Category: Ice Hockey

One of the keys to being a successful team in the NHL is the way the salary cap is allocated throughout the roster. 

Typically, teams that have won Stanley Cups in recent memory don't have star players who are handsomely paid. In fact, no team has won the Stanley Cup with a player earning more than $10 million against the salary cap. Instead, the money is spread out to all areas of the lineup, and that's all possible with players taking team-friendly contracts.

For the Toronto Maple Leafs, here are three of the most team-friendly contracts on the roster going into the 2026-27 NHL season, in no particular order, and not including entry-level contracts.

John Tavares, C

John Tavares by far has the most team-friendly contract on the Maple Leafs.

The 35-year-old center signed a four-year contract at $4.39 million per season in June 2025, which lasts through the 2028-29 campaign. He inked this deal after equalling his second-highest goal total of his NHL career with 38, as well as 36 assists for 74 points in 75 games.

Based on the production he still provides, his value on the open market could've easily been north of $7 million per season. 

In 2024, Steven Stamkos signed a four-year deal worth $8 million per year after scoring 81 points in 79 games. In fairness to him, that's a notch more than what Tavares registered in his contract year, but Stamkos nearly earned double what Tavares got from the Leafs.

Maple Leafs' Three Most Challenging Contracts For 2026-27 NHL SeasonFor the most part, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in pretty good shape when it comes to the roster's payroll. However, there are a small handful of contracts that may become challenging to deal with in the future.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D

Oliver Ekman-Larsson earns $3.5 million against the cap and will do so for the next two seasons for the Maple Leafs.

The veteran defenseman is well past the prime of his career as he enters season No. 17. However, the 35-year-old is coming off one of the best campaigns he's had in quite some time.

Ekman-Larsson scored eight goals and 39 points this past year, which is the highest point total he's registered since 2018-19. Other defensemen who scored at a similar rate to Ekman-Larsson in 2025-26 include Shea Theodore, who earns $7.425 million per year, and Dougie Hamilton, who nets $9 million against the cap.

For what Ekman-Larsson earns on his deal, that's a pretty team-friendly contract. Not to mention, he was excellent for Sweden as he captained his nation at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.

Where Does The Maple Leafs' Defense Rank In The Atlantic Division?With some tweaks to the blueline this off-season, where does the Toronto Maple Leafs' defense rank in the Atlantic Division on paper going into next season?

Chris Tanev, D

Chris Tanev's contract is certainly a longer deal considering his age. The 36-year-old makes $4.5 million against the cap for the next four seasons. Though that contract will take him to the age of 40 when it expires, it's the cap hit that is team-friendly, especially as the NHL salary cap increases.

The Maple Leafs didn't get to see much of Tanev this past year as he dealt with multiple injuries and only featured in 11 regular-season games. Though it would be ideal to have Tanev on the ice, a team can always bury a player's salary from the payroll if they suffer from a lengthy injury. So there isn't a huge loss financially when Tanev can't play, just the loss of a quality player on the Leafs' back end.

But when he is healthy, he's one of the top defensive defensemen in the NHL, and certainly one of the best shot blockers of this generation. Since entering the league in 2010-11, Tanev is a top-10 shot-blocker, with a total of 1,856.

He also makes a great shutdown pairing with Jake McCabe, who also isn't locked into a terrible contract either, costing $4.51 against the cap for the next four years.

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A former Columbus Blue Jackets goalie is calling it a career.

The Winnipeg Jets shared that former Blue Jackets goalie Michael Hutchinson has announced his retirement from professional hockey.

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. 

Hutchinson played his final professional season overseas with SaiPa of Finland's Liiga during the 2024-25 campaign, where he had a 7-9-6 record, an .886 save percentage, and a 3.02 goals-against average. 

In 154 career NHL games split between the Jets, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Blue Jackets, and Red Wings, Hutchinson had a 57-62-18 record, a 2.94 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage, and six shutouts. 

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The Los Angeles Kings entered the offseason knowing they had one impossible task: replacing Anze Kopitar.

For nearly two decades, Kopitar was the foundation of the franchise. He was the player who drove the offense, handled the toughest defensive assignments, won important faceoffs, and provided the type of leadership that cannot simply be replaced through one roster move.

Now, with Kopitar officially retired, the Kings are entering a new era — and one major question remains unanswered: who is the true No. 1 center of this team?

That uncertainty is exactly why The Athletic placed Los Angeles near the bottom of its offseason rankings of the NHL's best top-six center duos. The Kings landed in the seventh tier, categorized among teams with a "major weakness" down the middle.

And it's difficult to argue with that assessment.

The Kings have made improvements throughout their roster, but center depth remains one of the biggest concerns heading into the 2026-27 season. If Los Angeles wants to finally get past the first round of the playoffs after years of early exits, finding more stability at the position has to be a priority for general manager Ken Holland.

The Kings drafted Quinton Byfield second overall in the 2020 NHL Draft because they believed he could eventually become the next elite forward to lead the franchise.

At 23 years old, Byfield still has plenty of time to reach that potential. His combination of size, skating ability, vision, and shooting talent gives him all the physical tools needed to become a legitimate first-line NHL center.

But the reality is that he has not reached that level yet.

After showing signs of a breakout, Byfield finished last season with 49 points in 79 games. That production is respectable for a young forward still developing, but it falls short of expectations for a player who was viewed as a future cornerstone of the franchise.

Now, with Kopitar no longer there to shoulder the responsibility, Byfield will face a completely different challenge. He will not just be expected to improve — he will be expected to become the player the Kings envisioned when they selected him nearly six years ago.

The talent is there. The question is whether he can consistently produce at the level of a true No. 1 center over an entire season.

One of Los Angeles' biggest offseason additions was Artemi Panarin, who gives the Kings a much-needed offensive weapon.

Panarin is still an elite talent capable of changing games offensively, but his production has dipped slightly from the level he established during his prime years with the New York Rangers.

Last season, Panarin recorded 28 goals and 56 assists for 84 points in 78 games between the Rangers and Kings. Those are impressive numbers, but they also show a slight decline from the player who consistently produced 90-plus points in New York and recorded 120 points during the 2023-24 season.

That does not mean Panarin cannot still be a difference-maker in Los Angeles. He absolutely can.

However, the Kings cannot expect one player to fix all of their offensive issues. Panarin needs the right supporting cast around him, and that includes having enough talent down the middle to maximize his playmaking ability.

The familiarity with head coach Peter Laviolette should help, considering their previous success together in New York, but coaching familiarity alone will not solve the roster's biggest weakness.

The Kings need more than just one elite offensive player.

Where Los Angeles continues to separate itself is on defense.

The Kings have built one of the stronger defensive structures in the NHL, and their ability to limit chances and play a physical style has kept them competitive for years. Goaltending should also remain a strength, with Anton Forsberg expected to take over as the team's starter.

But defense can only carry a team so far.

The biggest concern remains the lack of scoring depth and uncertainty at center. Players like Scott Laughton and Erik Haula bring experience, defensive responsibility, and faceoff ability, but neither player is expected to replace the offensive impact Kopitar provided for years.

That leaves Byfield with enormous pressure and leaves Holland with a difficult decision.

Earlier this offseason, The Hockey News discussed the possibility of Los Angeles exploring a trade involving Darcy Kuemper in an effort to address the need for more center depth. Moving a veteran goaltender for help down the middle could make sense if the Kings believe Forsberg is ready to handle the starting role.

Because this weakness is unlikely to disappear on its own.

The Kings have built a roster capable of competing, but their biggest question is located directly in the middle of the ice. If Byfield takes the next step and their veteran centers provide more offense than expected, Los Angeles could quickly prove The Athletic's ranking wrong.

But until that happens, the center position remains the biggest obstacle standing between the Kings and the deeper playoff run they have been chasing.

Professional athletes rarely get to choose the moment they are remembered for. For Michael Hutchinson, that moment came unexpectedly inside the NHL's 2020 playoff bubble.

With the Colorado Avalanche facing elimination and their goaltending depth tested beyond its limits, Hutchinson was suddenly asked to take on one of the biggest challenges of his career. He was never expected to become the centerpiece of Colorado's postseason push, but for two games, the veteran netminder gave the Avalanche exactly what they needed: a chance to keep their Stanley Cup dreams alive.

Now, Hutchinson is officially calling it a career.

The 36-year-old announced his retirement from professional hockey after 11 seasons in the NHL, ending a journey that took him across six organizations before finishing overseas with SaiPa Lappeenranta of Finland's Liiga. While Hutchinson spent the majority of his NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets, where he established himself as a reliable backup goaltender, his most memorable moments came wearing an Avalanche sweater during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Colorado acquired Hutchinson from the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline, sending defenseman Calle Rosen back to Toronto in the deal. At the time, the move was viewed as a depth addition, providing the Avalanche with veteran insurance heading into a postseason run.

Nobody expected that insurance policy to become necessary so quickly.

During the second round against the Dallas Stars, injuries left Colorado searching for answers in net. Hutchinson made his playoff debut in relief during Game 4, entering a difficult situation with the Avalanche trailing in the series. Although Colorado ultimately fell 5-4, the veteran showed enough to earn the start in the biggest game of his career.

With the Avalanche facing elimination in Game 5, head coach Jared Bednar handed Hutchinson the crease.

He delivered a performance Colorado needed.

Backed by a dominant offensive explosion that saw the Avalanche score five goals in the opening period, Hutchinson stopped 31 of 34 shots in a 6-3 victory to extend the series. Two nights later, he was even better, making 27 saves while allowing only one goal in a 4-1 win that forced a decisive Game 7.

Almost overnight, Hutchinson went from emergency option to one of the most unlikely playoff heroes in franchise history.

Colorado came within minutes of extending the series after repeatedly fighting back against elimination, carrying a 4-3 lead deep into the third period of Game 7. But the Stars refused to go quietly, forcing overtime on a late equalizer before Joel Kiviranta completed a shocking hat trick in the extra frame, ending the Avalanche's postseason run in heartbreaking fashion.

Despite the heartbreaking ending, Hutchinson's impact on the series was undeniable. He finished the postseason with a 2-1 record, a .910 save percentage on 100 shots faced, and became one of just a handful of goaltenders in NHL history to win his first two career playoff starts while facing elimination.

His performance also placed him among the select group of goaltenders to record multiple postseason victories for the Avalanche.

Outside of Colorado, Hutchinson built a reputation as one of hockey's most dependable backup goaltenders.

Originally selected by the Boston Bruins in the third round of the 2008 NHL Draft, the Barrie, Ontario native spent several seasons developing in the minor leagues before signing with Winnipeg in 2013. The Jets became the organization where Hutchinson found the most stability, spending five seasons with the franchise and posting a 43-39-11 record, a 2.65 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage across 102 games.

He also earned NHL Rookie of the Month honors in December 2014 while establishing himself as a trusted option behind goaltenders Ondrej Pavelec and Connor Hellebuyck.

Following his time in Winnipeg, Hutchinson continued his NHL journey with the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings. He finished his NHL career with a 57-62-18 record before playing his final professional season overseas.

Hutchinson joined SaiPa Lappeenranta in November 2024, appearing in 24 games and posting a .886 save percentage and a 3.02 goals-against average before stepping away from the sport.

The Winnipeg Jets will honor Hutchinson this October when he returns for the organization's Alumni Game, a fitting tribute for the franchise where his NHL career truly began.

For Avalanche fans, however, his legacy will always be tied to those two unforgettable nights in 2020.

When Colorado needed someone to step into the spotlight, Hutchinson answered the call and delivered one of the most unexpected playoff performances in franchise history.

On Wednesday, New York Islanders beat reporter Stefen Rosner joined the DLLs Stars Podcast to take part in their "The Other 31" show.

He discusses the Islanders' hiring of former Stars' head coach Pete DeBoer, who the next captain is going to be after Anders Lee's dismissal, what Patrick Roy was like and more. 

Stars Will Face Former Coach Pete DeBoer, Islanders For First Time In October | DLLS Stars PodcastBecome a DIEHARD! alldlls.com/diehardThe Other 31: New York IslandersFormer Stars head coach Pete DeBoer joined the New York Islanders in early April with fo...

The Islanders visit the Stars on Oct. 25 in Dallas before they head to UBS Arena on Jan. 15. 

The Florida Panthers are adding a familiar name to their prospect pipeline.

On Tuesday, the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers announced the signing of 22-year-old forward Kasper Lundell to a one-year, two-way AHL contract.

Lundell is the younger brother of Panthers center Anton Lundell.

The Checkers have signed forward Kasper Lundell to a one-year, two-way AHL contract.

➡️https://t.co/pwKXU2XFmkpic.twitter.com/4YcZHNcbKP

— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) July 28, 2026

Over the past three seasons, Lundell has been sharpening his skills with HIFK in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland.

He’s played in 101 games with HIFK, accumulating 16 goals and 26 points to go with 24 penalty minutes and a minus-4 on-ice rating. 

The Helsinki-based club has been a bit of a breeding ground for the Lundell family, as it’s where Anton was playing when he was drafted by the Panthers in 2020 and its also where Anton and Kasper’s father, Jan Lundell, was lauded for his excellence as a goaltender for many years.

Jan Lundell is currently HIFK’s Director of Goaltending after serving as the club’s goaltending coach for over a decade following his retirement.

Additionally, HIFK’s current head coach is former Panthers star forward Olli Jokinen.

The younger Lundell could join his older brother for the start of training camp in Fort Lauderdale, which typically features several players on the Checkers roster who eventually make their way up to Charlotte for AHL camp.

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Photo caption: Nov 26, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers centerAntonLundell(15) enters the ice during player introductions before the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Former Winnipeg Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson has played his last game in the NHL. 

The 36-year-old is retiring after 11 seasons in the league, the Jets confirmed Monday, closing the book on a career that began, and was defined, in Winnipeg. Hutchinson will return to the city this October, when the Jets host him at their Alumni Game.

Hutchinson's NHL journey started with Winnipeg in 2013, after he signed with the club as an unrestricted free agent following three seasons splitting time between the AHL and ECHL in the Boston Bruins' system, the team that had originally drafted him in the third round of the 2008 NHL Draft. 

He made his NHL debut with the Jets that year and went on to spend five seasons with the franchise, the longest stretch of his career with any team. Those five years in Winnipeg produced Hutchinson's best professional numbers, serving as a reliable backup netminder with a 43-39-11 record, a 2.65 goals against average and a .910 save percentage in 102 games. Hutchinson was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month in December of 2014.

He served behind then Jets starter Ondřej Pavelec before eventually settling in as the backup to Connor Hellebuyck, giving the Jets a dependable presence in net as the franchise built toward its playoff runs later in the decade. 

After leaving Winnipeg, Hutchinson entered a well traveled stretch of his career, suiting up for the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings. 

The signature moment of Hutchinson's career outside Winnipeg came during his time with Colorado, inside the 2020 NHL postseason bubble. With Avalanche starters Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz both sidelined by injury in the second round against Dallas, Hutchinson was thrust into a Game 5 start with Colorado trailing 3-1 in the series. 

He stopped 31 shots to pick up the first playoff win of his career, then backstopped the Avalanche to a Game 6 victory to force a decisive Game 7, making him just the seventh goaltender in NHL history to win his first two career starts while facing elimination.

He closed out his playing days overseas, joining SaiPa Lappeenranta of Finland's Liiga in November 2024, where he appeared in 24 games and posted a .886 save percentage and a 3.02 goals-against average in what proved to be his final professional season.

Across six organizations, Hutchinson built a career on consistency and trust, and it was in Winnipeg, where it all started, that he found his most productive years, and where he'll be welcomed back this fall.

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The Chicago Blackhawks hit their fans with a hint of nostalgia over the last week as they have signed Patrick Kane to a two-year contract. He is coming back to contribute to winning and the future of the team, more than it being some "ride off into the sunset" moment, but it will surely bring back great memories for him and the fanbase. 

It wasn't just Kane who contributed to three Stanley Cups in six years, the greatest in the history of the franchise. Many were a big part, and none were bigger than former captain Jonathan Toews. 

Toews was away from the game for a few years after his final season with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022-23. In 2025-26, he came back to the NHL and played one year with his hometown Winnipeg Jets. 

Following the conclusion of that campaign, Toews announced his retirement from the National Hockey League. The Winnipeg Jets held a presser for him to do so on his own terms. 

Blackhawks Legend Jonathan Toews Is Retiring From National Hockey LeagueChicago Blackhawks legend is retiring from the National Hockey League after one year with the Winnipeg Jets in 2025-26.

Now, it is time for the Blackhawks to give him the proper send-off that he deserves. Eventually, he will have his number retired, be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and possibly get a statue, but a ceremony should be a must for the 2026-27 season. 

In the past, the Blackhawks have brought back former players for "one last shift". A moment like that for Toews would be unlike any other that came before him, as he was so beloved as the captain of the team. 

"Nothing is set in stone or anything, but I think it's likely we'll go down [that path]," Davidson said when asked about the possibility of Toews getting a moment like that during the upcoming season. He all but confirmed that it's in the works.

"Having him back and having him back with [Kane] back in a Blackhawks sweater would be a pretty exciting thing, too. But, again, much like I’ve said in the past with Patrick, Jonathan, he’s a Blackhawk for life.”

Is it possible that Toews comes back as an employee someday? He hasn't confirmed or denied being interested in coaching or a front office role in the NHL since retiring, but the way he played the game makes it clear that he might have the wisdom to consider a job like that. 

Scouting or player evaluation could be in his future as well, if he chose to do so. For now, he deserves a proper send off as a player, and he's going to get it. 

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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As we rapidly approach the end of July, it's reaching a point in the summer where action lulls and rosters are mostly set for the 2026-27 season. With that being said, when training camp approaches this September, there will be a number of players fighting for a job on the San Jose Sharks. 

There are three categories of player on each team at this point in the summer: the locks, the bubble players, and the long shots. Over the next three days, we'll take a look at where each player falls and get a rough idea of what the San Jose Sharks should look like on Opening Night. Today, kick things off with the forwards.

Locks: Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Mason Marchment, Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Toffoli, Alexander Wennberg, Michael Misa, Zack Ostapchuk, Barclay Goodrow

Of the 12 forwards that will take the ice on October 1, nine fall directly into the "lock" category. The reasoning behind some are obvious, Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Michael Misa are the long-term stars of the Sharks and should be expected to play a big role in the long run.

Others, like Mason Marchment, Kiefer Sherwood, Alex Wennberg, and Zack Ostapchuk, are in the first year of big-money contracts and it would make zero sense for the Sharks to sign the deals if they weren't going to use them on their everyday roster.

That accounts for seven of the nine players in the lock category, but what about Tyler Toffoli and Barclay Goodrow?

Toffoli is one of the most well-liked figures in the Sharks' locker room. Although his play did regress a bit last season, the Sharks are hoping he'll be able to bounce back this fall. With that being said, even if he doesn't, there's not much they can do since he has a full no-trade clause. They could, of course, do what the New York Rangers did to Goodrow and place Toffoli on waivers for someone else to claim, but it's hard to imagine that would go over well in the locker room. As a result, he seems to be here to stay for at least one more season.

Goodrow, on the other hand, is seemingly a favorite of both Mike Grier and Ryan Warsofsky. He was one of only four players to appear in all 82 games, despite Warsofsky constantly rotating players in and out of the bottom-six forward group. While many fans likely don't feel that Goodrow should be guaranteed a roster spot this season, and there is some merit to that with his on-ice performance, it seems very unlikely that he'd be taken off of the Opening Night roster.

On the Bubble: Collin Graf, Ivar Stenberg, Igor Chernyshov, Ty Dellandrea, Adam Gaudette

If Collin Graf's contract were done and we had an idea of what term he's going to be signed to, he'd easily be a lock for the Opening Night roster. He finished third on the Sharks in goals last season and played very well alongside Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. While he does have the versatility to play a bottom-six role, at this stage, it seems like a waste of his talent. 

As someone who has overcome the odds numerous times to even reach this point in his career though, Graf will find a way to make it work regardless of what happens.

The re-signing of Kiefer Sherwood followed by additions of Mason Marchment and Ivar Stenberg have made it tough to find a spot for Graf in the top-six, or even the top-nine for that matter. While Graf should undoubtedly be on the ice when the Florida Panthers come to town on October 1, it's hard to tell what the Sharks are planning on doing with him at this point and as a result, he fell to the top of the bubble.

Speaking of Stenberg, while many will likely pencil him in as a lock on the Opening Night roster, the Sharks are at a point where there's no need to rush him. While he was incredible in the Swedish Hockey League last season, some players struggle to adapt to the tighter confines of a North American rink which could hinder his performance in training camp and during the preseason. 

Since he's coming out of Europe, Stenberg would be eligible to report to the American Hockey League right out of the gate if he were to struggle early on. It seems more likely than not that he'll take the ice on October 1, but it doesn't seem guaranteed just yet.

Igor Chernyshov is another player who has been hampered by the Sharks' additions over the summer. He seemed like a strong contender to earn his first full-time NHL role this season, but now there's even less room for him. If he's not going to be on the ice regularly, sending Chernyshov back to the AHL would be the right call, but it could lead to some frustration in the long run.

Lastly, Adam Gaudette and Ty Dellandrea are in an odd spot. On paper, they'd likely slot in as the Sharks' 12th and 13th forwards. However, it seems more likely that they're competing strictly for the 13th forward role. Whoever wins out the battle will likely play very little in the coming season, while the other could be placed on waivers, and likely claimed, when the time comes.

The Longshots: Quentin Musty, Filip Bystedt, Ethan Cardwell, Patrick Giles

Of these four, Quentin Musty has the highest NHL upside at this point in time, which ironically makes him the least likely to earn a spot with the Sharks this season as he'd be better suited to playing top-six minutes at the AHL level.

Filip Bystedt's odds of ever getting an opportunity with the team in teal seem slim at this stage, as I discussed in detail earlier this week.

What About Bystedt? Does Filip Bystedt Have a Place in the Sharks' Future?When the Sharks drafted Filip Bystedt with the 27th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, he was a key building piece for a rebuilding team without much prospect quality. Of course, the additions of Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini in 2023 and 2024 respectively, it didn’t take long for Bystedt to fall down the depth chart. 

Meanwhile Ethan Cardwell and Patrick Giles are slightly different. They're never going to be counted on as top-nine forwards at the NHL level at this stage, but they could fill a depth role if the Sharks opted to move any of their bottom-six wingers like Gaudette and Dellandrea for example. It's very unlikely to happen, but if both players were moved, Cardwell or Giles could sneak into the 13th forward role with a strong performance at training camp. 

There's certainly a lot to consider for Mike Grier and Ryan Warsofsky when training camp gets underway this fall. One thing is for sure though; they'll have to make at least a couple of difficult decision.

Earlier today, Rogers Communications and Prime Video announced a 12-year agreement that will see the latter gain rights to Wednesday Night Hockey broadcasts and three playoff series per season in Canada, with the deal beginning in 2026–27. Prime Video was previously home to Monday Night Hockey in Canada since the 2024–25 season, with this deal replacing their previous position. 

“Over the past two years, Prime Video has been a valuable addition to the NHL’s media lineup in Canada, joining Rogers in bringing marquee NHL games to Canadian fans,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said of the deal in a press release. “We’re excited that Prime Video and Rogers are deepening their relationship through this long-term agreement, reflecting our shared commitment to serving English and French-language hockey fans across Canada with premium NHL content for years to come.”

While no official schedule has been released, as it stands, the Vancouver Canucks are set to play in eight Wednesday games during the 2026–27 season. Vancouver’s first Wednesday game of the upcoming season takes place on November 25 in Detroit against the Detroit Red Wings, while their first home Wednesday game is on December 30 against the Seattle Kraken. 

Here are the eight Canucks games that could potentially be broadcasted on Prime Video in 2026–27. 

November 25 @ Detroit Red Wings, 4:30 pm PT 

December 16 @ Anaheim Ducks, 6:00 pm PT 

December 30 vs. Seattle Kraken, 6:30 pm PT  

January 20 @ Nashville Predators, 11:00 am PT 

February 3 vs. New Jersey Devils, 6:00 pm PT 

March 3 vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 7:00 pm PT 

March 17 vs. Nashville Predators, 7:00 pm PT 

March 31 @ Vegas Golden Knights, 7:30 pm PT 

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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With the general manager's chair now open in Hockeytown, speculation continues to swirl around who will take over the coveted role for the Original Six franchise.

While several names from around the league's upper management ranks have surfaced as possible in-house or external hires, one name that has generated buzz because of his deep roots in Detroit, Jim Rutherford, appears to be a non-starter, according to at least one prominent NHL insider.

Appearing on Tuesday's episode of Daily Faceoff's "The Sheet," Jeff Marek addressed the chatter surrounding Rutherford, the three-time Stanley Cup-winning executive and former Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations. Marek said that, to his knowledge, there has been no traction between the Red Wings and Rutherford regarding the GM opening, and that he had heard nothing to suggest Rutherford is part of Detroit's search.

The connection between Rutherford and the Red Wings runs deeper than most may think. Detroit selected Rutherford 10th overall in the 1969 NHL Draft, and he went on to play 457 career NHL games over 13 seasons, with 314 of those starts coming in a Red Wings sweater across 10 seasons. 

He posted a 97-165-43 record with a 3.69 goals-against average and an .876 save percentage during an offensive-heavy era of the league.

Jeff Marek: Re Red Wings management search: To my knowledge there is nothing between the Red Wings and Jim Rutherford; to my knowledge not part of the process - The Sheet (7/28)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 28, 2026

Rutherford's front-office career also has ties to the Windsor-Detroit corridor as he landed his first job in hockey management as general manager of the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires from 1984 to 1988. 

He would go on to then served as president and GM of the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors, later renamed the Detroit Jr. Red Wings, from 1990 to 1994. That role set up his biggest career leap, joining the ownership group of the Hartford Whalers as a minority owner, president and GM, his first NHL job since his playing days ended.

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Rutherford held those three titles through the franchise's relocation to Carolina, remaining in charge of the Hurricanes through the 2014-15 season before departing to become general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

He stayed on as a Hurricanes owner through the end of the 2015-16 season before fully stepping away. Rutherford remained with the Penguins until resigning in January 2021, after which he joined the Canucks' front office as president of hockey operations, briefly holding the interim general manager title as well before it passed to someone else.

Now 77, Rutherford appears to be entering a new phase of his hockey journey, shifting into a senior advisor role with Vancouver, stepping back from day-to-day decision-making after a career that has spanned 45 years in the sport.

Rutherford's career has been a decorated one, winning three Stanley Cups as an executive, one with Carolina in 2006 and back-to-back titles with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017, and earned the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award in 2016. 

In 2019, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder category, cementing his standing as one of the most respected hockey minds of his generation.

Given that résumé and his stated desire to scale back, Marek's report that the Red Wings and Rutherford have shown no real interest in each other for the vacancy is likely a mutual sentiment. 

Rutherford appears poised to enjoy a lighter workload in Vancouver while remaining connected to a game and a league he has now been part of for nearly half a century, leaving Detroit's search for its next general manager to play out among a different field of candidates.

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A second former Montreal Canadiens player has had his day with the Stanley Cup after the Carolina Hurricanes won Lord Stanley’s mug last June. About 10 days ago, Nicolas Deslauriers got to spend some quality time with the Stanley Cup. On Monday, Jesperi Kotkaniemi got his turn as he took the most highly sought trophy in hockey back home, in Finland.

According to the former third-overall pick's Instagram account, he took the Cup back to where it all started for him: the arena where he played with Assat Pori in the SM-Liiga. Pori’s also his hometown, so it was a real homecoming for the centerman.

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While Kotkaniemi didn’t get to play a single game in the playoffs, he still met the requirements to have his name on the Stanley Cup since he played 41 regular-season games with the Hurricanes in the regular season. It was probably not the fashion in which he dreamt of winning the championship growing up in Finland, but at the end of the day, he still has his name on the precious trophy and can check winning a Stanley Cup off his bucket list.

The pivot is under contract for another four years with the Canes at a $4.82 M cap hit. He’s halfway through the puzzling eight-year deal he was signed to by Don Waddell back in March 2022, months after being poached from the Habs with a single-year offer sheet that had a $6.1 million cap hit.

Kotkaniemi never got more than 43 points in a season, despite being a very high draft pick. It looks like he will never live up to the lofty expectations the Habs had when they picked him third overall in the 2018 draft, or those the Canes had when they signed him to both the offer sheet and the eight-year contract extension.

Some believed the Hurricanes would be buying him out this offseason, but that didn’t come to be. However, there were reports that Carolina told teams who wanted to trade for RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin that they would have to take Kotkaniemi in the deal. Unsurprisingly, both Nikishin and Kotkaniemi remain part of the Hurricanes right now.

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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. 

Over the next few weeks, we will continue 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 would like to 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. 

Someone who became a free agent on July 1 and has extensive experience playing in the Atlantic Division is veteran winger James van Riemsdyk. The 37-year-old was a second overall selection after Patrick Kane in the 2007 NHL Draft, and spent his first 14 seasons with Philadelphia and Toronto. The last three seasons, the New Jersey native has become a journeyman, signing one-year deals with Boston, Columbus, and Detroit for just under or right at a $1 million AAV.  

JVR’s skating has decreased significantly in his latter years, but he can still put the puck in the net, especially playing on the power play. With the Wings last season, van Riemsdyk 15 goals averaging under 12 minutes per game, and seven of those goals were on the man advantage. Similar to Patrik Laine, the veteran winger would slot in as a middle-six winger and specialist, and someone that Lindy Ruff would have to avoid using late in games, but he would be able to fill some of the offensive gap created by the departure of Tuch, especially on the power play. 

If Kekalainen is reserving his available cap space for a potential Connor Hellebuyck deal, someone like van Riemsdyk, who would likely be willing to sign for a year around $1 million might be all that the Sabres could afford to sign. 

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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. 

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 38  Norwin Panocha – Defense (Eisbaren Berlin - DEL)  

Drafted 205th overall out of the junior level of Eisbaren Berlin of the DEL at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville, the 6’2”, 190 lb. defenseman opted to come to North America and play for Chicoutimi in the QMJHL instead of staying in Germany. In his first season, Panocha finished with 15 assists in 52 regular-season games and had one assist in eight playoff games for the Sagueneens, but he was released after the season. 

After being selected in the CHL Import Draft by Prince Albert, Panocha moved to the Western Hockey League to play for the Raiders, but played only three games before he was dropped again. After a brief stop playing with Green Bay in the USHL and playing for Germany in his second straight WJC, Panocha returned home to play for Berlin, where he finished with two assists in 16 DEL games.

Last season, Panocha split time between Berlin and was loaned out to Lausitzer Füchse in the secondary level of the DEL. According to Elite Prospects, he will be playing for another DEL club, the Iserlohn Roosters, next season.   

Panocha was at the Sabres Development Camp earlier this month, and the club has one year remaining of rights before they have to sign him. 

 

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All signs pointed toward future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane deciding to sign another contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings, despite having finished outside of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for what is now a franchise-record 10th straight year. 

Kane spoke glowingly about his time with the Red Wings, pointed to his friendship with longtime teammate Alex DeBrincat, and said he'd love to be part of the solution that finally brings Stanley Cup Playoff hockey to Little Caesars Arena. 

However, Red Wings fans won't get to see "Showtime" in playoff action wearing the Winged Wheel. Kane signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, returning to the club he helped win the Stanley Cup three times. 

So, what happened? 

While making an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, Kane admitted that he thought he was coming back to the Red Wings, but as he put it, "things happen". 

"If you would’ve asked me last year at the end of the season, I thought I would be going back to Detroit. And you know, things happen, and then it’s like, 'Okay, let’s just take our time, see what’s out there July 1st,'" he said. "And (Blackhawks) owner Danny Wirtz called me at, like, 11:03, as soon as free agency opened."

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While Kane didn't get specific, it's not hard to guess as to exactly what he was referring to.

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin requested to be traded, which became public in early June. Larkin and the Red Wings remain in a standoff, as he's still allegedly willing to be dealt to only three teams, greatly handicapping Detroit's ability to get an adequate trade package in return.

Not only that, but GM Steve Yzerman stepped down from his role in mid-July, stunning Red Wings fans and adding another layer of uncertainty to the franchise. As of July 28, the club has yet to name an official successor to Yzerman. 

Patrick Kane Pens Heartfelt Letter Of Thanks To Red Wings Future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane, who departed the Detroit Red Wings after nearly three full years with the club, penned a heartfelt letter to the organization and their fans.

The departure of Kane, who recorded 57 points for the Red Wings last season, leaves a significant void in Detroit’s top-six forward group. Although the team added veteran winger Viktor Arvidsson, who scored 25 goals with the Boston Bruins in 2025-26, replacing Kane’s offensive production will be hard, barring another acquisition. 

Additionally, if Larkin is also moved, the Red Wings’ chances of reaching the postseason next spring will take another major hit. Detroit would already face an uphill battle without Kane, but losing both key forwards would make their already slim playoff aspirations even more difficult. 

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