The Senators enter the 2026-27 season next month with new expectations.

After earning a Stanley Cup Playoff berth two years in a row, they know that another quick appearance in round one won't cut it. And that's with a full understanding that they're in a brutally tough division that featured five of the top nine teams in the NHL last season.

GM Steve Staios has said that even with the loss of Brady Tkachuk, the club has no intention of taking a step backward.

So from that standpoint, the entire team has something to prove in 2026-27. But the pressure to get to the next level also applies to several individual Senators.

For some, it'll be about living up to a big new contract. For others, including a pair of newcomers, it's about bouncing back and proving Staios was right to bring them in and give them a shot.

Here are five Senators with the most to prove in 2026-27.

Shane Pinto

I was hesitant to include Pinto here because he's already proven a lot.

He plays such an important role for the Senators defensively, finishing sixth in this year's Selke voting. He also took another step offensively, posting career highs of 23 goals and 47 points, while finishing second among Senators forwards in time on ice.

So what is there to prove?

Well, Pinto's four-year, $30-million extension kicks in this season, meaning his cap hit will double from $3.75 million to $7.5 million.

At that pay grade, his scoring numbers will come under a lot more scrutiny, especially if he bumps up to the second line with higher-producing wingers. Between his new salary and the potential for an elevated offensive role, including more power-play time, Pinto will be out to prove he's earned all of it.

Jordan Spence

Few Senators improved their stock more last season than Spence.

Feeling like there wasn't room for both Spence and Nepean's Brandt Clarke on their blue line, the LA Kings sent Spence to Ottawa for a couple of picks, eventually replacing him with former Senator Cody Ceci.

In Ottawa last fall, Spence's fresh start had a false start.

The right-shot defenceman was a healthy scratch on opening night and for several others in October, but he eventually established himself as an important part of the Sens blue line and responded with the best season of his young NHL career.

His reward was a four-year, $20-million contract.

At $5 million per season, a huge leap from last year's $1.5 million, Spence doesn't have to be a Norris candidate. But he's now being paid to be the Sens' clear number four defenceman, and not just filling that role as an injury replacement. He's the guy now.

So he'll be out to prove his breakout season wasn't an outlier, and like Pinto, that he's worth every penny.

If he does, and everyone can stay healthy this season, the Senators' blue line appears to be in pretty good shape.

Andre Burakovsky

The Senators didn't give up much to acquire Burakovsky, but they are paying him $5.5 million.

Burakovsky has dealt with more than his share of injuries, which have unravelled some promising seasons. He had 11 goals and 33 points last season and hasn't come close to the career-high 61 points he produced with Colorado in 2021-22.

At 31, expecting him to suddenly become that player again seems awfully optimistic, but that seems to be the club's headspace on the player.

The Senators need something more compelling from him, point-wise, than a re-run of Thirty Something. They already had plenty of guys internally who could accomplish that for a lot less money.

Burakovsky is also in the final year of his contract, so he needs to prove that he deserves another one.

Samuel Ersson

Staios isn't shy about telling people that goalie evaluation isn't his strongest suit. He relies heavily on his goalie coaches, Justin Peters and Maciej Szwoch, who like Ersson's movement and fundamentals and think he's better than his Philadelphia Flyers numbers suggest.

After Carter Hart had to step away from the Flyers during the 2023-24 season, Ersson became the number one for the next year and a half. But after a coaching change, Dan Vladar got the lion's share of starts last season.

Ersson's .870 save percentage last season and career .884 save percentage through 143 games in Philly aren't particularly impressive. But the Sens' goalie whisperers see enough potential that Staios gave him a two-year contract.

Ersson will be out to prove they were right.

If he can give Ottawa 30 reliable starts and simply make the saves an NHL goalie is supposed to make, he'll have done his job.

Linus Ullmark

Ullmark might have the most to prove of anyone on this list.

We've seen stretches where he has looked exactly like the Vezina-winning goaltender from three years ago. We've also seen stretches where he hasn't been good at all.

Ullmark has never played more than 50 games in an NHL season, and going back to his Boston days, he's clearly at his best when he's in a platoon situation and getting plenty of in-season rest.

Between his personal leave of absence and the Olympic break, Ullmark played in just four hockey games between Dec. 27 and March 3. After that, he was noticeably better over his final 17 games of the regular season, although his save percentage was still .870 or worse in seven of them.

He was then the Senators' best player in the playoffs, saving his best for last with a .932 save percentage over four games. And bear in mind, based on last season's numbers, a .910 save percentage or better puts a goalie among the NHL's elite.

Ullmark needs to prove during the regular season that he can be more consistent, more available and worth his $8.25-million salary.

Even if absolutely everything else goes according to plan, the Senators won't be able to find the next level unless their goalies do.

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 Sens headlines below:

2025 Senators First-Rounder Shares 'Gnarly' Details Of His Long Road Back
Drake Batherson Wins His Club Championship, Taking Trophy From His Dad
Senators Newcomer Recognized For NHL's Best Goal Of The Year
Career Year, New Deal Fuel Former Senator's NHL Comeback Bid
Jordan Spence On Tkachuk's Exit: 'I Think That It's Going To Make Us Better'

More than a month into NHL free agency, many of the biggest names have already found new homes. Yet, several familiar faces from the Winnipeg Jets remain on the open market as August begins, including a trio of players who once played key roles in the organization's past and present.

Leading the way is former second overall pick Patrik Laine, who remains one of the most intriguing free agents available, despite appearing in just five games last season before a core muscle injury ended his campaign.

And as pointed out by Puck Media, thanks to an injury-related provision in the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, the 28-year-old winger is eligible to sign a one-year, performance bonus-laden contract, potentially giving cap-strapped contenders a low-risk opportunity to add a player who at one point of his career was one of the league's most gifted goal scorers. 

Another recognizable name still searching for work is Evander Kane, the former Atlanta Thrashers first-round pick, who spent the first five-plus seasons of his NHL career with the franchise before it relocated to Winnipeg. Beleaguered every time he returns to Winnipeg, Kane has faced a number of injuries as of late. Now 35, Kane does continue to offer size, physicality and proven playoff experience, which could serve as an asset for teams needing that extra punch. 

On the blueline, Logan Stanley also remains unsigned after being dealt by the Jets to the Buffalo Sabres ahead of last season's trade deadline. The towering 6-foot-7 defenceman has played parts of six NHL seasons and, at 28 years old, could still draw interest from clubs looking for depth on the left side. 

Just six months ago, certain 'insiders' had Stanley's value marked north of $25 million. 

While those three headline the list, they aren't the only former Jets still awaiting their next opportunity. Veteran forwards Tanner Pearson and Gustav Nyquist also entered August without NHL contracts after finishing last season in Winnipeg. 

Elsewhere, the list of former Jets from last season has continued to shrink. Defenceman Colin Miller has opted to continue his career overseas, while Winnipeg native and former Jet Jonathan Toews officially announced his retirement, closing the book on a remarkable NHL career.

Training camp is set to begin next month - will any of Laine, Kane or Stanley have a contract by that point? 

The old joke that you could rename the sport of hockey goalie has some truth to it. With quality goaltending, the sky is the limit. With poor play in net, a team is basically cooked.

Last summer we looked into the changing situation in the crease for the Penguins for 2025-26. The big news was that Alex Nedeljkovic was out, having been traded to San Jose. By and large, that was an opportunity for improvement since Nedeljkovic’s metrics were poor. In was the unknown of Arturs Silovs.

Back at NST, looking at 5v5 save percentage, setting a sample of 875 minutes from last year allows 64 goalies to qualify, which adds up in theory to each of the 32 teams having a starter+backup. Nedeljkovic ranked tied-46th out of the 62 with a .902 save%, Jarry was tied-51st with .900. This is an area for primed for potential regression. Given team strength and goalie skill, you wouldn’t expect the Pens to get a .920+ 5v5 performance in the upcoming season. But if one/both can nudge up towards and past the .910% mark, there will be a noticeable change within the games themselves for the Penguins receiving the type of goaltending that should hold them in games — in theory long enough for the strength of their team to score them into wins.

In this area, the Penguins didn’t do much better in 2025-26. Stuart Skinner ended up 45th with a .900 5v5 save%. Silovs was down in 51st at .893%. The traded Tristan Jarry was just above him at .894%. Overall the Penguins finished 20th with a .901% 5v5 save percentage, due to the splits in the sample for Jarry and Skinner playing part of the season with Edmonton.

In all, an obvious conclusion to draw is that the Pittsburgh defense is too porous to support a strong statistical goaltender output in terms of save percentage. There likely is some truth to that, though perhaps not as an easy answer to completely paint over the situation. Per Natural Stat Tricks, the Pens finished 23rd in 5v5 scoring chances and high danger scoring chances allowed, yet they finished 14th in 5v5 HD save%. For that reason, Skinner and Jarry both did well in Goals Saved Above Average metrics, despite low save percentages.

Along those lines, NST tracked an expected 5v5 goals allowed of nearly 183 — and the Pens only gave up 173 5v5 goals, to indicate that positive input from the netminders.

That makes projecting 2026-27 in net a real challenge. By some measures, the Penguins goalies bailed the team out a little bit more than expectations. By about any stat, the defense allowed an above-average amount of shots and chances along the way to make it difficult for their last line of defense.

Given the lack of upgrades to the blueline, and general bent of a team that is going to lean towards trading chances and cheat for offense given the nature of the players on the roster and seeing how it worked last year with Dan Muse behind the bench, by this summer there’s a little reason to expect a huge goalie performance in 2026-27. For better or worse, the Penguins are going to open up the tempo and attempt to outscore teams. A casualty of that will likely be in the statistics for their goalies.

Half of the goalies in the league the past two years had a .906% 5v5 save percentage or better, but even if Sergei Murashov is a big hit, he likely won’t figure to be in that grouping next year. The style, scheme, strengths and weaknesses of the club aren’t designed to have a goaltender flourish individually.

There could be some reason to hope – Silovs’ best games were in the playoffs at the end of the year and he wasn’t even 100% during it after dealing with a late-season knee injury. He could be better next season than he was last year – and as we wrote last month, Silovs had better be since he now is the most veteran and experienced goalie currently in the organization, despite the fact he was still considered a rookie by NHL standards in 2025-26.

Murashov gives hope of the complete unknown at the NHL level, buoyed by an excellent AHL season last year. He certainly has the talent and athleticism to give it his all. Based on the last two years of goalie performances, it just probably won’t end up with a sterling GAA or save percentage on his stat-sheet to evaluate his performance. The Penguins aren’t going to ask or provide the path for him to excel in that area, but they can offer a lot of firepower to help out-score their team issues defending, if they can only get a goalie to keep them in games when times are tough. Silovs showed that in flashes in Games 4-6 of the playoffs last season, Pittsburgh will need to see more of that from him and some rookie magic in order to have a solid season and fight back to the playoffs again in 2026-27.

Last year’s hypothetical was phrased that “what if the Penguins get better goaltending next season” and directed towards the even strength save percentage. They didn’t get much better goaltending in that department, but overall did get enough GSAA out of their trio of goalies to have a better overall season in 2025-26 than they did in 2024-25. The challenge looking ahead in some ways will be to replicate that and give their team a chance.

At the best of times, predicting goaltending output can be a guessing game, part of the fun looking ahead to next year is seeing any number of realistic scenarios for what a completely new duo (and possibly trio if Joel Blomqvist has something to say about it) perform for the Penguins moving forward.

Welcome to another summer edition of the Morning Skate, folks!

As we move through the first week of August, we know that hockey is the foremost thing on your mind, so thanks for stopping by.

We’re a month and 16 days away from the B’s first preseason game, so we’ll do our best to fill that space accordingly.

The second-best wing in the league?

The NHL Network’s annual offseason rankings of the best centers, wings, defensemen, goalies, hot dog toppings, pizza styles, and paint colors always generate plenty of discussion/argument, mainly because we have nothing better to do in August.

The network recently released its list of the best wings in the league, with our very own David Pastrnak coming in at the #2 spot.

The only player ranked ahead of Pastrnak? Nikita Kucherov, which…yeah, fair enough.

It’s become so routine by this point that it’s easy to take for granted just how good Pastrnak has been for the Bruins for the past several years.

He’s produced at a more than a point per game pace for the past eight seasons and has recorded 100+ points four seasons in a row, no small feat when you consider the debacle of a season we all sat through two years ago.

I’m not sure what the point of all of this is other than to make it a Pastrnak appreciation post, which we can all get on board with — except that guy we all know who insists that actually Pastrnak isn’t good and the Bruins should trade him for someone with more grit.

(I’m sure he’ll show up in the comments.)

If you want to argue some more, NHL Network will release its defensemen, goalies, and centers lists over the next three Sundays.

Radio waves

Aaron Portzline, who does a terrific job covering the Columbus Blue Jackets for The Athletic, had an interesting piece this week on the slow death of NHL radio broadcasts.

The piece may be behind a paywall, but the impetus for it was the Blue Jackets’ recent decision to scrap their radio broadcast and replace it with the audio from the TV broadcast — something four other NHL teams have also done in recent years.

Hockey is one of the harder sports to listen to on the radio, and calling a game for a radio audience is a tough task.

Baseball, for example, lends itself well to radio with the pace of play, relatively contained action, etc.

Hockey and basketball, to name a couple of sports, are different in that there is near-constant motion, limited reset opportunities (unlike the breaks between each batter in baseball or each down in football), and a lot of relevant stuff that happens away from the main action.

To me, it seems like you’re doing radio listeners a disservice by handing them audio of a TV feed.

TV play-by-play people are describing the action with the awareness that the viewer can see what they’re talking about, which is very different from someone who only has access to audio.

Bruins fans have been blessed with good to great radio teams for the better part of three decades, so hopefully there’s no change in that regard.

But a question for those who consume a lot of their hockey on the radio: do you notice a difference in the dedicated broadcast vs. simulcast setup?

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Other than that, we have the Red Sox suddenly going for it, upheaval at FIFA (good), and the sudden realization in Boston that the sun is starting to set before 8 PM again.

What else is on tap for today?

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

“Lenni Hämeenaho showed some promise last season, but he could benefit from big minutes with an improved Utica Comets team.” [Devils on the Rush]

“The longer Quinn Hughes goes without an extension with the Minnesota Wild, the more it benefits the New Jersey Devils. As one source told New Jersey Hockey Now, ‘It’s not over.’ Obvious? Yes. Significant? Also, yes.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]

Hockey Links

“It’s pretty straightforward to identify teams that will probably land in the mushy middle this coming season. But the more interesting question is which teams might find themselves stuck here over the medium-term future for the next three to four seasons. I went through every NHL team’s roster, cap situation, prospect pool and more to identify clubs likely destined for this reality.” [The Athletic ($)]

“With the bulk of the off-season movement behind us, and an 84-game regular season starting next month, I thought it’d be fun to take stock of the Metro Division as a whole. I’m going to go team-by-team and share some thoughts on whether I’m buying or selling stock – there is no standing pat! – heading into the 2026-27 campaign.” [Infernal Access ($)]

A look at the top goaltenders left in free agency: [Daily Faceoff]

“The Blue Jackets are the fifth NHL club — joining the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues — to simulcast their TV broadcasts over radio. For the past several seasons, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ radio crew has called road games from a studio in Toronto. Will more NHL teams de-emphasize radio-specific broadcasts in the years to come?” [The Athletic ($)]

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

In the last few years, the Montreal Canadiens training complex in Brossard, the CN Sports Complex, has been quite busy in the summer. It used to be that players wouldn’t be in town until the season was nearly here, but for the last two seasons, Ivan Demidov has stayed in town training hard, and last week he was joined by many of his teammates before Habs fans even began suffering from hockey withdrawal.

This summer, the Russian sensation has been joined by prospect Alexander Zharavosky for a good long while, Lane Hutson dropped in during the Canadiens’ development camp, and goalie Jakub Dobes is already back in town getting ready to enter his first camp as the Canadiens’ top-choice goaltender. On Tuesday morning, though, Demidov had an unusual guest: Utah Mammoth centerman Logan Cooley, who was apparently invited by the Russian winger himself.

Canadiens’ Classic Look Shouldn’t Be Messed With
Canadiens Prospect Will Head Back To Europe
Canadiens’ Prospect Zharovsky Had A Good Summer With Demidov

No, that doesn’t mean the Canadiens are acquiring Cooley; other NHL players have always been welcomed to use the Habs’ training facility in the summer. Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang did it last season; Vegas Golden Knights’ Raphael Lavoie did it last week, and former Habs Brendan Gallagher and Joe Veleno still regularly use the training facility, but seeing Cooley on the ice with Demidov did get some fans dreaming of what could be.

🏒 Ivan Demidov a invité Logan Cooley à s'entraîner avec lui mardi matin à Brossard. pic.twitter.com/Ym1Pm1DWc4

— DansLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) August 4, 2026

Turns out the pivot is in town because he was attending the Omnium Banque Nationale on Tuesday night, and according to Patrick Guillet, he will be doing a photo shoot for an advertising campaign before heading home. It’s not the first time Cooley skates with a member of the Canadiens’ organization; after all, he is Habs prospect LJ Mooney’s cousin and they both train together in the summer.

Cooley was drafted third overall at the 2022 draft, two spots after the Canadiens had claimed Juraj Slafkovsky first overall, and he has developed very well since. In his rookie season, he put up 44 points in 82 games; he followed that up with a 65-point season in his sophomore year, and he had 43 points in just 54 games last season, a 65-point pace over a full 82-game campaign. He’s exactly the kind of player the Canadiens would like to land to unlock Demidov’s full potential, but that’s not happening; Bill Armstrong signed him to an eight-year deal with a $10 million cap hit last October.

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Believe it or not, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust is going into his 13th NHL season this year. 

He made his NHL debut during the 2014-15 season before playing in 41 games during the 2015-16 regular season. Everyone quickly found out that he was NHL-ready that year, especially when he scored some massive goals for the Penguins in their run to the 2016 Stanley Cup. 

Rust got his start as a depth forward before working his way up to the top line. He's now one of Sidney Crosby's preferred linemates since he reads the latter so well. 

Hard work, dedication, and tenacity are the three pillars of Rust's game, and fans see it on a nightly basis. He works his absolute butt off and embodies what it means to be a Penguin. He may not have a letter on his jersey, but there's no question he's one of the top leaders on the team. 

Rust set a career-high in goals (31) and points (65) during the 2024-25 season before equaling that point total during the 2025-26 season. He was also three goals away from setting a new career-high in goals after finishing this year with 29. 

Rust has scored at least 20 goals in seven consecutive seasons, and logic dictates that he will make it eight in a row during the 2026-27 season. Yes, he's 34, but he's been an incredibly consistent player these last several seasons, and I don't expect that to change this year.

Like Rakell, I expect Rust to score between 20 and 30 goals and compile 50 to 60 points. Some of his goals will come from his patented move: he takes defenders on and goes backhand-to-forehand in front of the net. He has done it countless times over the course of his career and isn't about to stop now. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 18: Center Impressing With Rapid GrowthNext up on THN's Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list is a left winger whose all-around play, tenacity, and sheer will made an impression on the Penguins' front office last season.

He'll ride shotgun with Crosby on the top line at 5v5, but his power play deployment will be the more interesting one. He's usually on the top PP unit, but that could change this year with the continued emergence of Egor Chinakhov. Chinakhov has arguably the best shot on the Penguins, and their top PP unit could use more of it this year. He feels like the natural replacement for Rust, who can easily slide to PP2. 

Time will tell if head coach Dan Muse and assistant coach Todd Nelson go down that path, but it makes a ton of sense. 

Rust will still be a stalwart on the Penguins' penalty kill, which finished sixth in the NHL last season. He played 114:46 on that unit and was great at getting to loose pucks and blocking shots. His 114 minutes were the most he spent on the PK since the 2022-23 season, when he was on that unit for 129 minutes. 

He has still been involved in trade rumors these last couple of offseasons, but Penguins general manager/president Kyle Dubas hasn't felt compelled to move him. Going off that, I think Rust will remain a Penguin unless Dubas gets an offer he truly can't refuse. 

Rust has played a lot of meaningful hockey for the Penguins and that's expected to continue this year, assuming they stay in the race for the full season. He's also only 30 assists away from 300 for his career and is expected to hit that milestone by the end of this upcoming season, assuming he stays healthy. 

He'll suit up for his 711th NHL game when the Penguins open the season against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sept. 30. 

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Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!  

The Colorado Avalanche could have a major decision waiting for them in net — and the answer may already be developing within their own organization.

Scott Wedgewood is coming off another outstanding season, Mackenzie Blackwood is locked into Colorado's long-term plans, and Ilya Nabokov is about to begin the most important chapter of his development. Somewhere between those three goaltenders could be the answer to one of the Avalanche's biggest questions for 2027 and beyond.

Nabokov isn't simply another prospect trying to work his way through the system. The 23-year-old has already won a Gagarin Cup, been named a KHL playoff MVP and established himself as one of Russia's most promising young goaltenders. But his path to the NHL has never been completely straightforward.

His size and unorthodox style have raised questions about how his game will translate against the NHL's best shooters. His statistics also took a noticeable step backward during his final season in Russia.

There is, however, more to that decline than the numbers suggest.

Nabokov was already beginning to reshape his game for North American hockey, making his upcoming season with the Colorado Eagles far more consequential than a typical AHL campaign.

If those adjustments work, Colorado could have its next NHL goaltender waiting in the wings.

If they don't, the Avalanche may have a very different decision to make when Wedgewood reaches free agency.

And that makes Nabokov one of the most intriguing players in Colorado's organization heading into the 2026-27 season.

The Avalanche selected Nabokov 38th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, making him the first goaltender taken that year and the highest goalie selected by the franchise since Philippe Sauvé went 38th overall in 1998.

At the time, Colorado was betting on a goaltender who had already begun carving out an impressive professional résumé in Russia.

Nabokov had spent the previous three seasons with Metallurg Magnitogorsk, establishing himself as one of the KHL's more promising young netminders.

During the 2023-24 regular season, he posted a 23-16-6 record with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. He followed that with another productive campaign, going 23-17-6 while recording a 2.22 GAA and a .923 save percentage.

Then came the postseason that put Nabokov firmly on the radar.

During Metallurg's run to the 2024 Gagarin Cup, Nabokov was spectacular. He went 16-6 with a remarkable 1.82 GAA and .942 save percentage, helping lead his club to a championship while earning playoff MVP honors.

Nabokov also became the youngest goaltender in KHL history to win the award. He was subsequently recognized as a KHL All-Star and Rookie of the Year, adding even more credibility to Colorado's decision to invest such a high draft selection in him.

But there was always one obvious question surrounding Nabokov's NHL potential.

At 6-foot-1, he is smaller than the prototypical modern NHL goaltender. His low stance can accentuate that disadvantage, particularly against shooters who can elevate the puck into the upper portion of the net.

In the KHL, however, Nabokov's unconventional style has largely worked in his favor.

His athleticism and explosive lateral movement allow him to cover the crease quickly, recover from difficult positions and make saves from sharp angles. Rather than relying solely on size to take away portions of the net, Nabokov compensates with movement, positioning and an ability to react quickly when a play breaks down.

The challenge is that what works in the KHL does not necessarily translate directly to the NHL.

The NHL features an abundance of elite shooters who can punish even the smallest openings, particularly in the upper portions of the net. Nabokov therefore began adapting his game during his final season in Russia, preparing himself for the demands of North American hockey.

That is an important piece of context when examining his 2025-26 statistics.

Nabokov finished his final season with Metallurg with a 22-7-5 record, but his 2.74 GAA and .901 save percentage represented a significant statistical decline from the numbers he had produced during his previous two seasons.

At first glance, those numbers represent a noticeable step backward.

But they don't tell the entire story.

Styles Make Tendies

Nabokov was beginning to adjust elements of his style with North American hockey in mind. His final season in the KHL was not simply about reproducing the statistical dominance he had displayed during his championship run. He was also preparing himself for the challenges that awaited him across the Atlantic.

His low stance, which has been an effective tool in the KHL, will face a much different test against NHL-caliber shooters. Rather than abandoning the athleticism that made him successful, Nabokov has been tasked with finding the right balance between his natural style and the technical adjustments necessary to succeed on smaller North American ice.

That process may have contributed to the statistical regression, but it could ultimately prove to be one of the more important stages of Nabokov's development rather than a sign that his progress has stalled.

Nabokov went 2-4 in the playoffs during his final KHL season before joining the Colorado Eagles for the remainder of the campaign. He spent time with Colorado's AHL group but did not appear in a game, meaning his first true professional test in North America remains ahead of him.

That makes the 2026-27 season particularly intriguing.

Nabokov signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Colorado on May 30, 2025, keeping him under contract through the upcoming season. He is expected to compete with Trent Miner for playing time with the Eagles as the organization begins to determine just how close he is to becoming an NHL option.

And there is plenty riding on that evaluation.

The Avalanche enter the season with Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood projected to form their NHL tandem. Blackwood provides Colorado with some long-term certainty, as he has four years remaining on his contract.

Wedgewood's situation is much less certain.

The veteran goaltender is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, meaning Colorado will eventually have to determine whether it has a reason to retain him or whether the organization is ready to turn the crease over to the next generation.

That is where Nabokov suddenly becomes much more than a promising prospect.

If he adjusts quickly, performs well with the Eagles and demonstrates that his KHL success can translate to North American hockey, Colorado could have an internal candidate capable of eventually stepping into Wedgewood's role alongside Blackwood.

But if Nabokov struggles, the situation becomes considerably more complicated.

Wedgewood has given the Avalanche plenty of reasons to consider bringing him back. His play over the past two seasons has been outstanding, and his performance this past season helped Colorado's tandem capture the William M. Jennings Trophy.

There was even an argument that Wedgewood could have been in the Vezina Trophy conversation with a larger workload.

If he produces another season at an elite level, Colorado could face a difficult decision. The Avalanche could potentially have a proven veteran who wants a longer-term opportunity on the open market while simultaneously having a highly touted prospect who may not yet be ready to assume NHL responsibilities.

Then there is another piece of the equation that cannot be ignored.

Trent Miner has been part of the Eagles' goaltending picture for years and has continued working toward his own opportunity within the organization. If Nabokov arrives and quickly establishes himself as the preferred option in the AHL, Miner's future could become considerably less certain.

Miner could remain and battle for playing time, but he could also look elsewhere for a clearer path to an NHL opportunity. If that happens, it could give Nabokov even more room to take on a larger workload and accelerate his development.

Those questions won't be answered until the season gets underway.

For now, Colorado has a fascinating situation developing behind Blackwood and Wedgewood.

The organization has a veteran goaltender approaching free agency, a long-term starter already under contract, a young Russian netminder with a championship and playoff MVP on his résumé, and an established AHL goaltender competing for his own opportunity.

Nabokov sits at the center of it all.

His statistics may not have been as dazzling during his final season in Russia, but the circumstances surrounding them matter. He was not simply trying to replicate what had already worked. He was beginning the process of reshaping his game for the level he ultimately hopes to reach.

Now, he gets the chance to find out whether those adjustments were enough.

The 2026-27 season will be about much more than wins, losses, goals-against average or save percentage for Nabokov. It will be his first opportunity to establish himself in North American hockey and show Colorado that the goaltender who dominated the KHL can eventually handle the demands of the NHL.

If he does, the Avalanche may already have their answer for what comes after Wedgewood.

If he doesn't, Colorado may have to decide that its best option is keeping the veteran around a little longer.

Either way, Nabokov's development could quietly become one of the most consequential storylines surrounding the Avalanche's future in net.

It's officially another season, another prospects ranking for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

In years past, this has been a bit easier of an exercise, as there used to be a more clear-cut line between prospects with NHL upside and longshots. However, because of the work that general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and his staff have put in during the last several years, the line is blurring a whole lot more - and there is a substantially higher volume of talent in the system. 

This time around, making a top-20 list was challenging. So, a few criteria were put into place: To make our list, prospects must be under the age of 26 and have played less than 50 NHL games. This excludes names such as Ben Kindel, Filip Hallander, Oliver Okuliar, and Alexander Alexeyev.

At No. 19, we highlighted Kale Dach, a seventh-round center who could end up looking like a steal when all is said and done. With the next prospect on our list at 18, the situation is somewhat similar. But this is a guy who is garnering increased attention within the organization and is someone who could be ready sooner than folks think.

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No. 18: LW/C Ryan Miller

Like Dach, it's not as if Miller was selected in the top-three rounds of the draft. In fact, they were actually taken in the same 2025 draft class, with Miller going in the fifth round (130th overall). He was one of three fifth-round selections by the Penguins in 2025, the others being defenseman Quinn Beauchesne and forward Jordan Charron.

On the surface, Miller's growth has been relatively quiet. He had a breakout offensive season with the Portland Winterhawks in 2025-26, registering 30 goals and 75 points in 65 games, but he still didn't garner all that much attention from fans and media.

However, his growth was about more than just offensive production. In fact, he grew in pretty much every facet of the game - and he affects the game in several different ways.

Of course, the offensive production stands out, and it came to a head during a 20-game point streak - which included eight goals and 27 points - in the first half of the WHL season last year. But what stood out more was his playmaking smarts, ability to read plays in all three zones, and him being in the driver's seat in terms of dictating play. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 19: Forward Looking More Like Late-Round StealNext up on THN's Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list is a seventh-round draft selection at center who continues to build out a two-way game and could turn out to be a late-round steal.

As the team's captain, the left winger (he also plays center but is mostly deployed on the wing) drives play offensively while also being committed to the defensive details. He is a tenacious forechecker, his skating is a big strength, and he doesn't shy away from physicality, either, making him a very tough guy to play against. 

The Penguins were extremely impressed with the steps that Miller took last season, and they believe they have something in the young forward, who is committed to one of NCAA hockey's most prestigious programs in the University of Denver next season. Miller's play last season actually earned him an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) at the end of the year.

"I thought he really stood out in the two games (in WBS)," said Penguins' director of player development Tom Kostopoulos. "I thought his skating looked really powerful. His puck skills look good. He's a competitor. He might stand out in our organization among prospects of guys that want the puck, that play with hunger and a desperation to win puck battles. If [people] watched him last year in Portland, he would rip your head off to win a puck battle, and it's contagious. It moves around the lineup and everyone, it gets his linemates and teammates to buy in.

"So, he knows he's got some things to work on, but I thought he looked really good [during development camp] and looked really good in the gym and on the ice. We're really excited about the year he had... really excited about him. He's a great kid, and he's determined and hungry."

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 20: Defenseman Continues To Make Steady ProgressLanding at No. 20 on the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins Top-20 Prospects List for 2026 is a defenseman whose growth last season lent to him rising up the ranks.

Miller pointed to his confidence as something that allowed him to take big strides last season.

"I think just being more confident as a player," Miller said. "Obviously, my teammates helped a lot, too. I have a good line. But, yeah, I think just taking a step that way, believing in myself throughout the year, and having the coaching staff behind me... they all helped me take a step this year. That was probably the biggest thing."

There is still a long way to go in order for Miller to reach the pros, but his game appears as if it will translate well to the AHL when the 19-year-old becomes eligible. Should he pan out, he should be a really solid third-line player, which will help the Penguins' depth down the line.

Keep an eye on this guy. The talent and the will is there, and it won't be surprising if he finds himself much higher on next year's list.

'It's All About Learning': Penguins' Prospect Ryan Miller Hopes To Build On Strong SeasonPenguins' forward prospect Ryan Miller, a fifth-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2025, put together a strong season WHL season and looks to keep building on that in the NCAA

The list so far:

No. 20:D Chase Pietila

No. 19: C Kale Dach

No. 18: LW/C Ryan Miller

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The Chicago Blackhawks took care of Connor Bedard already, which was their biggest to-do list item of the summer. He was one of four restricted free agents in the organization heading into the summer. Bedard’s contract was complicated due to injury and offer-sheet drama from around the league, but they settled on a five-year deal with an average annual value of $15 million. 

Another one of Chicago’s free agents, Drew Commesso, signed his extension to avoid arbitration. Commesso’s deal is a bit more complicated. The first year of this two-year extension is a two-way contract. The salary is $800K in the NHL and $200K in the AHL. The second year is a one-way deal with a salary of $900K. His cap hit is $875K. When this deal expires, Commesso will be an RFA again with arbitration rights. 

This deal sets it up so that the Blackhawks could make Commesso the full-time backup for Spencer Knight after the 2026-27 season ends, which lines up with Arvid Soderblom’s expiring contract. 

The other two RFA’s that the Blackhawks entered the summer with are Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro. They are both defensemen with up-and-down NHL experience. 

In 2023-24, Korchinski played his entire age-19 season in the NHL, which accounted for 76 games. In those games, he had 5 goals and 10 assists for 15 points, while dealing with the development curve that comes with being a teenager playing defense in the NHL. 

Having him play in the NHL at that time was a mistake made by the Blackhawks. Since then, they’ve tried to correct that mistake by mostly using him in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs. Korchinski has only played in 29 NHL games over the two seasons since. 

In the AHL, he has been mostly great, including an All-Star Game MVP. Due to the interesting start that he has had to his career, Korchinski is a hard player to place a financial value on. There will likely be a two-way deal coming for this 22-year-old, but for how much and how long remains to be seen. 

As for Del Mastro, he was a 4th-round pick (105th overall), which lowers the pressure on him compared to a first-round pick like Korchinski. It shouldn’t matter, but it’s natural. He has been a slightly better defender at the NHL level, but his skating and puck skills don’t match those of Korchinski. 

Del Mastro has a higher floor in the NHL, which makes him a valuable young defenseman at the age of 23, but other young players at the position have passed him by in recent years, similarly to Korchinski. 

Neither player is going to command a ton of money over a long period of time. There is no leverage there because of their slower development path. There is plenty of money to be made down the road; they just have a lot of work to do. 

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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Former members of the Vancouver Canucks will take the spotlight in this off-season article series. From those skating with new NHL teams heading into the 2026–27 season to those who are now playing for international clubs, these featured players have skated in at least one game at the NHL level as a member of the Canucks. 

Today’s segment will take a look at the seven former Canucks that are set to compete for teams in the NHL’s Pacific Division during the 2026–27 season. 

Adam Gaudette, San Jose Sharks 

A former fifth-round pick by Vancouver in the 2015 NHL Draft, Gaudette spent four years with the club that drafted him, skating in 153 NHL games and scoring 21 goals and 31 assists for Vancouver. He was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Matthew Highmore in April of 2021. 

The 2025–26 season was Gaudette’s first season with the Sharks, during which the forward scored 17 goals and eight assists in 66 games played. While he provided good offensive depth during this season, with the players ptoentially coming into the Sharks organization in 2026–27, Gaudette may find himself battling for a full-time roster spot come training camp. 

Kiefer Sherwood, San Jose Sharks 

In a couple of seasons filled with controversy and disappointment, Sherwood was one of the few bright spots that came to Vancouver when he signed with the team during the 2024 off-season. He posted a then career-high of 19 goals and 21 assists in 78 games during the 2024–25 season with the Canucks while breaking an NHL record for hits made in a single season with 460. 

Back in January, Sherwood was traded to the Sharks for two second-round picks and defenceman Cole Clayton. At the time, he’d registered 17 goals and six assists in 44 games with Vancouver, adding six goals and seven assists in 28 games with San Jose after that. After a little over a month with the Sharks, Sherwood signed a five-year contract worth $5.75M annually. 

Tyler Toffoli, San Jose Sharks 

Toffoli only played in a grand total of 17 regular and post-season games for the Canucks before he signed with the Montréal Canadiens during the 2020 free-agency period. That said, he made quite the offensive impact in his time with Vancouver, scoring six goals and four assists in his 10 regular season games and two goals and two assists in seven playoff games. 

After a lot of hopping around, it appears Toffoli has managed to find himself a home in San Jose. He’ll enter his third season with the Sharks come the 2026–27 season, having served as an assistant captain during the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons. In 79 games during the past season, he scored 19 goals and 30 assists. While the youth movement in San Jose is surging, it appears Toffoli has cemented himself as one of the team’s veteran leaders. 

Jason Dickinson, Edmonton Oilers 

Once upon a time, the Canucks traded a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft for Dickinson, who only ended up spending one season with Vancouver. The forward scored five goals and six assists in 62 games with the Canucks during that year, 2021–22, and didn’t quite fit with the team the way he was expected to. As a result, the Canucks ended up paying out a second-round pick in 2024 to the Blackhawks to flip Dickinson. 

Moving on from Vancouver seemed to be the best thing for Dickinson, as the forward posted back-to-back 30-point seasons with Chicago after being dealt. He was traded to the Oilers earlier in the year alongside Colton Dach for Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional first-round draft pick in 2027 or 2028. He finished the 2025–26 season with an overall total of seven goals and 10 assists in 64 regular season games, also scoring twice and logging one assist in four playoff games. 

Vasily Podkolzin, Edmonton Oilers 

Vancouver’s first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Podkolzin, notably found the most personal success upon heading to the Oilers via trade in 2024. While he put up fair rookie numbers in 2021–22 with 14 goals and 12 assists in 76 games, he wasn’t quite able to replicate that in the following two seasons with Vancouver, ultimately ending up in the AHL as a result. 

While his first season with the Oilers was impressive, 2025–26 put Podkolzin in an even better position than the year before. He played his way into a strong top to middle-six role while also getting some minutes on Edmonton’s special teams. In 82 games played this past season, Podkolzin set new career-highs in goals (19), assists (18), and overall points (37). 

Nic Dowd, Vegas Golden Knights 

Dowd’s stint with the Canucks lasted a grand total of 40 games during the 2017–18 season. His time in Vancouver began when he was acquired in a trade for Jordan Subban in December of 2017 and ended when he signed with the Washington Capitals in free-agency in 2018. He scored three goals throughout his tenure with Vancouver. 

Dowd’s long stint with the Capitals recently came to an end when he was traded to the Golden Knights at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. At the time, he’d registered four goals and 12 assists in 55 games with Washington. After 20 regular season games with Vegas, during which he collected a goal and four assists, Dowd joined the Golden Knights for a Stanley Cup Final run that saw his team lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games. 

Curtis Douglas, Seattle Kraken 

The most recent Canucks departure who is set to play in the Pacific Division during the 2026–27 season, Douglas was claimed off waivers by Vancouver during the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, ending his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Prior to his time with the Canucks, he played in 29 games with Tampa Bay, logging two assists. 

Douglas skated in a total of 14 games with Vancouver during the 2025–26 season. During this span, he made his presence known as a physical player who wasn’t afraid to drop the gloves in defence of his teammates whenever necessary. He scored his first career NHL goal on April 12 against the Anaheim Ducks and added an assist in Vancouver’s final game of the year against the Oilers. 

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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In a feature article, The Athletic’s staff wrote a piece focusing on one jersey each NHL team should bring back, but there were two exceptions. The writers explained that the Utah Mammoth hadn’t had time to wear that many jerseys and the only one they had worn aside from their current one was the “painfully generic” one that had Utah written on the front. They looked just like the PWHL initial jerseys, and it’s quite understandable that nobody wants to bring that back. The other exception? The league’s most storied franchise, the Montreal Canadiens.

Unlike the Mammoth, the Canadiens have worn a lot of different jerseys, but none has come close to their now-regular jersey, which has a classic look and is a sign of respect to the oldest franchise in the league. During their centennial year, the Habs wore six different jerseys: a blue one featuring a simple C, a red and green one which had a C in a maple leaf, the barbershop one, which had red, white and blue stripes, a maple leaf and a C, a red, white and blue one with a C that contained an A, and two more which are closer to the current look.

There were also a few Winter and Heritage classic jerseys; the ones they wore in 2003 against the Edmonton Oilers and in 2011 against the Calgary Flames weren’t special, but their 2016 one against the Boston Bruins was a slick one. It was white with a big blue stripe between two small red stripes, featured a white C with an H inside in a vintage font, and had the planet on the sleeve stripes. Their first game wearing it was a 5-1 domination of the Bruins in Foxboro and will always bring nice memories back to Canadiens’ fans.

Then there was the one the Habs wore for the NHL 100th anniversary and in which they lost 3-0 against the Ottawa Senators. The performance was atrocious, but the jersey was slick, with an added silver stripe on the sleeves featuring the years in which the Habs won the Stanley Cup.

Of course, Montreal took part in the NHL’s retro reverse trend, putting out a bright blue jersey for the first year, which was actually quite pleasing to the eye, but didn’t bring them much joy. As nice as the jerseys were, they had to wait for their fifth game wearing them to finally get a 5-4 shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks, and then their last game with the blue jersey had to be postponed because of the COVID protocol.

Finally, last AND least, the famous baby blue jerseys the Canadiens wore in the second year of the retro reverse trend. Those were a tribute to Montreal’s defunct MLB team, the Montreal Expos, but the Habs really struggled to find success wearing them, with Martin St-Louis even saying:

I think the hockey gods- I mean, this is an historical franchise (and) the guys who wore those jerseys 50 years ago, red and white, are looking down and saying: 'What are you guys doing? We probably get what we deserve, based on how historical this franchise is. I don’t know what next year will bring, but I hope it’s not those jerseys.

The coach’s dislike came from the fact that in their first seven games wearing the alternate jersey, the Habs had a 0-6-1 record. They finally managed to break the curse with a 4-3 overtime win over the New York Islanders in their eighth game wearing the powder blue jersey, but nobody in their right mind would want to bring them back; it’s bad enough that second mascot Metal wears one.

Personally, I wouldn’t be against bringing back the 2016 Winter Classic jersey, and the first retro reverse might have been a close second had it not been for all the losses it led the Canadiens to.

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As the National Hockey League enters the second month of free agency, a number of former Buffalo Sabres still remain unsigned. At this point of the offseason, players who have not latched on with an NHL club might consider playing in Europe, or taking a short-term deal or professional tryout to earn a one-year deal. 

One of the most surprising players to still be on the market is big blueliner Logan Stanley. The former Winnipeg first rounder played nearly six seasons with the Jets before being traded at the deadline along with Luke Schenn to the Sabres for Isak Rosen, Jacob Bryson, and two draft picks. With Buffalo, the 6’7”, 231 lb. defenseman played mostly in a third pairing role and posted five assists in 17 regular season games, and eight of Buffalo’s 13 playoff games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

There had been speculation that coming off a career-high 26 points last season, and with a very thin crop of free agents on the market, that the 28-year-old was in a prime position to get overpaid and get some term on a deal. Veterans like Jacob Trouba got that kind of offer, but Stanley, with some glaring holes in his game, is still out there.

Outlook: With it being the first week of August, most of the money out there has already been spent. It is likely that Stanley is looking for a one-year deal in a good landing spot, where he can get plenty of ice time, have a good season and hit the open market again next July. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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

33. Ryan Rucinski - Center (Youngstown - USHL)

It often occurs that when clubs are watching over their own prospects, they see another player that intrigues them. The Sabres prospect Luke Osburn made Team USA at the 2026 World Junior and had an excellent freshman season at Wisconsin. Prior to that, he played for the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms, where he won the  USHL Defenseman of the Year. On that same club that was center Ryan Rucinski, who the Sabres selected with their final pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. 

The 5’10”, 176 lb. forward is from Broadview Heights, OH (south of Cleveland) and has hockey bloodlines through his father, Jeff, and maternal uncle Steve Duke, who both played NCAA hockey at Western Michigan and had long minor league careers. 

Ryan Rucinski (#LetsGoBuffalo) finds Cooper Simpson (#NHLBruins) to start the scoring at the American Cup

Rucinski leads the USHL with 33 points. Simpson is right behind him with 32.@YtownPhantoms | #USHLpic.twitter.com/Z2yfmCslGK

— USHL (@USHL) December 5, 2025

The 19-year-old scored 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists) in 49 games with the Phantoms in 2024-25, and last season finished second on the club with 62 points (27 goals, 35 assists) in 59 games and was named to the second USHL All-Star team. Rucinski is headed to Ohio State this fall. 

Elite Prospects Draft Guide describes Rucinski as “A detailed, versatile forward with an edge, who creates through puck protection, net-front skill, and winning battles. His preferred scoring tools: An instant inside leg wrister off the rush and quick hands in tight on the power play. And when neither of those is an option, he crashes the net and whacks away until he finds an opening.”

Follow Michael on X, and Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

There has been a rather interesting development regarding the Toronto Maple Leafs and a former prospect of the franchise, who has spent the past three years playing in the KHL.

Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, drafted by Toronto 76th overall in the 2018 NHL draft, has expressed interest in rejoining the Maple Leafs and playing in the NHL.

The latest on Der-Arguchintsev is that he was traded in the KHL from Dynamo Moscow to Vladivostok, but doesn't plan on playing for the team that has acquired him, according to his agent, Shumi Babaev, who spoke to RB Sport. This highlights Der-Arguchintsev's intentions to return to North America.

Der-Arguchintsev's trade and his decision to decline to play for Vladivostok came after his representative's initial comments to R.org on April 28. In this instance, before Toronto hired John Chayka as the GM, Babaev revealed that he had been in contact with former Leafs GM Brad Treliving.

"Semyon is considering the option of returning to Toronto," Babaev told R.org. "We contacted former general manager Brad Treliving and expressed our desire to return to the club’s system. Now we are waiting for the appointment of a new general manager and to understand his position," Babaev said.

Most recently, last documented on Sunday, Babaev commented to RB Sport that there has been a certain process that has been underway with the Maple Leafs.

"I can't comment on it," Der-Arguchintsev's agent said.

Why Semyon Der-Arguchintsev Is Interested In A Return To Maple LeafsDer-Arguchintsev spent two seasons with the Marlies, from 2021 to 2023, scoring 25 goals and 72 points in 101 games.

It's clear, based on what Babaev has been revealing, that Der-Arguchintsev wants to return to playing hockey in North America, and preferably for the Maple Leafs. But just how realistic is that?

Babaev truly sees an NHL future for Der-Arguchintsev, but knows the path won't be linear.

"I believe Semyon is ready for the NHL," he said. "Of course, he has to be ready for the possibility of playing in the AHL, but there is no point in going there just for that. We are talking about a one-way contract with a salary closer to the league minimum."

Even on a flexible contract like the one-year, league-minimum deal that he suggested, it would be fairly challenging for Der-Arguchintsev to crack the Maple Leafs' NHL roster.

The right-handed center hasn't played in North America since the 2022-23 campaign. He featured in 50 contests with the AHL's Toronto Marlies and scored a solid 12 goals and 40 points. He also made one appearance for the Maple Leafs on Dec. 6 against the Dallas Stars.

Should The Maple Leafs Consider Giving Gavin McKenna The Auston Matthews Rookie Treatment?For the opening night of the 2026-27 NHL season, should the Toronto Maple Leafs give Gavin McKenna the Auston Matthews rookie treatment?

In a perfect world, for the player and the team, Der-Arguchintsev would get a look in the bottom six with Toronto. That would allow management and the coaching staff to truly evaluate him at the NHL level and decipher if he could contribute as a roster player.

The issue with that scenario is that there already isn't much space on the NHL roster. On July 1, Chayka added forwards Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger and Brandon Duhaime, most of whom could have a role in the bottom six.

Jack Roslovic Excited To Reunite With Auston Matthews After Choosing Maple LeafsJack Roslovic is already skating in a Leafs practice jersey and leaning on old friend Auston Matthews for housing tips and locker-room intel ahead of his August arrival in Toronto.

If the Maple Leafs and Der-Arguchintsev agreed on some sort of contract and plan, it would likely involve him seeing a lot of time in the AHL. That would allow Toronto to have frequent tabs on him and call him up at any point, including the purpose of filling in for injuries.

However, despite Babaev understanding that AHL time for Der-Arguchintsev is very likely and expected, he's not interested in his client spending an extended period of his stint in the minors.

At the end of the day, there is value in bringing Der-Arguchintsev aboard. After all, he'll still be 26 years old going into this coming season and is a talented offensive player known for his playmaking. 

This past season, in 59 regular-season games split between Dynamo Moscow and Vladivostok, Der-Arguchintsev scored six goals and 36 points.

His best season in the KHL was in 2023-24 when he recorded 17 goals and 34 points in 57 regular-season contests, as well as 10 points in 13 playoff games.

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