Category: Ice Hockey

Buffalo Sabres prospects practiced for the first time at LECOM Harborcenter on Friday in advance of the two-game Prospect Showcase against the Boston Bruins youngsters on Sunday night and Monday morning. The highest-regarded of the Sabres prospects playing this weekend is 2025 first-rounder Radim Mrtka.

The 19-year-old played the beginning of the AHL season with Rochester, but was sent back to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds in October. The big blueliner played for Czechia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, and after finishing the WHL season, he returned to the Amerks to finish out the regular season and play in the Calder Cup Playoffs against Toronto.  

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

I think that (getting bigger and stronger) was a huge emphasis in the offseason to spend a lot of time (on)." Amerks head coach Michael Leone said. “(Mrtka) looks really good as far as his physicality.....He went to Prague in the summer and was training with a really good group there." 

Rochester is undergoing a transition in all areas, with last year’s starting goalie Devon Levi being dealt to Edmonton, their top scoring defenseman Zac Jones signing with Utah, and most of their top forwards either graduating to the NHL Sabres or are playing elsewhere, so youngsters like Mrtka will be depended on to step in and take on more responsibilities. 

"I learned a lot(in Rochester). There's probably not a single thing I could tell you right now, but I just took so many things from those games. So I'm really happy and glad that I could play there." Mrtka said.  

With the selection of righty Daxon Rudolph at the 2026 Draft this past June, Mrtka could have competition making the Sabres roster later in the season, and with the club possibly in talks with Winnipeg to acquire Connor Hellebuyck, it is not out of the question that the young blueliner’s future could lie elsewhere. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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. 

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

 2. Daxon Rudolph - D (Prince Albert - WHL)

The Sabres were expecting to select in the bottom third of the first round after their first playoff appearance in 15 years, but after being informed that defenseman Bowen Byram would not sign an extension, Kekalainen sprung into action, dealing the Cup winner to the Chicago Blackhawks for the fourth overall pick in the 2026 Draft, a second rounder (used to acquire Olen Zellweger from Anaheim) and blueliner Louis Crevier. 

With a number of well regarded defensive prospects available at #4, the Sabres did not take select the higher projected Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff, or Carson Carels, and selected Prince Albert Raiders blueliner Daxon Rudolph. The 18-year-old righty was the first overall pick in the 2023 WHL Draft, and after scoring 41 points in 2024-25 as a rookie, Rudolph posted an impressive 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) in 68 WHL games in his second season. 

Elite Prospects describes Rudolph as “both a high-end shooter and playmaker, who has the offensive tools to shred the opposition. He’s a scoring threat from range and uses his feel for scoring windows to jump off the point into the perfect spot to catch and fire.”

The youngster chose to shift to the NCAA and will play this season at the University of Denver under three-time NCAA champion David Carle, but indicated at Sabres Development Camp in July that he hopes to make the jump to the NHL after one or perhaps two years, Rudolph was also was invited by Team Canada to the World Junior Summer Showcase, and is likely to be on their roster for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championships in Alberta this December. 

 

Follow Michael on X, and Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The New York Islanders entered the 2026 NHL Draft holding just five draft picks, including only one pick inside the top 100.

In that type of scenario, it's crucial the Islanders do their best and take solid, potentially high-upside late-round dart throws in the NHL. That's always the case, sure. But that feeling only gets heightened in a year of scarce picks.

Everyone knew the Islanders could be targeting right-shot defenseman, the most obvious bare spot in their prospect pool at the time. 

Enter Vladimir Dravecky.

The Islanders drafted Dravecky, 18, in the fifth-round of the 2026 NHL Draft with the 141st overall pick.

Playing with an elite Brantford Bulldogs team last year, Dravecky posted nine goals and 28 points in 58 games, as well as three assists in 11 playoff games.

Dravecky also notched five assists in 11 games with the Czechia U20 team in international competition, but was held scoreless at the 2026 World Junior Championship.

At the time of the draft, people felt the Islanders landed incredible value with his work ethic and potential upside.

Put Hamilton Hammers Head Coach Jay McKee in that camp.

"With Vlad being a late pick, for me, it was one of the steals of the draft for sure at that pick," McKee said following Day One of Rookie Camp.

McKee continued with effusive praise for the right-shot defenseman.

"Vlad is a very highly skilled, offensive-minded defenseman. Just saying, he's one of the best practice players I've ever coached or even played with," McKee said. "He's intense. He does everything with a purpose. Snaps his passes. He's got an active stick. He's a very, very talented player. You know, like all of them [the prospects]. There's areas of improvement, but his potential and his upside is very high."

Praise doesn't come that strongly at a rookie camp for a fifth-round draft pick just days into working with the player, but that's what Dravecky's earned, both through rookie camp and McKee coaching against him in the OHL.

What should also stick out is the praise surrounding his drive and his practice effort. While it doesn't always work out, that's a telltale sign for a player hellbent on proving his worth and turning themselves into an NHLer over time.

While it was only one day of camp, the impression Dravecky left was followed by the effusive praise of McKee, which should only excite Islanders fans about Dravecky's potential.

After rookie & training camp, Dravecky is expected to report to the OHL's Guelph Storm, who made a major trade with the Bulldogs in June.

Ahead of the weekend’s prospect challenge, Montreal Canadiens rookies took to the ice on Friday, and a few players then met with the media. Among them was Tyler Thorpe, the fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft and one of the bigger names at camp, who has a very realistic outlook on his career.

For him, the key to succeeding in professional hockey is knowing who you are and what your game is. Thorpe knows what his game is and what his role can be on a team. He knows that if he makes the NHL, it will be as an energy guy; he won’t be a top-six forward; he’ll be a fourth-line player whose job is to hit players and be annoying on the forecheck. Asked when he came to that realization, he explained that it was in his first year in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants. Recalling the meeting where his coach told him that, he said he left with a big smile on his face.

Canadiens Rookie Camp Gets Underway
Canadiens’ Target Still A Blue Jacket, But The Door Is Open
Former Canadiens Player Stopped Trying To Understand

When asked which players he likes to see in the NHL, he mentioned Josh Anderson and Tom Wilson, saying he loves their style of play. He’s met Anderson in Brossard a few times.

Even though he’s already in the second year of his ELC, he knows that doesn’t mean he’ll make it in the NHL. It gives him a good opportunity, but he clearly doesn’t feel like he’s made it yet, which is the right approach to have.

At 6-foot-4 and 231 pounds, Thorpe should stand out amongst the prospects this weekend, and if things get physical over the weekend against the Winnipeg Jets and the Ottawa Senators prospects, he’ll no doubt be happy to oblige.

Another player who’ll relish that kind of play is Owen Protz, the 20-year-old blueliner who explained to the media that his love for physical play comes from his competitiveness. From a very young age, his goal was always to beat his older brother at whatever they were playing, and that made him love competing, which carried over to his hockey career. At 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, the blueliner, who’s starting the first year of his ELC, will be another player to watch this weekend.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

HM: Adam Pelech, Damon Severson, Luke Hughes, Shayne Gostisbehere

10. Vladislav Gavrikov, New York Rangers. A lot went wrong for the Rangers last season but their big pickup wasn’t among it. Gavrikov shattered his career high in goals (14) and put up a personal best season of 35 points. Known for his stopping ability and positional play above puck skills, Gavrikov is a perfect stay-at-home type of partner for a top pair.

9. Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils. Hamilton has had his ups and downs but continues to make a positive impact in games with his offensive abilities and special teams performances.

8. Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals. In the last two seasons, among NHL defensemen only Cale Makar (50) has more goals than Chychrun (46). His shooting ability and aggressiveness in the offensive zone makes him virtually a fourth forward that needs to be accounted for at all times.

7. Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers. Sanheim is a workhorse with game averages of 24+ minutes last season. He’s a bedrock player valued enough to make a Team Canada as a big guy who can do just about everything very well and very consistently.

6. K’Andre Miller, Carolina Hurricanes. Miller emerged in his first season with Carolina as a tremendous player. His PK impacts are some of the best in the league. He’s effective with his 6’5” frame and has the hands to move the puck pretty well.

5. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes. Slavin is arguably the top all-around/defensive defenseman in the game right now. Entering the zone against him when he gaps up is almost impossible. His positioning and stick is always on point and he defends the best players in the league with so much success. Slavin isn’t as much of an offensive weapon as some of the options above him, but he’s no less of a player.

4. Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins. Karlsson played as good as any defenseman in the league in the second half of last season. Though a little long in the tooth, his effectiveness and mastery of the puck looks about as strong as ever.

3. Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders. Schaefer burst onto the scene with 23 goals and 59 points last season as an 18-year old while playing almost 25 minutes per game, almost unheard of numbers for that age in the modern era. The sky is the limit for him given his immense talents and tremendous skating ability.

2. Adam Fox, New York Rangers. Last year was frustrating for Fox, but he still managed to put up 53 points in 55 games. Fox finished top-5 in Norris voting from 2020-24 and will be looking to re-establish himself in that rare air this season. Given the revamped NYR blueline, there’s a good chance he gets there.

1. Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets. The reigning Norris trophy winner takes first place here. Werenski is the total package, he can do it all. 81 points last year. Played 26:37 per game. Dangerous on the power play. Strong enough in his own end, then lethal once his team has possession.

Ahead of Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp, there is understandably a fair amount of buzz surrounding the usual suspects in contention for NHL spots on the blue line.

As always, top prospect Harrison Brunicke is garnering a lot of attention, as the 20-year-old showed out well in this first two camps, made the NHL squad out of training camp last season, and looks more ready than ever. Owen Pickering, 22, gained substanital momentum in the back half of his AHL season last year, and he is developing more consistency and steadiness in his own zone while still providing some upside the other way. 

But there is another name that fans should be on the lookout for in the weeks leading up to final NHL roster decisions. And that's 20-year-old defenseman Tomas Galvas. 

Galvas was selected 54th overall by the Penguins in this year's draft, and it was his third attempt at the draft. Undersized at 5-foot-11, 168 pounds, many teams were worried about the blueliner's size and lack of dimension prior to the 2025-26 season. 

He proved many wrong last season, though, registering eight goals and 24 points in 32 games for Bili Tygri Liberec of the Czech League. Pitted up against grown men, Galvas showed extraordinary poise and transitional ability, and he also manned the first power play unit to some success.

All of a sudden, it's not just Brunicke and Pickering that Penguins' fans - and the organization - are touting as a legitimate higher-upside prospect on the blue line. Galvas has entered that conversation, as his mobility, speed, distribution skills, and ability on breakouts are things that define his game. He also has the ability to evade the opposition with ease, which is something that may or may not get more difficult for him as he progresses through professional hockey. 

Penguins Announce Roster For 2026 Prospect Tournament The Pittsburgh Penguins have released their roster for the 2026 Prospect Tournament, and it features some can't-miss names.

His defensive game, though, is what saw the most growth over the last year and added more dimension to his game. If he can continue to add some size, he could establish himself as a top-four upside option for Pittsburgh on the left side, which is something that they could definitely use. 

So, does Galvas have a chance to break camp? 

Honestly, it might not be that much of a stretch.

For one, the battle on the left side for the Penguins is going to be a legitimate one. With the departure of top-pair left defenseman Parker Wotherspoon this summer, there are many questions about how the Penguins will choose to fill out the left.

Penguins Positional Battles: Left SideThere will be many intriguing positional battles for the Pittsburgh Penguins during training camp this season, and one of the most interesting ones will involve the left side on defense.

They added veteran Trevor van Riemsdyk - a righty who primarily plays the left side - and Declan Carlile to help offset that loss, and as far as returning cast, Sam Girard and Ilya Solovyov are still around. Beyond that, Pickering and Jake Livanavage should be making a push, and if Brunicke wows in camp on the right side, it very well could force either Kris Letang or Kaedan Korczak to the left.

There may be a handful of defensemen competing for a few spots on the left side, but there are no givens. No one is a true No. 1 defenseman like Erik Karlsson is on the right side, so quite literally anyone could secure that left side spot on the top pairing, and quite literally anyone could secure one of the other two spots. 

With a standout camp, Galvas may just have a shot at cracking the roster. Stranger things have certainly happened, so don't count him out when final NHL roster cuts are announced prior to the season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sept. 30. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 11: Newly Drafted Defenseman Has High IntrigueNext up on THN's Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list at No. 11 is a left blueliner new to the system who has shown some pretty high offensive upside and who could fill a glaring positional need for the Penguins in the future.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!      

Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp began on Friday. There are a lot of well-known players participating in this event, including AJ Spellacy, Sacha Boisvert, and Marek Vanacker. There are also players who are less well-known but have interesting stories as they try to reach their dream of making it to the NHL. 

One of those players is defenseman Ty Henry. Last camp, Henry sustained a scary leg injury that caused him to miss his entire season with the Erie Otters of the OHL. It was a tough break for him and his development, but he managed to work his way back. 

#Blackhawks defenseman prospect Ty Henry takes a hard spill into the boards and leaves the ice with assistance from the training staff. Looks like he couldn’t put much weight on his leg. pic.twitter.com/tFIy66c9nt

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) September 11, 2025

During last season, while injured, Henry committed to the University of St. Thomas to play NCAA hockey. However, things have changed. Instead, he will head back to Erie this fall to continue playing in the OHL. Henry confirmed this news following the first prospect practice on Friday. 

The Blackhawks selected Henry in the 6th round (163rd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. He may have lost a year of his pre-pro career, but that adversity is his reality, which he must overcome if he's going to find himself playing hockey at the highest level. 

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

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

If the Philadelphia Flyers have a wealth of talent anywhere in their prospect pool, it's on defense, and soon enough, everyone will get to see that.

The rookie camp roster already features the likes of Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, and Porter Martone up front, and while they're still young, they're also established pros at this point.

The trio of wingers will put their time in ahead of the start of main training camp next week, but for all intents and purposes, they've graduated from the prospect pipeline and can now be considered NHL players.

On defense, a slightly different picture has been painted.

Second-year pro Ty Murchison joins the group after his first full professional season, looking to recover from a season-ending injury suffered in the middle of the year.

Jackson Edward has some pro experience, but Spencer Gill, Brek Liske, Luke Vlooswyk, and Riley Steen do not.

Newcomer Maksim Sokolovskii, the Flyers' 2025 first-round pick doesn't either, but that hasn't stopped Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden from putting him with  a more seasoned partner.

Flyers unite London Knights defenders

Oliver Bonk, a 2023 first-round pick who made his NHL debut and Stanley Cup playoff debut at the end of last season, was paired up with the brolic Sokolovskii on Friday evening as Snowden matched up London Knights defenders of past and present.

Bonk, 21, starred for London for three full seasons, capturing the Memorial Cup and finishing as an OHL champion twice.

Sokolovskii, 18, will play for London for one more season before making the jump to the NCAA's University of Maine next year.

But through the Knights, the two talented young defenders are familiar with each other.

"We haven't really decided what the lineup's going to look like tomorrow, so we kind of just put some pairs together of what it would look like. I think Bonk's an incredibly intelligent guy, got a year under his belt playing the pro game. Soko, he's a young guy coming in. He's massively huge and raw. Bonk's really good at talking and helping guys through it," Snowden said of the duo.

Why Flyers Drafted Maksim Sokolovskii With 27th PickThe Philadelphia Flyers explained their rationale for the surprising but exciting selection of Maksim Sokolovskii in the 2026 NHL Draft.

"They have a little bit of a connection, obviously, they played in London. They understand where they came from. I don't think there was a whole lot of thought process in going behind it, but it was, here's Sokolovskii, let's put Bonk with him, let's help him through this first day and then we'll see what we're going to play with tomorrow."

At the same time, Gill is just one year younger than Bonk and impressed at training camp last year, so he's got some experience, too.

Snowden and the Flyers ultimately went with Bonk and Sokolovskii, whose skillsets could end up complementing each other quite well.

In highlights, we've seen Sokolovskii's ability and willingness to transport the puck with his legs and pull off dekes against defenders, while Bonk's hockey IQ keeps him prepared for any situation at either end of the ice, where he can contribute equally.

Like Snowden said, it's still unclear if this pair is here to stick, but the potential for the Flyers, now and in the future, is tantalizing to say the least.

Former San Jose Sharks defenseman John Klingberg has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey after 700 NHL games.

Klingberg, who rose to prominence as a member of the Dallas Stars in the mid-2010s, was one of the league's top offensive defensemen during his prime, which was unfortunately shortened by injuries. 

“Bottom line is my body doesn’t allow me to do it anymore, and I’ve been trying everything to get it to a point where I can be the best version of myself, but I haven’t seen any positive feedback of my body wanting me to do it anymore," Klingberg told The Athletic's Eric Stephens. “When I had my last surgery, when I re-did my entire hips, (my doctor) said when they opened me up — he’s had like 5,000-plus surgeries — he said this is some of the worst hips I’ve ever seen, and you’re only 30 years old,”

Although he was a shadow of his former self after leaving the Stars organization, Klingberg leaves behind a strong legacy in Dallas. All things considered, at least in the offensive zone as his defensive play was difficult to watch at times, Klingberg had a respectable final chapter in San Jose as well. 27 points in 56 games is certainly no small feat for an offensive defenseman, even in this day-and-age. 

Klingberg, 34, ends his NHL career with 700 games played, 92 goals, and 351 assists. According to Stephens, Klingberg is planning on returning to Sweden where he will become a broadcaster covering the Swedish Hockey League, NHL, and international play.

Graeme Clarke wasn't a Senator for long last season, but he did enough in Belleville for fans to think he might earn a longer look.

At the NHL trade deadline back in March, the Senators acquired the Ottawa native from the Washington Capitals for forward Wyatt Bongiovanni. Clarke was a 2024 AHL All-Star who had back-to-back 25-goal seasons for Utica.

He found out about the deal a minute before the deadline passed.

"I get a call in a hotel room that I'm traded to Ottawa, and it was amazing," Clarke told TSN 1200 this week. "Like, I grew up going to Sens games as a kid, wearing Alfie's jersey and all this stuff. 

"So just that, that itself was super cool."

Clarke was clearly energized by a chance to maybe play for his hometown team. He rolled into Belleville and immediately put up seven points in his first two games. He also credited a return to the centre-ice position, which he says he hasn't played for a couple of years, and relying more on his instincts.

Clarke closed the season with impressive AHL totals (19 points in 15 games), but despite that, he wasn't able to find a deal with an NHL organization this summer, at least not one he liked enough to sign. 

So for Clarke, an Ottawa kid who grew up cheering for Daniel Alfredsson, he didn't get to play for Alfie's NHL team, but he will get to play for Alfie's old Swedish team.

Frölunda HC announced this week that it has signed Clarke to a one-year contract for the coming season. That club produced both Alfredsson and Erik Karlsson, probably the finest two players in modern Senators history.

“I’ve only heard good things about the club and the fans," Clarke said. “Frölunda is one of the best teams in Europe, with a clear goal of winning. I’ve also gotten a good impression of Gothenburg as a city. This will be exciting.”

Clarke does have a little experience in Europe. He and his younger brother, Los Angeles Kings defenceman Brandt Clarke, briefly played in Slovakia during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. Graeme also represented Canada at the Spengler Cup last December and will compete in the event again this year, this time with his Swedish team.

Clarke wasn't part of Ottawa's NHL organization for long, but his Ottawa hockey roots run deep. He not only played AAA hockey here, but he also played for three years with the OHL's Ottawa 67s.

At 25, Clarke's NHL hopes aren’t necessarily over. A productive season in one of Europe’s best leagues could put him back on the radar of North American teams.

For now, being on the same path as the Senators' greatest player isn't a bad place to be.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:

Thomas Chabot Turns The Page: ‘We Take Pride In What We Have Here’
Alex Formenton Gets Second Chance, Reunited With D.J. Smith In Edmonton
Senators GM: 'We Have A Number Of Players Who Can Be Our Next Captain
”Senators Stars React To Brad Marchand's Social Media Dig At Tim Stutzle

Leafs Make Decision On Gavin McKenna Ahead of Senators Prospect ChallengeSenators fans (and local Leafs fans) wanting to get their first in-person look at McKenna in a real NHL game will have to wait a little longer.

Flyers' young — but mature — talent on display at rookie camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Flyers don’t have an inexperienced group at 2026 rookie training camp.

Porter Martone, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Jett Luchanko and Oliver Bonk are all on the roster. Those five players saw action in the NHL playoffs last season, a good development for the club’s future.

And while the group is young, it isn’t naive. The Flyers’ prospects seem to know it’s a new season. They have two rookie games against the Rangers and a few more practices before it all begins with the big boys.

“Going into camp again with a chip-on-your-shoulder mentality,” Barkey said after Friday’s practice at PPL Center, home of AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. “That’s always something that has separated me, just bringing that compete, that motor. Coming into camp again with something to prove, not being satisfied with what I did last year.”

Owen McLaughlin to Denver Barkey to Porter Martone, who finishes. pic.twitter.com/kr1Mop9lOR

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 11, 2026

The 21-year-old made his way to the Flyers in December and never went back to the Phantoms. As an undersized forward, his smarts and competitiveness won him a call-up. He played over half of the season with the Flyers and appeared in all 10 playoff games.

“Obviously it was really cool, it was great experience, I learned a lot and was able to grow a lot this summer coming back in now,” Barkey said. “But I’ve still got something to prove, got to earn your spot. I just want to continue to grow as a player and do whatever it takes to help the team win.”

Martone is undeniably the rookie camp headliner after fueling the Flyers’ playoff push at 19 years old. The winger is a slam dunk for a huge role this season, but he doesn’t act like it. The Flyers really like his humility and maturity.

“He asks a lot of questions, he’s always looking to better himself wherever it is on the ice,” Lehigh Valley head coach John Snowden said. “Even in practice today, ‘Can we do this? Can we look at something differently on this? What can I do different?’ He asks those questions, he wants to be a hockey player.”

Martone was a college freshman at Michigan State just five and a half months ago.

“In fairness, he played at the end of the season last year, he got a very, very small taste of the NHL level,” Snowden, who runs rookie camp, said. “He should ask those questions and he should find every single resource and avenue to make himself a better player. He’s a very good player, he showed what he can be in the NHL, but he wants to be a superstar player. And those are the type of things that you’re going to have to ask.”

The 2025 sixth overall pick has been a busy and well-traveled teenager. His whirlwind year continued after the playoffs when he represented Team Canada at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. He was also at development camp this summer. But he found some downtime.

“After the world championships there, I went home for probably about a month,” Martone said. “It was nice to kind of lay low, spend it with my family, see my siblings, my friends and kind of just be a kid again. I went back to Michigan State for about three weeks to a month this year and trained. Then I went home for a little bit, about two weeks, and then I’ve been in Philly for the past few weeks, kind of getting ready, getting back into the city and kind of getting rolling here.”

Porter Martone with a snipe here. pic.twitter.com/ZudPF3BlDr

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 11, 2026

Similar to Barkey, the 22-year-old Bump is coming off his first full season at the pro level. He joined the Flyers after the March trade deadline and opened eyes. He recorded nine points (five goals, four assists) over 17 regular-season games and added two goals in six playoff games.

Last fall, the winger felt the pressure of his first NHL training camp.

“I kind of know what to expect more now,” Bump said. “More experience. Going into last camp, I didn’t really know what to expect and I just got overwhelmed almost. I think I just know what to expect and the experience definitely helps.”

He wants to make up for last year’s camp.

“This year’s big, I think this is kind of the next step for me, to make the NHL full-time,” he said. “This camp is big and kind go into it with a chip on my shoulder.”

Luchanko and Bonk also have a lot to prove. They had to miss last year’s rookie games because of injuries.

The Flyers will look for Luchanko to have more of a shoot-first mentality. The 20-year-old center has not had an easy path the last two seasons.

In a drill Friday, he scored on a nice rip from the slot. Snowden said Luchanko was “absolutely snapping the puck in the net” and that his shot looked “really, really good.”

“He’s a very responsible player, he has got a very high hockey IQ,” Snowden said. “The one thing that we all talk about is we want to squeeze that offense out of him. Today, seeing him shoot the puck and scoring goals from distance in some different scenarios, that’s a huge plus.

“He can make plays, we know he can make plays, but can we find that scoring touch? Can you be selfish in some situations? Where maybe you defer to pass, maybe now you’ve got an opportunity to shoot the puck in the net or create a secondary chance by shooting the puck.”

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka told The Canadian Press on Friday that forward Max Domi will not be ready when the team opens training camp, remaining out indefinitely because of complications from off-season surgery.

“Max is going to come and be evaluated. He’s not going to be ready to start training camp. He’s going to be out indefinitely. At the right time in the near future, he wants to address it himself, and I think that’s best for him to do … we’ll leave it at that,” Chayka said, according to Josh Clipperton of The Canadian Press, who shared the quote on his X account.

The update comes four months after the Maple Leafs announced on May 25 that Domi had undergone a procedure to address an undisclosed issue he played through during the 2025-26 season and that complications had left him out indefinitely. The club said at the time he would continue working with team medical staff and be re-evaluated at the start of camp.

That re-evaluation will now take place without Domi participating in on-ice sessions as the Leafs begin their on-ice work. Preseason games are scheduled to start Sept. 19 with split-squad contests against the Montreal Canadiens, followed by games against the Ottawa Senators. The regular season opens Sept. 29 at home against Montreal.

Domi, 31, appeared in 80 games last season and finished with 12 goals and 24 assists. He signed a four-year, $15-million contract with Toronto in July 2024 that carries a $3.75-million cap hit through 2027-28. The Winnipeg native has two seasons remaining on that deal.

Spoke with John Chayka today. The Maple Leafs GM says Max Domi will not be ready for the start of training camp due to complications from off-season surgery: pic.twitter.com/aGKCflBpVm

— Joshua Clipperton (@JClipperton_CP) September 11, 2026

Chayka and Domi have a relationship that dates to Domi’s time with the London Knights and later with the Arizona Coyotes, where Chayka served as general manager. Chayka was hired as Leafs GM on May 3, part of a front-office overhaul that also brought Mats Sundin in as senior executive adviser of hockey operations. Jim Hiller was named head coach in mid-June, replacing Craig Berube.

The Leafs have been operating above the salary cap after off-season additions. Placing Domi on long-term injured reserve once the regular season begins would create cap space, a scenario that has been discussed around the team this summer. Chayka had said in early July that Domi was progressing and that camp would provide a clearer picture, adding that he believed Domi would be “a big part of this.” Friday’s comments mark a more definitive step back from that timeline.

Domi has not spoken publicly about the surgery or the complications. Chayka indicated that the player intends to do so himself “at the right time in the near future.” The nature of the procedure and the exact complications have not been detailed by the organization.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

ST. LOUIS -- The NHL and NHLPA announced on Friday that St. Louis Blues prospect Adam Jecho will be unavailable to his club for an indefinite period while he receives care from the Player Assistance Program of the NHLPA and NHL.

Under the terms of the joint program, he will return to the club when cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators.

Jecho, 20, was a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft who played for Edmonton of the Western Hockey League the past three years and was projected to play in Springfield of the American Hockey League this season after putting up 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists) in 47 games with the Oil Kings last season.

Last season, Blues prospect Zach Dean was in the player assistance program before returning to the Thunderbirds for the final 36 games of the season.

Jecho was slated to be at training camp when it opens on Sept. 17 and was on the roster of prospects to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday and Tuesday in Chicago.

Ross Johnston Midwestern-Type Upbringing Brought Him To St. Louis BluesNew Blues enforcer, who grew up on a family farm in Prince Edward Island, Canada, signed a three-year, $6 million contract that brings toughness, grit to a lineup that has been lacking it

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.