This weekend, the NHL account on X sparked a lot of comments when it asked fans what the pettiest hockey grudge they were still holding was. There were plenty of answers that wanted to set the record straight by saying that there were no petty grudges in hockey and that all grudges were valid. A statement which would find a lot of support in Montreal, considering how seriously fans take their hockey in the Mecca of hockey. Here are, in chronological order, the five biggest grudges in Montreal Canadiens history.

1954-55: The Rocket Richard Suspension

On March 13, 1955, there was an altercation in a game between the Habs and the Boston Bruins. As the Canadiens were on a power play, Maurice Rocket Richard was high-sticked and a delayed penalty was called. Once the Bruins touched the puck and the penalty was called, Richard sought revenge on Hal Laycoe, and as linesman Cliff Thompson attempted to restrain a furious Rocket, he was struck by the star. That led to a disciplinary hearing with the league, and NHL President Colin Campbell decided that Richard, who was on his way to win the scoring race, would miss the remainder of the 1954-55 season and the playoffs.

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Unsurprisingly, the ruling was not well received in Montreal. When Campbell showed up to the game between the Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings on March 17, 1955, it sparked what would come to be known as the “Richard Riot,” an event that many would go on to describe as the start of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec. The League president was assaulted in the stands, was thrown various items at, and was slapped and hit with a tomato in the face. The crowd got so unruly that a tear gas bomb was set off and the building was evacuated, forcing the Habs to forfeit the game. A full-blown riot erupted outside as fans felt the Richard suspension was motivated by the fact that he was a French-Canadian.

The following day, Richard took to the airwaves to plead with fans and ask them to support the team rather than protest his suspension. They did, but they didn’t forget, and as Hab Bernard “Boom Boom” Geoffrion passed Richard in the scoring race, the Montreal fans booed him.

1995-96: The End of the Line for Patrick Roy

40 years later, on December 2, 1995, rookie coach Mario Tremblay hung out to dry superstar Patrick Roy when he left him in net in a game against the Red Wings when it was clear that it wasn’t St-Patrick’s night. By the time the coach finally pulled the goaltending legend, he had let in nine goals on 26 shots and had been booed and mocked by the home crowd. Once back on the bench, Roy told team president Ronald Corey that he had played his last game in Montreal. Days later, GM Rejean Houle traded Roy and captain Mike Keane to the Colorado Avalanche for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Ruscinsky, and Andrei Kovalenko, arguably the worst trade in Habs history and one that sent the franchise into a very dark age.

To this day, plenty of fans still hold a grudge against Tremblay for not pulling Roy sooner and against Houle for that awful trade. The fact that Roy went on to win two more Stanley Cups with the Avalanche after the trade while the Canadiens haven’t won a single one since certainly didn’t help.

2009-10: The Jaroslav Halak Trade

The 2010 playoffs will forever be known as the Halak spring in Montreal. That year, Jaroslav Halak wrestled the starting job away from Carey Price and carried the team to a surprise Eastern Conference Final. He ran out of gas in the third round, and the Habs were eliminated in five games by the Philadelphia Flyers, but his performances against the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins as the Canadiens beat both Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in seven games in the first two rounds were the stuff of legends.

It turned the goaltender into a fan favorite, and in the offseason, as he was about to become an RFA, GM Pierre Gauthier elected to trade him to the St. Louis Blues in what he called a “big picture decision”, deciding to bet on Price’s bright future rather than on Halak’s immediate success. However, the return Gauthier got from the Blues was judged to be far too low, as center Lars Eller, who had only played seven NHL games by then, and tough guy Ian Schultz came to Montreal. Fans felt betrayed that the playoff hero was sent packing, and despite Price turning out the way he did, there are still those who lament the trade. Canadiens fans can certainly hold a grudge.

2010-11: The Chara-Pacioretty Incident

Zdeno Chara from the Bruins became public enemy number one in Montreal when he hit Max Pacioretty, a hit that saw him hit the glass between the two team benches. It was very much as if he had hit a wall, and he fell on the ice unconscious. You could have heard a pin drop in the Bell Centre on that day; Chara silenced an arena that’s always raucous for a Canadiens-Bruins duel. There was real concern in that moment not only for Pacioretty’s health but also for his career. The sniper was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with both a severe concussion and a fractured fourth cervical vertebra.

Canadiens fans never forgot that hit, and they never forgave it either. From that day on, whenever Chara touched the puck on the Bell Centre ice, he was copiously booed by the Habs faithful.

2013-2014: The Turning Point In Price’s Career

Price was on fire in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs; he helped the Canadiens sweep the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round before being one of the key elements of a 7-game win in the second round against the Bruins. The Canadiens fans were hoping he could take them all the way to the 25th Stanley Cup in franchise history, but in the first game of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers, he was run over by Chris Kreider, skates first, colliding with the goaltender’s right knee.

If you ask a Rangers fan about that incident, they’ll tell you that Kreider was the innocent victim of a trip by defenseman Alexei Emelin. If you ask a Canadiens fan about it, they’ll tell you that if Kreider were tripped, he wouldn’t have fallen that way. The belief in Montreal was, and still is, that Kreider saw an opportunity to take Price out and he took it.

12 years later, Kreider, who’s now with the Anaheim Ducks, is still booed by the Habs faithful, and that will never change. Price did concede that the hit was part of the problem with his knee, but he wouldn’t call it “The problem” in a 2025 phone interview with The Gazette’s Stu Cowan. He added that he didn’t hold a grudge against Kreider, calling the incident a quick play in the playoffs and that he doesn’t have any ill will toward the power forward.

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Former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Hunt has called time on his professional hockey career, bringing an end to a remarkable journey that took him from the BCHL to the NHL, the AHL and ultimately a gold medal with Team Canada.

The 37-year-old Hunt announced his retirement from professional hockey on social media, closing the book on a career that spanned nearly two decades and included stops with seven NHL organizations — including the Avalanche.

His connection to Colorado, however, went beyond his time in the NHL.

Before and after his stint with the Avalanche, Hunt became a familiar face within the organization’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. He served as the Eagles’ captain and spent two seasons with the club, appearing in 94 games while recording 23 goals and 47 assists for 70 points.

That production was indicative of the offensive ability Hunt consistently displayed throughout his AHL career, while his leadership made him an important figure in the Colorado organization.

Hunt eventually got his opportunity with the Avalanche during the 2022-23 season, appearing in 47 games. The 5-foot-9 defenseman recorded four goals and six assists for 10 points during his lone season in an Avalanche sweater.

While Hunt was never a household name around the NHL, his career was defined by persistence. He continually found ways to carve out a role despite being overlooked because of his size, eventually playing 288 regular-season games at the highest level.

His final professional season came overseas with Sport Vaasa in Finland’s top domestic league. Hunt produced seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points in 53 games during the 2025-26 campaign.

After wrapping up his playing career, Hunt reflected on just how far hockey had taken him.

“Hockey has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. From dreaming about playing in the NHL as a kid, to living that dream for so many years … I am incredibly grateful for every opportunity, every teammate, every coach, every organization, and every person who helped me along the way.”

Hunt’s NHL résumé stretched across parts of 14 seasons. In addition to Colorado, he suited up for the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks.

Across those 288 NHL games, he finished with 20 goals and 60 assists for 80 points.

But the NHL represented only a portion of Hunt’s professional career.

He spent the majority of his time in the American Hockey League, appearing in 422 games for the Chicago Wolves, Oklahoma City Barons, Bakersfield Condors, Colorado Eagles and Hershey Bears. Hunt amassed 84 goals and 214 assists for 298 points in those games.

His consistency in the AHL earned him six All-Star selections. Hunt appeared in five consecutive AHL All-Star Games from 2012-13 through 2016-17 before earning another selection in 2022-23.

He also surpassed the 40-point mark four times and produced two 50-point seasons, establishing himself as one of the league’s more productive offensive defensemen.

Hunt’s path to professional hockey began in the BCHL with the Burnaby Express.

Over parts of three seasons, he registered 20 goals and 69 assists for 89 points in 122 regular-season games. His best campaign came in 2007-08, when he erupted for 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points in 59 games.

That performance helped pave the way to Bemidji State University, where Hunt spent four seasons.

He finished his collegiate career with 24 goals and 88 assists for 112 points in 150 NCAA games before beginning his professional journey.

For a player who entered the hockey world without the imposing frame traditionally associated with NHL defensemen, Hunt’s career was a testament to finding other ways to stand out.

Hunt’s final chapter with Canada provided an especially fitting conclusion to his playing career.

He represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship in Finland, recording three assists while helping the country capture a gold medal.

Two years later, Hunt would make his way to Finland permanently for the final season of his professional career.

Now, after years of chasing the game from one league and organization to another, Hunt is stepping away with an NHL career, multiple AHL All-Star selections, a stint as an AHL captain and a world championship gold medal on his résumé.

Hunt’s time as captain of the Eagles further cemented his connection to the organization and the Colorado hockey community — a fitting part of the journey for a defenseman who spent his career proving that size was never going to determine how far he could go.

It’s been quite the off-season for the Chicago Blackhawks. They made a big trade, signed some depth players, and brought back a franchise icon. Now, they are hoping that the 2026-27 season is another improvement over the year prior. 

Part of making these additions is taking up roster spots from guys who thought they might have cracked the lineup. This has become a hard team to make for every player on the bottom half of the roster, especially at forward. 

Multiple players with significant NHL experience may be on the outside looking in. It’s good to have depth, but some of these guys may begin the year in the AHL because of the additions pushing them down. 

3 Blackhawks Who Will Find It Difficult To Crack Opening Night LineupThe Chicago Blackhawks have many forwards who are capable of playing in the NHL. Some of them will be out on Opening Night because of the limited space.

It’s even harder for unproven prospects at this stage of their careers. If one of these rookies, not including Roman Kantserov, makes the team out of camp, it would mean that they were sensational in camp and the preseason: 

Sacha Boisvert

Sacha Boisvert was one of the best freshmen in the NCAA two years ago at the University of North Dakota. One year later, he transferred to Boston University, where things didn’t go as smoothly due to injury and inconsistencies. As a former first-round pick by the Blackhawks, he has the pedigree to eventually be a great contributor on a winning team. 

After his 2025-26 season at BU ended, he signed his entry-level deal with Chicago and played in 7 games. In those seven games, he had one goal and one assist, along with a fight to emphasize the physical nature of his game. Sometimes, he looked outmatched when it came to size and strength, despite being a physical player, but his skills belong in the NHL even now. 

This summer, a lot has been made about his bulking up. With the additions made to Chicago’s lineup, the AHL will be a great place for him to work on his game at the pro level before graduating to the NHL full-time. Injuries and potential trade deadline selling could force Boisvert into the lineup at some point, but starting in the AHL feels realistic. 

AJ Spellacy

At the end of the season, it seemed like AJ Spellacy would have a chance to impact the Chicago Blackhawks as soon as opening night. Everywhere he goes, whether it be major junior or the World Junior Championships, Spellacy makes a difference. 

Spellacy, a third-round pick (72nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, was not a high-end offensive producer with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. He did, however, have a knack for scoring big goals when the lights were brightest, and that applied to his time with Team USA at the World Juniors. 

Spellacy has the tools to be a solid bottom-six forward in the NHL. His ceiling might not be as high as other prospects, but his floor is much higher. He is NHL-ready now on a team that could afford to play prospects in middle-six roles for a while. 

For now, Spellacy will have to make his pro hockey debut as a member of the Rockford IceHogs (AHL). That league is perfect for him, as he will be able to prepare for the NHL by playing pro hockey against good players who are hungry to reach the NHL themselves.

There is a specific role that will have to open up for Spellacy to make his NHL Debut, but he will stay ready in the AHL under the development staff there.

Marek Vanacker

Marek Vanacker is an incredibly skilled forward whom Chicago took with the 27th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He is one of the many Brantford Bulldogs to enter the Chicago Blackhawks system over the last handful of years. 

In 2025-26, Vanacker took his game to another level to follow up his injury-riddled season the year before by having 47 goals and 35 assists in 82 games played. Those 47 goals led the OHL, beating out former Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham by one. 

Now, after all of that success, he is a bit blocked at the NHL level for now. As moves are made within the organization, Vanacker is going to get his chance, but the Rockford IceHogs will be calling his name on Opening Night unless he is so spectacular in the preseason that the Hawks have no choice but to play him. 

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

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Brad Hunt has officially called it a career.

The former Minnesota Wild defenseman announced his retirement from professional hockey on social media, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than a decade and took him through the NHL, AHL and Europe.

Hunt's journey to the NHL was anything but conventional. Undrafted out of Bemidji State University, the Maple Ridge, British Columbia native worked his way through the ECHL and AHL before making his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2013-14 season.

Over parts of 10 NHL seasons, Hunt appeared in 288 regular-season games with the Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche. He finished his NHL career with 26 goals, 60 assists and 86 points.

Minnesota fans will remember Hunt from his three seasons with the Wild from 2018-21.

After being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2018-19 season, Hunt carved out a role as a dependable depth defenseman with an offensive touch. He played 100 games for Minnesota, recording 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points while quarterbacking the second power-play unit at times.

His best offensive season came in 2019-20 when he set NHL career highs with eight goals, 11 assists and 19 points in 59 games.

Following his stint with the Wild, Hunt spent the 2021-22 season with the Vancouver Canucks before helping the Colorado Avalanche during the 2022-23 campaign. He later continued his career overseas before announcing his retirement. 

Although he never became a full-time top-four defenseman, Hunt's perseverance made him one of hockey's better underdog stories. From going undrafted to reaching nearly 300 NHL games, he proved that determination and offensive skill could earn a lengthy career at the highest level.

His retirement closes the book on a professional career defined by resilience, adaptability and an unwavering commitment to chasing the NHL dream.

Among the holes left unaddressed by the Philadelphia Flyers this offseason was defense, where the club added only Simon Benoit at the expense of Emil Andrae. If the Flyers want to take another step in the rebuild, they'll need to do more than that.

Fortunately, a young, potential future top four defenseman can be had via trade, and they needn't look very far to find him.

Elsewhere in the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes have yet to agree to a new contract with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin who, according to himself, would like north of $8 million a year on his next deal.

"Earlier, when asked about rumors that he wants $8 million per season on his new deal, the defenseman smiled and said: 'More.'" RG's Daria Tuboltseva wrote in her exclusive interview with Nikishin.

"My agents handle that. I don't push the situation much, they take care of everything themselves. If something concrete comes up, they'll call me. Right now there's nothing concrete about the contract," Nikishin said. "The salary cap keeps growing, and defensemen are getting bigger salaries. You can already feel the difference. I think contracts will keep getting bigger and bigger over time."

By the sounds of it, Nikishin, 24, is backing himself to earn his improved salary and do the Hurricanes, or a team like the Flyers, a favor by taking the money now instead of later.

With the Leo Carlsson offer sheet and trade links to Zach Werenski, it's been well-established that the Flyers are able and willing to spend big money to improve their roster.

Nikishin, with 11 goals and 33 points in his first NHL season, would provide an upgrade already, even while not yet reaching his full potential.

Flyers Should Lure Alexander Nikishin Away From Hurricanes with Matvei Michkov's HelpDefenseman Alexander Nikishin is the perfect trade target for the Philadelphia Flyers this late into the offseason.

Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale were the only Flyers defensemen to crack 30 points last season, and they were also the only two to have more than five goals (Sanheim had 11).

The young Russian blue liner already has 17 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience, winning it all with the Hurricanes this year while playing in a reduced role, and he's also a former teammate of Matvei Michkov's from their SKA St. Petersburg days in the KHL.

With Nikishin in need of a new contract and the Flyers willing to spend, plus the added element of familiarity, the trade fit between the two sides is obvious.

However, at the same time, other teams are pursuing the 6-foot-3 defender, and the Flyers will have to beat them to the punch if they are serious about making another upgrade this summer.

Recently, it was reported that the St. Louis Blues have interest in trading for Nikishin, and other teams will begin to realize soon, too, that the 24-year-old is worth the chase.

The Blues have enjoyed great success going this kind of route before, landing Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg with offer sheets that pried them out of Edmonton.

If a team like St. Louis is willing to pony up again, even if not necessarily an offer sheet, that might say something about Nikishin.

According to PuckPedia, the Flyers have $14.88 million in cap space remaining and only need to re-sign Nikita Grebenkin, so the decision to trade for and re-sign Nikishin is entirely up to them.

Some of Vancouver’s minor hockey associations are expressing their concern over the Vancouver Canucks’ potential practice facility project. 

In a joint statement released on Friday, the Vancouver Angels, Vancouver Thunderbirds, and Vancouver Minor Hockey Association said the following regarding the Canucks’ recent practice facility update of signing an MOU to build at Britannia Ice Rink. 

“...We are disappointed by the report that the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Canucks are exploring building a practice facility that could leverage an existing community rink at Britannia without creating desperately needed new ice capacity.

“The City of Vancouver has not added a net new municipal ice sheet since the 1970s, yet demand for ice time remains exceptionally strong and continues to grow. Minor hockey associations throughout the city are operating at capacity and, in some cases, turning away prospective players because sufficient ice time is not available. The shortage impacts not only minor hockey but also a wide range of community ice users, including figure skating, adult recreation leagues, and other ice sport organizations.” 

In the project proposal released on Thursday, the Canucks and City of Vancouver’s plan indicates that, rather than building a brand-new facility itself, the construction process will focus on creating a separate section attached to the pre-existing rink, referred to as the “training venue.” 

With this in mind, the statement made by the Vancouver Angels, Vancouver Thunderbirds, and Vancouver Minor Hockey outlines how the idea of a new practice facility complex, one they compare to the Seattle Kraken’s Community Iceplex, could be “a conversation worth having” regarding its benefit to both the team, the city, and the communities being impacted by potential work done at Britannia. 

“A partnership involving the Vancouver Canucks, the City of Vancouver, and a private-sector development or operating partner could help expand ice access, manage capital costs, and create a lasting legacy for future generations of Vancouver families,” they state. 

The full statement can be found via @vanminorhockey on Instagram. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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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. 

Marcus Johansson is the Webster’s Dictionary definition of a journeyman, having played for six NHL clubs during his 16-year career. After starting in 2010 and spending his first seven seasons in Washington, the 35-year-old has played for New Jersey, Boston, Buffalo (during the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season), Minnesota, Seattle, a return to the Capitals, and then the last four seasons back with the Wild.   

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Johansson’s best offensive years were during his first stint with Washington, where he posted a career-high 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists) in 2016-17, but for the most part, he has settled into a middle-six depth forward who scores in the 30-40 point range. Last season, with the Wild, he compiled 49 points (15 goals, 34 assists), four goals in the playoffs, and played for Sweden at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, yet he had not been re-signed by Minnesota GM Bill Guerin.  

There was some thought that the veteran forward was in a holding pattern waiting for the Wild to offer him another one-year deal, but the 35-year-old in early June signed a deal to return home to play with Farjestad, which likely marks the end of his NHL career. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

On Sunday night, at 7:00 PM, NHL Network will air its Top 20 Wings Right Now list. Is Montreal Canadiens’ sniper Cole Caufield likely to land on that list? The American goal scorer might have failed to make his national team for the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Olympics, but that was mostly down to the Americans wanting to play a style of game that he wasn’t really suited to.

Caufield finished the last season with 88 points, third amongst all right wingers behind Nikita Kucherov (130 points) and David Pastrnak (100 points). He was also sixth amongst all wingers since Jason Robertson (96 points), Kyle Connor (92 points) and Kirill Kaprizov (89 points), who has a $17 M cap hit, all finished ahead of him.

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In goals, Caufield and his 51 lamplighters ruled the roost. No one even came close to him. Kucherov was the closest right winger with 44 goals, and Kaprizov was the top-scoring left winger with 45 goals. In fact, only one forward scored more goals than Caufield, centerman Nathan MacKinnon, who had 53 goals (including eight empty-net goals). Interestingly, Kucherov, who was the second-highest-scoring right winger, had seven empty-netters.

Caufield was also tied in fourth place when it comes to the best differential amongst wingers at plus-29, bested only by Kucherov (plus-44), Brandon Hagel (plus-34), and Artturi Lehkonen (plus-32).

Statistically speaking, Caufield should find his way onto that list, even if he didn’t have the size Team USA was looking for. He’s also a constant threat on the power play, has scored a lot of game-tying or game-winning goals for the Canadiens, and he has a knack for scoring when he is most needed to, at least in the regular season. Furthermore, he’s one of the greatest bang-for-your-buck players in the league with a $7.85 million cap hit. Who do you see making the NHL Network's Top 20?

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OPENING NIGHT COUNTDOWNS

67 Days Until Opening Night: James MalatestaMalatesta was drafted 133rd overall by the Blue Jackets in 2021.

Last season, Malatesta set a career-high in games played at 57. He scored 10 goals and totaled 18 points, while setting a career-high with 87 PIMs. He was signed to a one-year extension by Columbus last month and will be an RFA once again at the end of 2027. 

66 Days Until Opening Night: Mario Lemieux Mario Lemieux was drafted first overall in 1984.

Super Mario only played two games against the Blue Jackets, one in the 00-01 season, and one in the 02-03 season. He had 167 combined points in those two seasons, and could not muster a single point against Columbus. That's a win!

In those two games he had zero points, was a minus-3, had 6 shots, and played 25:40 per game. 

65 Days Until Opening Night: Luca Del Bel BelluzDel Bel Belluz was drafted in 2022, #44 overall, by Columbus.

Del Bel Belluz was drafted in 2022, #44 overall, by Columbus, a pick that some considered a steal at the time. Later in 2022, he would sign his entry-level contract with the CBJ. The Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL drafted the Woodbridge, Ontario product, and then, in his final year, he was traded to the Sarnia Sting, also of the OHL.

64 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #64There have only been two players wear the #64 for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Unfortunately for Columbus, neither one of them made a significant impact for Columbus. Cleveland is a different story, however. 

Fix-Wolansky never got an extended chance to prove he could be an everyday NHL player and was not tendered a contract in 2025. He went on to sign a deal with the New York Rangers. He would never play for the Rangers, but played 72 games for the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring 31 goals and totaling 55 points.

62 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #62The Columbus Blue Jackets have only had four players wear #62 in their history, and in a weird twist, three of them have been since 2023. They haven't had any real impact players wear the number in their short 25-year history, but that could change one day. 

Alex Broadhurst -  Draft: Chicago, 7th round - 199th overall - 2011

Broadhurst was traded by Chicago to Columbus on June 30, 2015, along with Brandon Saad and Michael Paliotta, for Artem Anisimov, Jeremy Morin, Corey Tropp, Marko Dano, and Columbus' 4th-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. He would only play in a pair of games for the CBJ during the 2017-18 season. Where Broadhurst would excel would be in the AHL for the Cleveland Monsters. He played in 229 games for Cleveland, scoring 48 goals and totaling 132 points. On February 25, 2019, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets. He would play 2019-20 with the San Diego Gulls, and then leave for Europe. He spent two seasons in Liiga and the last four playing in the KHL. He is signed to play for the Fischtown Pinguins of the DEL in 26-27.

61 Days Until Opening Night: Rick NashThe Jackets have only had one player wear the #61. No one else will wear it. 

Nash went on to score 41 goals in his 2nd NHL season, securing the Rocket Richard Trophy, which he shared with snipers Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk. He was the youngest player in league history to lead the league in goals.

NEWS

A Second Buyout Window For Columbus Has Opened And Why They Won't Use ItThe<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets"> Columbus Blue Jackets</a>&nbsp;have a long streak of not going to arbitration with any RFA's, and it continued this year by signing Jet Greaves and Cole Sillinger just before their scheduled hearings.&nbsp;

Now, per CBA rules, they have 48 hours to buy out any players by putting them on outright waivers. The rule kicks in 72 hours after their final arbitration hearing, or, in this case, by signing Cole Sillinger and avoiding a hearing. The window will close on Thursday. 

Former Blue Jackets Goalie Retires After 11-Year NHL CareerThis former Blue Jackets goalie is calling it a career.

Hutchinson spent the 2022-23 season with the Blue Jackets organization. In 16 games with Columbus that campaign, he posted a 2-6-3 record, an .877 save percentage, and a 4.29 goals-against average. This would be his lone season with the Blue Jackets, as he spent his first NHL season with the Detroit Red Wings in 2023-24. 

Cole Sillinger Excited To Play With Coyle & Olivier For Years, But Know They Have To Take It To Another LevelCole Sillinger sat down with the media for a short press conference to talk about his new deal.

 "We've talked about it; it starts with our belief, just what we're capable of doing, and I know those two guys that they have more of themselves as well. Obviously, was super pumped to see Charlie extend for six more years at the start of the summer." 

Blue Jackets Rank Surprisingly High In NHL Contract Efficiency RankingsDom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic ranks every team in the NHL based on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7471312/2026/07/29/nhl-contract-efficiency-rankings-2026/" target="_blank">their contract efficiency</a>, which you can see here.&nbsp;Luszczyszyn compares his algorithm's market value to a roster's actual salaries in order to see if a team is making the most of its salary cap space.&nbsp;

Regarding the defense, Zach Werenski came in with a positive of 99.7%, which puts his total model value at a staggering $18 million per season. Don Waddell better hope Werenski and his camp don't see this model. 

3 Former Blue Jackets Who Are Still Free AgentsThese three former Blue Jackets are still free agents in August.

Patrik Laine, James van Riemsdyk, and Nick Blankenburg are three former Blue Jackets who are still free agents at this juncture of the off-season.

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

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Colorado Avalanche News

• 2026 OHL in the system: Colorado Avalanche. [CHL]

• Predicting the Colorado Avalanche’s top scorers in 2026-27. [Sports Illustrated]
• Former Avalanche goalie Justus Annunen has gone from a trade piece in Colorado to a rising star in Nashville, forcing the hockey world to rethink what his ceiling truly is. [The Hockey News]

News Around the League

• Patrick Kane returns to Blackhawks on two-year deal. [Sportsnet]

• Sharks And Celebrini agree to five-year, $94M extension at record $18.8M AAV. [TSN]

• McDavid: Babcock ‘perfect fit’ for where Oilers are at. [The Score]

• How Eric Lindros could have changed Avalanche history. [Sports Illustrated]

• Women of Colour Hockey Collective broadens its reach by introducing the game to Jamaican children. [Toronto Star]

• Gap remains wide as Senators, Drake Batherson work toward new deal. [Toronto Sun]

• McKenna, other top prospects take in ‘fun’ NHLPA Rookie Showcase. [NHL]

• Decision on Russian participation for the 2026-2027 IIHF Championship season made following event-by-event review. [IIHF]

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going into the 2026-27 NHL season with an entirely new coaching staff, with Jim Hiller steering the ship from behind the bench.

It was a much-needed shakeup after the Maple Leafs missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since that streak started in 2016-17. With that change, particularly the hire of Hiller, turned heads.

In the process of searching for a new bench boss, Toronto had reported links to the likes of Peter Laviolette, Patrick Roy, Jay Woodcroft, Dallas Eakins, and even Joe Pavelski. But there weren't many hints about Hiller returning to the Maple Leafs organization for a second stint, this time as the 41st head coach in the franchise's history, instead of an assistant, as he was from 2015-16 to 2018-19 with Toronto.

Part of the reason for that is how Hiller's tenure with the Los Angeles Kings played out. Under Hiller, the Kings were a very mediocre team offensively at their best. At their worst, they were a team that kept a tight, defensive system but struggled mightily to score goals, which ultimately led to his firing on March 1.

Therefore, Hiller is certainly going into this coming season with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. 

Indeed, his system with Los Angeles led to average results and dull hockey, but that was a different team. The Kings didn't have superstar offensive talents such as Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Not to mention threats like John Tavares, Matthew Knies, Gavin McKenna, and others.

'Celebrate Offense Again': How Jim Hiller Plans To Fix Maple Leafs, But Retain Craig Berube's StyleNew Toronto Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller plans to "celebrate offense again" and wants his team to skate. But he'll also retain a portion of Craig Berube's style of hockey.

Hiller will have the opportunity to show that he's not just a coach who has his team sit back and defend. In fact, when he was an assistant in Toronto, he was in charge of the team's power play, meaning he can incorporate an attacking approach into his team's play.

His time with the Kings was his only stint as a head coach in the NHL. With that, there isn't much of a successful sample size to say that Hiller is a top coach in the league and capable of guiding the Leafs back to the playoffs. After all, he finished 24th in TheHockeyNews.com's NHL head coach ranking.

Where Does Maple Leafs' John Chayka Stand Among NHL GM's With Most To Prove In 2026-27?With his history in the NHL, all the moves he's made with the roster, coaching staff and front office, among other actions since being hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs, is John Chayka the NHL GM with the most to prove this coming season?

But if he's going to rewrite that narrative, he'll have to do it under some real pressure, not just because of where the Maple Leafs stand based on failure from this past year, but also because of the market.

Hiller may not rank as highly among his peers with the most to prove this coming year like GM John Chayka might, but the Leafs' head coach is definitely in the top 10 in that regard.

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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. 

So, this time around, making a top-20 list was challenging. However, 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. So, this excludes names such as Ben Kindel, Filip Hallander, Oliver Okuliar, and Alexander Alexeyev.

To kick off our 2026 Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list, we will first reveal the names of those who just missed the cut. 

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Honorable mentions

C Atley Calvert

Leaving the 22-year-old undrafted center off this list was a very, very tough call. After putting together two very impressive WHL campaigns with the Moose Jaw Warriors from 2022-24, Calvert joined the organization on an ATO and was eventually signed to an AHL contract.

His performance in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers - former affiliate of the Penguins - during the 2024-25 season included 13 goals and 36 points in 38 games, and it earned him an AHL promotion, where he has remained ever since. In 96 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), Calvert has 25 goals and 52 points.

He was rewarded a precious contract slot when the Penguins inked him to a two-year, entry-level contract earlier this summer. They believe in his talent and his growth and that he will continue to play a pivotal role in WBS’s top-six.

RW Melvin Fernstrom

Fernstrom, 20, had a lot going for him heading into the 2025-26 season. He had just won Rookie of the Year for the Swedish Hockey League the season prior, when he put up eight goals and 17 points in 48 games playing against men.

However, he took quite the step back last season.

After recording just three goals and four points in 36 SHL games, Orebro HK was set to loan him to a lower league until the Penguins elected to bring Fernstrom back to North America from his loan. He did have a nice showing for WBS in the regular season, posting two goals and eight points in 14 games, before an injury ended his season. So, there is some reason for optimism heading into the 2026-27 season.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done in the skating department for Fernstrom, and he has to develop more consistency. A strong year could land him back on the top-20 list next year and on track to help the NHL club at some point.

Decision To Sign Novak Serves As Reminder Of Penguins' Needs At CenterThe Penguins signed forward Tommy Novak to a three-year extension Friday, but it also exposed a glaring organizational need.

D Jake Livanavage

A product of the University of North Dakota, Livanavage signed a two-year entry-level contract last season to appear in one NHL game, so he will be entering the second year of his deal.

He nearly cracked the list because of the offensive upside. He had five goals and 25 points in 39 games for North Dakota last season, and he is a fleet-footed blueliner in transition as well as a power play specialist. If he can take a step this season, he may even see NHL time.

The Penguins are pretty thin at left defense as is, and they’re even more shallow in their prospect pool at the position. Livanavage is one of those wild cards who could pan out - but he definitely needs to refine the defensive side of his game first.

LW Pierce Mbuyi

Mbuyi is probably the name here that has the highest chances of being a riser by this time next year.

The 18-year-old was selected in the third round (86th overall) by the Penguins in this year’s draft after posting 32 goals and 75 points in 68 games for the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack last season. He may be a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, but his tenacity, speed, forechecking, lively shot, and ability to expose the soft areas of the ice should bode well for his continued development. 

He has committed to go back to Owen Sound for the 2026-27 season as the team’s captain, and he will then head to Penn State University for the 2027-27 campaign. If Mbuyi’s development goes on the track the Penguins think it will, he will easily crack the top-20 next season and could end up being a third-round steal for them. 

NHL Prospect Pool Overview '26-27: Pittsburgh Penguins Trust Youth To Bolster Aging CoreThe Pittsburgh Penguins are still transitioning from one era to the next, but integrating their prospects into the NHL over the next few years will be critical.

Other notables: D Quinn Beauchesne, D Peyton Kettles, D Charlie Trethewey, F Jordan Charron, G Gabriel D’Aigle

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At this point, it's no secret that the Philadelphia Flyers locker room is full of interesting characters, and that makes it no surprise that Porter Martone meshes with his new group of NHL teammates just fine.

Despite his young age, Martone, 19, has already served as captain for his country at the international junior level, and his personality bleeds through on and off the ice.

The 2025 No. 6 overall pick is a strong, effective communicator who conducts himself well, likes to talk, and knows what to say and how to say it.

So, naturally, Martone had a great story to tell about the lowlight of his hockey career, spilling the beans to ESPN's Emily Kaplan at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago this past week.

"My draft year, we're in the OHL Cup Finals. It's like the biggest game of my life at that point. This is like the Stanley Cup for me at this age. And I think we were losing 2-1. Our D-man broke a stick, and as he skated back, they got a breakaway," Martone explained to Kaplan.

"So I tried to huck my stick from the bench to give to our defenseman and it lands in the other guy's skates and trips him, and they kicked me out of the game. I played five shifts and I don't know why I did it. I remember I was bawling my eyes out because it's like the biggest day of my life. And we ended up losing too, so it kind of made it worse."

3 PTO Candidates for the Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers have a number of veterans who could be worth a dart throw on a PTO heading into training camp.

A for effort for Martone, and to be fair to him, it's not like we don't still see experienced NHL players throw sticks and other equipment at players on breakaways to give away penalty shots and automatically awarded goals.

Draft classmate Michael Misa dominated in the game Martone was referencing, scoring three goals and five points to break Connor McDavid's previous record of 19 points with his 20 in seven games.

Martone had seven goals and 15 points of his own to that point, including a tally in the game, but he was, as described in full detail and glory, ejected in the second period.

Four years later, now in the NHL with the Flyers with 10 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience under his belt, it's safe to say that Martone can leave this one in the past.

The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures. 

We are continuing to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago.  Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.

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Kekalainen ideally is looking for someone who could make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six. 

A player who could be available for next to nothing in a trade is veteran winger Frank Vatrano. A Massachusetts native and product of the US National Development Program, the undrafted college free agent signed with Boston in 2015, but did not achieve any NHL success in three years with the Bruins and only blossomed after being traded to Florida in 2018. 

The 32-year-old has been remarkably consistent until last season, with seasons of 24, 16, and 18 goals with the Panthers, 18 with FLA and the NY Rangers in 2022, and 22, 37, and 21 goals with the Ducks. Vatrano’s scoring success ended last season, due mostly to a shoulder injury in late December that caused him to drop to five goals in 50 games.  

As with Alex Killorn and Chris Kreider, Vatrano may be on the trade block because the Ducks are looking to shed salary to sign RFA winger Cutter Gauthier after Anaheim matched the offer sheet to Leo Carlsson. Both Killorn and Kreider are 35 or older and have a cap hit in excess of $6 million, but they are each entering the final year of their contracts. 

Vatrano is younger, is more likely to bounce back from a bad season now that he is healthy, and his cap hit is $4.57 million, but he is signed through 2027-28. Another factor for the Sabres might be the salary deferral of $9 million ($3 million for each year of his three-year, $18 million contract extension), that is paid out at $900,000 annually for 10 years starting in 2035. 

That factor could limit the cost to acquire the veteran winger to nearly nothing, but it might rule out the Sabres interest in Vatrano based on Buffalo’s fiscally conservative nature. 

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The 2025-26 New York Islanders season did not go the way many hoped, as they faded down the stretch and ultimately missed the playoffs.

Still, reasons for positivity emerged. 

Matthew Schaefer engraved himself as a total franchise cornerstone, a generational defenseman for the Islanders. Cal Ritchie had an excellent second half of the season, while the youth push continued in earnest.

Ilya Sorokin, for his part, was a Vezina Finalist and had an outstanding season, though his performance (along with the entire team's), tapered down the stretch.

Sorokin, interviewed by Russian Outlet Sport Express, talked about missing the playoffs.

"There's not much good news, of course," Sorokin said. "Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it's probably hard to say it was a blow. But we need to change something in our training system and learn from it. I'm sure both the coaching staff and the players understand this. Our fans have much higher expectations of the squad."

Sorokin's likely talking of ex-Head Coach's Patrick Roy's system, one that focused on maximizing offense but often led to dangerous rush chances against constantly.

The Islanders' superstar netminder shouldered some of the blame, too.

"Ultimately, it was those one or two saves that could have given us extra points and put us in the playoffs," Sorokin said. "We can say whatever we want now, but the main thing is to figure out why it didn't happen.

"That's what summer is for—work. I think at some point I was a bit lacking in physicality. Towards the end of the season, I started playing practically every game in a row, and perhaps I was no longer feeling fresh."

Sorokin played the vast majority of games down the stretch, with David Rittich struggling and Semyon Varlamov unable to play, the Islanders leaned hard into Sorokin.

As Sorokin said, it's a long summer. The Islanders can and have work to improve, along with Sorokin.