Category: NHL

The NHL Network has been ranking the best player at each position leading up to the start of the 2026-27 NHL season. On Sunday, August 2nd, they revealed their current top 20 wings list and ranked Martin Necas 15th. The following week, they released their top 20 list of the league's best defensemen, ranking Cale Makar 1st.

NHL Network Name Cale Makar As Best Defensemen In The NHLThe NHL Network put out a list ranking the top 20 defensemen in the NHL, and both Cale Makar and Devon Toews have made the list, with Makar ranking 1st and Toews ranking 20th.

Following it up, they have now released their top 20 centers currently in the league. NHL Network’s Jamison Coyle, E.J. Hradek, and Mike Rupp, who hosted the show, explained that while counting down the best centers in the league, they based the rankings on “player performance over the past several seasons, with an emphasis on the 2025-2026 regular season and 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, while also considering future upside.”

To no one’s surprise, they ranked Nathan MacKinnon second in their rankings for centers right now. The only other player who stood above him was Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid. In second place, he ranked above Macklin Celerini (3rd), Leon Draisaitl (4th), and Aleksander Barkov (5th).

When MacKinnon’s position in the rankings was reached, Hradek said on his placement in the rankings, “He is electric. Nathan MacKinnon’s one of those guys that when you watch him, when you see him coming out of that defensive zone with the puck, he does those quick crossovers. There’s nothing like it in the NHL. He’s like a little locomotive coming up the ice. He’s able to shift gears and move laterally just as fast as he’s able to go forward. He’s a special, special player.” 

It was pretty spot on what Hradek said, and if you had to make a poll among the league's fans, players, and management, it's a fair assumption to say that, really, outside of McDavid, MacKinnon has shown these past couple of seasons that he really is the clear-cut second-best center in the league and at times could argue that he could be placed above McDavid.

This is what NHL Network said in their web article;

“MacKinnon had 127 points (53 goals, 74 assists) in 80 games last season and has had at least 111 points each of the past four. He's scored at least 30 goals in eight of the past nine seasons; he had 20 in 48 games of the 56-game 2020-21 season. He has 150 power-play points over the past four seasons, a stretch when he's an NHL-best plus-146. MacKinnon led the NHL last season at plus-57 and won the Rocket Richard Trophy as goals leader. The 2024 Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay winner has been a top-five Hart finalist in six of the past seven seasons. His 1.30 points per game in the playoffs is fifth in NHL history among players with at least 100 games, trailing Wayne Gretzky (1.84), Mario Lemieux (1.61), McDavid (1.53) and Draisaitl (1.48).” 

This past season was a special one for MacKinnon, as he scored 53 goals and 74 assists for 127 points, leading the league in goals and setting a new career high. Helping him take home his first-ever Rocket Richard Trophy, while finishing third in Hart Trophy voting and finishing inside the top 20 in Selke Trophy voting. His 53 goals tied him for the sixth most goals in Nordique/Avalanche history, tying him with Michel Goulet back in the 1985-86 season.

Nathan MacKinnon Wins The 2025-26 Maurice "Rocket" Richard TrophyWith a career-best 53 goals, Nathan MacKinnon has won the 2025-26 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.

The biggest critique last season was the power play; despite all the talent, the lack of execution and failure to capitalize on opportunities really stood out, and it showed in many players' stats, even though they finished with high point totals. Despite MacKinnon scoring 53 goals, only 11 of them came from the power play, while 43 were even-strength goals. That amount tied him for second in Nordique/Avalanche history, with only Goulet having scored more (43).

His even-strength point total was 97, which was the most even-strength points scored in a season since Wayne Gretzky’s 103 during the 1990-91 season. It showed how strong he and the Avalanche team were at 5-on-5, and he still finished with the third-most points of the season despite the team's power-play finishing at 17.0%

It will be another fascinating season to see how MacKinnon does, with the team making minimal offseason changes and barring any impact on his health from injuries. If we see anything similar to what he has witnessed from MacKinnon these past seasons and the power play reverts to lethal form, it will be another Hart Trophy-esque season for the “Nate Dogg”.

The Latest On Cale Makar's Future With The AvalancheJoe Sakic sounds increasingly confident that the Colorado Avalanche will get Cale Makar signed to a long-term extension before the 2026-27 season begins.

On Sunday, Aug. 23, the NHL Network announced their list of “Top 20 Centers Right Now” and ranked Anaheim Ducks franchise center Leo Carlsson at 14th. Previously this summer, NHL Network ranked Carlsson’s teammate Cutter Gauthier as the NHL’s 19th best winger and teammate Jackson LaCombe as the NHL’s 17th best defenseman.

At 14th, Carlsson’s ranking sandwiches him between Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils at 15th and Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators at 13th. Atop the list sat Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini, Leon Draisaitl, and Aleksander Barkov at 1-5, respectively. Interestingly, Connor Bedard (1st overall in 2023), who was selected one spot ahead of Carlsson (2nd in ’23) in the same draft class and was seen as a borderline “generational talent” at the time, came in behind Carlsson, at 16th.

Joel Quenneville's Future with the Anaheim Ducks, Enters 2026-27 Season on Expiring Contract

Who Will Be The Next Anaheim Ducks Captain?

The 2025-26 season was Carlsson’s (21) third in the NHL, a season where he and the Ducks enjoyed a breakout performance from their franchise player, as he tallied 67 points (29-38=67) in 70 regular season games and added 11 (4-7=11) in 12 playoff games through the Ducks’ run to the second round of the 2026 NHL Playoffs.

The story of the offseason occurred when the foundation of the NHL (and the Ducks’ cap sheet) was shaken on July 3, as the Philadelphia Flyers signed then-RFA Carlsson to a five-year offer sheet that carried a whopping $18 million AAV, the highest in NHL history. The Ducks matched the Flyers’ offer sheet, and Carlsson will remain in Anaheim for the foreseeable future.

Though the OS likely gave the Ducks pause and may have forced them to hesitate, Anaheim ultimately concluded that keeping Carlsson, even at a potential overpay, was their priority over the extra cap space, a cleaner cap sheet, and four extra compensatory first-round picks.

After long last, the Ducks emerged from one of the NHL’s longest rebuilds by qualifying for the 2026 Playoffs. Despite missing 12 games and playing through a difficult and rare thigh injury, Carlsson was the team’s top-performing forward. From a zoomed-out perspective, players of Carlsson’s talent and makeup are rare, can typically only be acquired at the Draft, and represent the very reason franchises embark on rebuilds. Rebuilds often even come and go without a team drafting a player of Carlsson’s ilk.

Equipped with a rapidly growing skill set, highlighted by a combination of speed, size, and skill, Carlsson is a high-danger chance-generating machine. Though not technically near a perfect skater, his output is undeniable, as he intelligently finds ways to pick up pucks or place himself in lanes where he catches passes at full speed and drives opposing defenders on their heels to open lanes for himself or teammates at will.

This past season, he added some change-of-pace layers to his attacks where he can cut back and better utilize the open ice he single-handedly creates. The encouraging factor for the Ducks when evaluating Carlsson is that he seems to be just scratching the surface of his potential on both ends of the ice.

Public draft evaluations in 2023 pegged Carlsson as a two-way, responsible, tactical center. The reality is the exact opposite. He’s already proven to be one of the NHL’s most dynamic young talents, operating at a high rate of speed and at his best when attacking downhill. Compared to fellow European talents like Anze Kopitar and Aleksander Barkov at the time of his draft, he’s more akin to Nathan MacKinnon in terms of his on-ice style and impact.

Moving forward, areas of needed growth for Carlsson are those Barkov/Kopitar/Bergeron-esque defensive habits, as well as higher efficiency when driving cycle sequences. Carlsson has the capability to win any number of small-area battles and turn defense into quick-strike offense while possessing the size and strength to cleverly protect pucks and fend off defenders in the tight areas of the ice.

With Carlsson now earning more than the Ducks had likely anticipated, for them to become a successful perenial Stnaley Cup contender in the near future, as is their stated long-term goal, they’ll have to operate with a top-heavy roster and cap sheet. Carlsson may not quite play to the level of an $18 million center in his first year (or even in the first couple) of his contract, but Anaheim will increasingly rely on him to lead the team’s young core and become the franchise icon and superstar player he’s now paid to be.

As was always the case, now just more prominent a sentiment, the Ducks will go as far as Carlsson, flanked by a core of Jackson LaCombe, Cutter Gauthier, Lukas Dostal, and Beckett Sennecke, can take them.

Anaheim Ducks Jackson LaCombe Ranked as NHL Network's 17th-Best Defenseman Right Now

Anaheim Ducks Cutter Gauthier Ranked as NHL Network's 19th-Best Winger Right Now

Could Cutter Gauthier Shift to Center for the 2026-27 Season?

Young Anaheim Ducks Players Who Could "Graduate" into Impactful NHL Roles in 2026-27

NEWS & NOTES

Blue Jackets Have Potential PTO Target In Ex-Blackhawks DefenderThe Blue Jackets should take a gamble on this defenseman.

If the Blue Jackets are open to adding a player on a PTO, it would not be surprising if it is a defenseman. The Blue Jackets' blueline could use more depth, and there are still some interesting UFAs left on the market.

One UFA who could make sense for the Blue Jackets to take a look at on a PTO is veteran defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. 

Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell To Get Big Honor From Alma MaterNorthern Michigan University, where <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> GM Don Waddell played his college hockey for four years, has announced that it will honor Waddell in October.&nbsp;

On October 2nd, NMU will, for the first time in program history, retire players' jersey numbers and raise banners to commemorate Waddell and two others.  

Waddell wore jersey #4 for NMU from 1976 to 1980. Waddell totaled 138 points in 120 games. He was also the team's captain during his junior year. 

Former Blue Jackets Defenseman Is Best Free Agent Blueliner LeftWill this former Blue Jackets defenseman land a contract soon?

It is a little surprising that Blankenburg has still not been signed at this point in the summer. The former Blue Jackets defenseman just had the best season of his NHL career so far. In 61 games split between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche, he set new career highs with eight goals, 16 assists, and 24 points. 

NHL 27 Rankings Released, And The Results For The Blue Jackets Are PuzzlingNHL 27 has released its rankings&nbsp;for the 26-27 season, and a few <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> are listed.&nbsp;

#6 - Zach Werenski - 95 Overall

#68 - Kirill Marchenko - 89 Overall

#137 - Adam Fantilli - 86 Overall

#163 - Jet Greaves - 86 Overall

BREAKING NEWS: Elvis Merzlikins Has Shoulder SurgeryThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that goalie Elvis Merzlikins has undergone shoulder surgery on Monday.&nbsp;

“Elvis informed us a few weeks ago that he was experiencing some discomfort in his shoulder during his offseason workouts,” said Waddell. “Following an MRI, it was determined that surgery was the best course of action. He’ll be evaluated again in a few weeks, at which time we’ll have a clearer idea on when he will be back on the ice.”

Blue Jackets' U23 Pipeline Ranked As NHL's 13th-Best<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7459237/2026/08/18/columbus-blue-jackets-nhl-prospects-rankings-2026/">The Athletic's Corey Pronman recently ranked</a> each NHL team's U23 pipeline. The Columbus Blue Jackets were among the top half of NHL teams ranked by Pronman, as they were given the No. 13 spot.&nbsp;

The Athletic's Corey Pronman recently ranked each NHL team's U23 pipeline. The Columbus Blue Jackets were among the top half of NHL teams ranked by Pronman, as they were given the No. 13 spot. 

The Hockey News Magazine Predicts 26-27 Metro Standings, And Blue Jackets Fans Won't Be HappyThe <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>&nbsp;have had an interesting summer, to say the least. From player drama with Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko to franchise drama with the releases of radio caller Bob McElligott and team reporter Jeff Svoboda, it hasn't been a fun summer for people who follow the team.&nbsp;

Where do you think the CBJ will finish this season?

OPENING NIGHT COUNTDOWNS

45 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #45The Columbus Blue Jackets have 45 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #45.&nbsp;

The Town of Yarmouth declared July 13, 2013, as Jody Shelley Day, and honoured Shelley by renaming Cottage Street as Jody Shelley Drive, and also renumbering the Mariners Centre, the local winter sports facility, as 45 Jody Shelley Drive, after his jersey number. 

44 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #44The Columbus Blue Jackets have 44 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today we look at the history of jersey #44.&nbsp;

Klesla made his NHL debut in 2000 before he was sent back to Junior. He would come up in the next season and be there full-time. He would then go on to play in 515 games for the Jackets over the course of 10 seasons. On February 28, 2011, he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes and played the next four years. 

43 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #43The Columbus Blue Jackets have 43 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #43.&nbsp;

Jan Čaloun - 2001 - Drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 1992.

Čaloun played 11 games for the CBJ during its inaugural season, scoring three points. After his 11 games in Columbus, he would return to Europe and retire in 2010. He moved into coaching after his playing days, and currently coaches ESC Dresden U17 in Germany. 

42 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #42The Columbus Blue Jackets have 42 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #42.&nbsp;

Kevyn Adams - 2000-01 - Adams was drafted 25th overall in the 1993 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins. 

Adams was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2000 NHL expansion draft. He would Adams would score 22 points in 66 games with the Blue Jackets before being traded at the trade deadline to the Florida Panthers alongside a 4th-round pick in the 2001 NHL entry draft in exchange for Ray Whitney and future considerations.  

41 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #41The Columbus Blue Jackets have 41 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #41.&nbsp;

Ben Simon - 2005-06 - Simon was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1997 NHL Draft. 

Simon, a native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, played 13 games for Columbus during the 2005-06 season. He totaled zero points. He left for Europe and played one season in the EIHL in England. He retired in 2011. 

40 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #40The Columbus Blue Jackets have 40 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #40. No active players currently wear the #40.&nbsp;

Bill Bowler - 2000-01 - Bowler was undrafted out of Toronto, CA. 

Bowler played a total of 9 games for the Jackets during their inaugural season and had two points. He spent most of that year with the Syracuse Crunch and totaled 79 points in 72 games. In 2002, he spent one season in Germany before retiring.

39 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #39The Columbus Blue Jackets have 39 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #39.&nbsp;

Mike Pandolfo - 2003-04 - Pandolfo was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 3rd round of the 1998 NHL Draft. 

Pandolfo was traded to the Blue Jackets at the 2002 NHL Draft. He played in three games for Columbus during the 03-04 season and had zero points. He spent most of his time with Columbus playing for the Syracuse Crunch.  He retired after the 2007–08 season. 

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There doesn't appear to be much panic inside the Colorado Avalanche organization when it comes to Cale Makar's next contract.

In fact, if Joe Sakic's latest comments are any indication, the Avalanche are expecting to have their franchise defenseman signed and locked in before the puck drops on the 2026-27 season.

Sakic offered his most confident update yet on Sunday while speaking before taking the ice in the University of Denver alumni game at Magness Arena.

“We continue talking,” Sakic told reporters. “I'm pretty confident that he'll be signed before the season starts.”

For Avalanche fans, that might be the most encouraging update yet surrounding the biggest piece of unfinished business facing the organization.

Makar is entering the final season of the six-year contract he signed with Colorado in 2021, carrying a $9 million salary-cap hit. He became eligible to sign an extension on July 1, and while an agreement has yet to be announced, Sakic made it clear that negotiations continue to move in the right direction.

There also doesn't appear to be much concern from either side.

Sakic said the conversations have been productive, and that once the two sides reach an agreement, it will be announced. He also expressed hope that a deal can be finalized before training camp.

If the Avalanche can get Makar signed before the middle of September, Colorado would still be able to offer the superstar defenseman the maximum eight-year term. Once the NHL's new contract rules take effect, the longest deal available would drop to seven years.

For a player like Makar, an extra year is hardly insignificant.

Joe Sakic’s full comments on where things are at with Makar extension

When asked about the September 16th cut off for an 8-Year deal: “I’m not really worried about it. Whenever a deal is agreed to, both sides will be comfortable with the term” pic.twitter.com/kM091cwRF4

— Jesse Montano (@jessemontano) August 24, 2026

The 27-year-old has established himself as one of the defining players of his generation and arguably the most valuable defenseman in hockey. Since arriving in the NHL full-time during the 2019-20 season, Makar has put together a résumé that already includes a Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy, two Norris Trophies and six All-Star selections.

He has also been named a Norris finalist in each of the last six seasons.

And the production has been equally remarkable.

Through 470 NHL games, Makar has recorded 507 points — a staggering total for a defenseman and another reminder that Colorado isn’t simply negotiating with a good player entering his prime. It’s negotiating with one of the most productive defensemen the NHL has ever seen at this stage of his career. For comparison, Quinn Hughes — a Norris Trophy winner, Olympic gold medalist and one of the league’s premier defensemen — has recorded 485 points through 507 games. Makar has reached 500 points in 37 fewer games, underscoring just how rare his offensive production has been.

And the market for elite defensemen is only getting more expensive. Bo Byram, while not generally viewed in the same tier as Makar, Hughes or the NHL’s other elite No. 1 defensemen, recently landed a six-year, $75 million extension from the Chicago Blackhawks. Meanwhile, Erik Karlsson is set to lead all NHL defensemen with an $11.5 million cap hit next season. The numbers make one thing clear: If Colorado wants to keep Makar long term, the Avalanche are going to have to pay at the very top of the market.

Makar's next deal could push the market even further or perhaps the Avalanche are cooking up a team-friendly deal. 

Colorado has quietly created more room to maneuver as it prepares for Makar's next contract Between moving Valeri Nichushkin, Ross Colton and Jack Drury, the Avalanche have cleared significant salary from the books, giving the front office additional flexibility as negotiations continue with their franchise player.

And while the exact numbers remain unknown, Sakic has never sounded particularly worried about where these negotiations are headed.

At the Avalanche's end-of-season press conference, which was also attended by Josh Kroenke, Sakic was asked about Makar's future and made his intentions crystal clear.

He said Makar would finish his career in Denver.

Sunday's comments suggest that confidence hasn't changed. But as we've reported at The Hockey News, these massive, long-term extensions don't come together overnight. Negotiations take time, so until the deal is officially done, it's probably best to take everything you hear — and everything you feel — with a grain of salt.

The Avalanche still have work to do, and until Makar's signature is officially on the contract, there will be questions about the numbers, the term and exactly how Colorado will structure the deal.

But Sakic's message was clear.

The conversations are continuing. Both sides appear comfortable with where things stand.

And if the Avalanche president and general manager is right, one of the most important contracts in franchise history could be taken care of before Colorado opens another season with Stanley Cup expectations.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Dumba still remains an unrestricted free agent with September almost here.

Dumba still being a free agent comes after he had a tough 2025-26 season with the Penguins. In 11 games for Pittsburgh this past campaign, he posted one goal, three points, 16 hits, and a minus-5 rating. 

Dumba was waived by the Penguins back in December and then sent down to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after the fact. In 27 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he posted six goals, 20 points, 43 penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating.

Dumba's time with the Penguins organization officially came to an end before the AHL playoffs, as he mutually terminated his contract with Pittsburgh.

Given how this past season went for Dumba, he may need to settle for a professional tryout (PTO) agreement if he hopes to continue his NHL career. However, the possibility of him signing overseas should not be ruled out if he wants to keep playing. 

NHL teams looking for more defensive depth could consider taking a gamble on Dumba with a PTO. It will be interesting to see what happens with the former Penguins defenseman from here. 

Aleksander Barkov doesn't need to play games for the hockey world to see his importance.

The NHL Network released its top 20 centers rankings on Sunday night, with the Florida Panthers captain ranking fifth. This ranking comes in spite of the 30-year-old missing every game of the 2025-26 season with an ACL and MCL injury.

When the NHL Network released its rankings last season, Barkov landed fourth overall. Barkov was coming off back-to-back Stanley Cup victories and had posted 20 goals and 71 points in the regular season, taking home the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward.

While the lack of game action to base Barkov's ranking on is difficult, Barkov deserves grace as he has been one of the most consistent two-way centers in the NHL for the past decade.

The four centers ranked ahead of Barkov include Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon, San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini, and Oilers' Leon Draisaitl.

Barkov landed ahead of notable centers like Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel, Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby, and Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews. 

"Although Barkov missed the entire 2025-26 season because of injury, he has been one of the best all-around players in the game for a decade," said the NHL Network in its press release. "He scored at least 20 goals and 50 points for 10 straight seasons (2015-25) and has won at least 53 percent of his face-offs for eight straight. Barkov had 71 points (20 goals, 51 assists) in 67 games in 2024-25 to captain the Panthers to their second straight Stanley Cup title; he had 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists) in 47 playoff games during the Panthers' back-to-back runs. Florida's all-time points leader (782), he has also won the Selke Trophy (best defensive forward) three times including each of the past two seasons he has played."

Should The Florida Panthers Have Any Concerns About Aleksander Barkov's Health Heading Into The 2026-27 Season?Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov suffered a gruesome injury last season, missing the entire 2025-26 NHL season. Should there be any concerns about his health heading into the 2026-27 season?

Sam Bennett was one of the final centers to make the rankings last year, but after a season dealing with some nagging injuries, Bennett missed the cut. Anton Lundell was also left off the list, but with some of the heavy hitters making the list, it wasn't surprising to see either of these players omitted. 

Barkov will have to prove once again that he deserves this spot in the rankings next year. Coming off his injury won't be an easy task, but Barkov has all the tools to bounce back without any issue.

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The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by Mile High Hockey staff members. Seven writers have ranked players under the age of 25 in the Colorado Avalanche organization as of September 1, 2026. Now, we’ll count down each of the 25 players ranked.

The acquisition of right wing Fabian Lysell by the Avalanche earlier this summer raised some eyebrows. The twenty-three year old right wing was acquired on June 27th in exchange for Ivan Ivan, and signed a one-year, two-way contract on July 13th worth $850K in the NHL and $190K at the minor league level. Oddly enough, this is the exact same contract Ivan signed in Boston.

Originally a first-round selection at 21st overall by the Boston Bruins, Lysell set career highs in games played (57) and goals (17) with the Providence Bruins this past season, good for fifth in goal scoring on the team. Providence finished with the best record in the AHL this past season (sound familiar?), earning a first-round bye. Lysell, however, was scratched for the first three divisional playoff games against the Springfield Thunderbirds as he was recovering from a concussion. He was inserted into the lineup for Game Four, which Providence lost by a 1-0 decision in overtime and ended their Calder Cup playoff run.

Lysell did get a taste of action at the NHL level during the 2024-2025 season. He played twelve (12) games with Boston, and scored his first NHL goal on April 13, 2025; his goal stood as the game-winner in Boston’s 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh. Lysell had an assist in consecutive games against New Jersey (one on April 08 and another on April 15, respectively) before being sent back to Providence.

Lysell leaves Providence ranked eighth all-time in points (163), which shows he is more than capable at producing at the AHL level. However, comments from Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney seemed to indicate that the Bruins felt Lysell may not have displayed the consistency that merited a long-term call-up throughout his tenure with the organization.

Don Sweeney on why it didn’t work out with Fabian Lysell: “He hasn't fully grasped at the NHL level what it probably requires to play each and every night. He took ownership of that today. We took ownership that, could we have done more and better in supporting him? Probably.” pic.twitter.com/h0n5H9WVsn

— WEEI (@WEEI) June 27, 2026

Sweeney’s words may concern Avs fans a bit, given head coach Jared Bednar’s long-standing emphasis on attention to detail and consistency. Lysell will have to work extra hard to shed this label and set himself apart from other would-be options within Bednar’s bottom six this year. He might get a bit of a longer leash as he adapts to the Avs systems, but unless he can demonstrate consistent effort and “playing the right way” during limited ice time, he may be AHL bound for the season, save for a possible call-up in the event of injuries.

Another layer of intrigue is the transactional cost of trading Ivan in acquiring Lysell. The undrafted Ivan defied the odds in the 2024-2025 season, scoring five (5) goals and three (3) assists for eight (8) points in forty (40) games with the Avs before being sent down to Loveland. Last season, a much healthier NHL lineup limited Ivan to nine (9) regular season appearances, where he recorded one (1) assist. However, Ivan posted respectable numbers with the Eagles last year, where he scored eleven (11) goals and fifteen (15) assists for twenty-six (26) points across sixty-six (66) regular season games. Ivan also scored three (3) goals and twelve (12) assists for fifteen (15) points across twelve (12) playoff games during the Eagles’ playoff run. Lysell had better regular season numbers, but replacing Ivan’s playoff numbers may present a formidable challenge.

As Lysell begins his Colorado tenure, he will have to show consistency game in and game out to be on Bednar’s radar for a call-up, and even then, he’ll have to be borderline flawless in whatever ice time he may have to make a positive impression. If the former first-round pick can’t crack the Avs bottom six, but can translate some of his regular season offense into postseason production in Loveland, both he and the Eagles will benefit.

Most of us here on staff ranked Lysell between 10-14 in our rankings, with a few outliers: Ezra was the most optimistic, ranking him at 4, while Jess had him at 21. As I mentioned in my write-up on Domenick Fensore awhile back, Lysell will contribute in Loveland, but serving in an NHL-level capacity just may be out of reach.

Let us know what you think of this prospect in the comments!

2026 Top 25 Under 25

#25 Nikita Novosyolov

#24 Axel Eloffson

#23 Teddy Lechner

#22 Ivan Yunin

#21 Luka Cloutier

#20 Matthew DiMarsico

#19 Shawn Carrier

#18 Domenick Fensore

#17 Tory Pitner

#16 Jake Fisher

#15 Beckett Hamilton

#14 Linus Funck

#13 Alex Gagne

#12 Egor Shilov

#11 Zach L’Heureux

Welcome to The Hockey News Vancouver Canucks site's 2026–27 player preview article series. This series will outline the expectations for every player projected to play for Vancouver during the 2026–27 season. Today's player is Canucks forward Ilya Safonov. 

Safonov's 2025-2026 Season 

After attending development camp, Safonov headed back to the KHL to play for Ak Bars Kazan. The 25-year-old had an impressive campaign, recording 33 points in 68 games. Safonov also competed in two games for Russia at the U25 level. 

As for the playoffs, Safonov was once again impactful. He recorded nine points in 20 games and helped Ak Bars Kazan qualify for the Gagarin Cup. Unfortunately, Safonov and his teammates fell just short of a championship, as Ak Bars Kazan lost to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in six games. 

Once his season was complete, Safonov signed with Vancouver. His deal was a one-year, two-way contract worth $950,000. At the end of the 2026-27 campaign, Safonov will be a restricted free agent. 

Safonov's 2026-27 Predictions  

Safonov will be a candidate for the Canucks' fourth line and extra forward slot. He has good size at 6'4", 205 pounds, and can play both center and on the wing. Overall, Safonov's defensive play and physicality could earn him a spot on the opening-night roster. 

As for the entire season, Safonov may be shuttled between the NHL and the AHL. For example, he could spend two or three weeks practicing and serving as an extra forward for Vancouver before being sent down to the Abbotsford Canucks to get some game action. Ultimately, it will be interesting to see how Safonov's game translates both to the AHL and the NHL. 

Canucks 2026–27 Player Previews: 

Braeden Cootes

Linus Karlsson

Nikita Tolopilo

Victor Mancini

Kevin Lankinen

Filip Chytil

Thatcher Demko

Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Elias Pettersson (D)

Marco Rossi

Max Sasson

Jamie Oleksiak

Drew O'Connor

Luke Schenn

Paul Cotter

Brendan Gallagher

Liam Öhgren

Tom Willander

Jake DeBrusk

Zeev Buium

Brock Boeser

Filip Hronek

Elias Pettersson

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.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Elias Pettersson Could Reach Three Different Canucks Franchise Power-Play Milestones In 2026–27

Vancouver Canucks 2026–27 Player Preview: Braeden Cootes

The Hockey News' Latest Yearbook & Fantasy Guide Provides Insight Into The 2026-27 Vancouver Canucks

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As they do every summer, NHL.com had their day for Pittsburgh Penguins season preview information in setting the early stage for the upcoming hockey year. They had some questions, let’s discuss.

Production from their veterans and an emergence of a number one goalie among the questions facing the @penguins heading into this season. 🤔

More on the three questions facing the Pens ⤵️ https://t.co/yOeIhRXrYs

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) August 22, 2026

1. Can Malkin shine in his potential final season?

Evgeni Malkin was resurgent last season, his 20th in the NHL. The forward had 61 points (19 goals, 42 assists) in 56 games to average more than a point per game after falling short of that mark each of the previous two seasons.

Some of that was aided by a shift from second-line center, where Malkin has played the majority of his storied career, to right wing on the same line. He also missed 26 games because of injury or suspension, which general manager Kyle Dubas said was a blessing in disguise.

“‘Geno’ is built differently, and I thought the different times off during the year really served him well,” Dubas said. “I think we were fortunate in that regard, and I don’t think you ever feel that during the year at the time. You think, ‘Jeez, he’s out. That stinks.’ But every time he came back from being out, he played his best hockey.”

Evgeni Malkin had to play to keep his Penguin career alive last year, almost literally campaigning to return. In the end, he got his wish – earned from a very productive 2025-26 coming off the prior year that was incredibly down by his standards (16 goals and 50 points in 68 games during 2024-25).

Malkin has never said yet that 2026-27 definitively will be his last season. He did just turn 40 this summer, and clearly there’s only so many more left for him to go. Whether or not that becomes a focal point – and maybe towards the end of the season if will be – remains to be seen.

For now, the Pens have Malkin in a good spot. His faceoff numbers were dropping off before his injury when he shifted to wing more permanently. Seeing how that second line will be built will be worth watching. The first starting point is where the placement of Egor Chinakhov will be. Likely at points, Chinakhov will be back with Sidney Crosby, which makes a lot of sense to have the best goal-scoring winger playing on the line with the best playmaking center.

If Chinakhov opens camp on the top line, Tommy Novak will be a player to watch. Malkin’s long enjoyed Novak’s style, and Novak does so much of the heavy lifting with puck touches in the defensive and neutral zones that stylistically makes it a good fit. Does the Novak-Malkin pair pick up a Rickard Rakell? Andrey Kuzmenko? Ben Kindel? Nick Robertson? There’s a lot of pieces in play and a long season to explore which combinations click the best.

2. Who is the true No. 1 goalie?

Arturs Silovs is likely to start the season as the primary starter after signing a one-year, $2.8 million contract to stay with the Penguins on July 5. Stuart Skinner, acquired in a trade that sent goalie Tristan Jarry to the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 12, signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 1.

Silovs was 19-12-8 with a 3.07 goals-against average, .887 save percentage and two shutouts in 39 games (38 starts) last season. In his NHL career, the 25-year-old has a 3.09 GAA and .885 save percentage.

It might only be a matter of time before Sergei Murashov, a highly touted prospect, takes over. The 22-year-old has been dominant with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League and was 1-1-2 with a 2.56 GAA, .897 save percentage and one shutout in his first five games (four starts) with Pittsburgh last season.

Fellow prospect Joel Blomqvist, who is 4-9-1 with a 3.81 GAA and .885 save percentage in the NHL, will also push for a spot with the Penguins.

“It’s an area of good strength and depth for us, but the guys have earned that. It hasn’t been given,” Dubas said. “Obviously, both (Murashov and Blomqvist) have gotten NHL time. … For us, it’s just ‘Continue to watch them, give them the opportunity.'”​

Dan Muse’s goalie decisions were on point from the very beginning last season. The Pens started Silovs on opening night, he won via a 3-0 shutout and then didn’t play the next game to set the tone for the whole season where Pittsburgh almost exclusively rotated their starting goalie every-other-game throughout the season. A condensed schedule made that planning smart – and the Pens do indeed have an NHL-high 15 instances of back-to-back games so it would make sense that something close to a regular rotation will be in effect this year.

What won’t be around is a veteran. Silovs, who was officially considered a rookie last season, is 25-years old and has 58 NHL regular season games under his belt and he’s by far the most experienced player.

Murashov, as we noted, would be very young at 22 by goalie standards, considering only two 23-year olds (Jesper Wallstedt and Yarsoslav Askarov) played 25+ games last season. Sky is the limit but that’s a position with often unsteady progression paths and a lot of growing pains to transform from ‘top prospect’ into ‘established NHLer’.

Then there’s Joel Blomqvist, 24, who has 15 career NHL games, but none since March of 2025.

Silovs’ great playoff performance showed briefly that he could be something approaching ‘the guy’, but it certainly wouldn’t or shouldn’t be shocking to see both Murashov and Blomqvist get the opportunity to take the net and get substantial opportunities.

3. Can Karlsson have a repeat performance?

Last season, Erik Karlsson looked like every bit of the defenseman Pittsburgh felt it was acquiring from the San Jose Sharks in a three-team trade that also involved the Montreal Canadiens on Aug. 3, 2023.

After being relatively quiet in his first two seasons with the Penguins, the 36-year-old had 66 points (15 goals, 51 assists) in 75 games, second on Pittsburgh behind center Sidney Crosby (74 points; 29 goals, 45 assists in 68 games). Karlsson was also more responsible defensively, which was helped by his chemistry with defenseman Parker Wotherspoon on the top pair.

Wotherspoon is gone, however, traded to the Vegas Golden Knights for defenseman Kaedan Korczak on June 30.

Karlsson, who has been voted the winner of the Norris Trophy three times as the League’s top defenseman (2012, 2015, 2023), will need to put up the same numbers, if not better, with a new partner in the final season of an eight-year, $92 million contract ($11.5 million average annual value).

Erik Karlsson was so, so good in crunch time last season, his 24 points in the month of March was second in the NHL to only Nikita Kucherov’s 26. Repeating that would be a tall task, and perhaps an impossible one.

Still, the team’s MVP from last year is going to have to put on the Superman cape again given the state of the blueline. Kris Letang’s ability to impact the game has vanished rapidly, and the Pens lost arguably their two steadiest defensive players from the group with Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea departing.

The better question to ask might be which team is Karlsson on by mid-March? Is he even a Penguin? Does he have an extension? Whether it’s 60 or 70 points, the play driving and offensive brilliance is going to be there. How much longer that is going to be in Pittsburgh is a different but perhaps more intriguing outlook given that the player has a full no movement clause and is in the final season of his contract.

There’s not much the Montreal Canadiens and their fans would like to remember about their game against the Colorado Avalanche on November 29, 2025. On that day, Martin St-Louis’ Habs were obliterated 7-2 by Nathan MacKinnon and co. But when the Canadiens were down 4-0, the second line, formed by Juraj Slafkovsky, Oliver Kapanen, and Ivan Demidov, conjured up some magic.

That beauty of a play allowed Slafkovsky to land in 13th place in the top 15 assists of the last season. Demidov skated into the zone, made a drop pass to the big Slovak before skating around the net, while the big Slovak bought himself some time with a spin Orama, then headed to the net and fed Demidov, who had time to get to the other side, in his office.

Those were some sweet moves from Juraj Slafkovský 🫢 pic.twitter.com/th0dcZ0XtL

— NHL (@NHL) August 22, 2026

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That fantastic play also reminds you how well the two can link up on the same line. It’s no wonder the Canadiens would like to find another big power forward to play on their top six. That mystery player could either skate with Demidov or maybe even on Suzuki’s line if the Canadiens would rather re-create the Slafkovsky-Demidov magic.

That play was without a doubt the only redeeming part of that massacre against Colorado, but the Canadiens would have the last laugh with a 7-3 win against the Avs at the Bell Centre in January. On that day, the line scored the seventh and final goal of a great passing play between Kapanen and Slafkovsky.

It will be interesting to see what St-Louis will do with his top six this season. Clearly, there’s some chemistry between Slafkovsky and Demidov, but one has to wonder what would happen if the Russian sophomore were given an opportunity to play alongside Suzuki and Caufield. It could be easier to mix-and-match if Kent Hughes were able to land another top-six player.

---

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

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Former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Egor Zamula has yet to begin his first season in the KHL since flaming out in the NHL, but he's already certain the fans and environment are better back home in Russia than here in North America.

In a recent interview he gave for his KHL club CSKA Moscow, the 26-year-old formerly undrafted Flyers prospect reflected on his most memorable game here in North America, as well as having to adapt to a new lifestyle.

"My most memorable game in America was against New Jersey in an outdoor stadium. The stands were packed, about 80-90 thousand people. But the atmosphere wasn't there like in Russia; there's no support section with drums and chants. I think we have the best fans," Zamula said. 

The Flyers lost to the New Jersey Devils, 6-3, at MetLife Stadium back on Feb. 17, 2024, with Devils goalie Nico Daws making a record 45 saves in an outdoor game.

Zamula recorded one assist in 11:57 of ice time in the Flyers' loss, picking up a secondary helper on Owen Tippett's second-period goal to make the score 2-1 and get Philadelphia on the board.

Flyers' Matvei Michkov on Playing for Russian National Team: 'Have You Written Me Off Already?'Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov is steadfast in his belief he will get to represent Russia on the international stage again sometime in the near future.

That was arguably the biggest game of Zamula's NHL career, as the 6-foot-3 Russian defender was traded to Pittsburgh on Dec. 31, then ended up with Columbus on Jan. 6 after having his contract terminated.

The 26-year-old was on two playoff teams last season, but was cut loose by both, missed out with Columbus, and will now continue his playing career on a three-year contract with CSKA.

"I learned a lot about life in North America. I was there alone, without my family. I learned to cook, learned English, and got used to the culture," said Zamula.

"I also learned from the coaching staff how to make quick decisions and adjusted my approach to a more defensive game."

With his NHL career currently on pause, Zamula scored eight goals, 33 assists, and 41 points in 168 games with the Flyers with a -12 rating, and added two assists in a 20-game cameo with Columbus to finish last season, recording a +2 rating.

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

“The New Jersey Devils have their core in place, but you always need role players to complement your stars. More often than not, those complementary pieces end up being a team’s most underrated players. The Devils have a few of those entering 2026-27.” [Devils on the Rush]

“This is a make-or-break season for Sheldon Keefe as head coach of the New Jersey Devils. Year three behind the bench arrives with no remaining excuses and a coaching staff that finally looks like his. The first two seasons came with a built-in buffer that no longer applies.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]

Hockey Links

“How confident are you in your team’s front office? That’s the question we ask every summer, a necessary heat check on each team’s management group and how their decisions are perceived by not only their own fan base, but the public at large.” [The Athletic ($)]

The Blue Jackets will be without Elvis Merzlikins:

Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins underwent successful shoulder surgery on Monday. No timetable has been set for his return at this time.

Full details ➡️ https://t.co/WYcHSvZIfupic.twitter.com/q9DEQXZRSN

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) August 20, 2026

A look at the best old guy seasons in NHL history: [Sportsnet]

“Kucherov is now eligible to ink a contract extension with only one year remaining on his current deal at $9.5 million for the upcoming campaign. He’s almost certainly headed for a massive raise, but the question is, how big will it be? The NHL’s financial landscape is vastly different from what it was just a couple of months ago.” [Sportsnet]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

It wasn’t Mat Barzal’s top choice, but he’ll have to wear it anyway because we said so.

The Islanders’ attempt to fill the quiet summer month of August with something succeeded with the announcement that the navy blue design with the old lighthouse shoulder patch logo is their third jersey for the season after next. (That’s 2027-28. Even though the number on the mockup is 26, do not be confused.)

Islanders News

• The Islanders official announcement. The designer will be honored when the jersey debuts, but you have to figure there’s more than one who arrived at that one, no? [Islanders]
• Alan Hahn approves, so we can all breathe easy. [Newsday] “The Islanders finally have their lighthouse project,” tee hee. [Post]
• Meanwhile, in more ice-ish news, Matthew Schaefer on his prep for his sophomore season. [Isles]
• And Tony DeAngelo on coming back for more, regrouping with the late-summer skaters. [Isles]
• Matt Martin tried to beat up his babysitter. [THN]

Elsewhere

• Expansion in Texas is no longer a matter of if, but merely when (as soon as 2029-30) and where (Austin or Houston). Bill Daly also threw a bit of shade at the other pro sports franchises in/bound for Las Vegas, which is both funny and merited. [TSN]
• Daly also talked about an outdoor game likely being held in Europe. [NHL]
• Nikita Kucherov’s next extension will be complicated, with him coming off a massive Hart-winning season. Drink every time you read “no income taxes.” [Sportsnet]
• In a big blow with poor timing, Elvis Merzlikins has shoulder surgery, timeline for return unknown. [TSN]
• Leon Draisaitl says Mike Babcock will hold him and Connor McDavid…might not even access to their phones to do it! [NHL]
• It wasn’t Kevin Keegan flying off in a helicopter, but Zdeno Chara ceremoniously took off his skates and walked off the ice in his socks to complete his tribute game and fundraiser back home in Trencin. [NHL]
• The 32 in 32 series has caught up with the Sharks, who used a lot of cap on guys like Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse. [NHL]

The New Jersey Devils, according to the National Hockey League, have two top-20 centers in the game right now. 

Jack Hughes came in as the 10th-best center in the league, while Nico Hischier checked in at #15. The Edmonton Oilers, with Connor McDavid (#1) and Leon Draisaitl (#4), are the only other team with two on this list. 

Each of them had a different path to finding their way on the list. For Hughes, it's all about speed, skill, and offensive production. In addition to winning the Gold Medal with Team USA by scoring the Golden Goal in the NHL, he is a sure-fire point-per-game player. If he stays healthy going forward, there will be Devils records for him to surpass in the future. 

As for Nico Hischier, he is a top two-way player in the game. His name, although he has only finished second, is often in the Selke Trophy conversations. 

While being as responsible as you can be in the defensive zone, Hischier makes things happen in the offensive zone as well. He isn't as flashy as some other players on the list, but he is good for 28-35 goals in any given year, and he will always be right around a point per game.

Others on the list include Macklin Celebrini (#3), Jack Eichel (#6), Sidney Crosby (#7), and Connor Bedard (#16). The rest can be seen below: 

Introducing NHL Network's Top 20 Centers Right Now!

What do you think of the list? #NHLTopPlayerspic.twitter.com/MAnVxVBLrM

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) August 24, 2026

Having two elite centers is a large key to winning big in the playoffs. New Jersey has that, as long as they stay healthy. If they can get what they need from the rest of the roster, these two should be leaders on a great team in 2026-27.

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

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