Have you been missing hockey since the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup three months ago?

Yes, it’s been almost three months since the Hurricanes skated off the ice in Las Vegas with Lord Stanley’s Cup. It’s felt both like ages and just yesterday because of how deep the Canes went into the season playing plus all the celebrations throughout the summer. Still, for the rest of the NHL it’s been ages since actual competative hockey has been played—and that includes fans of the two teams that will be in Wake County starting this weekend.

That’s right, folks. Actual, real hockey will be available for fans to watch kicks off this weekend, and in one week this team will go from no hockey to playing a preseason game down in Florida. That’s how quickly things are going to go from zero to 60. We are, after all, only about two weeks from the 5 PM season opener against Florida.

Let’s talk about the signs of the season getting closer and soak them all in:

First off, anyone concerned that the renovations in Lenovo Center wouldn’t be ready in time for the home opener in two weeks had their fears tamped down on Saturday morning as the team released photos of what the ice will look like. It’s a fitting setting for a team that is the defending Stanley Cup Champion, reminding everyone coming in who they’ll have to knock off in order to take the Cup this year.

The decision to leave empty space at the red line except for the occasional Hurricane Warning flag was an especially good one, it makes the design pop.

Fans will get a chance to see this logo for themselves for the first time next Tuesday, September 22nd in the only true home game of the preseason before they head to Greensboro on Thursday, September 24th.

It took until the last possible second but we now know when the actual Training Camp for the players that’ll play on that ice will start. On Friday, the Hurricanes announced the official start of Training Camp. The Wake Competition Center will host the start of camp on Thursday, September 17th at 9 AM. Along with that, we even have a schedule.

Looking at that schedule it is notable that a lot of the camp will happen at the Wake Competition Center, with only the sessions next weekend and then before the season opener to be over at Lenovo Center. Something important to note for the fans—none of the sessions will be open to the general public this camp. Media will be allowed in on all morning skates and camp sessions, so it will be worth following the usual folks on the various social media channels to get your information about how the sessions are going.

Of cousre, some of the players that’ll be participating in those training camp sessions will be on the ice starting Sunday in the Prospect Showcase. There are some big names that are going to participate. Bradley Nadeau will likely pop after getting some NHL exposure next year, not to mention it’s his chance to earn a roster spot with Seth Jarvis missing the start of the season recovering from his shoulder surgery. There’s also the Canes debut of Charlie Cerrato after a couple of successful years at Penn State.

The Canes will be taking on both the prospects of the Nashville Predators and the Tampa Bay Lightning over at the Wake Competition Center. The good news for fans is that this event is not only open to the public, it is free! This includes the event that faces off at 2:30 Sunday. If you can tear yourself away from the opening of the NFL season, you’ll get the chance to see the future of the NHL on display in a more intimate session.

That said, dropping what you are doing and driving to squeeze yourself into a freezing arena in Morrisville isn’t the easiest thing to do. So, if you want to have a feed of the event going on while you enjoy other events on Sundays, keep an eye on the social media channels for the links or head to https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/ and find the links to the feed. With the event happening locally, the familiar voices of Mike Maniscalco and Tripp Tracy will call the two Hurricanes games. The first game will be Sunday at 2:30 PM against the Predators, while the second Carolina game will be Tuesday against Tampa at 2 PM. On Monday at 2 PM the Lightning and Predators prospects will face off, and the outstanding Casey Ditzel of the Greensboro Gargoyles will call that game.

As an aside it’s been fun seeing the Gargoyles and the Canes collaborate more. Once the Charlotte Checkers moved to the Panthers, it’s great having one of the affiliates so close to Raleigh to where fans have a chance to see the future so close to the home club. The Gargoyles have been working hard as an org to embrace Carolina, and expect that collaboration to present itself further when the Canes play in Greensboro on Thursday, September 24th.

If you want to know just what to make of both the Prospect Showcase and how some of the prospects are fairing at Training Camp, make sure to follow Canes Prospects on the social media platform of your choice. This is their time to shine, and the insight will be valuable.

Actual hockey to talk about, and soon. Let the excitement build, and can we hear of other ways to watch the Hurricanes Hockey Network please?

Earlier this week, NHL.com released its Top 26 prospects list, and the Montreal Canadiens have three players on the list: forward Michael Hage, defenseman David Reinbacher and goaltender Jacob Fowler. Hage is ranked at number eight, while Reinbacher lands at number 20 and Fowler gets the 24th spot. Hage and Reinbacher weren’t on the list last season, while the netminder was 24th back then as well.

Hage gets the eighth spot thanks to his stellar performances in the NCAA last season (52 points in 39 games) and his part in Canada’s bronze medal World Junior Championship finish (15 points in seven games, leading all scorers in the tournament). The article highlights the fact that he could be the answer to the Canadiens’ long-running search for a second-line center. The hype around the 21st overall pick in the 2024 draft is very real in Montreal, and his performance at development camp did nothing to temper expectations.

Canadiens Winger Has A Big Fan In Prospect Thorpe
Reinbacher Will Have A Big Opportunity
Canadiens Rookie Camp Gets Underway

It sure feels like the front office believes that, especially since their reported targets in the trade market have been top-six wingers rather than centers. While it was a disappointment for the fans to hear that Hage decided to go back to Michigan for his junior year, ultimately it should help get him ready to make the steep jump between the NCAA and the professional level, likely at the tail end of this season, once the NCAA season and the Frozen Four Tournament are over.

Knowing the Canadiens, they’ll likely break him in slowly and not throw him into the deep end right away, a bit like they started Lane Hutson on the second power play in his first season rather than make him quarterback the first unit right away. Even Demidov, when he made his debut at the tail end of the 2024-25 season, wasn’t thrown on the second line right away. Still, the Habs brass will hope Hage takes to the pro level like a fish to water and his ready to step into a top-six role quickly.

As for Reinbacher, who was the fifth overall pick at the 2023 draft, NHL.com has him in 20th place and projects him as “a reliable second-pair defenseman who can kill penalties, retrieve pucks and make efficient outlet passes. His best fit would be alongside an aggressive, puck-moving, left-shot partner.” In other words, a partner for Lane Hutson.

Clearly, that’s what the Canadiens are hoping for when they drafted him, but three years later, one has to wonder if he will live up to his potential. He’s had a plethora of injuries over the years that have hindered his development. If he can get one fully healthy season, we may finally see exactly what Reinbacher is about. Montreal already has another defenseman whose health is hit-and-miss, and they don't need another defenseman who struggles with the same thing.

As mentioned recently in another article, if Guhle cannot start the season, Reinbacher should get an extended look at camp and could very well make the opening night roster.

Finally, the article calls Fowler “one of hockey's premier young goaltenders” and praises his composure and positioning, adding that his success at all previous levels suggests above-average starting potential. The netminder will hope to make the team out of camp, but the fact that Samuel Montembeault is still with the Canadiens might make it hard to do.

Fowler doesn’t have to clear waivers before being sent down to Laval, which makes assigning him to the Rocket the easy answer. However, his performance last season suggests he is ready for the NHL, and while he’s only 21 years old (22 in November) and needs to see plenty of ice time, being sent down to the AHL may not be great for motivation. Still, it’s hard to imagine a world in which he outduels Montembeault at camp and the Canadiens decide to waive their former starter.

Kent Hughes is not the type of GM who enjoys losing assets for nothing through waivers. When he couldn’t send Cayden Primeau down without going through waivers anymore, the GM elected to keep three netminders on the roster rather than biting the bullet. Despite Montembeault’s disastrous last season, he still holds more value than Primeau ever did, and it would be an absolute shock if Hughes decided to gamble that he would go unclaimed.

Still, even if Fowler is sent down to start the season, if Montembeault falters, he won’t have as long a leash as he had last season, and the Canadiens won’t wait until December to try to address the issue.

While fans will likely have to wait until the end of the season to get their first taste of Hage, they should see plenty of Reinbacher and perhaps even Fowler unless Montembeault finds a way to get back to his former self.

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

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After an early July whirlwind of activity with transactions and trades around the league things have now settled down as NHL rosters are mostly set heading into training camps next week. Though Colorado said goodbye to most of their former players via trade such as Val Nichushkin, Jack Drury and Ross Colton, there’s always a few that slip away during free agency. Here is where several former Colorado Avalanche players landed once unrestricted free agency opened on the 2026-27 league year.

Defenseman Nick Blankenburg sat on the market until September but ultimately couldn’t find a firm contract offer, thus he’s expected to land a try-out with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Depth forward Joel Kiviranta didn’t return for a third season with the Avalanche. Instead, he returned to his other former team in the Dallas Stars on a one-year contract worth $1 million.

Another depth forward, Zakhar Bardakov also returned to his former team SKA in the KHL on a one-year deal.

Victor Olofsson was sent to the Calgary Flames in the Nazem Kadri trade but as a free agent the 28-year-old Swede made his way back to the Vegas Golden Knights on a one-year deal.

With so many Eagles free agents hitting the market, there was bound to be some turnover on the AHL club. Chris MacFarland brought another familiar face with him to the Nashville Predators organization with the signing of minor league depth defenseman Jack Ahcan who received 11 regular season and three playoff games with the Avalanche.

In other minor league news, former players who appeared in an Avalanche sweater and also moved on include Jason Polin who was signed for one-year by Pittsburgh, Jacob MacDonald received a one-year deal from Washington and Matt Stienburg was signed to a two-way contract by Vancouver.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have brought in Nick Blankenburg on a PTO, according to Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe. The 28-year-old defenseman will be joining the Maple Leafs for training camp this coming week.

Dupont listed NHL PTOs around the league, including Tyson Jost with the Nashville Predators, Chris Dreidger with the Vancouver Canucks, Alex Nylander with the Calgary Flames, and Cal Peterson with the Washington Capitals.

In that list, he included Blankenburg as a PTO assignment with the Maple Leafs.

"Undersized defenseman, ex- of UMichigan," Dupont wrote. "Small, but mobile, an insurance play by new GM John Chayka, looking for options if Chris Tanev still needs time to recover from March surgery to fix a core injury."

Blankenburg is coming off a season split between the Predators and the Colorado Avalanche. In total, the undrafted D-man played 176 NHL regular-season games across parts of five seasons.

Last year, in his second season in Nashville before getting traded to Colorado around the trade deadline, Blankenburg featured in 49 games for the Preds, followed by 12 appearances for the Avs.

Three NHL PTO Candidates For The Maple Leafs Ahead Of Training CampA few players have already signed PTOs with NHL teams over the past week. Here are three PTO candidates for the Toronto Maple Leafs going into training camp.

In total, he registered eight goals and 24 points in 2025-26, which marked a career-high on both fronts for the 5-foot-9 blueliner.

He also made his Stanley Cup playoffs debut with Colorado, playing five games and scoring one goal while averaging 9:25 of ice time per game.

Aside from two seasons with the Predators and a short stint with the Avalanche, his first three years in the league, beginning with a seven-game stint in 2021-22, were with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

And though he didn't get much ice time with the Avalanche, that doesn't tell the whole story. Aside from his stint in Denver, he averaged 18:40 of ice time per outing, which is typical of a bottom-four pairing defenseman.

To Dupont's point, indeed there is a sliver of uncertainty surrounding Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev's health. Tanev says that he feels "quite good," but he still needs the green light and confirmation from doctors in the coming days.

Report: Chris Tanev Waiting To Be Cleared By Doctors, Plans To Be On Ice First Day Of Maple Leafs CampWhile Tanev aims to be ready for the opening day of camp, Tanev described his rehab from surgery in March as "slow". The veteran defender has to show that the injury issues of last year are fully in the rearview mirror.

A contract for Blankenburg is anything but certain. Even if Tanev still needs some more time recovering, Toronto still has Troy Stecher and Emil Andrae ready to go as depth defensemen to fill in.

Also, any team in the NHL is eligible to sign Blankenburg to a contract, as he is a UFA, even though he's joining the Maple Leafs for camp.

Blankenburg's last contract was a two-year agreement at $775,000 per year.

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For many hockey fans of a certain era, video games got them into the game. Whether it was the Atari, Nintendo, or the EA Sports NHL game, kids who grew up in the 1990s or early 2000s had video games as their door into hockey, especially when weeknight games were past their bedtime. 

That nostalgia and trip down memory lane were on display when the Hockey Heritage Exhibit launched Pucks & Pixels on Saturday afternoon at the Madison Public Library in New Jersey. The exhibit is a mobile touring attraction that will travel to NHL arenas, community venues, and other public settings this season. 

What Is Puck & Pixels? 

Geoffrey Wyhopen, the creator and founder of the mobile museum, wanted to bring that love and joy for NHL video games to the public and show how the games have evolved, as well as an appreciation for hockey itself. The exhibit reflects that. 

There was memorabilia on display, including Stuart Skinner's goalie pads, Filip Gustavsson’s Four Nations jersey, and a piece of the old Boston Garden. Every attendee received a handful of swag (which was my personal highlight of the trip). Most importantly, there was a wall displaying every version of the NHL game and the graphics going back to 1991. 

The wall of games was the most fascinating because it showed the progress of the game over the years. Wyhopen noted in a conversation with The Hockey News that the difference in NHL '94 game where the graphics and gameplay were a significant upgrade. The same was true about the NHL '98 version. From there, every monitor showed a slightly improved version, at least until the early 2010s, when progress seemed to stagnate. 

The exhibit looked similar to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Specifically, there was memorabilia for older fans but also videos for younger fans. The similarity is not coincidental since Wyhopen took a lot of inspiration from the Hall of Fame in Toronto for his exhibit. It’s the idea that hockey is for everyone and the display can be appreciated by anyone. 

The display mirroring the Hall of Fame is also part of an idea behind exhibits and museums where everything is interactive. In hockey, the fans are separated from the game; they are not on the ice and instead are in the stands, separated by the glass. The people who bring the game closer to those fans, whether it’s through broadcasts, off-ice events, or community events, take the game to another level. For Puck & Pixels, a big part of the touring museum is bringing the game and its history closer to the fans. 

It’s why their first event started in the Madison Public Library. It’s the local library for Wyhopen and is free for all patrons. It’s also why the museum is operating on a community-first mission, keeping admission free to the public. 

What’s The Future For Puck & Pixels? 

Wyhopen wants to bring this exhibit everywhere. NHL arenas, American Hockey League and PHWL games, public settings, and anything else where hockey and video game fans can take it in. 

The idea is still in its early beginnings, but of course there’s plenty of opportunity to grow into something bigger. Eventually, the Hockey Heritage Exhibit is something the Hockey Hall of Fame can partner with. Likewise, teams around the league can contribute; the New Jersey Devils were one of the teams most helpful to Wyhopen, providing memorabilia and space at Prudential Center for games. 

The question for Puck & Pixels is how they can become more attractive and interactive to hockey fans. The event, while fascinating, wasn’t heavily attended (the warm weather on a Saturday afternoon in September didn’t help). One idea that was suggested was to have an area where fans, especially younger fans, can play the game from different eras and see the difference in each version over time. Likewise, the Hockey Hall of Fame has a kids section that allows fans to play a mini version of the game, whether it's taking a shot or making a save, as if they were a part of it. 

To learn more about Puck & Pixels and the Hockey Heritage Exhibit, visit hockeyheritageexhibit.com or contact Geoffrey Wyhopen at geoffrey@hockeyheritageexhibit.com

After months of waiting, Vancouver Canucks hockey is back. Over at the Rogers Forum in Abbotsford, Vancouver will battle the Seattle Kraken in a two-game Prospects Showcase. With the first game scheduled for September 12 at 4:00 pm PT, here is a look at three Canucks to watch.

Ilya Safonov

One of the more intriguing players on Vancouver's roster is Russian forward Ilya Safonov. The 25-year-old signed with the Canucks this off-season after spending his entire career in the KHL. Based on line rushes at practice, Safonov is set to play on a line with Braeden Cootes and Bennett Schimek. 

Safonov enters the campaign as a candidate for the 13th forward spot in the NHL. He is signed to a two-way contract, which means he could be a player shuttled between the NHL and the AHL. Ultimately, it will be interesting to see how Safonov's game adjusts to North America. 

Sawyer Mynio

Sawyer Mynio is coming off an impressive rookie year with the Abbotsford Canucks. The 21-year-old proved he could be a top-four defenceman as he recorded 21 points in 58 games. Now in his fourth year with the organization, Mynio is projected to get heavy minutes for Abbotsford this season. 

The big question with Mynio is whether he'll get the chance to play an NHL game this year. He has built a level of trust with Manny Malhotra and is a prospect the organization rates highly. If injuries or trades occur this season, Mynio could find his way up to Vancouver. 

Vilmer Alriksson

Vilmer Alriksson stands out wherever he goes. The 21-year-old is listed at 6'6", 214 lbs, and can knock the opposition off the puck with ease. The Canucks appear to be making a jumbo line, as Alriksson was in a trio with Brooks Rogowski (6'7", 235 lbs) and Austin Brimmer (6'4", 223 lbs) at practice. 

While Alriksson played 43 games during his rookie AHL season, he struggled to produce offensively. The Swedish winger recorded nine points while posting 56 penalty minutes. Now that Alriksson has a year of pro hockey under his belt, he should feel more comfortable heading into the campaign. 

Game Information:

Where: Rogers Forum

When: 4:00 pm PT

Streaming: Canucks.com

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The Chicago Blackhawks prospects took the ice for day two of Prospect Camp on Saturday. There were tons of skill and skating drills that took place as they prepared for two matches against the St. Louis Blues.

Some video from Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp: pic.twitter.com/jENdtGr7Qf

— Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) September 12, 2026

Part of the practice revealed some potential lines for the games, as they did a drill that emulated game situations. The lines looked like this: 

Roobroeck - Boisvert - Spellacy

Vanacker - Felcman - Misiak

Joughlin - Ludwinski - Aboflan

Henderson - DaFoe - Holmes

Young

Harding - Furlong

Henry - Hislop

Cumby - Getz

Batch

Gajan

Schaubel

The top line with Ryan Roobroeck, Sacha Boisvert, and AJ Spellacy has a little bit of everything when evaluating a skill line. They bring speed, toughness, and size, along with a tremendous amount of skill. 

Roobroeck will be back in major junior this year, but Sacha Boisvert and AJ Spellacy on a line to start the year in the AHL could be a big boost for the Rockford IceHogs. We'll see if they stay together through the rest of camp, including the games. 

At one point during practice, during a game-like simulation, Boisvert scored a goal in which he took a shot in the slot through a screen. If he exhibits that kind of shot with confidence in games that count, he will eventually find his way into the NHL for good. 

Another player worth mentioning is Marek Vanacker. The former first-round pick has the tools to become an NHL player as well, but his nice hands stood out during this practice. Even when he's in tight quarters in front of the net, he can make a move to find the twine. 

The Blackhawks did a shootout drill towards the end of practice, and Vanacker was one of the players who scored. He made a move on Schaubel to sneak it in between the pads and the goalpost. That wasn't the only goal he scored either, as he went 2/3 on his attempts. 

The Blackhawks prospects will practice one more time, Sunday morning, before their two gamedays on Monday and Tuesday (which will also feature morning skates). 

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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Based on the chatter from NHL insiders last week, the Winnipeg Jets are hoping to get an offer for goalie Connor Hellebuyck to their liking before the beginning of the regular season. If not, they are prepared to start the regular season with the Vezina and Hart Trophy winner on the roster.

According to both Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Florida Panthers pursued the 33-year-old during the offseason, but traded assets that were offered in the proposed trade for winger Brady Tkachuk and goalie Jacob Markstrom. Both also indicate that three clubs; the Sabres, Utah Mammoth, and Carolina Hurricanes are in the mix for Hellebuyck, who has five years left on his contract at $8.5 million per season. 

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Both indicated in their reporting on Hellebuyck that Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is looking for a hockey trade instead of just future assets in the deal. In looking at the competition for the Olympic gold medal winner earlier this summer, the Mammoth may be in the best position to make a trade, with Karel Vejmelka under contract (who has a 10-team no-trade clause), 23-year-old Sebastian Cossa (obtained from Detroit in June) and young prospects (2024 first rounder Tij Iginla or 2025 top pick Caleb Desnoyers) that would tantalize Cheveldayoff in a deal.

Carolina lost veteran Frederik Andersen in free agency to Edmonton, leaving the Hurricanes with Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov as their tandem. The Jets reportedly are looking for help up the middle, but the most enticing piece coming back could be big Russian blueliner Alexander Nikishin, who is currently an unsigned RFA. along with someone like highly regarded prospect Ivan Ryabkin, who played in the AHL and QMJHL as an 18-year-old. 

To best either club’s offers, Buffalo may have to further subtract from their NHL roster, in the form of winger Jack Quinn or center Ryan McLeod, but might have to include one of their promising young forwards (Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich) and/or defensive prospects Daxon Rudolph or Radim Mrtka in the deal. 

It will be interesting if Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen is willing to pay such a high price for Hellebuyck, or will be willing to go into next season with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis in goal.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

Mark Stone has already given the Vegas Golden Knights just about everything a franchise could ask of its captain.

He helped turn an expansion team into a Stanley Cup contender, became the first captain in franchise history and eventually lifted the Cup in Vegas. But the Golden Knights clearly aren't ready to find out what life without him looks like.

Vegas signed Stone to a two-year, $18 million contract Saturday, keeping its captain under contract through the 2027-28 season. The deal comes after another remarkable season from the 34-year-old, who scored a career-high 73 points in only 60 games despite missing time with injuries.

Stone's production was a major reason Vegas made another run at the Cup, reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in nine seasons. He finished the regular season with 28 goals and 45 assists before adding 12 points in 17 playoff games.

For all the questions that have followed Stone's health in recent years, there has never been much debate about what he means to the Golden Knights when he is healthy. His fingerprints are all over the most important moments in the franchise's history, and his 84 playoff points remain the most any Golden Knights player has recorded.

Now, Vegas has decided that history shall continue. 

The extension also comes just two days after the Golden Knights gave Braeden Bowman a six-year, $20.4 million contract of his own. One deal keeps a veteran captain who helped build the franchise's identity in place; the other gives Vegas a long-term piece it hopes will help carry that identity forward.

For the Golden Knights, Saturday wasn't simply about keeping Stone around.

It was about making sure the player who has been at the center of so much of their success gets another chance to finish the job.

Buffalo Sabres prospects practiced for the first time at LECOM Harborcenter on Friday in advance of the two-game Prospect Showcase against the Boston Bruins youngsters on Sunday night and Monday morning. The highest-regarded of the Sabres prospects playing this weekend is 2025 first-rounder Radim Mrtka.

The 19-year-old played the beginning of the AHL season with Rochester, but was sent back to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds in October. The big blueliner played for Czechia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, and after finishing the WHL season, he returned to the Amerks to finish out the regular season and play in the Calder Cup Playoffs against Toronto.  

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I think that (getting bigger and stronger) was a huge emphasis in the offseason to spend a lot of time (on)." Amerks head coach Michael Leone said. “(Mrtka) looks really good as far as his physicality.....He went to Prague in the summer and was training with a really good group there." 

Rochester is undergoing a transition in all areas, with last year’s starting goalie Devon Levi being dealt to Edmonton, their top scoring defenseman Zac Jones signing with Utah, and most of their top forwards either graduating to the NHL Sabres or are playing elsewhere, so youngsters like Mrtka will be depended on to step in and take on more responsibilities. 

"I learned a lot(in Rochester). There's probably not a single thing I could tell you right now, but I just took so many things from those games. So I'm really happy and glad that I could play there." Mrtka said.  

With the selection of righty Daxon Rudolph at the 2026 Draft this past June, Mrtka could have competition making the Sabres roster later in the season, and with the club possibly in talks with Winnipeg to acquire Connor Hellebuyck, it is not out of the question that the young blueliner’s future could lie elsewhere. 

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. 

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 2. Daxon Rudolph - D (Prince Albert - WHL)

The Sabres were expecting to select in the bottom third of the first round after their first playoff appearance in 15 years, but after being informed that defenseman Bowen Byram would not sign an extension, Kekalainen sprung into action, dealing the Cup winner to the Chicago Blackhawks for the fourth overall pick in the 2026 Draft, a second rounder (used to acquire Olen Zellweger from Anaheim) and blueliner Louis Crevier. 

With a number of well regarded defensive prospects available at #4, the Sabres did not take select the higher projected Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff, or Carson Carels, and selected Prince Albert Raiders blueliner Daxon Rudolph. The 18-year-old righty was the first overall pick in the 2023 WHL Draft, and after scoring 41 points in 2024-25 as a rookie, Rudolph posted an impressive 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) in 68 WHL games in his second season. 

Elite Prospects describes Rudolph as “both a high-end shooter and playmaker, who has the offensive tools to shred the opposition. He’s a scoring threat from range and uses his feel for scoring windows to jump off the point into the perfect spot to catch and fire.”

The youngster chose to shift to the NCAA and will play this season at the University of Denver under three-time NCAA champion David Carle, but indicated at Sabres Development Camp in July that he hopes to make the jump to the NHL after one or perhaps two years, Rudolph was also was invited by Team Canada to the World Junior Summer Showcase, and is likely to be on their roster for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championships in Alberta this December. 

Follow Michael on X, and Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The New York Islanders entered the 2026 NHL Draft holding just five draft picks, including only one pick inside the top 100.

In that type of scenario, it's crucial the Islanders do their best and take solid, potentially high-upside late-round dart throws in the NHL. That's always the case, sure. But that feeling only gets heightened in a year of scarce picks.

Everyone knew the Islanders could be targeting right-shot defenseman, the most obvious bare spot in their prospect pool at the time. 

Enter Vladimir Dravecky.

The Islanders drafted Dravecky, 18, in the fifth-round of the 2026 NHL Draft with the 141st overall pick.

Playing with an elite Brantford Bulldogs team last year, Dravecky posted nine goals and 28 points in 58 games, as well as three assists in 11 playoff games.

Dravecky also notched five assists in 11 games with the Czechia U20 team in international competition, but was held scoreless at the 2026 World Junior Championship.

At the time of the draft, people felt the Islanders landed incredible value with his work ethic and potential upside.

Put Hamilton Hammers Head Coach Jay McKee in that camp.

"With Vlad being a late pick, for me, it was one of the steals of the draft for sure at that pick," McKee said following Day One of Rookie Camp.

McKee continued with effusive praise for the right-shot defenseman.

"Vlad is a very highly skilled, offensive-minded defenseman. Just saying, he's one of the best practice players I've ever coached or even played with," McKee said. "He's intense. He does everything with a purpose. Snaps his passes. He's got an active stick. He's a very, very talented player. You know, like all of them [the prospects]. There's areas of improvement, but his potential and his upside is very high."

Praise doesn't come that strongly at a rookie camp for a fifth-round draft pick just days into working with the player, but that's what Dravecky's earned, both through rookie camp and McKee coaching against him in the OHL.

What should also stick out is the praise surrounding his drive and his practice effort. While it doesn't always work out, that's a telltale sign for a player hellbent on proving his worth and turning themselves into an NHLer over time.

While it was only one day of camp, the impression Dravecky left was followed by the effusive praise of McKee, which should only excite Islanders fans about Dravecky's potential.

After rookie & training camp, Dravecky is expected to report to the OHL's Guelph Storm, who made a major trade with the Bulldogs in June.

Ahead of the weekend’s prospect challenge, Montreal Canadiens rookies took to the ice on Friday, and a few players then met with the media. Among them was Tyler Thorpe, the fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft and one of the bigger names at camp, who has a very realistic outlook on his career.

For him, the key to succeeding in professional hockey is knowing who you are and what your game is. Thorpe knows what his game is and what his role can be on a team. He knows that if he makes the NHL, it will be as an energy guy; he won’t be a top-six forward; he’ll be a fourth-line player whose job is to hit players and be annoying on the forecheck. Asked when he came to that realization, he explained that it was in his first year in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants. Recalling the meeting where his coach told him that, he said he left with a big smile on his face.

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When asked which players he likes to see in the NHL, he mentioned Josh Anderson and Tom Wilson, saying he loves their style of play. He’s met Anderson in Brossard a few times.

Even though he’s already in the second year of his ELC, he knows that doesn’t mean he’ll make it in the NHL. It gives him a good opportunity, but he clearly doesn’t feel like he’s made it yet, which is the right approach to have.

At 6-foot-4 and 231 pounds, Thorpe should stand out amongst the prospects this weekend, and if things get physical over the weekend against the Winnipeg Jets and the Ottawa Senators prospects, he’ll no doubt be happy to oblige.

Another player who’ll relish that kind of play is Owen Protz, the 20-year-old blueliner who explained to the media that his love for physical play comes from his competitiveness. From a very young age, his goal was always to beat his older brother at whatever they were playing, and that made him love competing, which carried over to his hockey career. At 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, the blueliner, who’s starting the first year of his ELC, will be another player to watch this weekend.

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