Category: Ice Hockey

It's Wraparound time, with a new round of NHL and hockey topics in rapid-fire segments.

Which NHL Players Could Use A Change Of Scenery? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Kelsey Surmacz discussed in this episode:

0:00: Which NHL GMs have the most to prove this season?

5:04: Which NHL coaches have the most to prove this season?

8:00: Which players could graduate to being full-time NHLers this season?

11:55: Did Nazem Kadri deserve more consideration for Team Canada’s orientation roster?

17:00: Will Tanner Jeannot’s contract with the Boston Bruins end up paying off?

21:45: Is the Detroit Red Wings’ defense corps holding them back from being competitive?

26:25: Which players would benefit most from a change of scenery?

30:19: Could Evgeny Kuznetsov make a comeback to the NHL?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. The opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed last month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. With just over a month before training camp, the odds are that an addition like that will have to happen during the season. 

Lawson Crouse has been a target of teams looking for a big crash-and-bang power forward, but the 28-year-old seemed to be a commodity the Arizona Coyotes/Utah Mammoth would not part with. The former Florida first-rounder has played all nine NHL seasons in Arizona/Utah, and after three straight 20-goal seasons, his production declined precipitously to 18 points in Salt Lake City last season.  

Other Sabres Stories

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What Would It Cost?

At 6’4”, 214 lb., Crouse would provide the Sabres with the type of player that most Eastern Conference clubs are looking for in response to the two-time Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers physicality, and with the addition of Peterka, and the direction of the Mammoth going towards more offense with players like Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, and Clayton Keller front and center, GM Bill Armstrong may be willing to deal the big winger during the season, depending on where Utah is in the playoff race.   

The Mammoth are hoping to challenge for a playoff spot in the West, but their division is extremely deep and difficult, and other teams like Anaheim, St. Louis, Minnesota, Calgary and Vancouver will be in the mix for the two wildcard spots. Crouse would be attractive to the Sabres for two reasons; he is not a rental (he has two years left at a $4.3 million AAV) and does not have any trade protection. Armstrong will likely be looking for a younger player with team control, such as Zach Benson, but Utah’s defense needs help after Mikhail Sergachev and Sean Durzi. Utah would likely target Bowen Byram, but the deal would have to include more than Crouse to make that attractive to Buffalo.   

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced they have signed forward Hudson Fasching to a one-year, two-way contract. 

Fasching recorded two goals and four points in 42 games with the New York Islanders and two points in seven games with the Bridgeport Islanders last season. 

The 30-year-old has 17 goals and 40 points in 175 career NHL games with the Islanders, Arizona Coyotes, and Buffalo Sabres.

Originally a fourth round selection of the Los Angeles Kings in 2013, Fasching has 78 goals and 162 points in 308 career AHL games with the Islanders, Tucson Roadrunners, and Rochester Americans, he served as captain with the Roadrunners in 2021-22. 

Fasching will fit in to the Blue Jackets' bottom-six or could play in the top six for the Cleveland Monsters. He is a great locker room presence and will be able to contribute in the NHL and AHL. 

Welcome to Columbus, Hudson!💥

We've signed forward Hudson Fasching to a 1-year, 2-way contract! pic.twitter.com/IIjhzqD4RL

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 18, 2025

After three successful seasons at the University of Minnesota and two appearances at the World Junior Hockey Championship Fasching was a member of Team USA at the 2016 World Championship.

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.        

Welcome to this edition of The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks Mailbag. In this series, we answer your questions about what is going on with the Canucks. Today, we answer questions about Adam Foote, Vitali Kravtsov, and more. 

Why Did The Canucks Hire Foote Instead Of Malhotra?

The decision to promote Adam Foote to head coach has been widely debated this off-season. The former NHL defender does not have head coaching experience at the pro level, but has been with the organization for the past few seasons. As for Manny Malhotra, he is coming off a Calder Cup championship with the Abbotsford Canucks and should not have to wait much longer for a chance to run his own bench at the NHL level. 

One of the reasons why the Canucks may have made this decision is experience working with this group. While Malhotra has worked with the younger players, Foote has built relationships with the core of this team, including captain Quinn Hughes. In the end, both have the potential to be successful coaches in the NHL, with Foote getting the call next season.

Who Is The More Important Canucks Prospect: Cootes Or Willander?

This is a tough one as both will play key roles in the future. Tom Willander has the potential to be a top-four defender, while Braeden Cootes could be Vancouver's 2C of the future. Ultimately, the Canucks need both to hit if they want to have success, not just now, but in the future. 

In the end, Willander is the more important prospect as of right now. While it is difficult to find centers like Cootes, right-shot, mobile defenceman like Willander are currently at a premium in the league. Both have the potential to be special players, but Willander is currently the most important prospect in the organization. 

Whose The Prospect In The System Who Could Shock Us All And Be A Top 6 F Or A Top 4 D This Season?

Another excellent prospect-related question. Before answering, it is important to rule out Willander, Elias Pettersson and Aatu Räty, as they have been hyped up enough that there would be no surprise if they move into those spots. As for the answer to the question, one prospect who could have a big season at the NHL level is Jonathan Lekkerimäki. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

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It feels off selecting Lekkerimäki, but he has disappeared from people's radars over the past few months. He did win the Calder Cup with Abbotsford, but only scored three goals and recorded seven points in 16 games. While it is likely that he starts the year in the AHL, Lekkerimäki could jump into the top six once he is called up during the season.  

Will Kravtsov Make The Canucks Roster?

After two seasons in the KHL, Vitali Kravtsov is back and ready for another chance in the NHL. The 25-year-old had 58 points in 66 games last season for Traktor Chelyabinsk, which earned him a one-year, two-way contract. Ultimately, this could be Kravtsov's last chance at an NHL career, which means he has plenty of motivation to have a successful 2025-26 season. 

If Kravtsov is going to make the NHL team, it is most likely going to be on the fourth line. That being said, multiple players are fighting for the final spots, including Arshdeep Bains, Linus Karlsson, Nils Åman and Max Sasson. Despite the fact that Kravtsov needs waivers, there is a good chance that he starts the year in the AHL. 

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.

Former Florida Panthers winger Rocco Grimaldi will join ex-NHL star Igor Larionov's KHL team SKA St. Petersburg.

Grimaldi was a second-round pick (33rd overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft by the Panthers. After the selection, Grimaldi spent three seasons in the NCAA with the University of North Dakota. Following those three years, Grimaldi signed his entry-level contract and spent the better part of two seasons in the AHL.

Grimaldi was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche the following season, concluding his Panthers tenure. He played just 27 games, scoring four goals and six points. 

Following his departure from Florida, Grimaldi bounced around the NHL. He went on to play in NHL games with the Avalanche and the Nashville Predators, but spent most of his time in the AHL with the Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets AHL affiliates.

The 32-year-old hasn't played an NHL game since the 2021-22 season. Grimaldi was a successful AHL player, recording 192 goals and 428 points in 499 games. Skill has never been the issue for Grimaldi, but standing just 5-foot-6, 181 pounds, Grimaldi is extremely undersized for an NHL player.

Internationally, Grimaldi won two gold medals for the USA at the 2010 and 2011 IIHF U-18 World Championships and another at the 2013 world juniors. He also played for the USA at the 2023 world championships, where he notched seven goals and 14 points in 10 games. 

Joining St. Petersburg in Russia, Grimaldi will be playing in a league that values skill more than physicality, which should benefit Grimaldi. 

St. Petersburg iced a star-studded lineup last year, featuring Ivan Demidov, Alexander Nikishin, Mikhail Grigorenko, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Arseni Gritsyuk, Nikita Zaitsev and Tony DeAngelo. Only Zaitsev remains, but the organization has added long-time NHL great Igor Larionov as head coach as well as North Americans Trevor Murphy, Brennan Menell and Joey Blandisi, who have some NHL experience.

On Thursday, August 28th, at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, fans will have the opportunity to watch a special skills competition event pitting three generations of Montreal Canadiens players: Lane Hutson, Paul Byron, and Patrice Brisebois.

Tickets to the Challenge Hockey Hush can be purchased here and are only $15. Proceeds will be donated to the Manoir Ronald McDonald, a charity picked by Hutson himself. Brisebois was on the Sans Restriction Podcast this weekend speaking about the event, and it will be interesting to see what he can do some 15 years after retiring. The 1992-93 Stanley Cup Champion chuckled and admitted that he hadn’t skated at all so far this summer, and that he would need to get on with it soon.

The veteran blueliner spent 18 years in the NHL, and only two of them weren’t with the Canadiens but with the Colorado Avalanche. He played 1009 NHL games and picked up 420 points in the process.

As for Paul Byron, he played part of 12 seasons in the NHL, seven of which were spent in Montreal, where he found an NHL home and played a significant role with the team. The speedy winger became a penalty-killing specialist with the Canadiens and had a knack for scoring shorthanded goals using his fantastic speed.  Over his 521 games, he put up 208 points and was forced to retire due to injuries.

The main attraction will no doubt be Calder Trophy winner Hutson. The 21-year-old had a memorable first season with the Canadiens and even broke Chris Chelios’ record for the most points by a rookie defenseman with 66. The youngster quickly became a fan favourite, not only because of his points production but also because of his love and dedication to the game.

Hutson spent most of his Summer working at his dad’s hockey school, making dreams come true for several young players who got to not only skate with their idol, but also be taught by him. Don’t miss the Challenge Hockey Hush - it’s sure to be a great show, and you’ll be contributing to a good cause in the process.

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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, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 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 40 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

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Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#25 - Matous Jan Kucharcik - Forward (Slavia Praha Jr. - Czech)

Kucharcik is a lanky forward who played for Slavia Praha in the Czech junior system, and played for his country at the Under-18’s before being selected by the Sabres in the fourth round (103rd overall at the 2025 NHL Draft. The 18-year-old forward was born in Italy, as his father (a 1991 Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick) played throughout Europe during his career. 

The youngster is described by Elite Prospects 2025 Draft Guide as “a smart two-way centre who excels at facilitating others through his strongly ingrained supporting habits. He backtracks to intercept passes in the neutral zone, pickpockets opposing defencemen on the forecheck and takes the right routes to provide his teammates with passing options. There’s also a clear defensive upside with Kucharčík. His motor is solid, but it’s how he angles and positions that really drives his defensive value.”

Instead of remaining in Czechia, Kucharcik will be playing for Youngstown in the USHL next season, which would indicate that he is pursuing an NCAA track before becoming a professional. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

EDMONTON – Good goaltending is imperative to winning a Stanley Cup.

While the Edmonton Oilers might not be able to acquire an elite starter, the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard has been good enough to lead them to two consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

But, they don’t want to just “appear” in the Cup Final – they want to win it all.

That’s why Nico Daws is the best young goalie they can get their hands on this offseason.

The Oilers have been connected to Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins and Sebastian Cossa of the Detroit Red Wings. However, the New Jersey Devils' protégé might be the better acquisition target.

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The first box Daws ticks off is his NHL experience. While Cossa and DiPietro have good upside potential, Daws has played 52 NHL games to DiPietro’s three and Cossa’s single NHL outing.

There is minimal, if any, opportunity for Daws to play in the NHL this season. Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom are returning to tend the twine, leaving Daws on the outside looking in. That checks off box number two for the Oilers; their organization presents a better opportunity for Daws than his current one.

Finally, Daws has better results in a bigger sample size than the aforementioned DiPietro and Cossa. 

Daws has a career 2.98 goals against average (GAA), a .898 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout. Last season, he only played six games. In those games, he posted a 1.60 GAA, a .939 SV%, and one shutout.

If the Oilers are going to take a gamble on a young goalie, there are much worse options than Daws.

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Denver, Colo. - Calling all bookworms who also happen to be hockey fans!

The Colorado Avalanche announced on Monday morning that they will be collaborating with Local NYT Bestselling author Rebecca Yarros for a special Fourth Wing night on Thursday, November 13th, while the Avalanche host the Buffalo Sabres.

Find the full video from Rebecca Yarros' Instagram post detailing the night here.

Yarros, author of the viral romantasy phenomenon "Fourth Wing," book one of the Empyrean Series, has teamed up with the Avalanche to provide two special ticket packages, both of which send fans home with:

• A specialty jersey, featuring "Riorson" (male main character in the books) with #4 on the back and an Avs logo centering the signature rune from the front of the books on the front
• An exclusive Colorado Avalanche edition of Fourth Wing, with a burgundy cover and matching stenciled edges with dragons running down the pages

The VIP ticket package will also include a book signing with Rebecca, a chance to shoot a slapshot on the ice, and more.

Tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, August 19th, at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time.

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Bookmark THN's Colorado Avalanche site so you never miss the latest news surrounding the burgundy and blue!

Make sure you also bookmark The Hockey News to keep up on all things hockey, from NHL to AHL to PWHL and so much more!

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The NHL has had a ton of wonderful player rivalries over the years. Some of them come as a result of geography, others happen organically with the help of the media. 

When you think of Wayne Gretzky vs Mario Lemieux, Martin Brodeur vs Patrick Roy, or Sidney Crosby vs Alex Ovechkin, you are reminded of wonderful player rivalries that helped entertain hockey fans for decades. 

Blackhawks star Connor Bedard is being forced into one early in his career. The league, media, and fans are pushing for the rivalry to exist between him and Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks. 

Bedard was the number one pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and Celebrini was selected first overall one year later in 2024. Each of them came into their rookie year with a lot of hype and delivered. 

Connor Bedard didn't truly take any steps forward offensively in his second year, but he didn't go backwards either. With Celebrini coming in hot, it has people wondering who will have the better career. Both are expected to break out in a big way over the next handful of seasons. 

NHL (@NHL) on XConnor Bedard put up 67 points during the 2024-25 season while Macklin Celebrini put up 63... 💬 #NHLYoungStarsWeek

The fact of the matter is that each of them is going to be a high-end producer for the next decade or more. It remains to be seen how their organizations will build around them. 

Although geography kept the Blackhawks and Sharks from being true team rivals in the 2010s, they were two of the five best teams in the conference during that time. They even met in the 2010 Western Conference Final, which was won by Chicago. One series later, the Blackhawks lifted their first Stanley Cup in 49 years.

The NHL may never lean into Western Conference teams the way that it leans into Eastern Conference teams, so this may never get to the level of Sidney Crosby vs Alex Ovechkin, but it will be equally as entertaining if both reach their ceiling as offensive producers. San Jose and Chicago building winners would add to the hype. 

JFresh (@JFreshHockey) on XLook, I'm open to the idea that Bedard still has upside over Celebrini but I don't think it's out of line to suggest that #71 is the more impactful player right now, arguably even comfortably.

This matchup has the feel of being led by a player-rivalry if it continues to trend in its current direction. Hockey fans, not just in these two markets, would benefit from that type of entertainment. 

Every great player rivalry has a helpful supporting cast along for the ride. For Celebrini, he has Will Smith, William Eklund, Sam Dickinson, and Michael Misa, amongst others, to be excited about playing alongside him. Connor Bedard has Frank Nazar, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, and Anton Frondell leading the depth in the organization, which is also a great budding core.  

Another layer to this is their representation of Team Canada. Neither made it on the 4-Nations Face-Off roster, but Celebrini deserved it more than Bedard. Will one or both of them have a strong enough start to make it on the Canadian Olympic squad? 

B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) on XMacklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, and Quinton Byfield among the newcomers joining Canada's 2026 Olympic orientation camp, which will take place in August 👀 Full roster ⬇️

They were each invited to the orientation camp for Team Canada, so they are on the radar. With all of the talent that they have as a hockey country, one or both would need to come out of the gate hot in 2025-26 and force their way onto the team. 

At this point, it is fair to just sit back and enjoy two very good young hockey players who are only going to get better. They also aren't the only two under-23 players in the league worth watching, either. They just may have a player rivalry that lasts for a long time. 

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

Defenseman Lukas Cormier signed a one-year contract with the Golden Knights on July 8.

Cormier, 23, was drafted by the Golden Knights in the third round (68th overall) of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Cormier played in 19 AHL games for the Henderson Silver Knights last season and registered nine assists. He spent the previous two seasons in Henderson, too, and has skated in a total of 139 games for the Silver Knights.

Cormier has 64 points (14 goals, 50 assists) in three years with Henderson.

Cormier has played in just two NHL games, both with Vegas, and produced an assist on a third-period Jack Eichel power-play goal during his pro debut on Jan. 4, 2024, during a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders.

Prior to turning pro, the New Brunswick native played four seasons in the QMJHL with the Charlottetown Islanders and became the first-ever player to win the Emile Bouchard Trophy twice, given annually to the league’s top defenseman.

FUN FACT: Cormier's sister, Dominique, was a blue liner for the Princeton women's hockey team and has represented Team Canada.

Canadian winger Josh Leivo, 32, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL website announced on Monday.

The news comes just five days after Leivo’s contract with rival KHL club Salavat Yulaev Ufa was terminated – visa and club financial issues were cited. This past season, Leivo set a KHL record with 49 goals in 62 regular-season games. He finished the season with a league-leading 80 points and was rewarded with the league’s MVP award and what turned out to be a short-lived two-year contract extension.

“As has already been said, if a player of Josh Leivo’s caliber enters the market, the club needs to react immediately,” said Traktor GM Alexei Volkov. “Over the past two seasons in the KHL, he has become a real star of the league, breaking what seemed to be Sergei Mozyakin’s eternal record and winning the MVP title at the end of the 2024-25 regular season.

“It can be said without a shadow of a doubt that Josh is a real scoring machine,” Volkov described. “His shot can be called elite, his one-timer on the power play and, as they say, is a difference-maker. He feels comfortable against any opponent and any defensive line. We are confident that Leivo will quickly adapt to our friendly team and will write his name in its glorious history.”

A native of Innisfil, Ont. who played junior hockey for the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves and Kitchener Rangers, Leivo was picked in the third round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Former NHL First-Rounder Mikhail Grigorenko Changes KHL Teams Russian forward Mikhail Grigorenko has signed a two-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Friday.

Leivo played 265 NHL games between 2013 and 2023 for the Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues, recording 93 points and 93 penalty minutes. In 2022, he won a Calder Cup championship with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, leading the playoffs with 29 points in 18 games and winning the playoff MVP award.

In two KHL seasons, Leivo now has 142 points in 122 regular-season and playoff games.

Traktor had the best record in the KHL this past regular season but lost in the Gagarin Cup finals to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in five games, so there has to be a feeling that this move could put the team over the top.

In addition to Leivo, the club’s roster includes ex-NHLers Mikhail Grigorenko, Vladimir Zharkov, Jordan Gross and goaltender Chris Driedger. It also has NHL prospects Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (Toronto), Alexander Rykov (Carolina) and Arseni Koromyslov (St. Louis).

Former NHL Goalie Chris Driedger Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Chris Driedger, 31, has signed a one-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk, the KHL club announced on Tuesday.

Each year, young hockey players fall in and out of favor within the NHL. 

Some of these players who make opening night have been shoehorned in from the get-go, either out of the draft, juniors, college or European pros. Others spend a little bit longer marinating in the AHL before making their mark.

Recently, we looked at five goaltending prospects expected to make the jump from the minor leagues to the NHL full-time this upcoming season. Now, it’s time to look at the blueline.

As for criteria, these players must have been either AHL or NCAA regulars last season, still Calder-eligible and not teenage players – sorry Artyom Levshunov and Zeev Buium.

Sam Rinzel, Chicago Blackhawks

When the Chicago Blackhawks selected Sam Rinzel near the end of the first round in 2022, many people were left confused. Why would the Blackhawks select a kid out of Minnesota high school hockey in the first round? 

Just three seasons later, the Blackhawks saw promising returns on their investment, as Rinzel enjoyed a nine-game stint in the NHL to end the 2024-25 season after signing his entry-level contract out of college.

To say Rinzel looked comfortable is a gross understatement. The 6-foot-4 right-shot defenseman was given the keys to the castle, often logging over 22 minutes a game and netting five points in the process. 

Rinzel should provide the Blackhawks with more physicality and size, while also being comfortable making the first pass and activating into the offensive zone with the puck.

He projects as the No. 4 defenseman for Chicago in the 2025-26 The Hockey News’ Yearbook.

Sam Rinzel Is Playing Well Beyond His Years With BlackhawksAgainst the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, the Chicago Blackhawks dressed six defenseman who are all 23 years old or younger. Louis Crevier, 23, was the oldest player to play defense for Chicago in this one. 

Owen Pickering, Pittsburgh Penguins

Coming in just one game shy of Calder Trophy ineligibility next season, Owen Pickering’s 25-game stint in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season proved that, despite some rookie errors, the 21st overall pick in 2022 should be set to make the jump full-time to the NHL, albeit in a depth role.

Standing at 6-foot-5, Pickering boasts a long stick he uses to suppress rush opportunities and battle proactively in the crease. The 21-year-old can also retrieve pucks defensively and carry them up the ice, which bodes well for a second-pair, two-way-upside projection. 

While Pickering is listed as the Penguins’ seventh defenseman in the Yearbook going into the 2025-26 season, don’t be surprised if he’s able to break into regular minutes ahead of Parker Wotherspoon or Ryan Graves.

What Will Owen Pickering's Role Be In 2025-26?Next season will present a prime opportunity for several Pittsburgh Penguins’ prospects to crack the NHL roster.

Scott Morrow, New York Rangers

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, or so the New York Rangers hoped when they acquired Scott Morrow as the primary piece back in the K’Andre Miller trade. 

While Scott Morrow’s post-season with the Carolina Hurricanes may have soured the team on the player, there’s still a lot of promise to the 22-year-old right-shot defenseman’s game.

Morrow boasts great tools, while also boasting an offensive mind. The question is whether he’ll get the minutes to be an effective offensive player with the Rangers. He’s currently listed as the No. 7 defenseman in the Yearbook behind three other right defensemen – Adam Fox, Will Borgen and Braden Schneider. So if Morrow is to get those opportunities, barring a jump over Schneider, he’ll have to play off-handed or wait for an injury.

Logan Mailloux, St. Louis Blues

Scott Morrow wasn’t the only promising young defenseman who changed hands last season, as Logan Mailloux was dealt from the Montreal Canadiens to the St. Louis Blues for fellow up-and-comer, forward Zack Bolduc.

Mailloux remains a touted prospect with flashes of high-end offensive talent who will certainly have the opportunity to blossom into an NHLer this season on a retooling Blues team. The two-time AHL All-Star game participant is ranked as the sixth-best defenseman in St. Louis in the Yearbook, and he's averaged nearly 0.6 points per game over the last two AHL campaigns.

In 2021, Mailloux was charged and fined in Sweden for defamation and offensive photography after reportedly secretly taking and sharing a photo of a woman performing a sexual act. Mailloux said he had deep regrets and knows he caused a lot of harm.

NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Catch Up On Every Team’s PipelineThe NHL prospect pool overview series is our annual summer series breaking down every team's prospect pipeline.

Adam Wilsby, Nashville Predators

The most overlooked player on this list is Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby, standing at 6-foot-1. Through 23 games in the NHL last season, Wilsby netted four assists and five points while also putting up exceptional defensive analytics.

Expecting Brady Skjei to remain off-hand again to play with Roman Josi, Wilsby will likely battle Andreas Englund, Spencer Stastney and Jordan Oesterle for the spot on the third pair behind new addition Nic Hague from Vegas. 

It’s a tough battle, especially for Wilsby, who missed a chunk of the season with an upper body injury. That said, if Wilsby plays like he did last season at camp, there’s no doubt he can secure a spot for opening night. If he doesn’t, expect a waiver claim. 

Adam Wilsby is ranked the ninth-best defenseman in the Predators’ system in the Yearbook.

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Red Wings AHL coach Brian Lashoff believes defenceman Simon Edvinsson can build off breakout 2024-25 season

One of the notable bright spots on the Red Wings last season was the emergence of young defencemen Simon Edvinsson.

The 22-year-old Swedish defenseman led the team with a +12 rating, ranked second in blocked shots with 144, averaged the third-most ice time at over 21 minutes per game, and finished the season with 31 points across 78 games. His season was a long time coming for Detroit fans as they've been waiting for the breakout season for the 6-foot-6 giant since he was selected sixth overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. 

Before making the jump to an everyday player, Edvinsson played just 25 NHL games with a majority of his development coming at the AHL level with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He spent two seasons in Eastern Michigan, where he played 106 games and posted an impressive stat line with 57 points, including 44 assists as an elite puck distributor. During his time in the minors, he got to play alongside and learn from a Red Wings veteran in Brian Lashoff. 

After playing the entirety of his 14-year professional playing career in the Red Wings organization, Lashoff decided to move behind the bench and now works as one of the team's assistant coaches. Before swapping his skates for a clipboard, he got to play with Edvinsson and can speak to the talent of the player. 

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"I'm obviously really proud of him, I had played with him in my last year, and then I got the chance to coach him and work with him my first year coaching, so I had a good relationship with him and try to help him with as much as possible," Lashoff explained "You could see the talent right away, the size of him and his ability to skate, the one thing that I think he took really seriously from when he got over here and us working with him as a staff, is just his defending."

Lashoff would go on to explain that Edvinsson's strides in his defensive game helped him transition to the NHL better than most young defenseman as he had the offensive talent but needed to better round out his game. 

"I think the sky's the limit for him," Lashoff said "Just as a defender, for being that age and playing the minutes he did against tough competition, it's impressive what he did, and now it's on him to kind of pull himself to that standard as well and continue to grow and keep pushing the bar as high as he can, year after year, which he certainly has the potential to do."

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Lashoff played 136 NHL games over seven seasons with Detroit, including a notable NHL debut in which he scored his first career goal from the blueline. However, the bulk of his career was spent in the AHL, where he logged 629 games over 14 seasons with the Griffins, serving as team captain in his final years.  

Edvinsson could look to continuing building on his stellar first season with hopefully more minutes with former Calder trophy winner Moritz Seider as the two posted a team-best +8 net rating as a defensive pairing. 

Early depth charts have Edvinsson back on the second pairing with Albert Johansson and Ben Chiarot taking the top pairing spot with Seider. However, if defensive struggles become an issue we could see Edvinsson get another crack at a top pairing role. 

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Czech defenseman Jakub Zbořil, 28, has signed a one-year contract with HC Vítkovice Ridera, the Czech Extraliga club recently announced.

The signing came just 10 months after Zbořil signed a five-year contract with rival Extraliga club Dynamo Pardubice last October. However, Zbořil and Pardubice mutually agreed to terminate the contract after just one season, in which Zbořil recorded 19 points in 46 regular-season and playoff games.

“Jakub is a modern defenseman with excellent skating, an excellent overview of the game and toughness in 1-on-1 battles,” said Vítkovice coach and former NHL player Václav Varaďa. “He has experience from the NHL, AHL and the national team, which will be useful in our young squad.”

Describing Zbořil as a player, Varaďa said, “He can handle difficult moments of the game. I believe that he will help the team on and off the ice and he will quickly win the hearts of our fans.”

Zbořil was born in Brno, Czechia and grew up in the ranks of Kometa Brno, where he played youth and junior hockey before going overseas at age 17 to play for the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs.

He was chosen in the first round, 13th overall, by the Boston Bruins in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. From 2017 until March of 2024, he played in the Bruins organization, splitting time between Boston and the club’s AHL farm team in Providence. In 76 NHL games, Zbořil scored one goal and added 15 assists and 28 penalty minutes.

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At the 2023-24 trading deadline, Zbořil was dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets but finished the season in the minors.

Prior to last season, Zbořil’s only career Extraliga games occurred during the 2020-21 season, where he suited up with Kometa for 18 games before the start of the pandemic-delayed NHL training camp.

Internationally, Zbořil represented Czechia at two IIHF U-18 World Championships, two World Junior Championships and the 2023 World Championship.

In 2024-25, Vítkovice finished 12th out of 14 Extraliga teams. In 2025-26,the team has under contract Slovak national team regulars Marek Hrivík and Samuel Kňažko, Ralfs Friebergs of the Latvian national team, Krzysztof Maciaś of the Polish national team, French national team defenseman and former NHLer Yohann Auvitu and 21-year-old Edmonton Oilers prospect Petr Hauser.

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