Graeme Clarke wasn't a Senator for long last season, but he did enough in Belleville for fans to think he might earn a longer look.
At the NHL trade deadline back in March, the Senators acquired the Ottawa native from the Washington Capitals for forward Wyatt Bongiovanni. Clarke was a 2024 AHL All-Star who had back-to-back 25-goal seasons for Utica.
He found out about the deal a minute before the deadline passed.
At the club's annual golf tourney this week, Thomas Chabot was asked about the Sens captaincy.
"I get a call in a hotel room that I'm traded to Ottawa, and it was amazing," Clarke told TSN 1200 this week. "Like, I grew up going to Sens games as a kid, wearing Alfie's jersey and all this stuff.
"So just that, that itself was super cool."
Clarke was clearly energized by a chance to maybe play for his hometown team. He rolled into Belleville and immediately put up seven points in his first two games. He also credited a return to the centre-ice position, which he says he hasn't played for a couple of years, and relying more on his instincts.
Clarke closed the season with impressive AHL totals (19 points in 15 games), but despite that, he wasn't able to find a deal with an NHL organization this summer, at least not one he liked enough to sign.
So for Clarke, an Ottawa kid who grew up cheering for Daniel Alfredsson, he didn't get to play for Alfie's NHL team, but he will get to play for Alfie's old Swedish team.
Frölunda HC announced this week that it has signed Clarke to a one-year contract for the coming season. That club produced both Alfredsson and Erik Karlsson, probably the finest two players in modern Senators history.
“I’ve only heard good things about the club and the fans," Clarke said. “Frölunda is one of the best teams in Europe, with a clear goal of winning. I’ve also gotten a good impression of Gothenburg as a city. This will be exciting.”
Clarke does have a little experience in Europe. He and his younger brother, Los Angeles Kings defenceman Brandt Clarke, briefly played in Slovakia during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. Graeme also represented Canada at the Spengler Cup last December and will compete in the event again this year, this time with his Swedish team.
Clarke wasn't part of Ottawa's NHL organization for long, but his Ottawa hockey roots run deep. He not only played AAA hockey here, but he also played for three years with the OHL's Ottawa 67s.
At 25, Clarke's NHL hopes aren’t necessarily over. A productive season in one of Europe’s best leagues could put him back on the radar of North American teams.
For now, being on the same path as the Senators' greatest player isn't a bad place to be.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka told The Canadian Press on Friday that forward Max Domi will not be ready when the team opens training camp, remaining out indefinitely because of complications from off-season surgery.
“Max is going to come and be evaluated. He’s not going to be ready to start training camp. He’s going to be out indefinitely. At the right time in the near future, he wants to address it himself, and I think that’s best for him to do … we’ll leave it at that,” Chayka said, according to Josh Clipperton of The Canadian Press, who shared the quote on his X account.
The update comes four months after the Maple Leafs announced on May 25 that Domi had undergone a procedure to address an undisclosed issue he played through during the 2025-26 season and that complications had left him out indefinitely. The club said at the time he would continue working with team medical staff and be re-evaluated at the start of camp.
Domi, 31, appeared in 80 games last season and finished with 12 goals and 24 assists. He signed a four-year, $15-million contract with Toronto in July 2024 that carries a $3.75-million cap hit through 2027-28. The Winnipeg native has two seasons remaining on that deal.
Spoke with John Chayka today. The Maple Leafs GM says Max Domi will not be ready for the start of training camp due to complications from off-season surgery: pic.twitter.com/aGKCflBpVm
Domi has not spoken publicly about the surgery or the complications. Chayka indicated that the player intends to do so himself “at the right time in the near future.” The nature of the procedure and the exact complications have not been detailed by the organization.
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ST. LOUIS -- The NHL and NHLPA announced on Friday that St. Louis Blues prospect Adam Jecho will be unavailable to his club for an indefinite period while he receives care from the Player Assistance Program of the NHLPA and NHL.
Under the terms of the joint program, he will return to the club when cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators.
Jecho, 20, was a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft who played for Edmonton of the Western Hockey League the past three years and was projected to play in Springfield of the American Hockey League this season after putting up 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists) in 47 games with the Oil Kings last season.
Last season, Blues prospect Zach Dean was in the player assistance program before returning to the Thunderbirds for the final 36 games of the season.
Jecho was slated to be at training camp when it opens on Sept. 17 and was on the roster of prospects to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday and Tuesday in Chicago.
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A fresh start in Calgary has given Simon Nemec plenty to be excited about.
The 22-year-old defenceman is getting set for his first season with the Calgary Flames after being acquired from the New Jersey Devils on June 23. Since arriving in Calgary, Nemec has had time to settle into his new surroundings, get to know the city and begin building relationships with his new teammates.
Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Having a couple of familiar faces around the organization has helped.
Fellow Slovakians Martin Pospisil and Samuel Honzek are already part of the Flames, giving Nemec an immediate connection inside the locker room.
“It’s really helpful,” Nemec said of having his fellow Slovakians around.
“Calgary’s a great city, the people are awesome here, so I’m really excited about this new opportunity here,” Nemec said.
The move also means playing in a Canadian hockey market, something Nemec is eager to experience.
“I can’t wait for the start. It’s different, it’s Canada. I feel like the fans have more passion here, it’s going to be a little different, but I’m really excited.”
There is plenty riding on Nemec’s first season in Calgary.
Selected second overall by New Jersey in the 2022 NHL Draft, Nemec arrived in the NHL with considerable expectations. He spent three seasons with the Devils, including a 2025-26 campaign in which he recorded 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points in 68 games.
Now, he gets a chance to reset.
In Calgary, Nemec sees an opportunity to take on a larger role, earn more ice time and continue developing into the kind of defenceman the Flames believe he can become.
Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
“It’s a new team for me, everything’s new, so it’s been exciting,” Nemec said. “I feel like getting more ice time and more opportunities here… that’s another exciting thing.”
The upcoming training camp was always going to be a big one for David Reinbacher. The fifth-overall pick in the 2023 draft hasn’t been very lucky since being picked by the Montreal Canadiens. He’s dealt with a lot of injuries, but last season he played 57 games with the Laval Rocket and two more with the Habs. Now it’s time to prove what he can do and whether he’s ready to take the next step.
While we’ve yet to get official confirmation on Kaiden Guhle’s status, that should come at the team’s golf tournament on Monday; however, as reported by Anthony Marcotte, the defenseman had to undergo surgery this summer and is still rehabbing. If that’s the case and he has to miss some time in the preseason or in the season itself, it means there’s a door wide open for Reinbacher to step into a roster spot with the big club.
Furthermore, Arber Xhekaj still hasn’t signed a new contract, so you have to wonder whether he will be there when training camp opens. If he isn’t, the battle for a roster spot on the blueline will get a bit easier with Jayden Struble, Adam Engstrom, and Reinbacher fighting for Ghule’s spot and the sixth defenseman role. Three defensemen for two chairs. That’s better than four defensemen for one chair.
Given how Martin St-Louis used his defensemen in the playoffs, it’s clear that he doesn’t feel like Struble or Xhekaj can handle playing as much as his other blueliners, meaning that if a youngster can earn his trust, he might get to play an important role and get meaningful minutes.
Reinbacher being the only right-shot defenseman of the bunch gives him a bit of an edge, even if Engstrom can play on his off side; in an ideal world, Reinbacher would grab the opportunity being offered with both hands, and the Canadiens could finally have a balanced blueline including three right-shot defensemen with Noah Dobson and Alex Carrier.
On Thursday, three groups skated in Brossard: a first group which featured the players who will take part in the rookie camp, a second group which included the players who played in Laval last season, such as Alex Belzile, Owen Beck and Florian Xhekaj; and a third group which was solely made up of NHL players and Reinbacher. Of course, this was an informal practice, which means that Martin St-Louis didn’t get a say in who played with which group, but it’s still a positive sign for the young defenseman.
Dalibor Dvorsky is set to enter year two in the NHL from the get-go, and after a decent showing in his rookie season, expectations are growing.
Dvorsky has excelled at every level leading up to the NHL. He was dynamite at every junior level while playing for Slovakia and even captained their world junior team. In Sweden, he played in the HockeyAllsvenskan in his draft year and posted a respectable six goals and 14 points in 38 games.
The following season, he moved to the OHL and posted 45 goals and 88 points in 52 games. His final stop before becoming an NHLer was in the AHL, where he scored 21 goals and 45 points in a strong rookie season.
Wherever he's played, he's put up strong results, offensively and defensively. But in those previous situations, few players, if any, rivaled his skill set. The NHL is a different beast, and for a player to be as effective as possible, they can't have holes in their game.
Dvorsky possesses a lethal shot, both with power and accuracy. He has the puck-handling skills to be a threat in transition and on the cycle, and has the size and instincts to be a shutdown center. But if there was one area Dvorsky needed to improve, it's his speed.
Dvorsky isn't a poor skater. He uses his edge work effectively and has no issues pivoting, but his footspeed is lackluster, to say the least.
In his rookie season, NHL EDGE recorded Dvorsky's maximum skating speed as 21.58 miles per hour. That was below the 50th percentile, and it was Dvorsky's only skating burst above 21 miles per hour.
Additionally, the 21-year-old posted just 15 skating bursts between 20 and 22 miles per hour, below the 50th percentile, and also ranked below the 50th percentile in skating bursts between 18 and 20 miles per hour.
Being a speedster isn't the only way to be effective in the NHL, but it's hard to be effective and reach your potential when you are below average at best. Given that Dvorsky is defensively responsible and finds himself low in the defensive end, he needs the speed to work his way back into the play.
If Dvorsky can be a league-average or above-average skater, Dvorsky's 5-on-5 play will drastically improve. In his rookie campaign, Dvorsky demonstrated that he will be a consistent power-play threat, scoring five of his 12 goals on the man advantage. But with the off-season additions, Dvorsky won't find himself on the top unit just yet, so those power-play opportunities will diminish.
He needs to produce at 5-on-5 to stay in the NHL, and speed improvements will help him do so. He has plenty of admirable NHL tools, but improved footspeed will take his game to the next level.
Whether he incorporates more crossovers to generate power like Chicago Blackhawks superstar Connor Bedard has, or trains to be quicker in a straight line, he's a step away from breaking out.
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Matvei Gridin is one of the more familiar names in the group.
The 2025 first-round pick appeared in 37 games with Calgary as a rookie last season, recording six goals and 20 points. After getting his first taste of the NHL, Gridin enters this season looking to take another step and push for a larger role offensively.
Matvei Gridin. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
On the blueline, Abram Wiebe will get another opportunity to show what he can bring. Wiebe joined the Flames organization following his college career at North Dakota and made his NHL debut last season, appearing in four games after arriving in Calgary in the Rasmus Andersson trade.
Goaltender Arsenii Sergeev also gives Calgary another player worth watching.
Sergeev made his NHL debut late last season against the Los Angeles Kings, stopping 27 of 28 shots in a 3-1 Flames victory. He is expected to continue his development with the Calgary Wranglers in the American Hockey League this season.
Monday’s game isn’t just about the final score.
Arsenii Sergeev. Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn
For players on the edge of the NHL picture, the NextGen showcase is another chance to make an impression in front of the organization before training camp gets underway.
With the Flames and Oilers sharing the ice at the Saddledome, there should be no shortage of familiar rivalry energy, even with plenty of young faces on both sides.
The Flames and Oilers meet Monday, Sept. 14, at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The location of the event is part of the Sens' ongoing marketing efforts to win over hockey fans on the other side of the river. Close as it is to Ottawa, most of Gatineau's allegiance lies with the Montreal Canadiens so their fans will be out in full force to support their team (which makes you wonder why the Sens keep inviting the Habs to their Quebec-side preseason gatherings).
But the event also includes Toronto so it will also be teeming with Leafs fans.
But if they bought tickets hoping to see Gavin McKenna's first game in a Leaf uniform, they're going to be disappointed.
NHL.com had reported earlier that McKenna would play in the event, but Toronto Marlies head coach Steve Sullivan told reporters on Friday that McKenna will not attend so he can be fully ready for main camp next week.
For the record, skipping on the event wasn't McKenna's idea.
“I was just doing whatever the team wanted me to do,” McKenna told TSN. “It’d be fun to play some games, but they think me staying here is best, and I’m okay with that. I’ll listen to what they want.”
McKenna was selected first overall by Toronto in June, and everyone expects him to make the NHL team as an 18-year-old. McKenna recorded 51 points in 35 games as a Penn State freshman last season and added 14 points in seven games while helping Canada win bronze at the World Junior Championship.
The Sens made a similar decision with defenseman Carter Yakemchuk, keeping him out of action this weekend. Yakemchuk has an excellent chance to win a full time NHL job in Ottawa this fall.
Sens fans will get a chance to see McKenna soon enough.
On Wednesday, Sept. 23, a portion of the Senators players participating in training camp will travel to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs. At the same time, the Maple Leafs will send a group to Ottawa to face the Senators at CTC.
Then the Senators will face McKenna and the Leafs on the road in their regular season opener. That will be Toronto's third game of the season, so it won't be his NHL debut.
That means Sens fans won't have to endure the inevitable nostalgia billowing out of Toronto about the 10-year anniversary of Auston Matthews's NHL debut, when he scored four goals on the Sens.
Small victories count too.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:
The start of the 2026-27 season is rapidly approaching and while the Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes look ready for another run at the crown, there's one piece of business still left unfinished.
Russian blueliner Alexander Nikishin is the Hurricanes' last player without a deal for the upcoming season and it hasn't seemed like there's really been much progress on that front.
His name has been out there plenty in the rumor mill, with reports stating that he's looking for north of $8 million per year and that the Canes have shopped him around plenty as well.
But with training camp just a week away, will the time crunch force someone to give?
And what will a new contract even look like for the Russian defenseman?
Nikishin was just on the outside of the league's top-50 most productive defensemen, registering 33 points in 81 games in his rookie year, however, he was in the top-25 in terms of goal scoring, having found the back of the net 11 times.
That's substantial production and better than a plethora of guys that wound up with significant contracts this summer.
However, he's also a 24-year-old rookie and so the question is, how much more room does he have to grow?
Obviously he had trouble adjusting to a lot of factors given the fact that he was playing in North American and a new league for the first time in his career, as well as not speaking the language fully.
So from that standpoint there is the potential for him to take another step, but the fact remains that he struggled a bit defensively, especially with the way the Hurricanes play, and so it's a question of if the organization thinks he's capable of taking a big step.
AFP Analytics does projections for pending free agents and their data projects both a long and short term deal for players.
For Nikishin, AFP projects him at both a six-year, $38.641 million ($6.44 AAV) deal or a two-year, $7.43 million ($3.715 AAV) deal.
In my opinion both of those seem fairly low for the Russian blueliner, but I can also see why the analytics wouldn't be too much in Nikishin's favor.
Despite solid production, Nikishin wasn't much of a play driver for Carolina according to the underlying numbers and he had his fair share of struggles defensively too.
Alexander Nikishin's 2025-26 Microstats
And while he was quite productive in the regular season, Nikishin struggled to put up points in the playoffs.
In addition, Nikishin has virtually no leverage in the current negotiations.
On top of only having one year of NHL experience under his belt, he's also a 10.2(c) restricted free agent, meaning that he can't be offer sheeted nor could he file for arbitration.
The Hurricanes hold all the cards in the negotiations and the only potential option Nikishin has is to sit out, which is very rare to see in today's game.
However, while he and the team have continued to go back and forth in negotiations, other players have landed deals that have more than likely only pushed Nikishin's ask even higher.
If we look at players in Nikishin's cohort (defensemen around the age of 24 who signed new deals) ones that jump out as comparables include:
Zeev Buium [20] - Eight-year, $75.04 million ($9.38 AAV)
Jamie Drysdale [24] - Four-year, $26 million ($6.5 AAV)
Simon Nemec [22] - Five-year, $36.25 million ($7.25 AAV)
Pavel Mintyukov [22] - Five-year, $36 million ($7.2 AAV)
Bowen Byram [25] - Six-year, $75 million ($12.5 AAV)
Brandt Clarke [23] - Five-year, $37 million ($7.4 AAV)
Of those players, only Byram (42 points) and Clarke (40) outproduced Nikishin.
Beyond them, other potential comparables in his cohort could include some players who signed deals last year, but the majority of them do play larger roles than Nikishin.
Philip Broberg [24] - Six-year, $48 million ($8 AAV)
JJ Moser [25] - Eight-year, $54 million ($6.75 AAV)
Thomas Harley [24] - Eight-year, $84.7 million ($10.587 AAV)
Jackson LaCombe [24] - Eight-year, $72 million ($9 AAV)
Luke Hughes [22] - Seven-year, $63 million ($9 AAV)
At the end of the day, Nikishin's price is more than likely going to end up at least somewhere above $7 million based on the market.
Carolina has just over $8 million in cap space according to PuckPedia, so they can fit him into the equation, but would the team really want to make him potentially their highest paid defenseman?
And if he stays, is it going to be a bridge or a long-term deal?
Carolina isn't a team that likes to take expensive risks and Nikishin definitely presents himself as one, especially at the price tag he's seemingly asking for.
There's also the case of, does Nikishin want to commit long-term to Carolina?
Coming from the KHL, the Russian defenseman was a 30-minute a night, all situations player. He hasn't gotten the opportunity to be that in Raleigh and there still isn't really a path for him to become that either.
The Hurricanes have a lot of options on the blueline currently too, bringing in Mike Reilly, Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Juuso Valimaki, while also having guys like Charles Alexis Legault and Joel Nystrom, all of whom could be options in that third-pairing role, so they have the insurance should this drag out through training camp.
And again, the Hurricanes don't have to budge.
It's a difficult situation and one that will be interesting to see how it ultimately resolves.
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Martin Špaňhel - 2001-2002 - Drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1995.
Špaňhel played 10 games for Columbus in the franchise's first two years and scored two goals. He never played another NHL game after leaving for Europe in 2002, where he played in Czechia, Denmark, and Norway.
He returned to North America in 2011 and played in the ECHL, but then retired soon after. Nowadays, he's the Commissioner of the Columbus Adult Hockey League.
Lasse Pirjetä - 2003-2004 - Drafted by Columbus in 2002.
Pirjetä played 108 games and scored 31 points for the Jackets. He played his final NHL games with Pittsburgh after being traded on March 10, 2004.
He retired in 2008 after playing in Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland. He was also an asst. coach in Finland at various levels.
Mike Rupp - 2006 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 1998, and then the New jersey in 2000. (re-entry)
The Cleveland, Ohio native played 39 games for the Jackets in 2005-06, scoring four goals and totaling six points, after being traded to Columbus on October 8, 2005.
Rupp famously played for the Danbury Trashers during the lockout of 04-05 in the UHL. If you haven't watched that documentary on Netflix - DO IT! He retired in 2014.
Nowadays, he can be seen on the NHL Network as an analyst. He was also a broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Penguins for 8 years.
Curtis Glencross - 2007-2008 - Undrafted out of
Kindersley, Saskatchewan.
Glencross played 43 games as a Jacket and had 12 points. He was traded to the CBJ from the Anaheim Ducks on January 26, 2007. He was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 2008 in exchange for Dick Tärnström.
He finished his career playing for the Flames and Capitals and had some very good years. On October 20, 2015, Glencross retired.
Kristian Huselius - 2009-2012 - Drafted by Florida in 1997.
Huselius played 189 games for Columbus and had 142 points after signing a four-year, $19 million contract with the CBJ.
The ending of Huselius' career was a bit controversial. Huselius said that the Blue Jackets rushed his recovery and that he was not given ample time to recover from a chest muscle injury. He said that he was forced into game action too early, which resulted in him pulling his groin muscle and forcing him to miss the rest of the season with a slow recovery.
On 8 January 2013, Huselius retired from hockey.
Tim Erixon - 2013-2015 - Drafted by Calgary in 2009.
Erixon came to Columbus in the deal for Rick Nash. He only played 52 games as a Jacket and had 11 points. He was traded to the Blackhawks in December of 2014.
In 2019, he left for Sweden, where he would play for the Växjö Lakers HC for two seasons, and then with the Timrå IK, where he still plays today.
William Karlsson - 2015 - Drafted by Anaheim in 2011.
It's a common misconception that Karlsson was drafted by the CBJ. Taken by the Anaheim Ducks in 2011, he was traded to the Jackets in March 2015. He played 165 games for Columbus and had 47 points, mostly as a fourth-line grinder and penalty killer.
He was chosen by Vegas in the expansion draft of 2017 and has been there ever since. His career in Vegas has been up and down, but he's managed to get 396 points while playing for Vegas. In 2018, he won the Lady Byng, and in 2023, he helped his team win their first Stanley Cup.
Brandon Saad - 2016-2017 - Drafted by Chicago in 2011
Saad played 160 games as a Jacket and had 106 points. Saad came to Columbus on June 30, 2015, in a trade with Chicago. On June 23, 2017, Saad was sent back to Chicago, along with Anton Forsberg, for dynamic winger Artemi Panarin, Tyler Motte, and a sixth-round draft pick in 2017.
He currently doesn't have a contract.
Riley Nash - 2019-2021 - Drafted by Edmonton in 2007.
Played 179 games for the Jackets. He scored 10 goals and 33 points during his time in Columbus. He was traded to Toronto in 2021 and has bounced around since, playing for Winnipeg, Tampa Bay, Arizona, and New York.
He announced his retirement on July 8, 2025, after suffering a season-ending knee injury that caused him to miss the entirety of 2024-25.
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EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders forward prospect Quinn Finley skated in a red non-contact jersey on day one of rookie camp as he works his way back from shoulder surgery.
"I'm close to the finish line," Finley told The Hockey News. "That's what the doctors are saying right now, and yeah, I feel great."
Finley doesn't know for sure if he'll be cleared for contact by the start of NHL training camp but that's the hope.
Despite being drafted by the Islanders in the third round (No. 78) of the 2022 NHL Draft, this was Finley's first taste of an NHL rookie camp since NCAA players aren't able to attend these camps.
Although he was limited in what he could do out there, Finley enjoyed being out there.
"I feel great, finally being out there, playing games, out there scoring," Finley said. "It's great to be hanging out with the guys and being on the pro-aspect of things."
The 22-year-old recorded 17 goals with 16 assists for 33 points in 33 regular season games for Wisconsin in 2025-26, while also representing the U.S. Collegiate Selects at the Spengler Cup, where he recorded two goals and three assists for five points in four games.
He is expected to be a key contributor to the Hamilton Hammers this season.
Brent Peterson, former assistant coach with the Nashville Predators and longtime hockey ambassador in Nashville, has died. He was 68.
The Predators announced Peterson's death in a social media post on Friday, Sept. 11.
Peterson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2002 and founded the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's in 2009 as part of his battle.
He is survived by his wife Tami, his son Brad, and his daughter Kristin. Brad Peterson has served as an assistant equipment manager for the Predators since 2019.
"In addition to serving as a beacon to so many involved in the fight against Parkinson's, Brent served as an inspiration to hundreds of Predators players, coaches, and staff members for nearly 30 years," the team said.
We are incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend Brent Peterson. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends and all those who knew Petey 💛 pic.twitter.com/nrRIsfg9fs
Peterson was named assistant coach of the Predators under Barry Trotz in 1998, serving in that role until 2011. In 2014, he joined the Predators' radio team as a broadcaster until 2017.
In practice on Friday with the named roster, Toronto Marlies head coach Steve Sullivan said the Leafs' 2026 first overall pick won't be travelling with the team for the two games taking place in Gatineau, Que.
The Maple Leafs' rookies play against the hosts of the event, the Ottawa Senators, on Saturday, and the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday. McKenna will not be participating in either of them.
The 18-year-old isn't participating because the organization wants him to rest and prepare for his first NHL season, with training camp kicking off in about one week. Not to mention the lengthy summer of events, media opportunities, and other responsibilities that come with being a No. 1 pick on the Maple Leafs, no less.
"Gavin will not be travelling with us to Gatineau," Sullivan told reporters at the Ford Performance Centre. "Management has made the decision to have him participate last night in the opening dinner, also have him practising with the group."
Practising with the rest of the Prospects Challenge roster, McKenna was skating as the left winger on a line with center Luke Haymes and Brandon Buhr on the right wing.
"But what's best for him is to stay here, continue to train with the NHL players, and prepare for a big season," Sullivan added. "Short training camp for them, they got an 84-game schedule. He's got a lot coming in front of him, and he had a really, really busy summer. So for him, those three, four days in Gatineau is probably not beneficial for him. So we think that staying back and preparing for the season is going to be best for him.
"Watching him in practice, he's impressive," the Marlies bench boss added.
"I was just doing whatever the team wanted me to do," McKenna reacted to the news. "Obviously, it would be fun to play some games, but if they think me staying here is best, then I'm okay with that, and I'll listen to what they want.
The first game action that McKenna will get to see will be on Sept. 19, when the Maple Leafs play two pre-season games, both against the Montreal Canadiens. One will be played at the Bell Centre, while the other will be played at home at Scotiabank Arena.
The regular season begins on Sept. 29 with Toronto's home opener, and possibly McKenna's first NHL game, marking the start of his rookie season.
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The Calgary Flames Celebrity Charity Golf Classic has become something of an unofficial kickoff to hockey season in Calgary.
Players are back in town. Informal skates are underway. Rookie camp is around the corner, and with that comes the part of the season that can be every bit as important as it is unpredictable: training camp and the preseason.
"It's an exciting time of year for everybody."#Flames head coach Ryan Huska speaks with the media about getting set for rookie and main camp. pic.twitter.com/piKqoWqVDN
For the established players, exhibition games are largely about getting their legs back, building chemistry and preparing for the regular season. For everyone else, they can mean considerably more.
There are jobs to be won.
Flames head coach Ryan Huska made that clear while speaking with the media during the charity golf tournament. With a number of roster spots still up for grabs, Calgary’s preseason schedule will provide prospects, younger players and veterans looking to re-establish themselves with an opportunity to make an impression.
That opportunity could be particularly important this year.
Yan Kuznetsov. Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Under the NHL’s new preseason guidelines, players with more than 100 NHL games are limited to two exhibition appearances. That means more ice time for younger players and those fighting for a spot on the roster.
It also means there isn’t much room for a bad game.
“I think for people trying to steal jobs, the exhibition games are going to be important,” Huska said.
The Flames have several players who will be looking to do exactly that.
A strong camp can change the conversation quickly. The same is true for Calgary’s younger prospects.
With veteran players limited to two preseason appearances, there should be more opportunities for players who might otherwise spend much of the exhibition schedule watching from the sidelines. A good performance can create momentum. A couple of good performances can make the coaching staff think twice about where a player fits.
“Those are going to be situations where you want to make sure that you really can show that you’re ready to, one: play and two: take someone’s job,” Huska said. “And take advantage of it if you’re in those couple games.”
That’s really what preseason is about for a large portion of the Flames’ camp roster.
The Flames host the Edmonton Oilers in the NextGen Showcase on Monday, September 14, giving fans an early opportunity to see some of the organization’s promising young talent in action.
Matvei Gridin. Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Matvei Gridin, Tyson Gross, Axel Hurtig and Arsenii Sergeev are among the prospects expected to take the ice as they begin making their case.
For some, the preseason will be little more than a tune-up. For others, it could be the beginning of something much bigger.
Senators fans get a chance to gaze into the future this weekend.
The Sens opened their 2026 rookie camp on Friday morning, with players taking the ice at Canadian Tire Centre before heading across the river for this weekend’s NHL Prospect Challenge in Gatineau.
The four-team tournament at Centre Slush Puppie features prospects from the Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets.
Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot was asked this week about the possibility of being the Senators' next captain (Senators YouTube)
Ottawa will face Toronto on Saturday at 6 p.m. before taking on Montreal at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Jets and Canadiens will open the tournament Saturday at 1 p.m., while the Jets and Maple Leafs meet Sunday at 1 p.m. Ottawa Senators tournament schedule.
The Senators’ roster includes four goaltenders, nine defencemen and 16 forwards, with several intriguing names worth watching.
At the top of that list are the Sens' two first-round selections from the 2026 NHL Draft: Jonas Lagerberg Hoen and Jaxon Cover. The Senators selected Lagerberg Hoen 25th overall after acquiring the pick from Florida in the Brady Tkachuk trade. The Swedish winger missed most of his draft season after suffering a knee injury in October, but the organization believes his offensive ceiling could be elite.
Jonas Lagerberg Hoen (@Senators on X)
Before the injury, JLH had nine goals and 16 points in only nine games with Leksands’ under-20 team. The Sens' scouts have praised his skating, competitiveness and ability to score from different areas of the ice.
However, he wore a yellow non-contact jersey on Friday morning, and his name appeared in italics on the club's official roster, so he may not dress for either game this weekend.
All in all, though, that knee looked pretty strong.
Cover, selected 32nd overall, may have even more room to develop.
The Cayman Islands native played roller hockey until he was 13, but he has less than six years of experience on the ice. Despite that limited background, Cover recorded 20 goals and 52 points during his rookie season with the London Knights.
He is still raw, but his rate of improvement and potential for further development are off the charts. And as his first OHL season showed, he's already a very good player.
The Knights are well represented at Ottawa's camp with three ex-London players who have an excellent chance at good NHL careers.
Along with Cover, Kasper Halttunen will make his first appearance in a Senators uniform after being acquired from San Jose in the William Eklund trade.
At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Halttunen combines power-forward size with an excellent shot. He helped the Knights win consecutive OHL championships and scored 32 goals in 35 playoff games across those two runs.
Halttunen had 16 goals and 35 points during his first full AHL season with the San Jose Barracuda. He should have a prominent role in Belleville and could force his way into Ottawa’s plans if his scoring continues to develop.
His former Knights' teammate, Blake Montgomery, will also be in Gatineau after a solid first season at the University of Wisconsin and a late-season audition with Belleville.
Adam Nemec is another 2026 draft pick who could prove to be a good third-round find.
Nemec spent the first half of last season in Slovakia before joining the Sudbury Wolves. He quickly adjusted to the OHL, scoring 14 goals and 35 points in 31 games and has some excellent hockey bloodlines. Nemec’s older brother, Šimon, was selected second overall by New Jersey in 2022 and now plays for the Calgary Flames.
There's also plenty to like in goal.
The new face is six-foot-six Elliot Lennon, Ottawa’s fourth-round pick in June, who joins a group that includes Lucas Beckman, Jackson Parsons and Kevin Reidler.
Beckman was traded from Baie-Comeau to Chicoutimi last season and helped the Saguenéens win the QMJHL championship and reach the Memorial Cup. He was traded again this summer to Cape Breton, where he will try to help the Eagles make a similar run.
Parsons and Reidler are expected to be part of the goaltending picture in Belleville this season. Leevi Meriläinen, who is not participating in rookie camp, remains ahead of both on the organizational depth chart.
One of the more experienced players at the tournament will be 24-year-old Norwegian forward Eskild Bakke Olsen.
The undrafted free-agent signing helped Norway capture a surprise bronze medal at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. He played nearly 20 minutes during Norway’s upset victory over Canada and is coming off a 32-point season with Linköping in the Swedish Hockey League.
Bakke Olsen brings good size at 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds and will have an opportunity this weekend to show whether his game can translate to North America.
Right-shot defenceman Christian Kyrou is another older free-agent signing who could, if injuries strike, push for an NHL opportunity.
Originally selected 50th overall by Dallas in 2022, Kyrou signed a one-year, two-way contract with Ottawa on July 1. The 23-year-old produced 10 goals and 34 points in 59 AHL games split between Texas and Lehigh Valley last season.
Kyrou’s puck-moving ability will make him a valuable addition in Belleville, especially if Carter Yakemchuk makes the NHL squad in his third camp.
The seventh-overall selection in 2024 had 10 goals and 40 points in 54 games with Belleville last season before making his NHL debut. He recorded a goal and an assist in four regular-season games with Ottawa and added two assists in his lone playoff appearance.
The Senators clearly believe he has now moved beyond the need for another rookie tournament.
The weekend will also include several free activities for fans outside Centre Slush Puppie.
Doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday for an open Senators practice. Beginning at noon, the outdoor fan area will feature street hockey along with family events and activities.
Winnipeg and Montreal play at 1 p.m. before the doors reopen for the Senators game at 5 p.m. Ottawa’s rookies will sign autographs on the concourse beginning at 5:15, with the Senators and Maple Leafs facing off at 6.
The outdoor activities return at noon on Sunday, followed by Toronto against Winnipeg at 1 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the Sens' game against Montreal, with another rookie autograph session scheduled for 5:15 before the 6 p.m. faceoff.
Many of these prospects will be invited to continue their auditions at the main training camp, which begins Wednesday at Canadian Tire Centre.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:
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