Category: NHL

The Winnipeg Jets added another name to their blue line depth chart this week, signing defenseman Jack St. Ivany. The move raises an interesting question for the 26-year-old right shot heading into training camp as to if he can take the offensive flashes he showed last season and turn them into a real foothold in the NHL?

St. Ivany split last season between the Pittsburgh Penguins and their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and the results were promising at both levels. In 20 games with Pittsburgh, he recorded seven assists, showing he could move the puck and contribute offensively even against top competition. 

When he was sent down to the AHL, his production picked up even more, with St. Ivany posting six points in just eight games, a near point-per-game pace that suggests there may be more offense to unlock if given a longer runway.

The right side of the Jets' defense already looks fairly settled, with Dylan DeMelo and Neal Pionk both locked into established roles. That leaves St. Ivany looking at a competition for a third pairing spot, likely against Elias Salomonsson, one of the organization's more highly regarded defensive prospects.

He could also find himself competing for a seventh defenseman role, going up against fellow offseason addition Henry Thrun for a depth spot on the roster. For St. Ivany, the path forward comes down to consistency as his NHL sample size is still fairly small, but his numbers continue to rise each season as he further adjusts to the pro game. 

If he can find that consistency, he gives the Jets a legitimate option for puck moving depth on the right side. If not, he still provides organizational insurance in a group that could use it heading into a crucial season for the franchise.

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Former Florida Panthers assistant GM and current New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta continues to nab Panthers staff members, as Leo Luongo has signed with the Devils.

Luongo, the brother of Roberto Luongo, has been with the Panthers for the past 10 seasons, serving as a goaltending development coach and director of player development with the Panthers, while also serving as the director of goaltending and the head of goalie development and scouting with the Charlotte Checkers, the Panthers’ AHL affiliate. 

Now, Luongo is joining Mehta with the Devils as the director of goaltending. Luongo will manage the development and scouting of goaltenders throughout the organization while reporting to executive vice president of hockey operations Martin Brodeur.

In addition to Luongo, the Devils have added Ted Granto and A.J. MacLean as assistant coaches to work under coach Sheldon Keefe, while Dan Stewart will work as the Devils’ goaltending coach. 

The Panthers have now witnessed Mehta, Luongo, and Braden Birch exit the organization to join the Devils this off-season. The Panthers have also watched Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist join the Devils via a trade. 

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Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Briere has certainly made the NHL offseason interesting when he tendered a huge offer sheet to the Anaheim Ducks’ Leo Carlsson. Still, since Pat Verbeek matched it, Briere now must explore other options. Before getting back to shopping outside his own organization, however, the GM reached an agreement with RFA Trevor Zegras, thereby avoiding arbitration. At first glance, some may think that it’s better for the team than the deal Montreal Canadiens star rookie Ivan Demidov inked on July 1.

After all, Demidov’s eight-year contract has a higher cap hit at $9.150 M while Zegras’ four-year pact has a $9.125M cap hit, but that’s far from the reality. At just 20 years old, Demidov has put up 62 points in his only NHL season, while Zegras, after six NHL seasons and at 25, has never recorded more than 67 points. How far from his ceiling is he? That’s hard to say at this stage, but one thing is clear: he has far less runway than Demidov does.

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What’s worse, though, is that the Flyers, after spending three assets to acquire Zegras in the 2025 offseason, may only get to enjoy five years of the player. His first season in Philadelphia was a good one, but with his new deal, he’ll be free as a bird at the end of the four-season term to hit the market at 29 and go after a big payday. The fact that he only signed a deal to take him to UFA status also shows that either he’s not sold on what the Flyers are building or the team isn’t quite sure of what they have on their hands and whether he’s worth committing to long term.

If Zegras keeps improving and reaches a new level, Briere might really have to break the bank to retain his services, and that’s if Zegras wants to stay there. He will be within his rights to hit the market and assess just how much he could get from another team. In three short years, when he’s about to enter the final year of the contract, his situation is sure to attract a lot of attention and create a big distraction.

Of course, Demidov will also be a UFA at the end of his eight-year deal in 2035, but the Canadiens will have enjoyed 11 years of their fifth overall pick at the 2024 draft. The absolute maximum a team can get from a drafted asset, and they will have done so at a cost-controlled price as well.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild continued adding to their prospect pipeline this week, signing goaltender Filip Ruzicka to a three-year, entry-level contract.

At 6-foot-8, Ruzicka immediately becomes one of the tallest goaltending prospects in the NHL and gives the Wild another intriguing project to develop over the coming years.

Minnesota selected Ruzicka in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2026 NHL Draft after an impressive season with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.

Rather than waiting to secure his rights, the Wild wasted little time signing the Czech netminder, signaling their confidence in his potential.

The first thing that stands out about Ruzicka is his size.

Standing 6-foot-8 and weighing more than 220 pounds, he naturally covers a significant portion of the net before even making a save. Goaltenders with that kind of frame are rare, and when they combine size with athleticism, they can become extremely difficult to beat.

Of course, size alone doesn't make an NHL goaltender.

Modern goalies must move efficiently, recover quickly, and stay technically sound. Those are all areas Ruzicka will continue refining as he develops, but his physical tools give him a foundation that few prospects possess.

Ruzicka earned the Wild's attention with a solid 2025-26 season for the Brandon Wheat Kings.

He appeared in 41 games, posting a 26-14-1 record with a .906 save percentage and a 3.19 goals-against average while helping Brandon remain one of the stronger teams in the Western Hockey League.

The native of Trinec, Czechia, also started four games in the 2026 WHL playoffs for Brandon, recording a 2.47 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.

Like most goalie prospects, Ruzicka remains a work in progress, but the Wild clearly believe his upside is worth investing in.

Many NHL starters don't reach the league until their early-to-mid 20s, making development one of the longest processes at any position.

Fifth-round selections are never guaranteed NHL players, but they're often where organizations search for high-upside talent.

With Ruzicka, Minnesota is betting on exactly that.

His combination of size, athletic ability, and recent progression made him an appealing prospect during the draft, and now he'll begin the next stage of his development under the Wild's system.

Whether he ultimately becomes an NHL backup, a starter, or simply organizational depth remains to be seen.

For now, Ruzicka remains a long-term project. But with a 6-foot-8 frame and intriguing upside, he'll certainly be one of the more fascinating prospects for Wild fans to follow over the next several seasons.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild officially know where their 2026-27 season will begin.

The NHL announced the home openers for all 32 clubs on Wednesday, confirming that the Wild will open the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 1, against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Two days later, Minnesota will return to Saint Paul for its home opener against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Grand Casino Arena. The remainder of the league's 84-game schedule is set to be released on Thursday.

For Minnesota, the opener presents an immediate Central Division test. Nashville has often been a difficult building for opponents, and division games carry even more weight this season following the NHL's move to an 84-game schedule, which adds two additional divisional matchups for every team.

The Wild will then waste little time returning home, welcoming an Original Six opponent in Boston for what should be one of the most anticipated home openers in recent years.

The matchup gives Minnesota fans an early opportunity to see Bill Guerin's revamped roster on home ice after an offseason that included several notable changes.

The Bruins also figure to be looking for a strong start after an eventful offseason of their own, making the Oct. 3 contest an intriguing early-season measuring stick for both clubs.

Wednesday's announcement only reveals each team's opening games, but anticipation won't have to wait much longer.

The NHL is expected to unveil the complete regular-season schedule on Thursday, providing Minnesota with its full 84-game roadmap for the 2026-27 campaign.

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The Montreal Canadiens were one of the teams connected to Anthony Mantha when he was on the free agent market. However, the veteran winger ended up signing a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the New Jersey Devils. 

While Mantha is off the board, the Canadiens still have some other UFA forward options to consider if they want to add to their group. Let's take a look at two free agents they should consider signing because of it.

Patrick Kane 

Patrick Kane is the top UFA left and would have the potential to be a very good addition to the Canadiens' top six. The veteran forward is still effective at this stage in his career, posting 16 goals and 57 points in 67 games last season with the Detroit Red Wings. Former Canadiens star Chris Chelios recently said that Kane is choosing between the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres. Even if this is the case, the Habs should consider making a real push for him while he remains on the market. 

Michael Bunting 

Michael Bunting may not offer the same kind of offense and experience as Kane, but he could still be a solid addition to Montreal's roster if signed. If the Canadiens brought him in, he would give them a forward who can chip in decent secondary scoring in a third-line role. He would also give them another pesky forward who isn't afraid of the physical side of the game. In 74 games last season split between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, he posted 14 goals and 33 points. 

After a successful 2025-26 season, the Buffalo Sabres will be looking to take another step forward in 2026-27. If they hope to do that, they will not only need their top players to be at their A-game but also their young players to hit new levels.

Because of this, let's look at three Sabres who have the potential to have breakout years next season. 

Konsta Helenius 

Don't be surprised if Konsta Helenius has a big breakout year for the Sabres in 2026-27. The 2024 first-round pick left a solid first impression this past campaign with Buffalo. In his first nine career NHL games, he recorded one goal and four points. He also scored two goals in four games during the playoffs for Buffalo and had 63 points in 63 AHL games with the Rochester Americans. With all of this, there is a lot to like about the young forward's game.

Noah Ostlund 

Noah Ostlund took a nice step in the right direction with his development last season. He proved that he is ready for the NHL, as he recorded 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games for Buffalo. With that, the 2022 first-round pick undoubtedly has the potential to hit a new level next season for the Sabres. It would not be surprising if he hit the 20-goal and 45-point marks at least. 

Olen Zellweger

New Sabres defenseman Olen Zellweger is another breakout candidate to watch on the Sabres. The 22-year-old defenseman has shown promise early on in his career, and he could elevate his game after getting a fresh start with the Sabres. He should receive more consistent playing time with the Sabres than he did on the Anaheim Ducks. In 76 games last season for Anaheim, he posted seven goals and 22 points. 

When the Montreal Canadiens were manhandled by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, it was obvious they could have used more grit and physicality and needed more balance on the blueline. To truly contend, Martin St-Louis needs a defense corps he can trust and to spread ice time across. Overplaying the likes of Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson can work in the regular season, but deep in the playoffs, when everyone is playing through bumps and bruises, there needs to be more players the bench boss can rely on.

Arber Xhekaj didn’t play a single game against the Hurricanes in the third round. St-Louis preferred to use Jayden Struble, which shouldn’t have surprised anyone since the coach gives him more ice time than Xhekaj. While he may trust Struble more, the fact is that the Canadiens really could have used Xhekaj’s physicality in that series.

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St-Louis has often said that he doesn’t want his players to take themselves out of the play by chasing the big hit, and while that’s something number 72 was often guilty of in previous years, he tidied up that side of his game this past season. That wasn’t enough to really earn him the pilot’s trust on the back end, though, and with Josh Anderson out of the lineup with an illness and Alexandre Texier injured, the blueliner made it clear he’d be willing to play on the wing if the team needed him to.

On March 29, St-Louis took him up on the offer and played him on the fourth line against the Hurricanes. The Canadiens won that game 3-1 with Xhekaj skating on the fourth line with Joe Veleno and Brendan Gallagher. The winger for the day spent 5:11 on the ice across six shifts and didn’t look out of place, landing five hits and blocking one shot.

The Sainte-Flanelle have a congested blueline, and they need some sandpaper up front. If Xhekaj gets into a fight and must sit for five minutes, it’s easier to handle if he’s a fourth-line winger than if he is on the blueline, especially if there’s another defenseman in the box.

At 25, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenseman would no doubt like to establish himself as a regular NHLer rather than a fringe player who needs to sit every now and then, alternating with fellow blueliner Struble. This would also open the door for Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher to enter the rotation.

So far this offseason, Kent Hughes has been unable to get some outside help to improve his roster, but if the Canadiens manage to reach a new deal with Xhekaj, moving him up front might address two of their big issues: getting tougher and having a more balanced blueline that the coach trusts and can spread the ice time more evenly. It worked for Dustin Byfuglien and the Chicago Blackhawks back in the day; why couldn’t it work for the Habs? Of course, Xhekaj won’t end up on the first line as Byfuglien did with Jonathan Toews and Patrik Kane, but a transition to the fourth line would still help the Canadiens.

It could also be interesting to see what a line featuring the Xhekaj brothers would look like in the NHL, but it would certainly bring a lot of physicality and grit. If training camp starts without the Canadiens getting any outside help, this is an idea worth exploring for the Habs.

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Oliver Bonk is a prospect whom the Philadelphia Flyers are hoping will emerge as a key part of their roster. There is no question that the 21-year-old defenseman has plenty of potential, and he had a nice start to his professional career in 2025-26. 

In 46 games down in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Bonk posted six goals, 13 assists, and 19 points. He also made his NHL debut in the Flyers' season finale against the Montreal Canadiens, where he scored a goal and recorded an assist. With that, it is clear that he left a strong first impression with the NHL club. 

Yet, now that Bonk has completed his first AHL season, it would not be surprising if he takes a major step forward with his development next season. The 21-year-old blueliner has great upside, and it would be huge for the Flyers if he can break out for them next season. 

Bonk showed a lot of potential during his OHL career with the London Knights. During the 2024-25 season with the OHL club, he posted 11 goals, 29 assists, and 40 points in 52 games. He also had 24 goals and 67 points in 60 games with London during the 2023-24 season. 

It will now be interesting to see how Bonk's season goes in 2026-27. There is a lot to like about his game. 

Earlier this off-season, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost goalie Stuart Skinner to the Winnipeg Jets in free agency. With Skinner no longer in Pittsburgh, it has opened the door for Sergei Murashov to fight for a spot on their NHL roster. 

Murashov is the Penguins' top goalie prospect and has the potential to become a good goalie in the NHL. Because of this, the 22-year-old has now received some praise.

Murashov was given the No. 8 spot on Scott Wheeler's top NHL goalie prospect rankings for The Athletic. 

With how well Murashov has been developing his game, it is entirely understandable that he has been ranked among the top goalie prospects in the league. 

Murashov appeared in his first five career NHL games last season with Pittsburgh, where he posted a 1-1-2 record, a 2.56 goals-against average, and an .897 save percentage. He most notably, however, put together a 21-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 16. 

Down in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2025-26, Murashov had a 24-9-4 record, a .919 save percentage, a 2.20 goals-against average, and four shutouts. With numbers like these, he undoubtedly showed great promise last season. 

It will now be interesting to see what Murashov can do next season on Pittsburgh's roster. 

The Seattle Kraken kicked off their fourth straight season by welcoming Professional Women’s Hockey League Seattle Torrent head coach Christine Bumstead to development camp.

​Burnstead joins the Kraken to bring a different perspective on the game for the young prospects.​

"As coaches, we're always looking to grow and learn, too,” Kraken director of player development Cory Murphy said to NHL.com. “When you bring new voices in with that kind of experience to add to the camp and provide their feedback and their voice, I think it makes us all better.”​

Bumstead has several connections with the Kraken, beginning officially in June when she was named head coach of the Torrent. ​Bumstead had served as assistant bench coach in the team's first season, where they went 8-1-5-16. ​

According to NHL.com, Kraken assistant general manager Alex Mandrycky invited Bumstead to join the development camp staff. ​

Bumstead explained the perspective she brings to camp. ​

“The PWHL game is different than the NHL game,” Bumstead said to NHL.com. “That's also something that we can share and provide – the different little nuances within our game or the little nuances within our athletes and how we develop them. You have to work with those players …they're very successful and elite where they're playing, but you want to craft them and develop them to be elite and successful here as a Seattle Kraken or as a Coachella Firebird, right? So that's something that's important, and we are able to have those conversations between the dev staff and me.”​

Murphy went on to explain further the benefits of having Bumstead around at development camp.

“Just getting a different perspective, you can see the passion comes out right away,” Murphy said. “We had (Bumstead) running the bench, and you could see her getting prepared and the competitive fire. It was great to have her on the ice. I’ll be following the Torrent for sure.” 

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers have reached a four-year contract agreement with forward Trevor Zegras with an average annual value of $9.125 million, the team announced on Wednesday night.

The 25-year-old Zegras had a career-high 26 goals and 67 points last season, the second-most on the team. He added two more goals and four assists in the playoffs.

“We’re thrilled to have Trevor committed to our organization for the next four years,” general manager Danny Briere said in a statement. “The growth he showed this past season, proving that he is the skilled player he entered the league as, reinforced our belief that he will be an impact player for the Flyers for the years to come."

Selected ninth overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2019 NHL draft, the 6-foot, 185-pound Boston University product has played in 349 career NHL games, and has 93 goals and 160 assists for 253 points. He has 60-plus point seasons in three of his six seasons in the league.

Zegras has also represented the United States on five occasions, most recently at the 2024 World Championships where he had a goal and an assist in eight games. He also played in back-to-back World Junior Championships in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, he helped the U.S. win gold and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player with seven goals and 18 points in seven games.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Curtis Douglas, the newest Seattle Kraken forward, is no stranger to a long road to the NHL.

​After being selected 106th in the 2018 NHL Draft, the forward spent two seasons in the OHL before moving on to four seasons in the AHL. ​He made his NHL debut in 2025-26 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, seven years after he was drafted.

​“There were times when I’ll admit, I thought it might not work out for me,” he told NHL.com. “But I never stopped trying.”

​Douglas signed as a free agent with Toronto on March 22, 2022, before being traded to Arizona for Conor Timmins on November 23, 2022, and then he was transferred from Arizona to Utah on June 13, 2024.​

After that, Douglas was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay from Utah on October 6, 2025.​

Three days later, Douglas made his NHL Debut against the Ottawa Senators on October 9, 2025. ​Douglas skated for five minutes in his first game, then appeared in 29 more games that season with the Lightning.

In the 2025-26 season, the 6-foot-9 center recorded two assists. ​

He was then claimed off waivers by Vancouver from Tampa Bay on March 6, 2026.​With the Canucks, Douglas appeared in 14 games, recording one goal and one assist. ​

“This whole process doesn’t really feel real yet,” Douglas said. “I don’t think it will feel 100% real until I put the jersey on. If you were to have told me last year, after I got sent down by Utah that I’d go on to play 40 NHL games, I think I would have probably slapped you across the head. It was pretty special the whole year, and I’m just in awe about the whole experience with Tampa, Vancouver and now this next chapter with the Kraken. I’m just so excited.”​

Douglas signed with the Kraken on July 1, 2026.

Seattle Kraken General Manager Jason Botterill announced the team had agreed to terms with Douglas on a two-year contract ($1.25M AAV).​

When the announcement was made, Botterill released a statement on the signing. ​

“Curtis adds size and a strong physical presence to our forward group,” Botterill said to NHL.com. “He competes with an edge, brings energy, and is difficult to play against. We look forward to seeing him in our lineup next year.”

Douglas is a tall presence on the ice, as one of the tallest players in NHL history. He is known for his grit, dropping the gloves in his first NHL shift. ​

He will now join the Kraken for the next few seasons as the 26-year-old continues to grow in the major leagues. ​

“I’ve been lucky enough to have some incredible coaching staffs, some incredible mentors that were basically telling me, ‘Hey, you’ve got to get your foot in the door, and the way to do that is to throw your weight around and to fight a little bit more than maybe you want to,’” Douglas said.  

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A prodigy is defined as a person, especially a highly talented child, who exhibits extraordinary abilities or skills far beyond what is typical for one's age.

Macklin Celebrini is no longer a child, but the prodigy title still applies. He's only 20 years old.

Despite playing the past season at just 19 years old, Celebrini broke the San Jose Sharks' single-season record for points with 115.

Celebrini just accomplished another feat ― gracing the cover of EA Sports' NHL 27. He's the youngest ever to appear on the video game's front page.

The cover features two different looks: one of Celebrini donning the teal and black home jerseys as he looks to the rafters; and another in their crisp white away jerseys as Celebrini screams in celebration.

The Philadelphia Flyers' goaltending is looking strong heading into the 2026-27 season. Dan Vladar proved last season that he can be a legitimate NHL starting goalie, and the Flyers also acquired Joseph Woll from the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer. 

While the Flyers now have a strong Vladar-Woll tandem, they also have an exciting goalie prospect in Yegor Zavragin. The 20-year-old has the potential to emerge as a good goalie in the NHL later down the road. 

Because of this, Zavragin has now been named among the best goalie prospects in the NHL. 

Scott Wheeler of The Athletic gave Zavragin the No. 10 spot on his top 20 NHL goalie rankings.

With how Zavragin has performed in Russia, it makes sense that he has been named one of the NHL's best goalie prospects. The 2023 third-round pick had a solid season in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg in 2025-26, posting a .919 save percentage and a 2.63 goals-against average in 12 games. He also had an impressive .949 save percentage and 1.44 goals-against average in 18 games for SKA-VMF St. Petersburg of the VHL last season. 

With numbers like these, it is hard not to feel excited about Zavragin's future with the Flyers. It will be interesting to see how he performs next season in Russia. If he has another year like he had in 2025-26, it should only create more optimism about his future in Philly.