Category: Ice Hockey

Nicolas Aube-Kubel once dropped the Stanley Cup.

Now, it appears he is dropping out of the NHL.

The veteran forward’s NHL career appears to be over, at least for now, as Aube-Kubel has agreed to terms with Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League through May 2027, according to Jeremy Garrett of Hockey News Hub.

For Colorado Avalanche fans, Aube-Kubel will always be remembered as a member of the 2022 Stanley Cup championship team — and, perhaps fittingly, for one particularly unforgettable moment during the celebration when he accidentally dropped the Cup, causing damage to hockey’s most iconic trophy.

Jokes aside, Aube-Kubel played an important role in helping the Avalanche reach the mountaintop

Another angle of Nicolas Aube-Kubel tripping and denting the Stanley Cup ESPN pic.twitter.com/dmpojGsUGb

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) June 27, 2022

Originally selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Aube-Kubel spent his first several professional seasons in the American Hockey League before establishing himself as an NHL regular.

He ultimately appeared in 310 regular-season NHL games with the Flyers, Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres, New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild, recording 32 goals and 50 assists for 82 points.

His time in Colorado came during what was arguably the best statistical season of his NHL career.

The 2021-22 season was also the best offensive year of Aube-Kubel’s NHL career. He put up 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 67 games, setting career highs in both categories during Colorado’s championship season.

Then came the postseason.

Aube-Kubel appeared in 14 games during Colorado’s Stanley Cup run, contributing one assist as the Avalanche eventually defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to capture the franchise’s third championship.

In total, Aube-Kubel played 30 career playoff games, recording two goals and one assist for three points.

The numbers may not jump off the page, but Aube-Kubel’s career was never about being a superstar. He carved out a role through physicality, competitiveness and an ability to contribute in a bottom-six role — eventually reaching the highest possible stage in hockey.

And now, after 310 NHL games and a Stanley Cup championship on his résumé, Aube-Kubel appears ready to begin a new chapter overseas.

His NHL career may be coming to an end, but Avalanche fans will always have the memories of 2022 — including the unforgettable image of Aube-Kubel lifting the Stanley Cup before, well, dropping it.

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

Training camp for the Detroit Red Wings is slated to begin in less than a month, and the club still faces far more questions than answers.

The two most pressing situations that have yet to be resolved are who will ultimately succeed Steve Yzerman as general manager after the former Red Wings captain vacated the position in mid-July, and what will happen with current captain Dylan Larkin, who requested a trade and reportedly has not changed his mind. 

In the meantime, the Red Wings lead the NHL in a notable salary-cap category. As of Aug. 19, Detroit has the most available cap space of any of the league’s 32 teams, with $19.57 million in room, according to PuckPedia.

They're currently dedicating $52.61 million worth of contracts to their forward group, while spending $23.42 million on their current defensemen under contract. As far as goaltending is concerned, $8.40 million is being spent on the tandem of John Gibson and Daniil Tarasov.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Coming in behind Detroit in available salary cap space are the Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames. Like the Red Wings, all three teams missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025-26.

Whoever succeeds Yzerman as Red Wings GM will not only have to deal with the Larkin situation immediately but also work out a new contract for restricted free-agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who is due for a considerable raise from his $894,167 cap hit over the last three seasons. 

With ample salary cap space still available, the good news for Yzerman's successor is that there will not only be plenty to satisfy Edvinsson with a new contract, but also begin discussions with forward Alex DeBrincat, who can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. 

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!

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.

While last season may have been a rollercoaster, young Philadelphia Flyers star Matvei Michkov is turning out to be a much more polarizing figure for analysts than we may have originally thought.

On Wednesday, The Athletic prospects expert Corey Pronman released his ranking of the best U23 players in the NHL, including recently drafted prospects, and Michkov wasn't given all that much grace.

His placement was far from the most controversial, but still disrespectful relative to his achievements in the NHL thus far nonetheless.

Michkov, 21, was ranked as the 35th-best U23 player in the NHL by Pronman, putting him just six spots ahead of the 41st ranked Jack Nesbitt, who was drafted 12th overall by the Flyers in 2025.

The Flyers' Russian phenom placed just ahead of players like Roman Kantserov (37th) and Sam O'Reilly (40th), who have yet to play in an NHL game, while peers like Jimmy Snuggerud (33rd), Ryan Leonard (32nd), Ilya Protas (26th), Roger McQueen (25th), Viggo Bjorck (21st), Anton Frondell (20th), and Adam Fantilli (9th) were all well ahead.

Expert Names 2 Flyers Prospects Under Pressure Heading Into Next SeasonTime is ticking for these two Philadelphia Flyers prospects to reach their full potential and make a big NHL impact.

That ranking of 35th is certainly unfair to Michkov, who has had to play for three head coaches in two NHL seasons while picking up a new language and culture on the fly in Philadelphia.

Despite coming into his second NHL season unprepared, plus those aforementioned circumstances, Michkov still finished his sophomore NHL season with 20 goals, 31 assists, and 51 points, leading the Flyers in scoring after the Olympic break to help spur the Orange and Black to their first playoff berth since 2020.

Yes, Michkov was mostly a no-show in the playoffs, but there would be no playoffs without him, either, and he did have the primary assist on Cam York's series-winning goal against the archrival Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 of the first round.

Michkov's perceived upside varies by who you ask, as some are more bullish on the raw talent, and others, like Pronman, have reservations about the average skating and defending.

Flyers' Matvei Michkov Flexes Physique In New Social Media PostAll eyes are on Matvei Michkov and the Philadelphia Flyers heading into the 2026-27 season.

Still, Michkov's offensive production makes him much more accomplished than many players ranked above him or near him, and the 2023 No. 7 overall pick ranking below similarly average defenders with not even half of the offensive upside is simply disrespectful and dismisses everything he's achieved in the last two seasons.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a busy summer, as they have brought in many new players.

While this is the case, it is fair to argue that the Penguins should not be done yet. The left side of their blueline could use more depth, as they did not re-sign Ryan Shea and traded Parker Wotherspoon.

While many of this year's top free agents have been signed, there are still some interesting players looking for new homes in the middle of August. Among them is defenseman Logan Stanley, and he could be a nice pickup for a Penguins club that needs more blueline depth. 

If the Penguins added Stanley, he would give them another intriguing option for their bottom pairing. He would also provide them with a shutdown defenseman for their penalty kill. 

Furthermore, with it now getting closer to September, it is very likely that Stanley could be had at an affordable price. On a short-term deal, the 28-year-old blueliner could be a strong fit on the Penguins' roster. 

Stanley played in 76 games last season split between the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres, where he recorded nine goals, 17 assists, 26 points, and 128 penalty minutes. With numbers like these, the 6-foot-7 defenseman would be a solid depth pickup for Pittsburgh. Let's see if they pursue him from here. 

Heading into his third season in the NHL, San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini's accomplishments on the ice have been noticed by EA Sports.

Celebrini, 20, is going to be tied for the fifth-highest rated player in this year's iteration of the EA Sports NHL series, NHL 27, while also being featured on the cover. When the game releases early next month, Celebrini will have a 95 overall rating, which ties him with players like Sidney Crosby, Cale Makar, David Pastrnak, Aleksander Barkov, and others. Celebrini is tied for the fourth-highest rating for a center, behind Connor McDavid (99), Nathan MacKinnon (97), and Leon Draisaitl (96).

Celebrini wasn't the only member of the San Jose Sharks to have his rating released, as a total of nine Sharks have had their ratings revealed so far.

Will Smith is the second-highest rated Shark, with an 87 overall that puts him on par with players like Cutter Gauthier, Roope Hintz, Troy Terry, and numerous others. Darnell Nurse, Mason Marchment, Alexander Wennberg, Dmitry Orlov, and Jacob Trouba are all scheduled to start the game with an 85 overall.

Last but not least, veteran forward Tyler Toffoli and young goaltender Yaroslav Askarov will share a rating, as both are listed at 84 overall to start the year. Interestingly, Askarov is the only Shark so far without an "X-Factor ability" assigned to him.

The full list of Sharks rankings will be released when the game is available to the general public in September. 

The Golden Knights are ready to gray-cefully move on.

One of the most recognizable looks in Vegas Golden Knights history is about to take a step into the past, with the franchise preparing to remove its traditional gray sweaters from the regular-season rotation and make room for a brand-new alternate look.

Vegas will still have its metallic gold home jerseys and white road uniforms, but the upcoming season will bring a third option to the lineup through the NHL’s new Hometown Remix initiative.

The program, developed in collaboration with Fanatics, is designed to give teams an opportunity to create uniforms that are more closely connected to their cities, their fans and the culture surrounding each franchise.

For the Golden Knights, that means a fresh sweater is coming — although the NHL and Fanatics are keeping the details under wraps for now. More information about the collection is expected to be revealed in the coming months.

The initiative also carries some significance for Fanatics. Hometown Remix is the company’s first uniform program since becoming the NHL’s official on-ice uniform outfitter in 2024 under a 10-year agreement with the league.

While Vegas’ new sweater will eventually take its place alongside the team’s gold and white jerseys, the old gray design won’t disappear completely.

Instead, the gray sweaters will be reclassified as throwbacks, giving the Golden Knights a chance to preserve one of the looks that helped define the franchise during its early years.

And considering how aggressively Vegas has embraced its identity since entering the NHL, the next chapter of the Golden Knights’ wardrobe could be just as bold as the franchise itself.

What do the fans think of the new jerseys? Your opinion is valuable to us. Let us know. The new season is about to begin! Training camp is nearly upon us. 

The Philadelphia Flyers officially added another depth forward Wednesday, confirming some widely-reported news from the beginning of free agency.

Former first-round pick Nolan Foote, 25, joins the Flyers after spending the 2025-26 season in the Florida Panthers organization. The winger appeared in 12 NHL games with the banged-up Panthers last year, scoring one goal, while spending the majority of the season with the AHL Charlotte Checkers.

In 54 games with Charlotte, Foote recorded 14 goals, 18 assists, and 32 points, which is more or less in line with his previous campaigns in the offense department.

So, while Foote hasn't quite taken a step forward, he has an established floor, size, and a hard shot that he can and will put to use, even if the end result comes sparingly.

That floor is the primary appeal of the signing for the Flyers, who get a still-young player with NHL experience who can fill in for Denver Barkey and Alex Bump, as they are presumably going to graduate to the NHL level full-time in 2026-27.

The 6-foot-3 Foote was originally selected by Tampa Bay with the 27th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, but was later traded to the New Jersey Devils organization as the centerpiece of the Blake Coleman trade and spent five seasons there.

Flyers Prospect's Clock Officially Ticking, Starting with New Contract ExtensionAfter signing his new contract, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Hunter McDonald must quickly prove he is ready for an everyday NHL role with time ticking away.

Foote's most productive NHL season was the 2021-22 season with the Devils, when he tallied three times in just seven games and added an assist.

The Denver, Colorado, native has not expanded on his game, however, as he has not grown into a reliable penalty-killer, something most fringe players need to do to take the next step in their pro careers.

Foote has the size, but he is not especially physical, nor is he fast, and that is why the Flyers have become his fourth stop since being drafted seven years ago.

For the 25-year-old Foote, it's a new opportunity to establish himself as a full-time NHL player.

He remains young enough to conceivably take a big but unexpected leap, but his immediate path to the Flyers' NHL lineup will depend on his performance in training camp and the preseason, as well as an injury opening up a place for him.

The Flyers have been surprisingly active in adding depth pieces this offseason, and Foote now joins that group in preparation for the rapidly approaching 2026-27 campaign.

He’s a real icebreaker. 

Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi united Islanders and Rangers fans — with the bitter rivals coming together on Long Island Wednesday to celebrate the first Suffolk County native to win the Stanley Cup.

The 28-year-old brought Lord Stanley’s hardware to the packed Rinx in Hauppauge, which the champ noted was “the first place I ever put my goalie gear on” for a hockey clinic.

County Executive Ed Romaine also declared it Brandon Bussi Day and Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame president Chris Vaccaro named him its inaugural person of the year.

“Going to bed as a kid, you definitely dream about that moment – and you never know if it’s going to happen,” Bussi told The Post before his big day that brought out easily over a thousand fans.

“Fortunately, we’re here.”

Huntington’s Greg Packer showed up first on line at 5:30 a.m. for the 10:15 a.m. event.

“Because the Rangers, Islanders, Flyers, Devils — they’re not going to see a Stanley Cup for quite some time,” he quipped.

The crowd was so large that hundreds couldn’t even get into the ice complex before the hometown hero had to leave.

But the gracious goalie walked the cup outside down an entire block so every fan in line had a chance to see him with it.

Bussi said the overwhelming show of support was humbling, but he is focused on how “it’ll be cool for me to see the next generation of hockey players.”

Flames draft pick and Roslyn native Ethan Wyttenbach – one of the best college players in the nation – is now doubly excited at the idea of bringing the cup home.

“It hasn’t been on the island that much, so it definitely would be cool to get my hands on it,” Quinnipiac’s star, who was also the NCAA’s rookie of the year, told The Post.

“It’d be really cool to bring it back and continue to spark the island with some hockey.”

Bussi has had a meteoric rise in the sport, having only reached the NHL this past season at age 27.

“I think once Carolina claimed me and I knew I was on the opening night roster, I definitely had the vision that [winning the cup] could happen,” said the quick stick.

He made NHL history by becoming the fastest goalie to reach 20 wins, needing only 24 appearances in net for the milestone.

The skater then stunned the hockey world by taking over for starter Frederik Andersen in the Stanley Cup Finals, notching a 22-save, 3-0 shutout in Game 6 to clinch the title in June over the Golden Knights.

“You kind of black out in a sense; I remember everything, but it all happened so quickly,” said Bussi, who graduated from Miller Place High School in 2016. 

“When I got handed the cup, I looked into the crowd, and I saw where my family and friends were all standing. I was able to take a lap and face them when I was holding it – and it made it even more special.”

Bussi got to share that heartfelt moment with his younger brother Dylan, who is autistic and nonverbal.

“He had to be through the roof,” said the goalie, whose mask is painted with autism awareness illustrations. 

“He means everything to me.”

Bussi will bring the cup to Bracco’s Clam and Oyster Bar in Freeport Wednesday night as a nod to Rob Scuderi, the only other Long Island native to hoist it.

Nassau County’s Scuderi took it to the Nautical Mile hotspot after winning with the Penguins in 2009 and the Kings in 2014. 

“The fact that he’s going back there is pretty fun,” Scuderi, from Syosett, told The Post.

“I think one of the things I really enjoy about Brandon’s journey, and I don’t take it away from anyone else, is that he did it mostly from here on Long Island,” the St. Anthony’s High School star of the mid-1990s added.

Bussi said he looked up to Scuderi and another pair of previous Long Island NHLers – Rangers Matt Gilroy of North Bellmore and the Devils Keith Kinkaid of Farmingville.

Kinkaid came out for the day.

“All those guys set good examples for us and showed us that we can do it.”

The Montreal Canadiens have plenty of promising prospects in their system. 

Among their most exciting prospects is Alexander Zharovsky, as the 19-year-old forward has the tools to become an impactful NHL player in the future.

After being selected by the Canadiens with the 34th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Zharovsky responded by having a fantastic rookie season in the KHL in 2025-26. In 59 games with Salavat Yulaev Ufa last season, he posted 16 goals, 26 assists, and 42 points.

Now, with the KHL pre-season being here, Zharovsky is only continuing to show a lot of promise.

Zharovsky scored a goal in his most recent pre-season game for Salavat Yulaev Ufa with an excellent snapshot on Tuesday. He also did so while playing at the center position, which is certainly promising to see. 

Zharovsky will now be looking to continue to shine in the KHL once the regular-season is here. He certainly had a successful rookie season in the KHL, but it would be huge for the Canadiens if he takes another big step in his development this season.

Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see what kind of season Zharovsky can have in 2026-27 from here. It is encouraging to see him already scoring a goal like this in the preseason. 

The Buffalo Sabres have brought in multiple new players this off-season. Among their newcomers is Olen Zellweger, as they acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks earlier this summer. 

The Sabres' decision to bring in Zellweger is easy to understand. They traded away both Bowen Byram and Michael Kesselring this off-season and let Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley leave in free agency. With this, it makes that they are taking a chance on a promising young defensman like Zellweger. 

Zellweger has shown good promise early on in his NHL career. This was again the case this past season, as he scored seven goals and set new career highs with 15 assists and 22 points in 76 games with Anaheim. 

Yet, when noting that Zellweger is only entering his fourth NHL season and is still just 22 years old, there is a clear reason to believe that he can have a true breakout season for Buffalo in 2026-27. The Sabres should also offer him plenty of opportunities to succeed when looking at their current blueline. 

It would not be very surprising if Zellweger's all-around game improves further this campaign. He has the potential to become a more impactful puck-moving offensive defenseman, so it will be fascinating to see what kind of season he can put together for the Sabres in 2026-27 from here. 

The Chicago Blackhawks have brought in multiple new players this off-season. Among the Original Six club's newcomers is Ian Cole, as they signed the left-shot defenseman to a one-year, $4 million contract in free agency. 

While Cole may not be the flashiest of players, it is clear that he is going to have a very important role with the Blackhawks during this season. 

It is no secret that the Blackhawks have a young blueline. Due to this, Cole is going to be expected to be a mentor for the Blackhawks' young defensemen as they continue to adjust to the NHL level.

Every young team needs veterans players like Cole as leaders, and the Blackhawks will be expecting him to be a valuable mentor in their room. He is certainly not a bad player to have around in this role, as he is entering his 17th NHL season and has played in 990 career games. It also does not hurt that he has won the Stanley Cup twice.

It will now be interesting to see how much of an impact Cole can make for the Blackhawks' young defensemen this season. In 82 games last season with the Utah Mammoth, the 37-year-old posted three goals, 20 assists, 23 points, 73 hits, and a plus-16 rating. 

5 New Jersey Devils forwards were revealed on EA Sports NHL 27's list of the 300 highest-rated players in the game. Three of them, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier, were in the top-100. Hughes, in particular, is the 16th-best player and 8th-best center in the game. 

Timo Meier and Anthony Mantha were the other two revealed, giving the Devils five forwards that could be considered above average. 

Jack Hughes Leads All Devils Forwards In NHL 27 Player RatingsNHL 27 is coming out soon, and New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes is one of the best centers in the game.

On Wednesday, EA Sports revealed the ratings for the game's top defensemen and goaltenders. There are no current Devils goalies listed among the top 300 players, which is obviously a real-life concern for the team right now. Former Devils with rankings revealed include Scott Wedgewood (87), Mackenzie Blackwood (86), and Jacob Markstrom (84).

On defense, Brett Pesce's 87 overall rating makes him the best defenseman on the New Jersey Devils in the game. This also ranks him as the 10th-best right defenseman in NHL 27. According to the game's ratings, left defense is much deeper, but Pesce is still getting some great respect.

After Pesce comes Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, and Jonas Siegenthaler at 86. The youngest Hughes brother is the fastest Devil in the game, with a 93 speed rating. Of all the defensemen, Luke Hughes has the highest probability of getting a higher rating in the future. 

Brenden Dillon and Jonathan Kovacevic round out New Jersey's top 300 players with an 85 overall rating. Most teams don't have more than three defensemen ranked with an 85 or higher, and the Devils have 6. NHL 27 believes that they could be a solid team on that side of the puck in 2026-27. 

EA gave no respect to Jake Allen or Nico Daws, which is something that can only be earned through future improvement, especially with Daws, but having this pedigree on defense could help mask that issue. 

All in all, it seems like playing as the New Jersey Devils in EA Sports NHL 27 will give players an opportunity to control a good team filled with good players. 

Visit The Hockey News New Jersey Devils 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.

On Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens announced their theme nights for the season, and as we speculated in our article last month, November 10 will be the Carey Price celebration night ahead of a game against the Minnesota Wild. The former face of the franchise has been selected for the Hockey Hall of Fame this year in his second year of eligibility and will be inducted on Monday, November 9. Just like they did when former captain Shea Weber was inducted into the Hall, the Canadiens will then honor Price with an on-ice ceremony and add him to the Bell Center’s Ring of Honor.

The Ring of Honour was inaugurated in October 2008 and pays tribute to members of the organization who have entered the Hall. There, Price will join a long list of Canadiens players and builders, along with the most recent inductees: Shea Weber (2024), Pierre Turgeon (2023) and Guy Carbonneau (2019). The fact that the Canadiens’ announcement does not mention that Price’s number 31 going up in the rafters does not necessarily mean that he never will. The rafters and the Ring of Honours are not mutually exclusive. For instance, Patrick Roy, whose number 33 was sent up to the rafters on November 22, 2008, is also on the Ring of Honour.

Pronman: Canadiens’ Fowler Projects As A Quality Backup Goalie
Where Should Canadiens Suzuki Land In NHL Network's Top 20 Centers Right Now Rankings
Canadiens Invite Alexey Vlasov To Rookie Camp

The Canadiens are never quick to retire a number. Roy retired from the NHL after the 2002-03 season, and he had to wait five years before he was sent up to the rafters, 13 years after his bitter departure from the organization. Guy Lapointe only saw his number 5 go up to the rafters in 2014, even though he retired back in 1983-84. That was a 30-year wait. Granted, the 5 was already in the rafters to honor Bernard “Boom Boom” Geoffrion, but until your name is on a banner up there, your number hasn’t been retired.

Carey Price’s NHL contract only just ended at the end of the season, and he held his retirement weekend celebration this summer, even though he didn’t make an official retirement announcement. He played the last game of his career in April 2022, just four years ago, and chances are the jury is still out on whether his jersey should be retired.

Those who advocate against the idea will tell you that he has never won a Stanley Cup and therefore shouldn’t be sent up to the rafters, especially when players like Jacques Lemaire (eight Stanley Cups), Steve Shutt (five Stanley Cups) and Guy Carbonneau (two Stanley Cups) have been bestowed with that honour.

Should that be the ultimate factor in deciding whether a player should see his number retired? It’s more than debatable. The Canadiens haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1993, and with 32 teams in the NHL, it’s much harder to capture hockey’s ultimate prize. Furthermore, being a Cup champion doesn’t necessarily mean that you occupy a special place in the team’s history. Lemaire and Shutt might have won Cups, but they weren’t necessarily the main reason behind those Cup wins. They had Guy Lafleur, Ken Dryden and Serge Savard playing alongside them.

Price might not have won the Cup, but he is the goaltender who has the most wins in franchise history with 361; that’s nearly 50 more than second-place Jacques Plante, who had 314, and that’s 72 more than third-place Patrick Roy. Furthermore, the British Columbia native finished his career with a 2.51 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage and 49 shutouts. In comparison, Roy had a 2.78 GAA with the Canadiens, a .904 SV and 29 shutouts.

Whichever way you look at it, Price was the guiding light through very dark times for the Canadiens. Had it not been for his spectacular play and imposing presence, not much would have happened in Montreal for the last 20 years. He also won the Hart, Ted Lindsey, Vezina, William M. Jennings, and Bill Masterton Trophies over the course of his career. He was repeatedly named the hardest goalie to play against in NHL player polls.

More than anything, though, he accomplished what he did in an era in which the Habs had very little offense. The most talented offensive player he played with was Alexei Kovalev, who put up 84 points in 2007-08 when Price was in his first NHL season and 65 points the following year, his last with the Sainte-Flanelle. After that, only Tomas Plekanec and Max Domi recorded 70 points or more in a season with the Canadiens during Price’s career.

If the netminder had played with the current Canadiens’ core, chances are he would have been a Stanley Cup champion. Still, management never surrounded him with as good an offensive group as Martin St-Louis has at his disposal right now. Instead, management preferred to put all its eggs in Price’s basket and hope that he could lead them to the promised land despite a lack of offensive production. That prevented Price from winning the Cup, but it shouldn’t prevent him from getting the ultimate individual honor. He did everything humanly possible with the cards he was dealt and bled red, white and blue for 15 seasons. He was not only the face of the franchise, but its heart, too.

---

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.

As the anticipation for the 2026-27 NHL season grows, TheHockeyNews.com will be taking a look at the top 10 prospects in the St. Louis Blues' system, with towering defenseman Colin Ralph coming in at the ninth spot.

The players in this ranking do not have extensive NHL experience and are all 23 and under. Therefore, players like Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Logan Mailloux, among others, won't feature in this ranking for those reasons.

The order of these rankings reflects a mix of their ceilings and potential, as well as how they've performed over the past year with their respective clubs. 

Ralph completed his NCAA career after two seasons, one with St. Cloud State University and another with Michigan State University. His two seasons combined saw him score two goals and 19 points in 72 games.  

But Ralph's game isn't built on offense; it's built on the defensive side of the puck. 

Drafted in the second round (48th overall) by the Blues in the 2024 NHL draft, Ralph is a 6-foot-4, 216-pound left-handed defenseman. His size is his calling card on the defensive end, using it to clear out space in front of his net, separate opponents' bodies from the puck, and close gaps and break up plays. 

He effectively uses his stick to poke-check, but also to deflect passes and intercept them whenever the opportunity presents itself. 

What Colin Ralph Will Bring To The Blues And ThunderbirdsColin Ralph is a stay-at-home defenseman who will bring size and physicality to the Springfield Thunderbirds in the short term, and hopefully the St. Louis Blues in the long term.

When Ralph's sophomore season in college ended, he signed his entry-level contract and began his professional career in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds. The 20-year-old participated in six regular-season games, notching two assists while also finding himself playing in eight post-season games. 

Heading into the 2026-27 season, Ralph is projected to play a key role on the Thunderbirds blueline, which is projected to roster fellow rookies such as Adam Jiricek and Lukas Fischer, as well as fellow youngsters like Michael Buchinger, Quinton Burns, Arseni Koromyslov, and possibly, if he doesn't make the NHL roster, Theo Lindstein. 

Ralph possesses the size the Blues love in a blueliner. The opening-night projected roster will feature six defensemen, all 6-foot-2 or taller. When defenders like Cam Fowler, Colton Parayko, and Brandon Carlo move on from the Blues, Ralph will have the size and dependable defensive game to replace them. 

St. Louis Blues NHL Prospect Rankings: No. 10, Aleksanteri KaskimakiAs we begin our top 10 St. Louis Blues prospects, two-way Finnish center Aleksanteri Kaskimaki kicks off our list at No. 10.

The Maple Grove, MN, native may never be a top-pairing defender scoring 50 points a season, but Ralph can be used in a defensive situation on the bottom pair while being a solid penalty killer. 

Those players aren't the most fun to watch, but they are essential in building a Stanley Cup roster. 

St. Louis Blues Prospect Rankings:

10. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Honorable Mentions: Love Harenstam, Marcus Gidlof, Juraj Pekarcik, Zach Dean, and Lukas Fischer

---

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. 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.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be getting new “Hometown Remix” uniforms this fall — with details expected after the upcoming NHL season gets underway.

The NHL announced Wednesday that the Hometown Remix program, through the league’s partnership with Fanatics, will be kicking off later this year.

Something new is coming to all 32 NHL cities this season. 👀

The countdown is on for the first-of-its-kind Hometown Remix program by the @NHL and @Fanatics. More details to come after the puck drops on the 2026-27 season next month. pic.twitter.com/zX1uBNLNZn

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) August 19, 2026

“More details to come after the puck drops on the 2026-27 season next month,” the NHL said.

The league gave a brief description of what fans can expect from the Hometown Remix uniforms, saying that the special edition jerseys will “uniquely and authentically” celebrate the city and local culture of all 32 NHL teams.

There’s no clear design that Penguins fans can expect to see yet, but the rumor mill has been churning over the past couple of months will many expecting that Pittsburgh will wear a blue uniform, similar to the Winter Classic uniforms the team wore during the 2010-11 season.

For now, no new details, but stay tuned.