Penguins' Prospect Tournament: 3 Standouts From Game 2

The Pittsburgh Penguins continued their winning ways in this year's Prospect Tournament on Sunday. 

After beating the Columbus Blue Jackets' prospects 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday, the Penguins' prospects defeated the Red Wings' prospects 4-3 in regulation on Sunday. Jordan Charron was credited with the game-winning goal after the Red Wings accidentally knocked the puck into their own net.

Carter Sanderson, Tomas Galvas, and Brayden Edwards also scored for the Penguins. 

Goaltender Xavier Wendt got credited with his first win of the tournament after Carter Casey won Saturday's game. 

This was a fun game to watch, and a few players stood out more than others. Here are three standouts from Game 2: 

Jan 2, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Czechia defensemen Tomas Galvas (23) celebrates his goal against Switzerland during the second period in the quarterfinals of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at 3M Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Jan 2, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Czechia defensemen Tomas Galvas (23) celebrates his goal against Switzerland during the second period in the quarterfinals of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship at 3M Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Tomas Galvas

He was outstanding against the Blue Jackets on Saturday and continued his strong play on Sunday. He skated circles around the Red Wings and scored the goal of the tournament so far. 

About halfway through the second period, Galvas corralled the puck in his own zone and went to work. He went right around one Red Wings player before skating into the offensive zone and going around another. He found himself one-on-one with the goaltender and unleashed a beautiful backhand top-shelf shot. 

His goal tied the game at two. 

Galvas was once again the Penguins' best player, and it looks too easy for him. He continues to shine with his decision-making and mobility every time he's on the ice. 

He's definitely someone who fans should have their eyes on. 

Carter Sanderson

Sanderson had a fantastic summer at the World Junior Summer Showcase and has carried that momentum into this year's Prospect Tournament. 

He tied the game at one in the first period off a really nice shot that beat the Red Wings goaltender to the short side. He came in on a two-on-one and made no mistake with the puck. Markus Ruck got the assist on the goal. 

Sanderson also hasn't been afraid to use his physicality this tournament. He had a great season with the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks last year and will try to build upon it with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen this year before heading to the University of North Dakota in 2027-28. 

Penguins' Prospect Tournament: 3 Standouts From Game 1Penguins' Prospect Tournament: 3 Standouts From Game 1Pittsburgh's prospects defeated Columbus's prospects, 2-1, in a shootout on Saturday.

Brayden Edwards

Edwards scored against the Blue Jackets on Saturday and added his second goal of the tournament on Sunday. He rifled a beautiful one-timer past the Red Wings goaltender to make it a 3-2 game in the second period. 

Atley Calvert got the primary assist and it was a sweet one.

Edwards spent most of the 2025-26 season with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers, compiling 14 goals and 33 points in 55 games. He also racked up four goals and 12 points in 17 playoff games.

He'll have an opportunity to potentially make his mark with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season. 

The Penguins will play the Dallas Stars in their Prospect Tournament finale at 10:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday. 


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Golden Knights Rookies Storm Back for Wild 6-5 Shootout Win Over Colorado

The Vegas Golden Knights' rookies showed exactly the kind of fight this organization is built on, clawing back from a two-goal, third-period deficit to steal a 6-5 shootout win over the Colorado Avalanche rookies at Tech CU Arena.

It was the perfect response after Saturday's 3-0 shutout loss to the Utah Mammoth. This group could have folded. Instead, they delivered one of the more entertaining comeback efforts of the tournament.

First Period: Digging an Early Hole

Colorado jumped ahead early when Noah Jettelson found a lane through traffic to open the scoring. The Avalanche got a power play when Kalder Varga was called for slashing, but Vegas forward Mathieu Cataford made sure it didn't stay clean — dropping a hard, legal hit on Gustav Stjernberg and drawing a roughing call that evened things up to 4-on-4.

Colorado tacked on a second late in the period when Jake Chiasson buried a backhander off an offensive-zone draw, and the rookies found themselves down 2-0 early.

Second Period: Signs of Life

Vegas finally got on the board with its first goal of the entire tournament — and it was a pretty one. Mateo Nobert set up Trent Swick for a clean finish off a 2-on-1 to make it 2-1. Colorado answered right back through Chiasson's second of the night, but the Golden Knights kept pushing.

Jackson Hallum cashed in on a power play, crashing the net hard and jamming home a rebound to cut the deficit to 3-2. The physicality ramped up from there — Cataford and Stjernberg dropped the gloves, with Cataford getting the better of it, and Vegas' Jackson Hallum mixed it up again with Colorado's Rilen Kovacevic after a whistle. This group wasn't backing down from anything.

Colorado still led 3-2 through two, but Vegas had all the momentum.

Third Period: The Comeback

This is where it got fun. Vegas came out flying, with Hallum ringing one off the crossbar early, and the pressure paid off. Down 4-2 after a Colorado power-play goal, the Golden Knights refused to fade.

Swick blasted home his second of the night on the power play to make it 4-3. Then Viliam Kmec ripped a wrist shot top shelf off a faceoff draw to tie the game at four — pure filth. Colorado grabbed the lead right back on a Nikita Prishchepov breakaway, but Vegas answered again almost immediately: Nobert snapped in a power-play goal just seconds after Colorado took a penalty, tying it at 5-5 and forcing overtime.

Four separate ties or lead changes in the third period alone. That's the kind of resilience that gets you excited about this group heading into the year.

Shootout: Cataford Seals It

After a scoreless overtime, it came down to a shootout that needed four rounds to decide. Colorado's Beckett Hamilton scored first, but Alex Weiermair answered with a slick move to keep Vegas in it. Then Mathieu Cataford — who'd already made his presence felt physically all night — stepped up and buried the shootout winner to give the Golden Knights the 6-5 victory.

Trent Swick finished with a three-point night (two goals, one assist), while Cataford, Nobert, Kmec and Weiermair all played key roles in the comeback.

Red Wings Prospects Drop 4-3 Decision To Penguins

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While the Detroit Red Wings prospects got off to a winning start Saturday evening against the Dallas Stars prospects, the Pittsburgh Penguins prospects handed them a setback Sunday.

The Penguins defeated the Red Wings 4-3 at the BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena, evening Detroit’s record in the 2026 Prospect Tournament at 1-1.

The Red Wings were without forward Nate Danielson and defenseman Anton Johansson, both of whom played Saturday evening. They are both expected to return to the lineup for Tuesday's Prospect Tournament finale.

Detroit got on the scoresheet first, with Theo Rochette converting a pass from Carter Bear on an odd-man rush and beating Penguins goaltender Xavier Wendt.

Pittsburgh soon tied the game on a goal from Carter Sanderson, but Detroit regained the lead when a point shot from Jacob Truscott eluded Wendt through traffic.

Tomas Galvas tied the game again after cutting through the Detroit defense and beating goaltender Michal Orsulak with a backhander. Brayden Edwards then gave Pittsburgh its first lead of the game shortly afterward while the Penguins were shorthanded.

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Late in the period, Detroit's Adam Levec jammed a loose puck across the goal line to tie the game once again. However, Pittsburgh's Jordan Charon scored in the third period to give the Penguins a lead they would not relinquish.

The Red Wings had multiple power-play opportunities late in the third period but struggled to gain the offensive zone or generate any meaningful pressure.

Orsulak stopped 29 of the 33 shots he faced, while Wendt turned aside 22 of 25 shots. Bear, Rochette, and Truscott each recorded four shots on goal.

Detroit will conclude the Prospect Tournament on Tuesday afternoon against the Columbus Blue Jackets; puck drop is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET. 

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Devils' Prospect Anton Silaev Brings Excitement But Is A Work In Progress

A prospect game is typically uneventful. It’s competitive and a fun way to get back into the hockey season, yet the players are still getting into shape and finding their footing again. It’s how the prospect game between the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders started. 

Then there was the hit by Anton Silaev at the end of the first period. It got the crowd into the game and brought some much-needed energy. Silaev’s defense partner, Seamus Casey, had quite the quote about it after the game. “I think the whole building felt it. Some people probably in Jersey City and Hoboken might have felt it, too.”

The hit was a glimpse into Silaev’s game and what he can become. The game showed what the Devils hope to develop him into. Likewise, it showed his deficiencies and where he must improve before he’s ready for the NHL. 

Silaev As A Bigger Bruising Defenseman 

When he’s on the ice, he’s a noticeable presence. He’s a bigger defenseman and plays like one too. For some hockey fans, he’s a throwback to a previous era, when every team had its physical presence who was eager to set the tone with a big hit (Scott Stevens was that player for the Devils during the Stanley Cup years). 

Defensemen who deliver the big hits are exciting. They also don’t last long in today’s NHL. Suspensions don’t help, but more importantly, the injuries take their toll. The Islanders, who faced the Devils on Sunday, will be quick to point to Alexander Romanov. He’s their version of Silaev and has battled injuries over the years. At 26, Romanov is already wearing down and not the same player he once was. 

New Jersey Devils Pipeline Shows Promise & Pleasant Surprises New Jersey Devils Pipeline Shows Promise & Pleasant Surprises Their scrimmage against the New York Islanders provided some optimism for a team that isn’t known for its prospect pool, at least not heading into 2026-27.

It’s one reason the Devils will want Silaev to use his strength wisely. They want him to use his size and, at the same time, focus on becoming a shutdown defenseman who blocks shots and cleans up pucks in the net front. 

Silaev Ideally Becomes The Devils’ Next Shutdown Defenseman 

The Devils have their scoring defenseman, or at least they hope that Luke Hughes becomes one this season. They might add another in the near future, with the possibility of a Quinn Hughes addition on the horizon. 

They need more stay-at-home defensemen, specifically young ones, to build around for the future. While Brett Pesce, Jonas Seigenthaler, and Johnathan Kovacevic play that role, all three are 29 or older. 

Devils Fall in First Rookie Scrimmage as Cole Eiserman Scores OT WinnerDevils Fall in First Rookie Scrimmage as Cole Eiserman Scores OT WinnerOn Sunday afternoon, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/emptying-the-devils-notebook-9-things-you-may-have-missed">New Jersey Devils</a> and <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders">New York Islanders</a> met inside RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House in Newark, New Jersey, for the first game action of the season.

If Silaev develops into one, it changes the Devils' outlook. Suddenly, they have a young stay-at-home option to build around who blocks shots and forces turnovers, while his defensive pairing can play more aggressively and focus on offense. Most playmaking and offensive-minded defensemen need a shutdown defenseman playing alongside them. The Devils are hoping they can develop a few with Silaev leading the way. 

Silaev Still Has Room To Improve

Silaev, like many of the Devils' young defensemen, will allow opponents to get into the dirty areas and the net front for scoring chances. Likewise, he’ll allow open looks in the high-danger areas, which was on display in the exhibition game against the Islanders. 

It’s not a knock on him. Many defensemen struggle at his age, especially coming from overseas. It’s why Silaev will likely spend this season developing with the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League. 

Anton Silaev Headlines New Jersey Devils Rookie Camp RosterAnton Silaev Headlines New Jersey Devils Rookie Camp RosterIt will be a busy day at Prudential Center in Newark as the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/emptying-the-devils-notebook-9-things-you-may-have-missed">New Jersey Devils</a>’ rookies report for training camp.

The plus is that the Devils have the right players around him to help, including Seamus Casey as a defensive partner and Mikael Diotte, who understands the adjustment a rookie like Silaev is going through. “He’s got everything to have a good career. So, just trust himself, move his feet, and use his body, and I think he'll have success for sure,” Diotte mentioned when asked about the advice he gives the Devils prospect. 

Silaev has made plenty of progress already, and he’s on the right track. The key for the Devils is keeping him on that track. “He's really attentive. He wants to learn. He wants feedback. He's responsive to anything that we're telling him on the bench. So, it’s been a pleasure to be working with him,” Comets head coach Ryan Parent noted after Sunday’s game. 

It's not just Parent who was excited to work with Silaev either. "Seeing how he progressed in the KHL and the player he became is kind of impressive. So, he was somebody I was looking for at this rookie camp," Diotte added. 


New Jersey Devils Pipeline Shows Promise & Pleasant Surprises

It’s easy to overreact to preseason hockey, especially a prospect game that doesn’t have many implications in the big picture. That’s the type of game the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders played on Sunday afternoon at the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House. 

That said, the surprise of the game was that the Devils kept up with the Islanders. The Islanders have multiple elite prospects in their system, some of whom will be on the NHL roster at the start of the season. 

Devils Fall in First Rookie Scrimmage as Cole Eiserman Scores OT WinnerDevils Fall in First Rookie Scrimmage as Cole Eiserman Scores OT WinnerOn Sunday afternoon, the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/emptying-the-devils-notebook-9-things-you-may-have-missed">New Jersey Devils</a> and <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders">New York Islanders</a> met inside RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House in Newark, New Jersey, for the first game action of the season.

The Devils went toe to toe with the Islanders and had a 4-3 lead in the final minute before losing it in overtime. The game, while an exhibition, shined a bright light on the Devils' farm system, which has some pleasant surprises in it. 

Devils Depth Stepping Up 

The Devils found the back of the net four times, with Mikael Diotte and Matyas Melovsky particularly stepping up. Diotte is a depth defenseman who got the Devils on the board, while Melovsky found the back of the net twice. 

The hope for the Devils is that both players develop into NHLers. For Melovsky, he’s starting to hit his stride as a 22-year-old forward who has found a scoring touch. This season, he’ll make his impact in the American Hockey League but down the road, he’s someone who can fight for a bottom-six spot. 

The big name, however, in the Devils' system and on the ice Sunday afternoon was Anton Silaev. He’s not a scoring defenseman but showed flashes on the defensive end and made his biggest mark with a hit in the first period. “He’s got everything to uh to to have a good career. So, just trust himself, move his feet, and use his body, and I think he'll have success for sure,” Mikael Diotte noted after the game on what the young defenseman must do to make it to the NHL. 

Anton Silaev Headlines New Jersey Devils Rookie Camp RosterAnton Silaev Headlines New Jersey Devils Rookie Camp RosterIt will be a busy day at Prudential Center in Newark as the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/emptying-the-devils-notebook-9-things-you-may-have-missed">New Jersey Devils</a>’ rookies report for training camp.

The Depth The Front Office Brought In Is Changing The Culture 

The most impressive part about the Devils pipeline wasn’t on display in the Sunday game. It’s what’s happening in Utica with their AHL affiliate. First-time general manager Sunny Mehta brought in Braden Birch as the AHL GM, and the new-look front office brought in multiple borderline NHLers. It included players like Riley Tufte, Declan Chisholm, Amadeus Lombardi, and Ben Steeves. 

These players aren’t prospects per se. However, they can fill in if the injuries pile up, and the Devils won’t experience a major drop-off. They’ll also become the veterans and mentors for the prospects who are on their way to the NHL. 

It’s something that gives Utica Comets head coach Ryan Parent optimism. He’s entering his second full season behind the AHL bench and is finally getting a boost from the front office. “We talked about the organizational depth, and it's not just the guys that are in New Jersey. It's in Utica as well,” Parent noted after the prospect game, adding, “It just creates a lot of depth, and it surrounds everybody. It makes our team better and surrounds our prospects. So, we can get the most out of developing those guys.”

Mehta Wants Under-The-Radar Stars For Devils: Who Can They Be? Mehta Wants Under-The-Radar Stars For Devils: Who Can They Be? The Devils' GM is looking for players with high upside who can develop into stars. Who are those home runs on the roster?

The Devils weren’t expected to improve their farm system overnight. It takes time to draft and develop. That said, bringing in the vets and changing the culture at the AHL level are how an NHL team moves the needle and makes progress. 

Taking The Devils Pipeline With A Grain Of Salt 

Parent said it best when trying to read into these games, even though he was talking about Silaev. “It’s a small sample size for us so far.” It’s only one exhibition game, and the 84-game season is still around the corner and more telling about this team. 

The Islanders also switched goaltenders halfway through the game, swapping Josh Kotai for Burke Hood. It’s no coincidence that all four of the Devils' goals came after the change. In games like these, it’s always important to adjust for inflation. 

It’s also worth adding that the Devils struggled defensively. Aside from allowing five goals to lose the game in overtime, they allowed the Islanders' prospects to find open looks in the net and bury second chances in the net front. 

All that being said, the game left a strong impression. The Devils, who aren’t known for their prospect pool, might have a few players to keep an eye on, even if they spend next season in the AHL. 


Devils Fall in First Rookie Scrimmage as Cole Eiserman Scores OT Winner

On Sunday afternoon, the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders met inside RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House in Newark, New Jersey, for the first game action of the season.

As the stands filled with an energized group of fans, the Devils’ rookies took the ice, including top prospect Anton Silayev, marking the beginning of their preseason slate and the first opportunity to see the organization’s young talent on the ice.

After 60 minutes, the teams were tied at 4-4 with the home team getting goals from Mikael Diotte, Luke Wifley, and Matyas Melovsky (2). With 56.9 seconds remaining in overtime, Islanders forward Cole Eiserman scored the game-winner.

“We talked about making sure that at the end of the game we're looking back and the feedback that we were getting was that we were a competitive team, and make sure that was on the forefront,” Utica Comets head coach Ryan Parent said after the game. “I think the start of the game was as expected. There was a lot of energy, a lot of emotion, and guys were just anxious to get out there and play again. The game was a little bit choppy, but I thought the second period settled down, had a little more poise with the puck, and got some good opportunities from it, and then the compete to get back into it and make it a competitive game towards the end. I think the guys played hard.”

Devils lineup vs. Islanders 

Ben Steeves - Matyas Melovsky - Lenni Hameenaho 

Shane Lachance - Gabe Klassen - Cam Squires 

Josh Filmon - Quinn McKenzie - Jeremy Wilmer 

Cristophe Tellier - Luke Wifley - Nathan Lecompte 

Anton Silaev - Seamus Casey 

Ethan Edwards - Eamon Powell 

Etienne Morin - Mikael Diotte 

Jakub Málek

Game Notes and Observations 

— Casey, Hämeenaho, and Melovsky were the three players wearing an “A”. 

Photo Credit: Kristy Flannery&nbsp;
Photo Credit: Kristy Flannery&nbsp;

— With two minutes remaining in the opening period, Silaev laid a massive hit on Tomas Poletin below the goal line behind Malek. The Islanders naturally took exception, and a scrum ensued. Casey and Luca Romano were the two players assessed penalties on the play. 

— The Islanders took a 1-0 lead early in the second period, as Daniil Prokhorov scored his first of the two-game series. 

— It took 41 seconds for the Devils to tie and take the lead. Diotte scored his first of the scrimmage off a great play from Melovsky. Wifley potted New Jersey’s second goal with a wrist shot that beat Hood. 

— The Islanders tied the game in the opening minutes of the third period as Prokhorov scored his second of the game. 

— Diotte, known for playing a physical and emotional game, dropped the gloves, going up against Kadon McCann. By that point, he had already secured a goal and an assist. Not a bad outing for the defenseman. 

— Melovsky scored New Jersey’s third and fourth goals. He finished the afternoon with three points: “He’s a really smart hockey player; the puck doesn’t slow him down, he does a great job of supporting it in the middle”, Parent said. “He can transport the puck really well. But I think what I saw tonight was kind of where he was trending last year, getting a lot stronger and confident with the puck. There were some plays where he has three guys around him, and he can still keep it on his stick.”

— I need to see more from Josh Filmon. In the opening period, he had a prime scoring opportunity in the opening period, but missed the net. In the second period, he had another opportunity, but Islanders goaltender Burke Hood made the save. Last season he played 11 games in the ECHL with the Adirondack Thunder and 31 with the Comets.

Photo credit: Kristy Flannery&nbsp;
Photo credit: Kristy Flannery&nbsp;

The Devils rookie will hit the ice on Monday for a practice in Newark before traveling to Long Island to conclude their series against the Islanders. 

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Hurricanes Fall 4-1 In Game 1 of 2026 Prospect Showcase

The Carolina Hurricanes came up short in the first game of the 2026 Prospects Showcase, falling 4-1 to the Nashville Predators Sunday afternoon at Lane Arena.

Despite what the final score may show, it was a fairly close game (Nashville scored two goals in the final two minutes), but in the end, wins and losses aren't necessarily the point of the showcase.

"The biggest thing we're looking for is trying to establish our style of play," said Chicago Wolves coach Spiros Anastas, who was coaching the Hurricanes prospects. "Whether they're guys we're going to see in Chicago or whether they're going to be competing for a spot here with the Canes or prospects we're going to see in the future, it's just the style of play, the habits and the expectations. Wins and losses aren't that important. We went 0-3 last year and I think both of our teams did pretty well."

The Canes were icing a roster comprised of 12 of its own draft picks and eight additional invitees, who may wind up on either the Chicago Wolves or Greensboro Gargoyles rosters, but notably there are a few key players who could very well be competing for an NHL job in less than a week.

One such player is defenseman Charles Alexis Legault, who is wearing the 'C' for Carolina in the showcase and who also made quite the impression in the game as the Hurricanes' top defender.

Legault laid a bone crushing hit on Joey Willis in the opening seconds and then a few minutes later, dropped the gloves with Kalan Lind.

"Just getting back into it," Legault said with a smirk. "I thought the best way was just to get physical. I mean, hockey's a physical game, so it turned me on and I think I played better because of it."

The 23-year-old blueliner made his NHL debut last season, appearing in 12 games with the Hurricanes.

Legault is known for his physicality, but it's the growth in his overall game that has him on the precipice of really breaking into the league.

"He's becoming more of a man," Anastas said. "And it's a confidence piece too. He wants to be in the NHL and he knows he can be and we have that belief in him too."

Another two players with NHL potential close at hand are Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum.

The two are playing on opposite wings on the Hurricanes' top line and while the two didn't connect for any goals on Sunday, you can see the way they're able to dictate play and drive offensive looks.

The lone Carolina skater who did find his way onto the score sheet though was 18-year-old Zach Lansard. 

Midway through the third period, a strong forechecking shift by the Hurricanes forced Nashville into a bad turnover and Lansard was there to send the mistake right back into the Predators' faces.

It's the 2026 draftees first trip down to Carolina and while it's been a whirlwind week for the youngster, he's been enjoying the experience before he heads back to the OHL.

"It's been great," Lansard said. "Just trying to take everything in and have a smile on my face and enjoy the week here."

The Hurricanes prospects will be back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 15 as the team takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning at 2 p.m. at Lane Arena.


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6-foot-6 rookie Daniil Prokhorov looms large in Islanders’ future

Daniil Prokhorov poses after being drafted by the New York Islanders with the 42nd overall pick during rounds 2-7 of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Peacock Theater on June 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Daniil Prokhorov poses after being drafted by the New York Islanders with the 42nd overall pick during rounds 2-7 of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Peacock Theater on June 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

If this were a preview of what Daniil Prokhorov’s first season in North America will look like, then the Islanders AHL club will be worth the price of admission in its first year based in Hamilton, Ontario.

Yes, that is certainly where Prokhorov will spend this season.

The 2025 second-rounder is too raw and too unrefined for the NHL to be in the short-term future. But you look at him and see the vision, and you watch him and see clay that’s only just starting to be molded.

“You kinda know his personality without even hearing him, to be honest. He’s so upbeat,” Cole Eiserman said after he scored the overtime winner and Prokhorov scored twice as the Islanders prospects beat the Devils 5-4 at The Rock on Sunday. “You enjoy talking to him even if it’s just a few words, but he’s super funny. Very passionate on the ice. You can joke around with him.

“He’s like a big teddy bear, to be honest. He might be a grizzly bear on the ice, but a teddy bear off it.”

Daniil Prokhorov poses after being drafted by the New York Islanders with the 42nd overall pick during rounds 2-7 of the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Peacock Theater on June 28, 2025. Getty Images

At 6-foot-6 and 234 pounds, the question is how Prokhorov can leverage his size and work around its limitations.

Just 10 forwards over 6-foot-6 played 50 or more games in the NHL last year. But that group includes Tage Thompson and Aliaksei Protas, who scored 65 goals between them. Get his development right and Prokhorov’s ceiling is as intriguing as can be.

Sunday, he got to the net for both his goals and skated well enough. There were moments where he was outmaneuvered by smaller opponents on the walls, but as a whole, it was much more good than bad.

“I kinda just throw the puck to that side of the ice, I know he’s coming with speed,” Gleb Veremyev, Prokhorov’s linemate and fellow Russian speaker, told The Post. “He’s like a locomotive. It’s hard to stop him. He gets to the net.”

That’s a quality the Islanders have lacked as a team for years and which figures to continue being problematic now with the departure of Anders Lee in free agency. A big Russian freight train might help with that down the line — and especially once the 19-year-old better learns to leverage his size.

“He’s still young. He’s got a big body he’s still growing into,” Veremyev said. “Once he gets adjusted to the North American style and everything that comes with it, I’m sure he’s gonna be a heck of a player.”

Daniil Prokhorov celebrates after scoring a goal during a game between the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils at RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House at Prudential Center on September 13, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Hamilton coach Jay McKee, who has been running development camp, was left impressed by how well Prokhorov moves for someone of his size. That comes after Prokhorov spent the summer training with strength coach Ben Prentiss’ group in Stamford, along with a group of NHLers.

“Love playing with him,” Eiserman said. “Super passionate on the bench. It’s fun. He loves the game. You can tell he’s a goal scorer. He’s gonna play for a long time.”


Quinn Finley (shoulder) didn’t dress for the scrimmage, nor did Isaiah George, who was rested.

It’s too early to say whether Finley, who has been in a red noncontact jersey so far in camp, will play in the return leg on Long Island on Tuesday, but McKee said George would likely participate.

“These kinds of games, he doesn’t necessarily have to play, but I think it’s good to get his timing,” McKee said.

All things Avalanche Rookie Recap

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 09: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche is recorded by TNT during the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour at City National Arena on September 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This weekend it was time to spotlight the Colorado Avalanche rookies before main training camp kicks off this week on Thursday, September 17th. After the release of the 25-man roster of attendees, all that was left was finally some on-ice activity.

Practice at Family Sports Center

Bright and early Friday morning the group of Avalanche rookies gathered for a brief practice before their two game set in San Jose, Calif. over the weekend. First, some news was released as the club need to bolster their roster on the back end. Great to see 2026 draftee Teddy Lechner as one of the selections, he must be on loan from the USHL. Two of the other names were in invites in attendance at development camp a few months ago.

For the practice, it was a short but productive one and lasted a little over an hour. Some ideas at lines began to form with Beckett Hamilton featuring often on TJ Hughes’ right wing. There was also some center ice battle drills leading to 2v2, which was a new look, perhaps from new Colorado Eagles head coach Jussi Ahokas. Getting the special teams units up to par was also on the agenda, first the traditional 5v4 practice but then later on a down low focus of just 3v2 was an interesting new approach.

Game 1 vs. Anaheim – 7-2 WIN

To start, this game was delayed over an hour but when the puck finally dropped, it was all Avalanche in a 7-2 victory. The top line was as suspected with TJ Hughes centering Taylor Makar and Beckett Hamilton, which was the trio that got the scoring started. For the first goal Makar received a gorgeous feed from Hamilton and then Hamilton scored himself on a one timer cross-ice pass from Hughes. Other goal scorers were from Matthew DiMarsico, Shawn Carrier, Cooper Gay and invite Kalder Varga.

Defenseman Alex Gagne had a special outing with a complete Gordie Howe hat trick plus an extra assist all while wearing the captain’s “C” on his jersey. Ilya Nabokov looked sharp in net and earned the win playing the first 40 minutes. He put on a show on the penalty kill when Anaheim was awarded numerous opportunities in the second period.

Game 2 vs. Vegas – 6-5 SO LOSS

With a much thinner lineup compared to the previous tilt, the Avalanche found a tighter checking game against the Golden Knights rookies. The game unfolded somewhat similarly in the first two periods to the prior contest as Colorado built a 4-2 lead on a solid outing from goaltender Nikita Novosyolov. They received goals from invites Noah Jettelson, Kalder Varga and two from Jake Chaisson.

In the third period entered 2026 draftee Alexandre Raymond in net who was tasked with holding down the fort against Vegas’ pressure. At this point it was a total penalty-fest and Vegas evened up the game 4-4. Shortly after that Nikita Prishchepov scored on one of his half dozen penalty kill breakaways and put the Avalanche up 5-4 with only a few minutes left in the game. Linus Funck took a bad penalty and put Vegas back on the power play where they scored again and the game went to overtime.

Colorado was awarded a power play right at the end of regulation but couldn’t score on the 4v3. The five minute overtime concluded without a score and the game went into a shootout. Beckett Hamilton was the only tally for Colorado while Vegas put two on the board and the game ended 6-5 in their favor.

Takeaways

On defense it was an interesting mix both days of AHL veterans and young prospects. Teddy Lechner, who wasn’t even supposed to join the tournament as his USHL team begins their season in a matter of days, did well especially for as inexperienced as he is. Same goes for Ondrej Ruml as both were drafted by the Avalanche this summer. Linus Funck has hot and cold moments but was able to get a lot of ice time. Alex Gagne certainly will move up the pecking order with his strong showing in the first game as well. Sean Behrens set up a very nice goal in the second game but seems a bit lost in the shuffle.

It’s hard not to get excited for Beckett Hamilton who was able to show off his talents in this setting. He had looked good in camps prior to the showcase and turned it up a notch in these games by leading all Colorado rookies with 10 shots on goal over the two games. He’s still only 18-years-old and needs to get stronger on the puck but he has all the attributes of a NHL forward including a shot mentality to go along with a heavy shot but also great vision and playmaking ability, defensive aptitude and high hockey IQ. A goal, assist and shootout goal over the two days in a nice weekend of work heading into a tougher challenge against NHL competition where hopefully he can add a couple more shining moments. Also among the forward group, TJ Hughes and Taylor Makar set themselves up nicely to battle for NHL opportunity in main camp next week.

As the “starters” over the two games, both Ilya Nabokov and Nikita Novosyolov each contributed to the leads they allowed their teammates to build. Only giving up two goal each, the Russian netminders had particularly good sequences in the second periods when they were frequently on the penalty kill. Nabokov has a smoothness to his game with good reads and made an especially dramatic glove save. Novosyolov has a more aggressive style where he challenges in the crease more but was just as effective. To consider him just an ECHL goaltender would be a mistake.

Martone moments add to buzz about his future as Flyers sweep rookie series

Martone moments add to buzz about his future as Flyers sweep rookie series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Flyers’ top prospects were as advertised Sunday night.

They put together a 4-1 win over the Rangers at PPL Center in the second of two rookie games this weekend.

Porter Martone (one goal, one assist) and Denver Barkey (one goal, one assist) each had multiple points. Martone iced the game with the Flyers’ second empty-net goal. Noah Powell had the first.

Brek Liske also found the back of the net. Oliver Bonk, Jett Luchanko, Maksim Sokolovskii and Spencer Gill all had an assist.

The Flyers took the first matchup, 3-2. Alex Bump led the charge and then received the night off for Game 2.

• Martone just oozes with leadership qualities. You can see why he was a captain in the OHL and at world juniors.

In the second period, the 19-year-old winger tried to regroup offensively for another rush. But two Rangers converged on him and forced a turnover that resulted in Liam Greentree’s game-tying 1-1 goal.

But Martone responded. And he was also accountable. The Flyers went into second intermission with a 2-1 lead after Martone helped orchestrate Liske’s goal. After the horn sounded on the period, Martone found his goaltender Marek Sklenicka and apologized for his earlier mishap.

“I went up to him and just said, ‘That’s on me, we’ll get you back here,'” Martone said. “He played awesome for us coming in there. It’s probably tough with one of his first shots being off a backdoor pass. … I made a mistake there, but I had to bounce back in the third and get the win. He came up big for us down the stretch.”

The Flyers have loved Martone’s maturity. He didn’t dwell on his previous play and instead made the next one.

“That’s what good players do,” John Snowden, the AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley head coach, said. “Short memory, things happen.”

In the second period, Barkey absorbed a heavy hit from the Rangers’ 6-foot-7 forward Dylan Roobroeck. Martone made sure to find Roobroeck after the whistle for a get-together.

“He doesn’t have to do that, I don’t want to see him doing that stuff,” Barkey said with a smile. “I’ve got to keep my head up, too, at the same time. But it’s obviously super cool to see someone of that caliber have the guts to go do that to a guy like that, and not back away. It means a lot and it goes a long way when you know someone’s got your back like that.”

• It didn’t take long for the London connection between Barkey and Bonk to be on display.

The Flyers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first period when the former Knights teammates executed up ice.

“We played for four years in London together,” Barkey said, “so I guess we know where each other is quite often.”

Barkey made a strong move in close after Bonk joined the rush and found him. Bonk, a 21-year-old defenseman, is pushing for the Flyers. The 2023 first-rounder keeps the puck out of his net and his offensive instincts are good.

“He’s very, very smart,” Snowden, who runs rookie camp, said. “He’s surgical on his decisions and when he jumps up into the play. He’s really good at kind of hiding himself in those situations and just hitting with a burst, jumping into a spot at the right time.”

On Barkey’s goal, Luchanko ignited the sequence with a subtle but impressive play along the boards while under pressure. The 2024 first-round center had a pair of helpers over the weekend.

“I think a lot of his things go unnoticed,” Martone said. “Just winning defensive battles in the O-zone, kind of starting the play. I think he’s going to have a big year this year. You can see his vision, too. He makes small, little plays around the ice that kind of get the offense started.”

• Powell was highly noticeable in both games because of his hard-nosed, bottom-six brand. The 2024 fifth-round winger knows that will be his ticket to the NHL. The front office had to take notice.

He was a pest all weekend and dropped the gloves in Game 2.

“Hockey’s a violent game,” Powell said. “I’m not saying I’m a violent person, but when I get out there, I definitely do like to play a violent, vicious style of hockey. Kind of get out there and make sure that it’s known.”

• The Flyers went with their Czechia goalie tandem from this summer’s draft.

Martin Psohlavec, one of the Flyers’ two second-rounders, started and made seven saves.

Sklenicka, a fourth-rounder, played the back half of the game. He converted eight saves.

• The Flyers are scheduled to have two more days of rookie camp. Main training camp begins Thursday.

Canucks Close Out 2026 Prospects Showcase With A 5–2 Win Against The Kraken

The Vancouver Canucks wrapped up the 2026 Prospects Showcase with a 5–2 win against the Seattle Kraken. Adam Novotný, Bennett Schimek, Gabriel Chiarot, Braeden Cootes, and Alonso Gosselin scored for Vancouver today, while Ty Young and Aku Koskenvuo split the start and stopped a combined 31 of 33 shots faced. 

After an individually successful first game the day before that saw him score his first goal in a Canucks uniform, Novotný put on an excellent performance once again, opening the scoring with less than five minutes to go in the first period. Playing on a new line with Cootes and fellow 2026 draftee Brooks Rogowski, the winger helped advance the play into the O-zone, chipping it up to Rogowski before advancing on net and beating Kraken goaltender Nikke Kokko. 

Novotný’s impact went farther than just on the scoresheet, however, as he was also noticeably more physical in today’s game — specifically in throwing extra jabs at the Kraken prospects after the whistle went. 

“In a good way, bull in a china shop,” Abbotsford Canucks Head Coach Ryan Papaioannou said post-game of Novotný’s performance. “Everything [went] north for him, chipping pucks to areas, winning races, really tough to knock off the puck. So I think he probably just stayed to his brand.” 

“He’s got an elite shot release. You saw him on his first goal today — that’s pretty sick," linemate Rogowski added. "Just with his speed too, he just creates so well. His speed opens up ice for everyone else because guys kind of duplicate on him and it just creates more space for everybody. For a guy like him, he’s such a threat. It sometimes takes the pressure off me a little bit to give me some more space to make a play.” 

Just as it seemed to for Seattle the night before, once the second period came around, the Canucks’ floodgates opened up. 

At the beginning of the second, the Kraken announced a change at goal, swapping Kokko with Maks Corovic. 

The Kraken managed to tie things up at the five-minute mark of the second period, though it didn’t take long for Vancouver to regain their lead and then some. Schimek helped start the play that led to his goal, retrieving the puck from a Seattle team attempting to break-out. After giving it to Kirill Kudryavtsev to reset, the Abbotsford Canucks forward tore into the O-zone and flipped the puck past Corovic’s glove. 

Vancouver scored once again after things got scrambly near Seattle’s crease, with the puck hitting a Kraken player’s stick before ending up in the net. Cootes tapped Vancouver’s fourth goal into the net after receiving a smooth pass from linemate Rogowski. 

Before Vancouver could score their fifth, Kraken prospect Jagger Firkus found the back of the net for Seattle. Five minutes later, however, Novotný brought the puck into the O-zone, keeping it alive along the boards before passing it to Gosselin, who tucked it in for the Canucks’ fifth goal of the game.  

By the end of the second period, the score was up to 5–2 for Vancouver. 

The third period featured more special teams time as well as some stunning saves by Koskenvuo. This included a split-save that saw the goaltender stretch across the crease to stop the Kraken from scoring with around five minutes remaining in the game. 

One of the most impactful changes to Vancouver in today’s game was the switch in lines. The new line of Novotný, Cootes, and Rogowski helped score three of the Canucks’ five goals, with each member of the line registering at least one point. 

“I think [it was] just probably something that we all wanted to see, everybody in the stands included,” Papaioannou said of the Canucks prospects’ top-line.”Give those guys a look together, and whether they had a successful game or not, I think it was fun just to watch.” 

Vancouver’s prospects will now look to build on today’s result by having a strong training camp next week. 

Photo Credit: Izzy Cheung - THN
Photo Credit: Izzy Cheung - THN

Scoring Summary: 

1st Period: 

15:54 - VAN: Adam Novotný from Brooks Rogowski and Arseni Anisimov 

2nd Period: 

5:23 - SEA: Tyson Jugnauth from Oscar Fisker Molgaard and Jagger Firkus (PPG) 

6:28 - VAN: Bennett Schimek from Kirill Kudryavtsev 

7:56 - VAN: Gabriel Chiarot from Carson Cameron 

9:08 - VAN: Braeden Cootes from Brooks Rogowski and Adam Novotný

11:33 - SEA: Jagger Firkus from Julius Miettinen and Ty Nelson 

16:24 - VAN: Alonso Gosselin from Adam Novotný and Sawyer Mynio 

3rd Period: 

No Scoring. 

Up Next: 

The next time the Canucks will hit the ice in front of their fans is on September 17 for Day 1 of their 2026 Training Camp in Penticton. The 2026 NHL pre-season begins a couple of days after on September 19, with the Canucks facing none-other than the Kraken in Seattle. 

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

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Former Wild Defenseman Retires After 12 NHL Seasons

Former Minnesota Wild defenseman John Klingberg has officially called it a career.

Klingberg announced his retirement from professional hockey Friday after 12 NHL seasons and exactly 700 regular-season games. The 34-year-old finished his career with 92 goals, 351 assists and 443 points while playing for six different teams.

His time in Minnesota was brief, but Klingberg played an important role for the Wild down the stretch of the 2022-23 season.

Minnesota acquired Klingberg from the Anaheim Ducks at the 2023 NHL trade deadline in exchange for defenseman Andrej Sustr, the rights to prospect Nikita Nesterenko and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Anaheim also retained 50 percent of Klingberg's salary in the deal.

Klingberg appeared in 17 regular-season games for the Wild, recording two goals and seven assists for nine points. He then added a goal and three assists in four playoff games as Minnesota was eliminated by the Dallas Stars in six games in the first round.

He left Minnesota that summer and signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He underwent season-ending hip surgery during the 2023-24 season before eventually returning to the NHL later.

He spent the 2025-26 season with the San Jose Sharks and showed he could still produce offensively, finishing with 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 56 games. It ultimately proved to be his final NHL season.

For Wild fans, Klingberg's stay in Minnesota amounted to only 21 games between the regular season and playoffs, but he remains part of Bill Guerin's aggressive 2023 trade-deadline push that also brought Gustav Nyquist, Marcus Johansson and Oskar Sundqvist to Minnesota.

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Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Former New York Islanders Defenseman To A PTO

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they signed former New York Islander and New York Ranger defenseman Carson Soucy pro tryout contract.

Per a CBJ PR release, Don Waddell says of Soucy, “Carson Soucy is a big, physical stay-at-home defenseman who blocks shots, clears the net and plays an overall solid defensive game,” said Waddell. “He is a competitive, experienced player and we look forward to having him in camp.”

Soucy has played 441 career NHL games and has 99 total points. He played 30 games for the Islanders last season and had 4 points. 

WATCH: Daniil Prokhorov Lights The Lamp In Rookie Scrimmage vs. Devils

NEWARK, NJ -- On Sunday, the New York Islanders' prospects battled the New Jersey Devils' prospects. 

After a scoreless first period, Daniil Prokhorov, whom the Islanders selected in the second round (No. 42) of the 2025 NHL Draft, lit the lamp to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 5:56 of the second. 

Off the rush, Luca Romano, whom the Islanders selected in the third round (No. 74) of the 2025 NHL Draft, fed Prokhorov in the low slot before he beat Jakub Malek under the glove for the opening tally at 5:56 of the second:

Prokhorov has quickly become a fan favorite and is expected to be a force for the Hamilton Hammers this upcoming season. 

Blackhawks Prospect Camp: Taige Harding Is Leading Defense So Far

The Chicago Blackhawks have a surplus of young defensemen. Some are already in the NHL, while others are in development leagues around the world. 

There are also some good ones at this year’s prospect camp, where a group of Blackhawks prospects is preparing for the 2026 Prospect Showcase against the St. Louis Blues. 

Leading the way for that group on the blue line is Taige Harding. Chicago selected Harding with their 3rd-round pick (91st overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. At 24, he is one of the older players at the tournament, and he is standing out. 

Harding is a big player. At 6’7” and 236 lbs, he’s one of the largest players in the organization. He uses every bit of that size on the ice as well. For being as big as he is, he skates well, too. 

During these practices, he has looked like the number one defenseman at the event. It is lining up as if he is going to be on the top pair against the Blues. Jake Furlong is his likely partner on the ice. During drills of all kinds, Harding seems to have a grasp of what’s expected, and he feels good about it. 

"Everything's kind of just getting ready for mini-camp," Harding said about what he's working on. "Help the younger guys; this is my second one now, so I feel pretty comfortable. Just kind of work on the details and get back into game shape." 

Throughout the year, Taige Harding is going to spend his time with the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL. This is another good opportunity for him to develop down there and learn for another year. 

"For me, personally, it's making an impression," Harding said. "Everything I can so the staff knows who I am; prove I belong here." 

If Harding were a perfectly sound prospect, he would be in line to make his NHL debut this season, but it isn't likely. There is a lot for him to work on within his game, and he recognizes that. 

"Being a big guy, skating," Harding said. "At this level, everyone skates so well. I think I do skate pretty well, but just being more fluid, being a little quicker in some areas. [I have to] continue working on that and just using my brain; make sure I don't get caught."

When Harding was asked who he models his game after, he mentioned St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko. Of course, that is a high ceiling for a large defenseman with that skill set. Parayko was a top-pair caliber defenseman on a team that won the Stanley Cup in his prime, so it's a good goal for him to have. 

"Taige took huge strides last year," IceHogs head coach Jared Nightengale said of his defenseman. "With his size, when he plays with an edge, I think he's going to make us a heck of a hockey team."

The plan for Harding in Rockford is for him to be on the penalty kill, play against top lines, and bring a physical presence to the team at even strength. When asked who Harding's ideal partner would be, coach Nightingale said he didn't have one particular person in mind. 

Of course, there is a lot of fluidity to AHL lineups due to the nature of the league, but Nightingale did say that an offensive defenseman would work well with someone like Harding, who leaves a lot of "outs" with his stay-at-home nature. 

There are not many players of Harding's size in pro hockey. Just because a player is big doesn't make them good. When Harding is on the ice, there are other big players, but his game is much more noticeable than most. 

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