Chris Kreider is getting his wish and heading back east − and north.
The Montreal Canadiens announced on Saturday, Sept. 12 that they had signed the free agent forward to a one-year contract. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that the deal is worth $2.15 million with another $3 million in performance bonuses.
Kreider, 35, had become an unrestricted free agent when he and the Anaheim Ducks agreed to place him on waivers in order to terminate his contract. That move will help give the Ducks the cap flexibility to eventually re-sign leading scorer Cutter Gauthier with Kreider's $6.5 million cap hit off the books.
It also gave Kreider control over where he went. He had expressed a desire to return east after playing his first 13 seasons with the New York Rangers before being traded to the Ducks in the 2025 offseason.
Kreider reunites with former Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton in the move as well as Martin St. Louis, the Canadiens coach and Kreider's former teammate. He joins a team that reached the Eastern Conference finals last season and will be a veteran presence amid rising stars.
Though his numbers have dropped off recently, Kreider has scored 22 goals in each of the last two seasons.
Chris Kreider contract details
He'll make $2.15 million with a potential $3 million extra in bonuses. Kreider was due to make $5 million this season in Anaheim and already received a $1 million signing bonus.
The Colorado Avalanche prospect pool looked every bit as deep as advertised on Saturday, as the young Avs rolled to a 7-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Rookie Faceoff action at Tech CU Arena in San Jose. T.J. Hughes and Alex Gagne both finished with multi-point nights.
The headline performance belonged to Gagne, who capped a goal and two assist effort with a fight, completing a Gordie Howe hat trick. Hughes chipped in two assists, while Beckett Hamilton and Cooper Gay each finished with a goal and an assist. Makar, Shawn Carrier, Kalder Varga, and Matthew DiMarsico rounded out the scoring with a goal apiece.
The first game of a two-matchup showcase was also the first time Avalanche fans got to see Ilya Nabokov in action. He allowed two goals, but was largely impressive and there was no shortage of fantastic saves.
First Period
Makar put the Avalanche on the board at 3:03 of the first period when third-round pick Beckett Hamilton executed a beautiful behind-the-back pass to Makar, who was in the right place at the right time and snapped a shot past Anaheim netminder Damian Clara to give the Avs the early lead.
Just over two minutes later, T.J. Hughes carried the puck into the Ducks' zone on a 3-on-1 and stickhandled through traffic before feeding Hamilton at the back door for a slick finish, doubling Colorado's lead. Anaheim answered immediately, though, as Cruz Lucius outsmarted Nabokov in front of the net to cut the deficit.
Past the midpoint of the period, Matthew DiMarsico, who signed with the Avalanche out of Penn State last season, ripped one past Clara to restore the two-goal cushion, making it 3-1.
The Avalanche later killed off a four-minute high-sticking penalty on Makar, with Nabokov turning aside a string of highlight-reel saves, including a sprawling glove stop on Ducks forward Rian Chudzinski.
Colorado carried a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
Second Period
The second period brought more of the same for the Avalanche, who tacked on three more goals. Cooper Gay made a gorgeous move through the neutral zone to set up Shawn Carrier for a tap-in, camp invite Kalder Varga scored off a feed from Alex Gagne, and Gagne added one of his own with a blast from the point.
Anaheim's lone response came when Noah Kosick poked a puck past Nabokov, but it was otherwise a dominant frame for Colorado. The Ducks had their moments offensively, yet were largely stifled by Nabokov, who came up with a handful of impressive stops over the 20 minutes.
Third Period
Tobias Tvrznik took over in net for Nabokov to begin the third period. However, the Ducks left Clara in net.
Just over nine minutes into the third period, Gay ripped home a rebound that trickled to the right circle, beating a sprawling Clara to make it a 7-2 game.
Next Up
The Avalanche will wrap up the Rookie Faceoff with a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights at 2 p.m. MDT.
The Avs-Ducks game was originally scheduled to start at 2 p.m. MDT but was delayed by over an hour due to a scheduling "miscommunication."
If the Philadelphia Flyers are to enjoy a successful rebuild, they will need all of their young players, especially the wingers, to reach their full potential. Fortunately, all signs are already pointing to Porter Martone doing just that.
Despite jumping onto the moving train and joining the Flyers in the thick of their playoff push and subsequent playoff run last year, Martone, 19, looked like he belonged at the NHL level from the first shift.
In only nine regular season games with the Flyers, Martone put up four goals, six assists, and 10 points, then followed that up with two goals, three assists, and five points in 10 postseason games.
Despite his 19 total games of NHL experience, though, Martone was on the ice for the Flyers at development camp in July, and now he's on the ice for rookie camp ahead of the main training camp.
That's the kind of attitude and approach, Flyers coaches feel, will propel the teenager to stardom in the near future.
"He asks a lot of questions. He's always looking to better himself, wherever it is on the ice," Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden said of Martone on Friday.
"In fairness, he played at the end of the season last year, got a very, very small taste of the NHL level. Like, he should ask those questions, and he should find every single resource and avenue to make himself a better player. He's a very good player, obviously showed what he can be in the NHL, but he wants to be a superstar player, and those are the types of things you're going to have to ask.
"You're going to have to find a way to get better every single day. One percent better, two percent every day, and you're going in the right direction."
When Martone spoke during a media availability at development camp, he said he wanted to get better at "everything" during his offseason training.
That's quite the long season, and for a recent sixth-overall pick who is already looking like an above-average NHL player, that's an impressively all-encompassing outlook on the work ahead.
Martone, as well as fellow youngster and Flyers forward Denver Barkey, isn't expected to play in the first Rookie Series game against the New York Rangers on Saturday night, but he'll presumably get the opportunity to play on Sunday evening as a tune-up for the main Flyers training camp, which will officially open on Thursday.
It didn't take long for Viggo Björck to make his presence felt in a Winnipeg Jets sweater.
The eighth-overall selection from the 2026 NHL Draft found the back of the net in his first game with the organization Saturday, opening the scoring against the Montreal Canadiens' prospects at the 2026 Prospect Challenge in Gatineau, Quebec.
Björck's first-period marker came during 4-on-4 action alongside fellow first-rounder Brayden Yager. The two youngsters combined on a slick sequence that ended with Björck finding the back of the net for his first unofficial goal as a member of the Jets.
Image courtesy of Jets TV
It was exactly the type of play Winnipeg hoped to see from the highly skilled Swedish centre, who arrived in Canada with plenty of attention surrounding him following a whirlwind 2025-26 season.
Despite standing just 5-foot-9, Björck has continually shown an ability to create offence against older and larger competition.
The 18-year-old recorded six goals and 15 points in 42 games with Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Hockey League last season before playing starring roles internationally. He put up nine points in seven games as Sweden captured gold at the 2026 World Junior Championship, then added another six points while playing against men at the World Championship.
That resume ultimately helped make Björck the eighth player off the board at June's NHL Draft and Winnipeg's highest draft selection since Patrik Laine went second overall in 2016.
Saturday offered Jets fans their first opportunity to see what all the excitement was about with Björck actually wearing Winnipeg colours.
The early returns certainly didn't disappoint. Björck had spoken ahead of the tournament about resisting the temptation to alter his game while trying to impress the Jets' brass.
“Just trying to play my own game, the way I’m used to,” Björck said Friday. “Not trying to change anything and be a person that I’m not.”
That approach was evident against Montreal. Rather than looking overwhelmed in his first competitive action with the organization, Björck showed flashes of the skating, puck skill and offensive creativity that made him one of the most intriguing players available in this year's draft.
And with Jets training camp beginning next week, his performance couldn't have come at a much better time.
Björck isn't guaranteed an NHL job simply because of his draft pedigree. Winnipeg has repeatedly stressed that its young players will have to earn their opportunities, and the Swedish centre himself has been cautious about looking too far ahead.
But his first audition offered a glimpse of why there is considerable excitement surrounding him.
He'll get another opportunity Sunday when Winnipeg closes out its Prospect Challenge schedule against the Toronto Maple Leafs at noon central time.
Connor Clattenburg stood out with the Edmonton Oilers last season through his absolute acceptance of his role on an NHL team.
The 21-year-old scored his first NHL goal, threw 17 hits in just over 36 minutes of ice time and gave the Oilers a look at the physical game that got him drafted in the fifth round in 2024.
Now, with another training camp approaching and Edmonton already dealing with injuries, Clattenburg has an opportunity to put himself back in the NHL.
Clattenburg said Saturday that his five games in Edmonton gave him something to take back to Bakersfield.
“It was good to carry the experience from when I played the few games up here,” Clattenburg said. “You know, it's a quicker game, and it was good to kind of go down there and have that speed up, and just learning from the guys up there was pretty cool. And I just took it back and did what I could no more.”
His season didn't go exactly as planned after returning to the AHL. Injuries limited Clattenburg to 32 games with Bakersfield, where he scored two goals and four points, and his development became difficult to judge over an interrupted season.
“I mean it was kind of tough. Few injuries when I went back down,” Clattenburg said. “But yeah, it was definitely some parts of the game where I felt a little better and a little more confident in, and just got to carry it into this year.”
Clattenburg's physicality has always been a large part of his identity, and his brief NHL stint showed he was willing to play that way. It also happens to fit what Mike Babcock wants from his team.
Babcock has talked about accountability, work and establishing an identity since taking over behind the Oilers bench. Clattenburg's path to the Oilers is through his forechecking, physicality, and ability to be a dependable skater near the bottom of the lineup.
“Definitely I feel way more confident myself and what my skill set is, and I just kind of know where I stand with this organization,” Clattenburg said. “And you know it's helped made me feel comfortable, and I can just be myself.”
Matt Savoie and Mattias Janmark are already expected will miss an unclear amount of time, leaving the Oilers without two forwards who were supposed to be part of the lineup when camp began.
“They're in one mode now, and they're just looking for the next guy up,” Clattenburg said. “You never know what that injury could be, and it's a very high energetic team right now, so it's just keeping the energy around and just play hard.”
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will drive the Oilers' offence, while Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Vasily Podkolzin, and Isaac Howard will play beside them. Babcock has several options for the rest of his forward group, though, and the depth chart is not set in stone.
Clattenburg can hit, forecheck and bring energy to a fourth line. He has already played NHL games for Edmonton, and the coaching staff has some idea of what he will bring when he is put into the lineup.
His biggest problem at rookie camp is that he can't fully show it right now.
“I'm still recovering from injury, so I'm non-contact,” Clattenburg said when asked why he was wearing a different jersey. “So that's what they gave me.”
Clattenburg needs to be healthy enough during main camp to show the Oilers the parts of his game that give him a chance to make the roster. Albeit, his five games last season should buy him some familiarity with the organization in the meantime.
Clattenburg has been inside the Oilers dressing room, played alongside their regulars and gone through the process of being called up from Bakersfield. When he returned to the AHL, he had a much clearer idea of what Edmonton would require from him the next time his name came up, which could be now.
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BUFFALO, NEW YORK - JUNE 27: Ryder Fetterolf of the United States looks on after being drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes with the one hundred and twenty fifth pick during day two of the 2026 NHL Draft on June 27, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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.
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.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 05: Nick Blankenburg #37, Zakhar Bardakov #93, Parker Kelly #17 and Logan O'Connor #25 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate after a goal against the St Louis Blues during the first period at Ball Arena on April 05, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
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.
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.
Howdy boys 🤠
We've signed defenseman Jack Ahcan to a two-year, two-way contract and defenseman Hunter Skinner to a one-year, two-way contract.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
A wall of monitors displayed every version of the NHL video game. If you look closely, you can see Adam Foote and Scott Stevens dropping the gloves in NHL '01. Photo Credit: Mike Fink / The Hockey News
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.
Ilya Safonov at Vancouver Canucks Development Camp (Photo Credit: Kaja Antic/The Hockey News)
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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.
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).
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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.
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.
Where will Connor Hellebuyck end up?
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.
