Pavel Martinu, an 18-year-old forward out of the United States Hockey League's Sioux Falls Stampede, has been invited to the 2026 Rookie Faceoff by the Sharks per Paragon Sports Consulting:
— Paragon Sports Consulting (@ParagonAthlete) July 16, 2026
Martinu, who stands at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, played in 53 games at the USHL level last season. During that time, he recorded 17 points (eight goals and nine assists) along with 59 penalty minutes. Elite Prospects had him ranked as the 149th prospect in the 2026 NHL Draft, but he was not selected.
"Martinu motors through battles and confrontations, often finishing hits and running guys over," Elite Prospects wrote in their 2026 Draft Guide. "His defensive pace is high in all situations, working to both kill plays on the backcheck and seal against cycles. This will likely be his calling card at future levels, provided that his lateral skating and edges improve."
While there is some belief that Martinu could theoretically become a fourth-line center at the NHL level if his development goes perfectly, he's more likely to become a regular at the AHL level during his prime.
While Martinu is a raw talent, it'll be interesting to see how he's able to perform against some of the NHL's top prospects.
Over the years, there have been a total of six players to wear the number 55 for the San Jose Sharks. Despite that, none of them have been able to make a major difference for the organization, as many just spent part of a single season in the Bay Area.
Among those players, the one with the most interesting history is likely Derrick Pouliot. The eighth overall selection in the 2012 NHL Draft, Pouliot was, at one point, expected to be a major part of the Pittsburgh Penguins' long-term success. The Penguins tried to set him up to succeed as well, giving him constant opportunities after he turned professional. While he thrived at the American Hockey League level, he struggled to produce the offense he was known for at the NHL level.
After Pouliot was unable to earn an NHL role on a regular basis, the Pittsburgh Penguins gave up on him following the 2017-18 season and traded him to the Vancouver Canucks, who hoped they could get him back on track while they worked on their own project defensive prospect, Olli Juolevi.
Pouliot did step up a bit during his time in Vancouver, as he spent his entire two season stint with the Canucks in the NHL. However, that would be his final extended stint in the NHL to date. Following the 2018-19 season, Pouliot hit the free agent market for the first time in his career and signed with the St. Louis Blues. He'd only play a pair of games at the NHL level for the Blues and then was on the move once again.
After his time in St. Louis, Pouliot ended up in the Philadelphia Flyers organization, namely their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. After a short 25 game stint in Lehigh Valley, Pouliot joined the Vegas Golden Knights before being waived, and subsequently claimed by the Seattle Kraken.
After nine games with the NHL's newest franchise, Pouliot made his way to the Bay Area ahead of the 2022-23 season. Given the state of the Sharks at the time, he did find his way into eight games for the team in teal, but spend the majority of the season with the San Jose Barracuda in the AHL.
After a single season in the Sharks organization, Pouliot went looking for another opportunity once again. Since leaving, he's had stints with the Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and currently, the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite a number of opportunities at the AHL level, he hasn't appeared in an NHL game since the 2023-24 campaign, when he played five games for the Stars.
The Colorado Avalanche have built their identity around speed for years. Now, the NHL Edge data puts just how fast they are into perspective.
According to NHL.com Senior Director, Fantasy Pete Jensen, the Avalanche were in a class of their own when it came to high-end skating speed during the 2025-26 season. Colorado led the NHL with 2,643 speed bursts of at least 20 mph during the regular season — nearly 1,000 more than any other team — while also producing the league's highest total of 22-plus mph speed bursts during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
That kind of speed isn't simply something that looks good on the eye test. It is a defining element of how the Avalanche attack.
And perhaps the best way to understand Colorado's speed is to look at the three players who put it on display most often.
Nathan MacKinnon recorded 455 bursts of at least 20 mph last season, second-most in the NHL, while Martin Necas ranked sixth with 348. Necas was even more dominant in the 18-to-20 mph range, leading the entire league with 1,030 bursts.
MacKinnon also recorded the second-fastest maximum skating speed in the NHL during the regular season at 24.78 mph, trailing only Beck Malenstyn's 24.94 mph.
But the most impressive part of MacKinnon's season wasn't necessarily how fast he was skating. It was what he continued to produce once he got there.
MacKinnon is coming off his fourth consecutive 100-point season, joining an exclusive group that includes Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov and Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid. Kucherov has also reached the 100-point mark in each of his last four seasons, while McDavid has done it six straight times.
McDavid, however, raised the bar again this season, capturing his sixth Art Ross Trophy after finishing with 138 points.
MacKinnon wasn't far behind.
The Avalanche superstar finished the regular season with 53 goals and 74 assists for 127 points in 80 games, good enough for third in the NHL. He also captured the first Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy of his career as the league's leading goal scorer.
For the first time in his career, MacKinnon also represented Canada at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games, adding another significant chapter to what was already an exceptional season.
Necas, meanwhile, is just getting introduced to the 100-point club.
After being acquired by Colorado, Necas put together the best offensive season of his career, finishing with exactly 100 points — 38 goals and 62 assists — in 78 games. It was his first time reaching the century mark, and he didn't slow down once the postseason began.
Necas produced at a point-per-game pace in the playoffs for the first time in his career, showing that his regular-season breakout wasn't simply a product of playing alongside one of the league's most dangerous offensive teams.
His skating helps explain why.
Necas can hit another gear almost instantly, and his ability to generate speed without needing much room makes him particularly dangerous when Colorado gets moving through the neutral zone. His 1,030 speed bursts between 18 and 20 mph were the most in the NHL, a remarkable number that helps illustrate just how frequently he operates at a high-end pace.
Then there is Cale Makar.
For Makar, the 2025-26 regular season could reasonably be described as an off year — at least by the absurd standards he has established for himself.
He finished with 79 points in 75 games, including 27 goals and 59 assists. For virtually any other defenseman, that would be an outstanding season.
For Makar, it was a step back.
When healthy, Makar has generally operated around the 89-point mark over a full season, which is almost difficult to comprehend for a defenseman. His ability to create offense isn't limited to his passing or his vision, either. His skating allows him to turn what looks like a routine defensive possession into an offensive opportunity in a matter of seconds.
The NHL Edge numbers reinforce that.
Makar led all NHL players with a maximum skating speed of 23.92 mph during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and finished second among defensemen in 20-plus mph speed bursts during the regular season with 223.
That combination of skating and skill is what makes Makar so difficult to defend. He doesn't need to wait for a play to develop. He can create one himself.
And if Colorado can get more from him on the power play next season, where the Avalanche struggled for stretches, the impact could extend well beyond the regular season.
Because that is ultimately what makes Colorado's speed so dangerous.
It isn't just that MacKinnon can fly. It isn't just that Necas can accelerate through a gap before a defender has time to close it. And it isn't just that Makar can join the rush with the speed of a forward.
It's that all three can do it at the same time.
When the Avalanche are at their best, there is very little time for an opponent to make a mistake. A missed assignment can become a MacKinnon breakaway. A loose puck can turn into a Necas rush. Makar can suddenly appear as the fourth attacker before the defense has even had a chance to reset.
That combination helped Colorado become the only team in the NHL with two 100-point scorers last season and one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the league.
The Avalanche ultimately fell in the Western Conference Final, leaving plenty of questions about what needs to change before they can take the final step.
Speed isn't one of them.
The numbers now back up what opponents have experienced firsthand for years.
Colorado isn't merely one of the NHL's fastest teams.
The Calgary Flames know exactly what they’re missing.
After finishing last season near the bottom of the NHL standings, Calgary’s biggest challenge heading into 2026-27 is no secret: they need more offence.
That’s where general manager Craig Conroy’s work this offseason becomes so important.
The Flames are expected to be active in their search for offensive help, whether that comes through the trade market or free agency. But with the UFA pool looking relatively shallow, one name continues to stand out as an intriguing fit: Vladimir Tarasenko.
Because if there’s one thing Tarasenko has proven throughout his career, it’s that he knows how to score.
Now 34-years-old, Tarasenko isn’t the same explosive offensive force who dominated during his prime with the St. Louis Blues. But the production is still there.
Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Last season with the Minnesota Wild, Tarasenko recorded 23 goals, 24 assists and 47 points in 75 games. Those numbers may not jump off the page compared to his peak years, but consistency matters, especially for a Flames team that desperately needs more scoring.
Tarasenko has reached the 30-goal mark six times in his career, including a career-high 40-goal season with the Blues in 2015-16. He also brings something Calgary’s young roster currently lacks: championship experience.
Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Tarasenko was part of Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2019 with St. Louis and again in 2024 with the Florida Panthers. That type of experience can’t be measured purely through statistics.
Of course, the Flames are entering a new phase. The organization is committed to developing its young players, and using a roster spot on a veteran only makes sense if that player can provide meaningful impact.
Tarasenko’s numbers suggest he still can.
His 23 goals and 47 points last season would have led the Flames in both categories. Calgary finished last in the NHL in scoring, averaging just 2.54 goals per game, while their power play struggled at a second-last 16.2% efficiency.
Adding a proven offensive weapon who can contribute at five-on-five and provide another option on the power play would immediately address one of the team’s biggest weaknesses.
There’s also the development side of the equation.
As a fellow Russian, Tarasenko could be an important resource for players like Matvei Gridin and Yegor Sharangovich.
For Gridin, who is one of Calgary’s top young prospects, having someone who understands the challenges of adapting to the NHL and navigating expectations could be invaluable.
Sharangovich is already an established NHL player, but he’s still looking to find another level offensively. Having a veteran scorer with Tarasenko’s resume around him could provide another example of what it takes to consistently produce at the highest level.
Matvei Gridin. Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Tarasenko’s offensive mindset, preparation and championship experience could help create the kind of environment where young players can learn what it takes to become consistent NHL contributors.
The Flames are building around youth, but development isn’t just about giving young players ice time. It’s also about surrounding them with the right people.
The biggest question is the contract.
A one-year deal feels like the kind of low-risk, high-reward gamble that makes sense.
Sometimes the best environment for young players includes experienced players who have already been through the highest levels of competition. While the Flames have to prioritize developing their prospects, there’s a strong argument to be made that having experienced winners around is just as vital to growth as actual ice time is.
Credit: Dave Sandford/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Whether Calgary chooses to pursue a bigger trade or look for a shorter-term free-agent addition, Conroy has to find a way to improve an offence that struggled mightily last season. A major trade may be the ideal solution, but those opportunities don’t always present themselves.
For now, a proven scorer like Tarasenko remains an interesting option, one that could provide the Flames with what they’ve been missing: a little more finish.
As the National Hockey League enters the second month of free agency, a number of former Buffalo Sabres still remain unsigned. At this point of the offseason, players who have not latched on with an NHL club might consider playing in Europe, or taking a short-term deal or professional tryout to earn a one-year deal.
A player who has sidetracked numerous times by injuries and has become a journeyman of late is winger Tanner Pearson. A 2012 first round pick of the Los Angeles Kings, the Kitchener, ON native played 25 regular season games as a rookie and 24 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the Kings second run to a Stanley Cup in 2014.
He spent five seasons in Southern California, and after struggling at the start of the 2018-19 season, Pearson was traded to Pittsburgh, and then dealt to Vancouver for Erik Gudbranson. He posted a career-high 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) in 69 games before the league was shut down due to the COVID pandemic.
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After another two seasons with the Canucks, Pearson suffered a serious hand injury that limited him to 14 games in 2022-23. He was dealt before the 2023-24 season to Montreal, and has played for Vegas, Winnipeg, and was acquired by the Sabres in a separate deal after Buffalo swapped Isak Rosen to the Jets for Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley. The deal was strictly for veteran depth, as he played only four regular season games for the Sabres and not at all in the playoffs.
Outlook: With it being the first week of August, it is getting to the territory where players are taking any offers from teams in Europe before their training camps begin, or pondering professional tryouts with NHL clubs. Pearson has signed one-year deals the last two seasons, and for clubs looking for roster fillers or veteran fourth line depth, it is possible that he could find another short-term deal before training camp, but the more likely possibility with his injury history is a professional tryout to gauge his durability.
A lot has happened since Montreal Canadiens’ owner Geoff Molson decided to clean house and start afresh with a new management regime. Molson hired Jeff Gorton as the vice president of hockey operations (he’s now president of hockey operations) and Kent Hughes as GM and allowed them to undergo a full rebuild.
On Wednesday, we covered the three best moves (signings and trades) of the Hughes regime, and today, we’ll take a look at the three best draft picks of the Hughes-Gorton regime. The tandem has now overseen five drafts with a scouting team led by Nick Bobrov and Martin Lapointe, and while it’s still early to judge some of their picks, it’s not too early to look back at some of the ones that have already turned out to be a success.
The diminutive defenseman is easily the best pick of the Hughes-Gorton regime, not only because of how talented he is, but also because he was drafted 62nd overall at the 2022 draft. That rank means that all teams repeatedly passed on the offensive-minded blueliner before the Canadiens used the pick they got from the Edmonton Oilers in the Brett Kulak deal to select the defender.
Four years later, Hutson has two professional seasons under his belt, and he’s exceeded all expectations. From a 66-point record-setting rookie season (he tied Larry Murphy’s record for most assists by a rookie defenseman in the NHL and became the highest scoring rookie in Habs history with 66 points), the Michigan native went to a 78-point sophomore season and put the league on notice that he would soon enter the James Norris Trophy conversation (he was sixth in voting this past season) and that he could already be mentioned in a conversation about Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski.
After his rookie season, the Canadiens knew they needed to ink him long-term, and they managed to do it at a very reasonable price because, like many of his teammates, the blueliner cares more about winning a championship than he does about earning as much money as possible. That team-first mentality is something the Canadiens evaluate before drafting a player; that’s a huge part of the interview process at the NHL combine. The Habs don’t just look at a player’s stats; they take a long, hard look at their character as well.
Ivan Demidov
One year after passing on Russian prospect Matvei Michkov at the 2023 draft, the Canadiens used the fifth overall pick at the 2024 draft to pick Ivan Demidov. Thanks to Bobrov’s contacts in Russia, the Habs had been keeping tabs on Demidov for a long time. When the other four teams picked Macklin Celebrini, Artyom Levshunov, Beckett Sennecke and Cayden Lindstrom in the first four spots, the Habs pounced on the opportunity to draft Demidov. While nobody could argue that Celebrini wasn’t a deserving first-overall pick, the jury is still out on the other three players that were picked ahead of Demidov.
Right-shot defenseman Levshunov currently plays on the Chicago Blackhawks' second-pairing, has 30 points to his name, and has yet to be signed to a contract extension. Sennecke plays on the Anaheim Ducks' second line, has 60 points to his name and is not yet eligible for a contract extension. In contrast, Lindstrom has yet to play a single game in the NHL, didn’t play until the playoffs the season after he was drafted, and could only muster 10 points in 31 games in his first season in the NCAA.
Demidov has already established himself as a top player for the Canadiens and was the dynamo of the second line, putting up 62 points in his rookie season. The Russian rookie wasted no time at the end of the season telling the media he loved playing in Montreal and wanted to stay long-term. His new contract extension was unsurprisingly an eight-year deal with a $9.15 million cap hit. There’s no doubt that he left money on the table, something that was acknowledged by Hughes at the signing press conference when he told the press that Demidov wanted to be part of something rather than be the main star of the team.
Demidov’s performance and willingness to buy into the team culture make him an excellent pick for the Gorton-Hughes regime, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a Canadiens fan who still laments the Habs passing on Michkov the year before. The Philadelphia Flyers pick at the 2023 draft put up 63 points in his rookie season and only 51 points in his sophomore season after turning up in less-than-ideal shape at training camp. Meanwhile, Demidov has been spending his summers in Montreal and now has the keys to the Habs' training facilities in Brossard so that he can train whenever he pleases. His work ethic and love for the game are both incredibly obvious, and he’s a perfect role model for Canadiens’ prospects.
Juraj Slafkovsky
The Bell Centre was stunned when Hughes selected Juraj Slafkovsky first overall at the 2022 draft. Most fans were hoping the Habs would pick Shane Wright and fill their need for a top-flight center; there were plenty of Canadiens jerseys featuring Wright’s name and number in the arena, but they decided to go for the promising power forward. He shone brightly at the 2022 Olympics, and that performance, coupled with his interview, convinced the Canadiens that he was the right player for them.
Four years later, nobody can argue that Wright would have been a better option; he’s still struggling to establish himself with the Seattle Kraken, and it’s been reported that they are open to trading him. In 169 NHL games, Wright only has 78 points for 0.46 points per game. Meanwhile, Slafkovsky leads the draft class with 184 points in 282 NHL games. That’s a 0.65 PPG average. Utah Mammoth pick Logan Cooley is second with 152 points in 211 NHL games, but that also gives him a 0.72 PPG average, slightly higher than Slafkovsky.
The Canadiens didn’t draft him as a pure point producer; however, they also drafted him for the style of play he could practice with his imposing frame, something the Canadiens really need, especially in the playoffs. Slafkovsky had a breakout season last year, putting up 73 points in 82 games and finally finding his identity. He understood what Martin St-Louis has been asking him to do since he joined the Habs for the 2022-23 season; he’s playing with pace to inflict maximum impact when he’s racing for the puck in the corner and colliding with opposing defensemen. He’s going into traffic in front of the net and using his big frame to wreak havoc, obstructing the goaltender’s view and being ready to pounce on rebounds.
Just like Hutson and Demidov, he’s also committed to the Canadiens long-term, having signed an 8-year contract extension which carries a $7.6 million cap hit back in July 2024. He agreed to sign a contract which had a lower cap hit than captain Nick Suzuki and sniper Cole Caufield, fitting in nicely with the salary structure Hughes was slowly putting in place. He’s yet another player who bought into what the Hughes-Gorton regime was selling: it’s all about doing what’s good for the team.
Honorable mentions to Michael Hage (21st overall at the 2024 draft) and Alexander Zharovsky (34th overall pick at the 2025 draft), who will be easier to evaluate once we see what they can do in the NHL. Bryce Pickford also falls in the honorable mention category, having had a season for the ages on the blueline in the WHL. It remains to be seen how well his game will translate to the NHL, but 45 goals in 55 games by an 81st overall pick is quite impressive.
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, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 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 82 NHL games.
31. Doman Kristof Szongoth - C (KooKoo Jr. - Finland)
Szongoth was the Sabres fifth round selection at the 2026 Draft in June (156th overall). A native of Budapest, the 18-year-old played his youth hockey in his home country and in Austria before shifting to Finland in 2023-24, where he scored 49 goals in 33 games at the under-16 level and six goals in nine games at the under-18 level, while also playing for Hungary internationally.
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The next season as a 16-year-old, he played spot duty in Finland at the under-18 level, 37 games at the under-20 junior level, and internationally for Hungary, who was attempting to qualify for the under-18 and under-20 World Junior Championships, and the Milano Cortina Olympics. He also played in the 2025 World Championships.
Last season, Szongoth posted 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 44 games for KooKoo Jr. (U-20), captained Hungary at the under-18 qualifiers, and scored a goal at the 2026 World Championships in Switzerland.
Elite Prospects says that the 6’1, 194 lb. forward is a “diligent two-way centre, always scanning and identifying his assignments while supporting his defencemen and leveraging his 200-pound frame when battling for pucks down low and along the walls.” Selected in the CHL Import Draft by the Soo Greyhounds, Szongoth will be coming to North America to play in the OHL this fall.
The Chicago Blackhawks and the rest of the National Hockey League are always scouting. There are plenty of junior showcases going on right now, and it will bleed into prospect challenges ahead of training camps.
There are plenty of undrafted players doing what they can to raise their stock going into their draft year to give themselves the best chance at being a first-round pick.
When it comes to the 2027 NHL Draft, there is one player who most believe will be the number one pick, and a consensus top three. Things can and will change, which is why doing the best scouting possible is pivotal for front offices.
This mock draft is an early look at the lottery selections (1-16) with the team order based on how each projects to finish following the 2026-27 season:
1. Vancouver Canucks - Landon DuPont, D
After an incredibly successful year in Everett, Landon DuPont is going to play for the University of Michigan. He is an elite skater who handles the puck with high-end skill, intensity, and confidence. He is incredible at making plays at even strength or with the man advantage, which gives him the ceiling of an incredible playmaking blue-liner. While defending, his effort is unmatched, and he will do whatever it takes to keep his opponents from creating. That emphasis on playing a two-way game is what separates him from other great defensemen his age, which will make him a top pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
2. Calgary Flames - Nazar Privalov, FWD
If anyone is going to challenge DuPont for the top spot in the 2027 NHL Draft, it is Nazar Privalov. He is a huge player with the skills that you don't usually see from a guy his size. Right now, he's the top forward in the draft for these reasons. A long-term KHL contract would be a problem, but we've seen guys find ways to North America when they are ready recently.
3. Chicago Blackhawks - Alexis Joseph, FWD
Few have risen on the draft boards as quickly as Alexis Joseph. He is a power forward who stands tall and plays with incredible skill, much like Privalov. As it stands right now, he is the clear rounder of the top three prospects in the 2027 class.
4. Seattle Kraken - Carter Meyer, FWD
Carter Meyer enters his draft year as the top American-born player. For being a medium-sized player, Meyer is a wrecking ball on the ice. He also matches that intensity with a strong focus on being a two-way player.
5. Nashville Predators - Sergei Skvortsov, FWD
Sergei Skvortsov may have the best pure hands in this entire draft class. What scouts will be looking for from him during his draft year is his level of compete against stronger competition. He is a strong skater, and he uses that to his advantage on every shift by never slowing down. If these skills translate to the pro game in North America one day, he will be a nightmare for defenders to face.
6. Detroit Red Wings - Sammy Nelson - FWD
Wyatt Cullen was the only player selected from the United States National Team Development Program in 2026, and Sammy Nelson missed joining him by four days. Instead, he will be one of the oldest players in the 2027 NHL Draft. He will play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2026-27, which is a great place for him to advance his skills as one of their top players.
7. New York Islanders - Milan Sundstrom, FWD
Good two-way centers from Sweden have become a staple in the NHL and their farm systems. Milan Sundstrom is one to keep an eye on heading into this year from a prospect perspective. He has a high level of skill, which is a big reason he could be a top-ten pick, but his effort on every play allows him to take advantage of said skill.
8. St. Louis Blues - Jonah Neuenschwander, FWD
Jonah Neuenschwander is a big forward who is going to create havoc at the pro level. He likes to be a force with his shot and playmaking, but the numbers don't suggest that he has an incredibly high ceiling offensively. However, as a middle-six forward in the NHL, he has the tools to make him successful, especially knowing the emphasis that the Swiss put on playing hockey the right way.
9. Winnipeg Jets - Brock England, FWD
Brock England is not a huge player, but he's not small, either. What he is, however, is an elite skater, perhaps the best in the entire draft class or close. He's not afraid to run around and make his presence felt, but the offensive upside is where teams will question him. If he explodes in that regard during his draft year, he may find himself going even higher than 9th.
10. New York Rangers - Dima Zhilkin, FWD
When Dima Zhilkin steps onto the ice for a shift, he is going to do something to get noticed. He may make a play, get a shot on net, or do something physical. Either way, he's the type of lead-by-example guy that every team in the NHL wants/needs.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins - Petr Tomek, FWD
Petr Tomek will also be one of the older players in the 2027 NHL Draft, and he has the intelligence to back up taking a player like him this high. When you combine that level of smarts with an elite ability to skate, which Tomek has, you get a prospect who has a high ceiling of development.
12. Boston Bruins - Jaxon Jacobson, FWD
One of the smaller forwards in the first round will be Jaxon Jacobson of the Brandon Wheat Kings. He is a high-end offensive player who would likely go higher if teams didn't foolishly undervalue undersized forwards. For a player of his size, he is also unafraid of anything on the ice, including a physical brand of hockey. Passing on him may be regrettable for a lot of teams down the line.
13. Philadelphia Flyers - Brock Cripps, D
This draft, as it stands right now, is very forward-heavy at the top. Right now, Brock Cripps is one of the few defenders to consider outside of DuPont, who is likely going to be first. A few departures on his Prince Albert Raiders team are going to allow him to skate as their number one defenseman, which will either help or hurt his stock. As a smaller defender with high-end skill, big offensive numbers will keep teams intrigued. Like Jacobson but on defense, teams may regret passing on a smaller player.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets - Timothy Kazda, FWD
Timothy Kazda, as it stands right now, seems like a lock to be a top-16 pick in the draft as one of the best Europeans in the Draft. As a former member of the Chicago Steele, he is now set to play at Boston College, which will be incredible for his development.
15. Los Angeles Kings - Luca Santala, FWD
Luca Santala is a big forward who can dominate offensively, but leaves a little to be desired when it comes to being hard to play against. If he can find a way to elevate his game in that way, it will provide a whole new element to his game. He has the tools to become an incredible power forward in the pros if the team that drafts him sees that and develops him properly.
16. Toronto Maple Leafs - Yevgeni Yakunin, FWD
Yevgeni Yakunin is a great power forward who has an incredible offensive ceiling for being a big-bodied prospect. The problem with him is that he is signed to a KHL contract that runs through 2031. Any team that drafts him has to either be incredibly patient or get incredibly lucky enough to see a rather lucrative buyout. If he falls outside of the top-16, that will be the main reason why. A contending team that can afford to wait it out may be interested, but you never know when it comes to elite prospects.
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The Los Angeles Kings will retire Anze Kopitar's No. 11 and unveil a bronze statue of him at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 24, 2027, as they honor the franchise's all-time leading scorer.
Kopitar, 38, retired after the 2025-26 season, his 20th in the NHL, all spent with the Kings after they drafted him 11th overall in 2005.
The ceremony will give Kings fans another chance to celebrate the Slovenia native after they shouted "Kopi" and gave him a standing ovation following a Game 4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs. The Kings are playing the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 24.
Kopitar won Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014, was team captain from 2016-17 through last season and passed Marcel Dionne on March 14, 2026, to become the franchise's leading scorer.
He finished his career with 452 goals and 1,316 points in 1,521 regular-season games, plus 89 points in 107 playoff games. He also won two Selke trophies, three Lady Byng trophies and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award.
"To have my number retired and a statue unveiled by the LA Kings is an incredible honor, and one that is difficult to put into words," Kopitar said in a statement. "When I arrived in Los Angeles 21 years ago, I simply hoped to earn the opportunity to play in the NHL. I never imagined something like this."
Kopitar will be the eighth Kings player to have his number retired. The others:
Rob Blake (4)
Marcel Dionne (16)
Dave Taylor (18)
Luc Robitaille (20)
Dustin Brown (23)
Rogie Vachon (30)
Wayne Gretzky (99)
Statues at Crypto.com Arena
Kopitar’s statue is being created by sculptors Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany.
It will join statues honoring Gretzky, Robitaille, Brown, Bob Miller, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Oscar De La Hoya, Chick Hearn, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, Elgin Baylor, Kobe and Gigi Bryant, and Pat Riley in Crypto.com Arena's Star Plaza along Chick Hearn Court.
Now that it is August, NHL free agents should soon be signing professional tryout (PTO) agreements with teams. When looking at the Columbus Blue Jackets' roster, it is fair to wonder if they will sign anyone to a PTO before the start of training camp.
One remaining UFA who could make sense for the Blue Jackets to take a gamble on with a PTO is defenseman Logan Stanley.
It is a little surprising to see Stanley still be a free agent at this point in the summer. While he had an underwhelming finish to the season after being traded to the Buffalo Sabres, he still had a career year at the end of the day.
In 76 games split between the Winnipeg Jets and Sabres in 2025-26, Stanley posted new career highs with nine goals, 17 assists, and 26 points. He also threw 110 hits and recorded 128 penalty minutes, so it is clear that the 6-foot-7 defenseman plays a heavy game.
With all of this, the Blue Jackets should consider taking a chance on Stanley with a PTO. They could use more depth on the left side of their blueline, and he could fit nicely on their bottom pairing if he earned a contract for the season. Yet, he could even be a solid pickup for the Blue Jackets if he was used as an extra defenseman.
Ultimately, there would be zero risk in the Blue Jackets taking a gamble on Stanley with a PTO. It will be interesting to see if they do just that from here.
There are very few players who become synonymous with a franchise. Fewer still who can spend two decades with the same organization and leave it difficult to imagine that organization without them.
Anze Kopitar is one of those players.
On Feb. 24, 2027, the Los Angeles Kings will retire Kopitar’s No. 11 at Crypto.com Arena and unveil a bronze statue honoring the greatest player in franchise history. The ceremony will take place before the Kings face the Montreal Canadiens, giving Los Angeles the opportunity to celebrate a career that has come to define an era of Kings hockey.
Kopitar’s number will become just the eighth retired in franchise history, joining the likes of Rogie Vachon, Marcel Dionne, Dave Taylor, Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Rob Blake and Dustin Brown.
But the significance of Kopitar’s place among those names goes beyond the numbers hanging in the rafters.
He arrived in Los Angeles as an 18-year-old Slovenian prospect selected 11th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft. Twenty years later, he leaves the game as the Kings’ all-time leader in games played, assists and points — the captain who helped transform the organization from a franchise searching for its identity into a two-time Stanley Cup champion.
And now, his likeness will stand outside the building he spent his career calling home.
Kopitar will become the fourth Kings player to receive a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, joining Gretzky, Robitaille and Brown. Bob Miller, whose statue also stands outside the arena, will remain the only non-player honored in that fashion.
For Kopitar, however, the celebration is less about what he accomplished individually than the people who helped him get there.
“When I arrived in Los Angeles 21 years ago, I simply hoped to earn the opportunity to play in the NHL,” Kopitar said. “I never imagined something like this.”
That humility has been a defining characteristic of Kopitar throughout his career.
From Slovenian Teenager To Face Of The Franchise
Kopitar did not need long to introduce himself to Los Angeles.
In his NHL debut on Oct. 6, 2006, he scored twice against the Anaheim Ducks. Three games into his career, he had already accumulated six points, becoming only the second player in Kings history to reach that mark over his first three games.
He finished his rookie season with 20 goals and 61 points in 72 games, becoming just the fifth rookie in Kings history to reach 60 points — and the first in two decades.
He never stopped building from there.
The following season, Kopitar recorded 77 points and began a run of dominance that would eventually see him lead Los Angeles in scoring 15 times. Only Gordie Howe, with 17 seasons in Detroit, and Sidney Crosby, with 16 in Pittsburgh, have led a single franchise in scoring more often.
Wayne Gretzky led multiple franchises in scoring 19 times over his career, including nine times with Edmonton, seven times with Los Angeles and three times with the New York Rangers.
That puts Kopitar in exceptionally rare company.
It also helps explain why his retirement leaves such a massive hole in Los Angeles.
Kopitar's career was built on more than offensive production.
He became one of the NHL's premier two-way centers, a player trusted in virtually every situation and against the opposition's best players. He became a dominant faceoff specialist, a power-play contributor, a penalty-killing presence and, eventually, the player teammates looked toward when the game was at its most important.
His résumé reflects that versatility.
Kopitar won the Selke Trophy twice, recognizing him as the NHL's best defensive forward, and collected three Lady Byng Trophies. He also received the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award.
Then there were the two Stanley Cup championships.
The first came in 2012, when the Kings finally broke through and won the first championship in franchise history. Two years later, Los Angeles did it again.
Kopitar was at the center of both runs.
He scored one of the most memorable goals of the 2012 postseason in overtime against the New Jersey Devils in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, helping set the tone for a championship run that changed the trajectory of the franchise.
By the time he became captain in 2016, there was little question about who represented the Kings.
Kopitar wasn't simply wearing the 'C.'
He was the identity of the team.
The Records Tell Only Part Of The Story
Kopitar finished his career with 1,316 points, courtesy of 452 goals and 864 assists, in 1,521 regular-season games.
Every one of those games came in a Kings uniform.
His 1,521 games are the most in franchise history, as are his 864 assists and 1,316 points. His 831 even-strength points, 79 game-winning goals, 34 overtime points and 15,237 faceoff wins also sit atop the franchise record book.
He ranks second in plus/minus at plus-127, power-play points with 457, overtime goals with nine and shots with 3,429.
His 452 goals rank third in franchise history.
And the record that perhaps best captures his longevity came late in his career.
On March 5, 2026, Kopitar became only the 25th player in NHL history to appear in 1,500 games. Nine players had previously reached that milestone with a single franchise.
Nine days later, he passed another legend.
Playing in New Jersey on March 14, Kopitar scored twice to move his career point total to 1,308, passing Marcel Dionne's 1,307 and becoming the Kings' all-time leading scorer.
Dionne had held the record for more than 45 years.
Kopitar finally took it away.
It was a fitting moment for a player whose career had always been measured in longevity as much as production.
A Captain Who Kept Showing Up
Kopitar's final years in Los Angeles may be just as important to his legacy as his prime.
After taking over as captain, he helped guide the Kings back to the postseason six times, including each of his final five seasons.
His playoff résumé is equally impressive.
Kopitar leaves Los Angeles as the franchise's all-time leader in playoff games with 107. He ranks second in postseason assists with 62 and is tied for second in playoff points with 89. His 27 postseason goals rank third, while his five game-winning goals and 30 power-play points are both near the top of the franchise record book.
He also continued to collect recognition long after the Kings' championship years.
Kopitar earned 25 different team awards during his career, including the Bill Libby Award as the Kings' Most Valuable Player nine times and the organization's Best Defensive Player award eight times.
He was also named the team's Most Inspirational Player four times and Most Popular Player three times.
Those awards tell a different story than the NHL trophies.
They reflect how the people inside the organization viewed him.
More Than A Hockey Player In Los Angeles
For all the numbers, championships and individual awards, Kopitar's legacy in Los Angeles extends well beyond the rink.
He became deeply involved in the Southern California community, supporting Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Make-A-Wish Foundation while also playing an important role in the growth of youth hockey throughout the region.
That influence is part of why the Kings' celebration will feel bigger than a jersey retirement.
Kopitar's No. 11 will eventually hang alongside the numbers of the franchise's foundational stars. His statue will join the physical monuments to Gretzky, Robitaille and Brown.
But unlike most of those players, Kopitar spent his entire NHL career in Los Angeles.
He arrived as an unknown teenager from Jesenice, Slovenia.
He leaves as the player who played more games, recorded more assists and produced more points than anyone who ever wore a Kings jersey.
And somewhere between those two points, he became something far more difficult to quantify.
He became a King.
“His legacy extends far beyond the records, awards and championships,” Kings president Luc Robitaille said. “He has inspired generations of Kings fans and left an indelible mark on our franchise.”
That legacy will become permanent on Feb. 24, 2027.
No. 11 will go to the rafters.
Anze Kopitar will take his place among the legends.
And Los Angeles will finally get the chance to put a statue to the career it spent 20 years watching unfold.
