For the better part of the last few years, the Edmonton Oilers have been Canada's best chance to finally win another Stanley Cup.

They came within one win in 2024, returned to the Stanley Cup Final the following year, and have spent the better part of the past decade getting closer than any Canadian team has since Vancouver in 2011. There is still plenty of reason to believe they can get back there.

They may not have much longer as Canada's best chance.

Why Are People Freaking Out Over McDavid's New Ranking?EA Sports ignited a firestorm by granting the Oilers superstar a perfect 99 rating, sparking intense debates over historical precedents, gameplay balance, and his lack of hardware.

The Montreal Canadiens are well ahead of schedule, and after reaching the Eastern Conference Final last season, you can't call what they're doing a rebuild anymore. They already have a good NHL team, most of their best players are young, and there is still another group coming behind them.

Montreal has drafted extraordinarily well.

Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are established stars. Juraj Slafkovsky is 22, Ivan Demidov is 20, and Lane Hutson has already become one of the best young defencemen in the league. Noah Dobson gives Montreal another high-end defenceman, while Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler give the Canadiens two young goaltenders who could be part of the organization for a long time.

Michael Hage is still at Michigan, and the Canadiens haven't emptied Laval to build the team that's already winning playoff rounds.

Is This The Oilers' Playoff Roster?The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a>' roster looks pretty well set.

That's a pretty good situation to be in after making a conference final.

Edmonton's situation is a little different.

The Oilers have the better players at the top of their roster. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, to name a few. Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard have given the Oilers some much-needed younger talent.

The difference is that most of Edmonton's best players are already what they're going to be.

McDavid isn't a prospect who might eventually become a superstar. Draisaitl isn't still developing into one of the best centres in hockey. Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins are established veterans.

Why Don't We Know the Length Of Babcock's Contract With The Oilers?Edmonton’s silence regarding Mike Babcock’s salary and term suggests a high-stakes commitment. With leverage favoring the veteran coach, the Oilers may be shielding a lucrative, multi-year gamble.

The Oilers are built to win now because they have to be.

Montreal has already become a contender while several of its most important players are still developing. Demidov should be better in two years than he is today. Slafkovsky should be better. Fowler hasn't reached his prime, Hage hasn't reached the NHL, and there are still players in Laval who could eventually become part of the Canadiens' lineup.

They don't need all of them to work out, either.

Montreal has enough young players and prospects that some can miss and the organization will still be in good shape. If Hughes decides the Canadiens need another established player instead, he has the draft picks and prospects available to go get one.

That's what Edmonton doesn't have anymore.

Where Does Kasperi Kapanen Fit In The Oilers' Lineup?Kasperi Kapanen has traditionally slotted in on Leon Draisaitl's right wing in Edmonton, but heading into this season, that role might not be his.

Teams trying to win the Stanley Cup, as the Oilers have been for years, don't keep every draft pick and prospect. They trade them for players who can help immediately.

Eventually, those trades leave the organization with less to work with.

The Oilers don't have a prospect pool in Bakersfield that compares with what Montreal has coming through Laval, and they don't have the same collection of draft picks available if another major piece becomes available. Edmonton can still improve its roster, but Bowman doesn't have the same margin for error that Hughes does.

Montreal's contracts help, too.

The Canadiens haven't had to pay their young core like a group that has already reached its ceiling. Their biggest contracts remain manageable relative to league-wide salary levels, and much of the core is under team control for years. That lets Hughes keep adding as the young players improve.

How Much Rope Will Josh Samanski Get Under Babcock?The rookie’s defensive instincts face the ultimate test as Mike Babcock’s high-stakes accountability determines whether Edmonton targets a veteran center or trusts their homegrown youth this season.

Martin St. Louis has been behind the bench through much of the rebuild and has developed alongside many of the players now turning Montreal into a contender. After taking such a young team to the conference final, it isn't difficult to see a Coach of the Year award in his future.

Hughes could eventually have a GM of the Year award waiting for him as well.

The Canadiens have rebuilt quickly without giving up the things rebuilding teams are supposed to accumulate. They still have prospects. They still have picks. They have young players on the NHL roster who haven't reached their primes, and they already know the group can win in the playoffs.

Edmonton knows that too, of course.

In vs Out: Did The Oilers Actually Improve From The End of Last Season to The Start Of This Season?From a high-stakes coaching gamble to a defensive overhaul, we break down Edmonton’s aggressive roster surgery to see if these bold upgrades truly make them championship favorites.

McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins and Bouchard have been through long playoff runs together. They've played in Stanley Cup Finals, dealt with the pressure that comes with them and come about as close to winning as a team can without actually doing it.

Montreal hasn't done that yet.

For now, that experience and the presence of McDavid and Draisaitl are enough to keep Edmonton near the front of the Canadian contenders. The Oilers don't need to be younger than Montreal or have a better prospect pool to win four playoff rounds this season. But they can't keep assuming there will always be another one.

Can Mike Babcock Coach Trent Frederic Back To RelavanceThere was a pretty clear idea of what Trent Frederic was supposed to be when the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> brought him in.

Montreal's best years should still be ahead of it. Edmonton's best opportunity may be the one it has right now.

The Canadiens were the last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup in 1993. For more than three decades, every contender north of the border has tried to become the team that finally follows them.

Edmonton has come closer than anybody, but if can't finish it in the coming years, the Canadiens may not leave them much longer to try.

While Marc-Edouard Vlasic kept the number 44 under lock and key with the San Jose Sharks for nearly two decades, shortly after he departed the organization, a new face took over.

The Sharks acquired Kiefer Sherwood from the Vancouver Canuck on January 19, 2026 for a pair of second round draft picks and defenseman Cole Clayton. Less than two month later, the Sharks signed the veteran winger to a five-year contract with an average annual value of $5.75 million to retain his services for the foreseeable future. With that being said, things weren't always this smooth for Sherwood, as he had to overcome massive odds to ever be seen as a legitimate NHL prospect.

As an undrafted player, Sherwood's NHL journey began alongside his younger brother Kole when the duo were invited to attend development camp with their hometown team, the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2015.

After showing off what they could do at development camp, the Blue Jackets offered Kole Sherwood an entry-level contract while letting Kiefer return to Miami University for the 2015-16 season. 

Kiefer would go on to earn an entry-level contract of his own toward the tail end of the 2018-19 season with the Anaheim Ducks, but after two seasons split between the NHL and their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks opted not to extend a qualifying offer to Sherwood, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. 

Sherwood then joined the Colorado Avalanche for the 2020-21 season, where he again found himself stuck between the NHL and AHL. The same was true for the 2021-22 campaign, but he spent the majority of that season with the Colorado Eagles.

After another tweener season during the 2022-23 season, this time with the Nashville Predators, Sherwood finally got his first opportunity to stick in the NHL on a full-time basis during the 2023-24 season. In 68 games, he scored 10 goals and added 17 assists, attracting the interest of the Vancouver Canucks.

During his first season north of the border, Sherwood scored a career-high 19 goals and 40 points in 78 games. He then scored 17 goals and 23 points with the Canucks to start the 2025-26 season before he was traded to San Jose.

Compared to most 31-year-old NHLers, Sherwood has less of a proven track record as he prepares for his first full season in the Bay Area. With that being said, sometimes all late bloomers need is a true opportunity, and that appears to have been the case with Kiefer Sherwood.

EA Sports has revealed the top 300 forwards in NHL 27, and four Montreal Canadiens have made the cut: Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov, and Juraj Slafkovsky

Seeing these four Canadiens players be rated among the best forwards in NHL 27 is not surprising in the slightest.

Suzuki landed the top rating out of the four Habs forwards, as he has been given a 93 overall rating. It is easy to understand why, as he recorded 29 goals, 72 assists, 101 points, and a plus-37 rating in 82 games last season for Montreal. He also won the Selke Trophy. 

Caufield has been given a 90 overall rating in NHL 27. The 25-year-old winger was fantastic for the Canadiens this past season for Montreal, as he posted 51 goals, 37 assists, and 88 points in 81 games. 

Next up is Demidov, as the star young forward has been given an 88 overall rating. The 20-year-old winger has earned this, as he posted 19 goals, 43 assists, and 62 points in 82 games with the Habs as a rookie last season. 

As for Slafkovsky, he has been given an 87 overall rating in NHL 27. This comes after the 22-year-old winger had a big year for the Canadiens, posting 30 goals, 43 assists, and 73 points in 82 games. 

Ahead of NHL 27’s September 11 release, EA Sports has been unveiling its player ratings, and the numbers reflect the Calgary Flames’ rebuilding status. In the forward rankings, only three Calgary players earned ratings of 84 or higher.

Unless the Flames place a few defensemen or goaltenders among the top 299, Matt Coronato, Morgan Frost, and captain Mikael Backlund are Calgary’s only representatives on the list so far.

Where do the Calgary Flames forwards rank in NHL 27?

Coronato leads Calgary’s forwards at No. 206 with an 85 rating, followed closely by Frost at No. 212, also at 85. Backlund rounds out the trio at No. 298 with an 84 rating.

Last year, Nazem Kadri led Calgary’s forwards with an 87 rating, followed by Jonathan Huberdeau at 86. Kadri has since been traded, while Huberdeau underwent surgery after missing a significant portion of last season. His production dipped enough that he failed to crack EA Sports’ top 299 players this time around despite carrying one of the NHL’s largest contracts.

Meanwhile, Coronato got a bump from 84 to 85, with Forst doing the same, going from 84 to 85, while Backlund stayed the same at 84. 

Can Calgary’s Defensemen and Goalies Improve the Flames’ NHL 27 Rankings?

Based on last year's ratings, the Flames were led on the back end by MacKenzie Weegar (88) and Rasmus Andersson (88), both players who are no longer with the club. After them, Kevin Bahl (84) had the highest rating among defenders still in Calgary for this season. 

It will be interesting to see where Simon Nemec and Zach Whitecloud rank, since the latter arrived via the Anderson trade with the Vegas Golden Knights and Nemec joined the Flames from the New Jersey Devils in the spring. 

Ultimately, the game's highest-rated player from Calgary should be goalie Dustin Wolf, but he held an 87 rating last year and had a subpar campaign while the team tumbled down the standings. 

Whether NHL 27 players love or hate Calgary’s ratings, the Flames should make for an intriguing franchise-mode project. With general manager Craig Conroy already emphasizing youth in real life, virtual GMs can accelerate the rebuild, reshape the roster, and chase a Stanley Cup while playing through the Saddledome’s final season.

There are a lot of great players in the National Hockey League. They are all rated by EA Sports each year ahead of the release of their video game. In NHL 27, the New Jersey Devils have multiple highly rated players. The forward ratings were all released on Tuesday.

Jack Hughes leads the way. He tops all Devils forwards with a rating of 94, which makes him the 16th overall forward in the game. At center, he ranks 8th. He only trails Connor McDavid (99), Nathan MacKinnon (97), Leon Draisaitl (96), Sidney Crosby (95), Macklin Celebrini (95), and Sasha Barkov (95). 

Hughes' 94 rating ties him with Jack Eichel when it comes to centers. That's a great rating, especially when you consider the injury that caused Jack Hughes to miss some time in 2025-26. 

The top of the forward rankings is set in #NHL27 🔥

99 OVR Connor McDavid leads the Centers.
Nikita Kucherov leads the Right Wings at 97.
Kirill Kaprizov on top the Left Wings at 94.

NHL 27 Ratings Hub: https://t.co/DEa60O3Q2Gpic.twitter.com/QqB5sPI6wg

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 18, 2026

Jack helped his case by scoring the Golden Goal in the Olympics to cap off his run as one of Team USA's best forwards. He was also red-hot from that point until the end of the season, which ended shy of the playoffs for the Devils. 

There is still room for Jack Hughes to improve, too, and be healthier, which could increase his rating in future editions. He may never be up there with McDavid or McKinnon, but being just a tick below is a compliment. 

Jesper Bratt is second on the team with an 89 overall rating. Nico Hischier is third at 88; Timo Meier and Anthony Mantha are in 4th and 5th with an 85 rating (there are attribute ratings within the overall rating, which create tiebreakers). 

With their ratings, Hughes (16th), Bratt (55th), and Hischier (88th) are all top-100 forwards in the game. Based on the way that they've played up to this point in their careers, along with projections for 2026-27, that is accurate. 

When you use the team in the video game, you can bank on having one of these premier centers on the ice for most of the game alongside some highly rated wingers for support. 

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.

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While he admitted that he initially thought that he would be returning to the Detroit Red Wings for a third straight full campaign, Patrick Kane is back where it all began. 

Kane did not re-sign with the Red Wings and instead returned to the Chicago Blackhawks, signing a two-year, $16 million contract with the franchise that selected him first overall in the 2007 NHL Draft.

With Chicago, Kane won the Stanley Cup three times while cementing his status as one of the best American-born players in NHL history. And he'll be welcomed back in style on Tuesday evening when he throws out the first pitch at Wrigley Field as part of the Crosstown Classic series between the Chicago Cubs and White Sox. 

PATRICK KANE FIRST PITCH AT WRIGLEY FOR CROSSTOWN CLASSIC GAME 2 ARE YOU KIDDING MEEEE pic.twitter.com/kC1LgzJAK9

— CHGO Sports (@CHGO_Sports) August 18, 2026

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

Kane, who was traded from the Blackhawks to the New York Rangers at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, underwent hip resurfacing surgery that offseason and was out of action until December when he signed with the Red Wings.

It was former Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat who played a key role in recruiting Kane to Detroit, where he would play until earlier this spring. 

Kane, who signed consecutive one-year contracts with the Red Wings, admitted that he anticipated yet another extension in Detroit, but that circumstances changed. 

While Kane did not specify exactly what circumstances shifted his mentality, it's not hard to make an educated guess. Not only did captain Dylan Larkin request to be traded after the club once again missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but GM Steve Yzerman vacated his role just over a month later. 

Currently, the Red Wings are in limbo without a general manager and zero official updates regarding a timeline for when that position will be filled from the team. Meanwhile, Larkin has reportedly not budged from his trade request.

Shortly after returning to the Blackhawks, Kane penned a heartfelt letter of thanks to the Red Wings and to the fans for embracing him, saying that he'll always look back upon his time in Detroit fondly.

But the departure of Kane, who registered 57 points last season, leaves a massive hole for a team that already struggled to produce offense.

He'll make his return to Little Caesars Arena with the Blackhawks in late October, and he'll almost certainly receive a video tribute and warm reception from the fans. 

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The ratings for forwards in NHL 27 are out, and there isn't much of a surprise at the top of the Chicago Blackhawks roster. 

Connor Bedard is the highest-rated forward at 90 overall. This is composed of his 93 overall acceleration, 92 speed, 92 deke, 93 passing, 89 slapshot, and 93 wrist shot. 

Bedard is ranked as the 15th-best center in the game and 43rd overall player. EA Sports officially recognizes him as an elite player. 

Right below Bedard is the newly reacquired Patrick Kane at 85 overall. Most of his attributes are in the mid-80s at this stage of his career, but they gave him a 92 passing grade, still recognizing him as an elite passer. 

When playing the game as the Chicago Blackhawks, the combination of Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard should work well, considering both have well above-average passing numbers.

Frank Nazar is an 85, and Tyler Bertuzzi rounds out the top four at 84. For Nazar, that is a number that could continue to climb as long as he continues to get better on the ice for real.

For Bertuzzi, it is a high mark that is likely the result of his 30-goal campaign in 2025-26. Unless he does that again for Chicago, 84 feels like a flatline rating for him at this stage of his career. 

How high can Connor Bedard take his rating? Well, Connor McDavid just became the first NHL player to ever receive a 99 rating from EA, but somewhere in the mid-90s is a great ceiling for Bedard in his career. There, he would find himself amongst other elite players like Jack Hughes, Jack Eichel, and Nick Suzuki, and others. 

The top of the forward rankings is set in #NHL27 🔥

99 OVR Connor McDavid leads the Centers.
Nikita Kucherov leads the Right Wings at 97.
Kirill Kaprizov on top the Left Wings at 94.

NHL 27 Ratings Hub: https://t.co/DEa60O3Q2Gpic.twitter.com/QqB5sPI6wg

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 18, 2026

EA Sports regularly updates its ratings for players, and it is based on performance in real life. When Bedard returns from injury, scoring goals, making plays, and team success would go a long way toward Bedard seeing his number climb. 

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

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Is there a more disposable job in pro sports than NHL head coach?

Senators coach Travis Green is a pretty good example of just how quickly the NHL coaching carousel spins. The Senators just hired Green two summers ago, and somehow, he's already the 12th-longest-serving active NHL coach with his current team.

In a 32-team league, that's pretty crazy.

Green has done an excellent job since arriving in Ottawa. The Senators have made the playoffs in each of his first two years, ending a seven-year postseason drought in his first year and then navigating a much more difficult 2025-26 season to get back there again.

Green's work this past season earned him significant recognition around the league. He finished sixth in Jack Adams Trophy voting and received four first-place votes.

That's pretty good company, but a two-season run feels like a cup of coffee, like you've barely had enough time to really put your stamp on the club. It shouldn't place you near the top third of the NHL.

NHL head coaches continue to get hired, fired and recycled at an unreasonably high rate in the NHL.

A couple of disappointing months can suddenly put an established coach on the hot seat. A bad playoff series can change everything. Sometimes, even winning doesn't buy much security.

Just look at Vegas, everyone's favourite team.

The Golden Knights were in a playoff spot in late March, but they felt like their dressing room was flat, so they fired their 2023 Cup champion, Bruce Cassidy, and brought in John Tortorella. Then, despite getting them to the Cup Final this year, they parted ways with Tortorella right after that run, then hired rookie coach Ryan Craig.

The Knights didn't give a reason for Tortorella's exit, but maybe he'll be back again to jolt them next spring like a walking-talking defibrillator.

The volatile state of coaching makes Jon Cooper an absolute unicorn.

Cooper took over the Tampa Bay Lightning in March 2013 and is now entering his 14th season behind their bench. He's won two Stanley Cups, reached four Stanley Cup Finals and taken Tampa Bay to the playoffs in 12 of his 13 full seasons.

And somehow, after all of that, he had never won the Jack Adams Trophy until this year. Cooper has been an outlier for a long time, and it's been suggested that the so-called Jack Adams curse may finally be his undoing.

But what coach isn't feeling cursed, hearing the footsteps of his replacement? No matter how well things are going, recent history will tell you that unemployment isn't far off.

Montreal's Marty St. Louis has been on the job for four years, and he's already the fourth-longest-tenured head coach in the entire league? 

Maybe it's the short attention span of today's young players, who are easily bored (and sometimes entitled) as they tune out coaches faster than ever.

Maybe with social media now so prevalent, general managers hear the barking from fans and media sooner and louder. A quick coaching change can be like throwing a hunk of meat to the wolves. It gives them something else to chew on as the GM slowly backs into the hedges like Homer Simpson.

Whatever it is, Cooper's longevity is a million times more impressive than the silly notion of a trophy curse.

As for Green, who's done a tremendous job so far, Senators fans should probably enjoy the coaching stability while they have it because it can obviously be fleeting. 

It's truly hard to believe that a two-year run qualifies as veteran status now.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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

More Turnover Than You Think: 12 Ottawa Senators From Last Season Are Gone
Senators Turned Down Draft Night Trade Offers From Pittsburgh And Vancouver
Ten Years Later: The Story of Senators First-Round Pick Logan Brown

Former Senator Chris Neil On Tkachuk Joining Florida: 'Is He Even In Their Top Six?'Former Senators great Chris Neil appeared on Coming in Hot on Monday and wondered if Tkachuk might end up being a third-liner in Florida.

On Sunday, the NHL Network will release its list of the top 20 centers in the NHL right now, and after seeing one of their players make the first three rankings, it is likely the Montreal Canadiens will also be represented on this fourth and final list. Cole Caufield was named the ninth-best winger, Lane Hutson the sixth-best defenseman, and Jakub Dobes the 10th-best goaltender. Where will Nick Suzuki rank on the best center list? We’ll have the final answer on Sunday night, but for now, let’s have a look at where he should land.

Last year, Suzuki ranked 10th, and when he entered the conversation ahead of the 2024 season, he was 16th. Needless to say, he should carry on climbing the rankings this season.

NHL.com’s Inside Look At The Canadiens Focuses On The Players’ Commitment To Common Goal
Canadiens Dobes Makes NHL Network Top 10 Goalies List
Canadiens Can Forget About Hage, For Now

It’s been a fantastic season for the Canadiens’ captain, who not only broke the 100-point barrier with 101 points but also won his first major NHL award when he claimed the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive winger. He was the first choice for the award on 151 of 198 ballots and a top-five pick for 191 of the voters. He received a total of 1,726 voting points, a 1,259-point lead over his closest rival, Anthony Cirelli, who had 467 points.

From a pure point-production standpoint, Suzuki was fifth amongst all centers last year, trailing only Connor McDavid (138 points), Nathan MacKinnon (127 points), Macklin Celebrini (115 points), and Mark Scheifele (103 points). However, Suzuki is more than points on the scoresheet for the Canadiens. This past season, he ranked sixth in the NHL in faceoffs taken with 1,449, or 32.2% of all Habs faceoffs, and when he was on the ice, the Sainte-Flanelle outshot its opponent 94-58. His contribution is so valuable to the Canadiens that he finished fifth in Hart Trophy voting, earning one first-place vote, 19 fourth-place votes, and 35 fifth-place votes for 102 points. He was light-years away from first place (Nikita Kucherov with 1,436 points), but those votes show how well regarded he is in the NHL.

Habs goal of the day:

Nick Suzuki vs Colorado Nordiques (January 29, 2026) pic.twitter.com/HxKoX7ucGz

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 17, 2026

Even though he failed to make the cut for the 4 Nations Face-Off roster, Suzuki’s performance in the last two seasons forced Hockey Canada to bring him to the Milano Cortina Olympics, where he showed the rest of the NHL what he could actually do.

Last season, McDavid, MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl, Aleksander Barkov, Sidney Crosby, Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Brayden Point, and Mark Scheifele all finished ahead of Suzuki in the top-20 centers rankings, but that should change this season. For one, Barkov didn’t play a single game last season after suffering a serious knee injury, tearing both his ACL and MCL. Point also missed just under 20 games and saw his scoring drop from 82 to 50 points. Matthews’ scoring also dropped significantly, from 78 points to 53, as he played only 60 games and couldn't lead his Toronto Maple Leafs to the playoffs. As for Crosby, he could only muster 74 points ( in 68 games), his lowest total since the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season (62 points in 55 games). In other words, there is room for Suzuki to climb up a few spots in the rankings.

Based on last season’s results, it would make sense for Suzuki to make his way into the top five, behind McDavid, MacKinnon, Celebrini, and Draisaitl, who put up 97 points in just 65 games. We’ll find out on Sunday at 7:00 PM if NHL Network agrees with our assessment.

---

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

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The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.  

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

 21. Matous Kucharcik -  Forward (Youngstown - USHL) 

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 19-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 center 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 played for the Sabres favorite USHL club. the Youngstown Phantoms last season, and scored 16 points (9 goals, 7 assists) in 35 games. He is moving on to the NCAA to Miami (OH) University, where he will play with Sabres 2026 first rounder Ilya Morozov.   

Follow Michael on X, and Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

EA Sports' NHL 27 player ratings are out - and there is a member of the 99 Club for the first time.

That belongs to Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, a three-time Hart Trophy winner who was runner-up for the NHL's MVP award last season.

McDavid was the highest-rated player in NHL 26, at a 97. He then finished the 2025-26 season with a league-best 90 assists and 138 points, the sixth time he has led the league in scoring.

EA Sports released only forward ratings on Tuesday, Aug. 18. It will unveil defenseman ratings and overall ratings later.

McDavid is followed by Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, the 2025-26 MVP, and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon at 97 each.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, who's on the cover and signed a record-setting extension in July, received a 95 rating. So did Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, who missed all of last season after preseason ACL surgery.

Here is when NHL 27 is available for purchase and this season's top forward ratings:

More: When does 2026 NHL preseason schedule begin? Dates, times and sites

When is the NHL 27 release date?

NHL 27 will be released on Sept. 11. A pre-order link can be found here.

NHL 27 top forward ratings

Forwards with ratings of 95 or higher, with overall rankings in parentheses:

• 99 - C Connor McDavid, Edmonton (1)
• 97 - C Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado (2)
• 97 - RW Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay (3)
• 96 - C Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton (4)
• 95 - RW David Pastrnak, Boston (7)
• 95 - C Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh (8)
• 95 - Macklin Celebrini, San Jose (10)
• 95 - Aleksander Barkov, Florida (11)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: EA Sports' NHL 27 ratings are out; Connor McDavid receives first 99

If Patrik Laine wants to save his NHL career, he may have no choice but to finally bet on himself.

Reality Has Finally Caught Up

Laine remains unsigned on Aug. 18, nearly seven weeks after NHL free agency opened, and that is becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss as a simple case of patience.

The former No. 2 overall pick still possesses one of the most dangerous shots in hockey. He has scored 224 goals in 537 career regular-season games, including a 44-goal explosion with the Winnipeg Jets in 2017-18.

But NHL teams aren't paying for what Laine used to be.

They're paying for what they believe he can be.

And right now, the league appears increasingly skeptical.

Stefan Rosner, of The Hockey News, reported earlier this summer that the Islanders had conversations with Laine's camp but weren't prepared to offer him an NHL contract, with a professional tryout being the most they were willing to consider.

This is for the same player who signed a four-year, $34.8 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets just a few years ago. 

It becomes even more understandable when looking at his recent availability.

Laine played just five games for the Montreal Canadiens last season, recording one assist before undergoing surgery for a core muscle injury. Despite being medically cleared late in the season, he never returned to the lineup.

That continued a troubling pattern.

He played 52 games in 2024-25 and just 18 games the season before that. Over the past three seasons, Laine has appeared in only 75 games. That lack of availability has become impossible for teams to ignore.

Colorado Has A Reason To Listen

This is where the Colorado Avalanche become interesting.

Colorado needs a top-six winger. There is no mystery surrounding that. The Avalanche need more offensive depth, particularly after another disappointing postseason, and they don't have the luxury of throwing significant money at every potential solution.

Laine, however, could represent a fascinating exception.

The talent is still there. His release is still elite, and his power-play ability could give Colorado another legitimate scoring threat. At 28 years old, he isn't some aging veteran hoping to squeeze one final season out of his career.

But Colorado shouldn't be interested in Laine because of what he accomplished in Winnipeg. It should be interested only if it believes he can still become that player again.

That's a significant distinction.

The Avalanche have too much at stake to take a major financial gamble on someone whose biggest question is whether he'll actually be available. But if Laine is willing to accept that his market has changed, the equation becomes considerably more appealing.

Laine May Have To Bet On Himself

A one-year contract with a modest base salary and performance bonuses could give both sides exactly what they need.

Colorado would get an opportunity to add an incredibly talented scorer without making a significant long-term commitment, while Laine would get something perhaps even more valuable: an opportunity.

And there could be another factor working in Colorado's favor: the chance to play alongside some of the best offensive players in hockey.

If Laine were willing to take less money for a season, he wouldn't exactly be walking into an offensive wasteland.

He'd have the opportunity to play alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, giving him the kind of supporting cast that could make it easier to rediscover his scoring touch. Laine wouldn't have to carry an offense in Colorado. He'd have elite playmakers around him, dangerous players commanding defensive attention and potentially more opportunities to do what he does best — shoot the puck.

And if Laine can stay healthy and capitalize on those opportunities, a one-year discount could ultimately become a very profitable decision.

He could sacrifice money now to put himself in position to make significantly more later.

That's the part Laine may have to accept now.

He doesn't need to get paid like the player he once was.

He needs to get paid like the player he is capable of becoming.

A short-term deal could ultimately be the bridge between those two realities.

The gamble could make sense for Colorado, but only if Laine is willing to play ball and gamble on himself first.

Who's going to make the first move?

Mike Sullivan has high expectations for the New York Rangers going into his second season as the team’s head coach. 

Sullivan, who left the Pittsburgh Penguins last year after a decade-long tenure and two Stanley Cups, admitted that he did not expect the Rangers to struggle as much as they did during the 2025-26 season when he originally took the head coaching gig.

After a slow start to the season, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury issued a letter to fans in January, outlining the team’s plan to “retool” the roster. 

The Rangers proceeded to trade multiple veteran players leading up to the trade deadline, including Artemi Panarin, Carson Soucy, and Sam Carrick. 

New York finished the year in last place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 34-29-9 record and 77 points. 

However, Drury’s recent offseason moves indicate the Rangers’ intentions to fast-track their retool and jump back into the playoff race. 

The Rangers opened the offseason with their biggest splash, acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the No. 26 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.

Dorofeyev has scored over 30 goals over each of the past two seasons in Vegas, as he instantly becomes the Rangers’ most lethal offensive threat. 

Sullivan is now focused on pairing the 25-year-old forward with a playmaker who can bring the most out of him. 

“He’s a scorer and he needs someone to get him the puck,” Sullivan said via NHL.com’s 32 in 32 series. 

On top of the Dorofeyev addition, the Rangers beefed up their blueline, acquiring Sean Durzi from the Utah Mammoth as part of the Vincent Trocheck package, while also trading for Marcus Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2030 NHL Draft.

Sullivan is optimistic about the Blueshirts after a busy offseason, and he seems to be satisfied with the direction of the team. 

“I’m real excited about the potential of this team and where we can go,” Sullivan said. 

Uh oh. The NHL has just shared the new ranking for Connor McDavid in the EA Sports rankings. Becoming the first inaugural member of the EA Sports NHL 99 Club in NHL 27, some fans aren't happy. 

Some were quick to point out that there should be no way McDavid could earn a 99 rating. "This year being the year he gets 99 shows how insanely disconnected EA is from hockey." Others said that with no Stanley Cup, this shouldn't even be a conversation. 

Others then pointed out that Ray Bourque was given a 99 rating in NHL '94. Mario Lemieux was also once given a 100. They used a different rating structure back then, but you get the point...

“No one tell them about all the 99 and 100 overalls in the games in the 90s," Nick Spence wrote on X.com.

A 99 for No. 97.

Connor McDavid is officially the inaugural member of the EA SPORTS NHL 99 Club in NHL 27 👏

Pre-Order #NHL27 🎮 https://t.co/bqjGPs3H2Ypic.twitter.com/mE23L2Apku

— NHL (@NHL) August 17, 2026

Others seemed to be upset that this might lead to uneven gameplay. “So, he’s basically unstoppable in the game.” – Carlo Colaiacovo wrote. 

Is this really a big deal? For game historians and EA Sports gurus, it seems to be. For Oilers fans who know how good McDavid is -- especially those that aren't big into gaming -- some are wondering why all the fuss and why it took so long?

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