Opportunity Seized — July 1, 2024 - VOL. 77, Issue. 14 - Carol Schram
WHEN ARTURS SILOVS suddenly landed on the scene for Game 4 of the Nashville Predators’ first-round playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks, Luke Evangelista was one of the few NHL players who already had a read on the lanky Latvian
“I can remember that day, that game, those goals like it was just a few months ago,” Evangelista said. “It’s been a great ride so far.”
When he was drafted in Round 2 (42nd overall) by Nashville in 2020, Evangelista was primarily known as a smart, playmaking right winger. The following season, he saw limited action while the OHL was shut down, getting into just 14 games with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.
In the fall of 2021, he returned to the London Knights as a 19-year-old and was named captain. Then, he unveiled a new-found nose for the net, scoring an OHL-best 55 goals to go along with 56 assists. From there, he made a smooth transition to the AHL, logging 41 points in 49 games with Milwaukee in 2022-23.
Evangelista’s first NHL call-up came in February 2023 as the Predators started cleaning house ahead of the trade deadline. He staked his claim on a full-time roster spot for 2023-24 by finishing with 15 points in 24 games – a stretch that started with those two goals against Silovs.
And while there was change on the roster and behind the bench, Evangelista had no trouble convincing first-year Preds coach Andrew Brunette that he had the physical and mental tools to be an effective NHLer. “Luke is a big-time player,” Brunette said. “I don’t think he’s intimidated by anything. He wants the moment, and you love that about him.”
Raised in Toronto, Evangelista caught the hockey bug early. His aspirations were juiced by his mom’s cousin, Brendan Shanahan. “He’s been a cool influence,” Evangelista said. “Someone you look up to, who makes you realize the dream is possible.”
As a preschooler, Evangelista was thrilled to get behind-the-scenes access and a photo with Jaromir Jagr after his family was invited to attend a morning skate when Shanahan’s New York Rangers visited the Leafs.
HE’S SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO, WHO MAKES YOU REALIZE THE DREAM IS POSSIBLE—EVANGELISTA ON SHANAHAN
By then, Evangelista was already a true-blue fan of his hometown team. The first jersey he ever owned was that of a rookie defenseman who shares his first name and is now a teammate—Luke Schenn.
When Schenn broke into the league at 18, his 33-year-old teammate Jamal Mayers offered some prescient advice. “He said, ‘Always be nice to the five- and six-year-olds. One day, they’re going to be your teammates,’” Schenn said. “I didn’t really know what he meant by that at the time, but now I understand.”
Evangelista and Schenn met for the first time at the Predators’ camp in September, after Schenn signed with Nashville. It’s said that you should never meet your heroes, but the thoughtful and engaging Schenn did not disappoint. “He exceeded my expectations,” said Evangelista, 22. “He was way cooler than I thought.”
Early on, the revamped Predators went through some growing pains. But Evangelista was a steady contributor all season, finishing sixth in rookie scoring with 16 goals and 39 points.
He was scratched for just the second time all year for the infamous 9-2 loss to Dallas on Feb. 15 that triggered the cancellation of the team’s outing to see U2 in Vegas. But through the 18 games without a regulation loss that followed, he was a key part of the success story with six goals and 10 points, and he carved out a regular spot on the first power-play unit.
Prior to Nashville’s first-round series against Vancouver, Schenn invited Evangelista to his home for dinner and some mini-sticks with his kids. The gesture was a highlight for a talented player whose NHL story is just beginning. “I remember calling my mom,” Evangelista said. “I was like, ‘If you told the six-year-old me that I’d be playing mini-sticks with Luke Schenn, I’d be freaking out.’”
With the 2026 NHL Draft just a week away, it's time to zero in on some Nashville Predators 2026 Draft Targets.
In the first edition, we covered Viggo Björk, and today, we are going to look at Daxon Rudolph from Prince Albert of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
He checks just about every box you want in a modern top-four NHL defenseman. At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, he already has the frame to handle pro minutes, but it’s the way he moves that stands out more than anything.
Rudolph is a smooth skater with strong hockey sense, which shows up in how calmly he handles pressure on the breakout. He can slow things down when he needs to or speed them up and transition play through the neutral zone without much hesitation. There’s a real offensive element to his game too, especially with a heavy shot from the point that becomes a legitimate weapon on the power play.
He does jump into the rush when the opportunity is there, but it doesn’t feel reckless. His defensive game is more advanced than you’d expect at his stage, particularly in how he manages gaps and uses his stick to cut plays off early. Coming off a strong season in Prince Albert, he looks like a player trending toward a long-term top-four NHL role.
Scout's Takes:
Here are some of the scouting reports put out by the most notable scouts/hockey writers in the NHL.
"Rudolph’s hockey sense is off the charts. He doesn’t try to do more than he’s capable of and force plays for the sake of making them. Instead, he plays to his strengths, which happens to be quite a few elements. He has a booming shot, makes great breakout passes and can knock guys down.
- Steven Ellis - Daily Faceoff
"Rudolph is a good skater whose skating patterns, flow and edges are comfortable. He can manipulate coverage or jump off the line. He sees the ice well and can beat the first layer and then find the back door through a second layer. He defends the rush well and has a good stick. He’s a heady player who thinks the game well."
- Scott Wheeler - The Athletic
"His combination of size, skill, physicality and willingness to block shots are attractive attributes. The right-shot defenceman could develop into a top-pairing NHL blue liner in time."
- Jason Bukala - Sportsnet
Draft Projection
This season, it seems like with every passing mock draft, there is a completely different order outside of the top three. For Rudolph, it seems that the sweet spot for him to be drafted is in the range of 7-10. It wouldn't be overly shocking if the Predators lean towards taking Rudolph, especially considering how much forward depth they have in their system.
Following his retirement from the NHL, former Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard occasionally would serve as a studio analyst for Bally Sports Detroit.
But now, he's landed himself a new role with Detroit's newest expansion franchise. Howard has been chosen as the goaltending coach for PWHL Detroit, one of the newest expansion franchises for the Professional Women's Hockey League that will begin play at Little Caesars Arena this fall.
PWHL adds experience in goal – with ex-Red Wing Jimmy Howard as goaltending coach https://t.co/RtVbxW0AmU
Howard, whom the Red Wings selected with the 64th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft, is ranked third all-time in Detroit goaltending history with 246 victories in a Red Wings uniform behind only Chris Osgood and Terry Sawchuk.
He played his first NHL game in the fall of 2005, and would spend four seasons with the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins before being promoted full time in Detroit in the fall of 2009.
Howard would eventually wrestle the title of starting goaltender away from Osgood during the 2009-10 season, and even put himself in the conversation for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender.
Reaching his 500th career NHL game in 2019, he became just the third Red Wings goaltender to achieve the feat, also behind Osgood and Sawchuk.
Upon his retirement in 2021, Howard had accumulated a record of 246-196-70 along with a 2.62 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage 24 shutouts. He also went 21-26 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs while posting a 2.58 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage with three shutouts.
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Jonathan Toews, one of the most accomplished players of his generation and the longtime face of the Blackhawks franchise, officially announced his retirement after 16 NHL seasons.
The 38-year-old made the announcement Friday following one season with his hometown Jets, bringing an end to a career that included three Stanley Cup championships, two Olympic gold medals and a reputation as one of hockey’s premier leaders.
“I have to say I’m satisfied; I’m fulfilled. I’m so thankful and grateful for the career I had,” Toews said. “But at this point, it’s one thing to be healthy and to have the hunger. There’s no doubt in my mind that I have the skillset to continue to play at this level and be an offensive player the way I know I can.
“But it’s just come to the point where it’s taken such a toll, I’m just kind of ready to let the stress level go down.”
Jonathan Toews skates the 2010 Stanley Cup onto home ice before the home opener against the Detroit Red Wings at United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday, October 9, 2010. Tribune News Service via Getty I
Toews was selected third overall by Chicago in the 2006 NHL Draft and quickly became one of the league’s rising stars.
Just one year after making his NHL debut, he was named captain of the Blackhawks, becoming the third-youngest captain in NHL history at the time.
He spent 15 seasons with Chicago before returning for one final campaign with his hometown Jets in 2025-26.
His greatest success came during Chicago’s early to mid-2010s, where he captained the Blackhawks to Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015, helping transform the franchise into one of the NHL’s dominant teams of the era.
Jonathan Toews celebrates after the Blackhawks scored a goal against the St. Louis Blues in Game 5 of the First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Getty Images
Chicago’s 2010 title was particularly significant because it ended a Knicks-like 49-year Stanley Cup drought for the organization.
Toews was named playoff MVP that year and received the Conn Smythe Trophy after recording 29 points during the postseason.
Toews will undoubtedly earn a spot in the Hall of Fame, too.
In addition to his aforementioned accolades, he won the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward in 2013 and was a six-time All-Star between 2009 and 2017, and he was named one of the league’s greatest 100 players in 2017 before even turning 30.
Jonathan Toews skates during the second period action against the San Jose Sharks at Canada Life Centre on April 16, 2026 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. NHLI via Getty Images
Representing Canada, Toews won Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014, along with a World Championship in 2007 and a World Cup of Hockey title in 2016.
By age 22, he had become the youngest member of hockey’s prestigious Triple Gold Club for players who have won an Olympic gold medal, a World Championship and the Stanley Cup.
Toews finishes his career 383 goals, 529 assists and 912 points in 1,149 games.
He also appeared in 137 playoff games, recording 119 points and starring on several Blackhawk playoff teams.
3 Feb 2001: The North American team poses for a picture before practice for the NHL All-Star Game at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Captain Mario Lemieux of Pittsburgh sits in the center of the front row. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT | Getty Images
The past thirty years of Avalanche hockey have featured incredible highs, and some very, very dismal lows.
As an avid fan of The Simpsons, I’ve witnessed plenty of “best of times” moments, but also been subjected to a smattering of unpleasant “blursts” of times. In this first of an ongoing off-season series, I take a look back through the past thirty years, highlighting one moment that stands among the best, and comparatively, the worst (or blurst, if you will) each season.
Here are the best and blurst moments from the second five years of Colorado Avalanche history.
2000-2001
The Best: Mission Accomplished (June 9, 2001)
The Avs knew the clock was ticking coming into the 2000-2001 season, and they didn’t let a second of it go to waste. They set franchise records in regular season wins (52) and points (118), clinched their second Presidents Trophy, and secured the top seed in the playoffs.
The motto for the Avs entering the postseason was as sharp as a skate blade: Mission 16W.
A four-game sweep of the Vancouver Canucks set the stage for a dramatic seven game series against Los Angeles. The Avs would emerge victorious, but at a significant cost (more on this later). An overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game Five sent the Avs to the Stanley Cup Final, where they would face the defending champion New Jersey Devils, who finished as the Eastern Conference’s top seed.
The Avs certainly didn’t make things easy for themselves. Trailing in the series 3-2, they won a pivotal Game Six in New Jersey to tie the series and set the stage for a dramatic Game Seven back in Denver.
Alex Tanguay became a household name for Avs fans everywhere upon scoring the first two goals of the game. Joe Sakic added an insurance goal on the power play, and that was all the Avs needed to complete their mission, defeating New Jersey by a 3-1 decision to claim the franchise’s second Stanley Cup.
After being summoned by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Sakic paused for the traditional pose, then without missing a beat, made the finest pass of his career, handing the Stanley Cup to Bourque.
All of you reading this are probably hearing ESPN’s Gary Thorne’s legendary call in your head right now: “And after twenty-two years…Raymond Bourque!”
Patrick Roy would win his fourth Stanley Cup (and a record-setting third Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP), but the fondest memories of this Stanley Cup Final—and the undisputed best moment of the season—are of the one player who waited twenty-two years to win his first.
The Blurst: Peter Forsberg Ruptures Spleen (May 4, 2001)
The Avs seemingly exorcised their Game Seven demons by clinching a berth in the Western Conference Final after being taken to the limit by Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the euphoria of this victory would soon evaporate, as news broke that Peter Forsberg had ruptured his spleen and was rushed into emergency surgery mere hours after the game.
According to ESPN, Forsberg had begun noticing a mark near his ribs after the Avs lost Game Five in Denver, but it would take an additional six days before feeling any pain. He was bleeding internally and the procedure to remove his spleen was performed. As a result, he would not return for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The loss of Forsberg was certainly a major blow to the Avs, especially after their second round victory. Avs fans began to wonder if Forsberg’s absence could derail yet another shot at the Stanley Cup. These worries would eventually subside, as the Avs cruised past the St. Louis Blues and emerged victorious over New Jersey in the Stanley Cup Final.
Although he didn’t play another game in the postseason, the now-spleenless Forsberg returned for the postgame ceremony after the series-clinching victory to raise the Stanley Cup with his teammates.
It’s not often that a blurst has a happy ending. This is one of them.
2001-2002
The Best: The Return of Peter the Great (April 18, 2002)
The news that Peter Forsberg would miss the entire season cast a major pall over the Avs as they began another defense of the Stanley Cup. However, on the cusp of the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the news that Forsberg would be activated in time for start of the Western Conference Quarterfinals immediately boosted the Avs’ hopes for another extended playoff run, one that could produce a second straight title.
After an absence stretching over eleven months, Forsberg returned to action against the very team the he last faced in the playoffs a year earlier: the Los Angeles Kings. Both teams would again go the distance, with the Avs emerging victorious in another Game Seven finish.
In the Western Conference Semifinals against the San Jose Sharks, both teams traded victories through the first six games, but Forsberg proved to be the difference-maker in Game Seven, scoring the game’s only goal to send the Avs back to the Western Conference Final, where they would meet the Detroit Red Wings.
Despite coming up short against Detroit, Forsberg’s return cannot be understated. In twenty postseason games, he led all skaters in assists (18) and points (27)—both career highs—while finishing second in goals scored (9, tying Joe Sakic). Only Brett Hull scored more goals (10) than Forsberg during that postseason.
Peter the Great’s best, unfortunately, wasn’t enough for the Avs to defend their Stanley Cup title.
The Blurst: Patrick Roy’s Statue of Liberty Gaffe (May 29, 2002)
The Avs led their Western Conference Final series 3-2 over Detroit going into Game Six, and had a chance to clinch their second straight appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. With time winding down in the first period, Detroit pressed hard offensively, but had not yet broken through Roy.
Roy, who was notorious for his “Statue of Liberty” pose after making an emphatic save, pulled out the trademark maneuver after making a point blank save on Yzerman. However, Roy failed to secure the puck in his glove, and unknowingly dropped it to the ice. Brendan Shanahan immediately pounced on the puck, jamming it into the unguarded net behind Roy.
The gaffe was not just the turning point in the game, but of the entire series. The Avs would lose Game Six by a 2-0 decision, following this effort with an utterly humiliating 7-0 loss to Detroit at Joe Louis Arena in Game Seven.
Plenty of fingers can be pointed to a lack of scoring (how does a team this talented go scoreless for two whole games, especially against your most hated rival?), but Roy’s baffling blurst is where the series was truly lost.
2002-2003
The Best: Patrick Roy Plays 1000th Regular Season Game (January 20, 2003)
Whether it’s scoring fifty goals in a season, iron man streaks, or breaking franchise records, milestone moments in a player’s career deserve recognition.
Reaching a milestone that no one has ever achieved before? Now, that’s special.
Patrick Roy accomplished that feat in this game, as he became the first goaltender in League history to appear in 1000 career games. The Avs hosted a special pregame ceremony celebrating Roy’s achievement prior to facing off against the Dallas Stars. He received a silver stick and a commemorative gift, with his children on hand at ice level for the occasion.
As for the game itself, the contest ended in a 1-1 draw (remember those?), snapping a five game home losing streak.
Three other goaltenders (Martin Brodeur, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Roberto Luongo) have since eclipsed the 1000 game mark, but St. Patrick will forever be known for reaching it first.
The Blurst: A Game 7 Meltdown Against Minnesota (April 22, 2003)
Haven’t we seen this movie before? (Yes, five years earlier.)
The powerhouse Avs, poised for another deep run in the Stanley Cup, held a 3-1 series lead against an upstart Minnesota Wild club who had reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
The Avs hosted Game Five with their eyes on a second round appearance. Minnesota, however, took the fight to the Avs, having scored the first three goals of the contest. Despite battling back, the Avs would lose by a 3-2 decision, sending the series to St. Paul for Game Six.
Both teams didn’t budge for the first two periods, but Minnesota scored a pair of goals to take the lead in the third period. Colorado rallied to force overtime, but Minnesota scored the game-winner in the overtime session, winning by another 3-2 decision.
In Game Seven, both teams traded goals in the second and third period, but this game wouldn’t be decided in regulation. With just under five minutes played in overtime, Andrew Brunette had room to make a move on Patrick Roy uncontested, and his backhand effort in the crease eluded Roy, giving Minnesota its third straight 3-2 victory to win the series.
This blurst sent Patrick Roy into retirement, and with him, the Avs’ halcyon days were now in short supply.
2003-2004
The Best: Paul Kariya and Teemu Selänne Flock to Colorado (July 4, 2003)
This one might be a bit of a reach, since this technically took place prior to the season.
When news broke that both Paul Kariya and Teemu Selänne had negotiated sweetheart contracts to play together in Colorado, the buzz was as high as ever leading up to the first game of the 2003-2004 season. The Avs were immediately christened as the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
After the signings were announced, Avs GM Pierre Lacroix told the Associated Press, “Over the last 36 hours, these two athletes expressed their strong desire to come to Denver and play for the Avalanche,” Lacroix said. “Obviously, we were stunned.
“We were able to do all of this without changing any of the (salary) structure that we have for the coming season.”
The hype machine was in full swing, as the Avs prepared for one last hurrah in the final season under the then-current collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players Association, and both had very different viewpoints on what the future would hold (spoilers).
Unfortunately, neither Kariya or Selänne were able to provide the offensive impact that many expected when the contracts were announced. Injuries hampered Kariya’s production, as he mustered a paltry 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 points in 51 games with the Avs. Despite playing with nagging knee issues, Selänne scored 16 goals and added 16 assists for 32 points over 78 games, all while his role was diminished by head coach Tony Granato. The pair mustered four assists combined (Kariya had three, Selänne only one) during the Avs first round loss to the Nashville Predators.
While the signings definitely gave off vibes of being a best, they may as well have been a blurst, had something much worse never taken place that season.
The Blurst: A Violent Night in Vancouver (March 8, 2004)
March 8, 2004, is one of the darkest dates in franchise history.
When the Vancouver Canucks hosted the Avs that night at GM Place (now Rogers Arena), all pretense of gamesmanship one comes to expect during a hockey game were dropped, showcasing something far more perverse.
After Steve Moore had injured Canucks captain Markus Näslund three weeks earlier on February 16, comments of retribution from members of the Vancouver roster were aimed at Moore, vowing to even the score with him. No penalty was assessed to Moore for his hit on Näslund, which incensed Canucks head coach Mark Crawford.
“That was a cheap shot by a young kid on a captain, leading scorer in the League, and we get no call. We get no call! That is ridiculous!” Crawford said in postgame comments that night.
Other, more inflammatory remarks were directed at Moore. Brad May bluntly said, “There’s definitely on [Moore’s] head,” while assistant captain Todd Bertuzzi said, “That kid is a piece of shit.”
The rhetoric grew to such incendiary levels that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman personally attended the next meeting between the Avs and Canucks at Pepsi Center on March 3. Playing to a 5-5 draw, both teams made nice in front of Bettman. careful not to draw any unwanted attention.
Five days later in Vancouver, all niceties were left at the door.
In front of packed house, Steve Moore and Matt Cooke fought each other early in the first period. The bout was brief, with Moore getting the better of Cooke. Both received fighting majors.
The “code” had been upheld, and that’s where this tale should have ended. It didn’t.
After Moore’s fight with Cooke, the Avs would score five consecutive goals—four on goaltender Dan Cloutier, and another on Johan Hedberg—in the balance of the period. Moore scored the fifth and final goal in that period.
It would be the final goal of his professional career.
With the Avs holding a commanding 8-2 lead in the third period, Bertuzzi skated behind Moore, pulled on the back of his sweater, then unleashed a hard punch to the back of Moore’s head. The blow sent Moore face first to the ice, defenseless, with Bertuzzi still holding onto him.
Bedlam ensued. Avs forward Andrei Nikolishin immediately raced to Moore’s defense, punching Bertuzzi and attempting to pull him off the defenseless Moore. Canucks forward Sean Pronger and defenseman Mattias Öhlund entered the picture to go after Nikolishin. May fought with Avs defenseman Kurt Sauer. Hedberg beckoned to Avs goaltender David Aebischer, who refused to indulge him. Meanwhile, Avs head coach Tony Granato unleashed a verbal tirade against Crawford, who ignored him while smirking behind the Vancouver bench.
The damage had already been done. Moore was unconscious and bleeding on the ice, requiring medical intervention. He would later be taken to a local hospital, where he would be diagnosed with three cervical vertebrae fractures, facial cuts, and a concussion. The injuries stemming from Bertuzzi’s attack eventually forced him to retire.
“The Vancouver Canucks vowed they were going to get Moore,” the late Peter McNab said on the Avalanche broadcast that night, shock and anger in his voice, to stunned viewers who watched the attack unfold in real time. “They got him.”
As for Bertuzzi, he offered a public apology to Moore in a press conference held in Vancouver on March 10. The next day, the NHL suspended Bertuzzi indefinitely. The IIHF followed suit, effectively banning Bertuzzi during the lockout that wiped out the 2004-2005 season (spoilers). Upon the NHL’s return to action for the 2005-2006 season, Bertuzzi was reinstated. He would play another ten years in the NHL before retiring.
A settlement was reached between Moore and Bertuzzi in 2014. The terms of the settlement remain confidential.
A courtroom may have seen a settlement, but this sordid situation will always feel unsettling.
This event deserves to be called something infintely more damning than a blurst.
2004-2005
The Best: The 2004 World Cup of Hockey (August 30-September 14, 2004)
After an eight year hiatus, the World Cup of Hockey returned to the international stage. While this technically didn’t occur during the course of a standard NHL season (the reason why is below), it is the brightest spot in an otherwise bleak hockey landscape that year.
Eight countries participated in the event. Canada, Slovakia, Russia, and the United States made up the North American group, while the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, and Sweden comprised the European group.
Several pre-match games were played prior to the preliminary rounds for both groups. Canada won the North American preliminary round, while Finland narrowly edged out Sweden for the top spot in the European preliminary round.
In quarterfinals play, Finland and the United States advanced to a semifinal match by eliminating Germany and Russia, respectively. Canada shut out Slovakia to face the Czech Republic, who handily defeated Sweden. Finland and Canada would meet in the final at Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arenea) in Toronto on September 14. Joe Sakic would score the opening goal for Canada, and Adam Foote would assist on Shane Doan’s game-winning goal, defeating Finland by a 3-2 score.
Seven players for the Avs participated in the event: Foote (Canada), Sakic (Canada), Milan Hejduk (Czech Republic), Ossi Väänänen (Finland), Peter Forsberg (Sweden), Steve Konowalchuk (United States), John-Michael Liles (United States).
Unfortunately, this would be the best that hockey would get as summer began to wind down.
The Blurst: Bettman Cancels Season (February 16, 2005)
Two days after Canada’s victory at the World Cup of Hockey, and one day after the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players Association, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the League’s Board of Governors unanimously voted to lock out the players, citing the Players’ Association unwillingness to come to terms on a finanical framework for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Both sides would continue negotiating throughout the work stoppage, but were unable to find any common ground. As months ticked by, the prospect of saving the season grew more and more remote. The lockout forced players to sign contracts in other professional leagues across Europe and Russia. Finally, in a press conference held on February 16, Bettman announced the cancellation of the 2004-2005 NHL season. In the wake of the cancellation, the Stanley Cup would not be awarded for the first time since 1919.
On July 13, nearly five months after the season was cancelled, both parties agreed on a new contract, ending the stalemate. The new bargaining agreement, which saw the implementation of a $38 million dollar salary cap, was signed on July 22. Now with cost certainty in place, difficult decisions loomed on the horizon for many teams throughout the League, and the Avs were no exception.
Changes were about to sweep across the roster, some more shocking than others.
Was there a best (or blurst) from the second five years of Avalanche hockey that was overloooked? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is officially one week away.
Whatever occurs at this year’s draft will heavily dictate the trajectory of the Vancouver Canucks organization moving forward. The team has already voiced their commitment to rebuilding, meaning whoever they’ll end up selecting with the third-overall pick will be a cornerstone in Vancouver’s future.
Plenty of high-end talent will still be available at third-overall, though it’s still unknown who the Toronto Maple Leafs (1) and San Jose Sharks (2) will select with their prior picks. The potential options available to Vancouver include the following:
- Caleb Malhotra: Energetic two-way centre who scored 29 goals and 55 assists in 67 games with the Brantford Bulldogs in 2025–26, son of new Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra.
- Chase Reid: Puck-moving right-shot defender who has averaged over a point-per-game with the Soo Greyhounds his past two seasons in the OHL.
- Ivar Stenberg: Highly-skilled offensive winger whose performance both for Frölunda HC and Sweden on international levels have put him in contention for going first-overall by some scouts.
- Keaton Verhoeff: 6’4 right-shot defenceman who captained Canada’s U-18 squad at the U-18 World Junior Championship, put together six goals and 14 assists in his first 36 games in the NCAA with the University of North Dakota.
Third-overall is only one of a few intriguing picks the Canucks have. Vancouver also owns the 24th selection in this year’s draft thanks to the Quinn Hughes trade conducted with the Minnesota Wild. Some of the notable prospects projected to be available by this pick are:
- Liam Ruck: Offensively-talented forward who put up 45 goals and 59 assists in 68 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL alongside twin brother Markus.
- Mathis Preston: Board-battler forward with a strong shot who played for both the Spokane Chiefs and Vancouver Giants, racking up a season total of 18 goals and 26 assists.
- William Håkansson: 6’4 left-shot defenceman who is best known for the defensive side of the game, utilizes his size and skating stride to help defend.
- Egor Shilov: Offensive centreman who scored 32 goals and 50 assists in his first season in the QMJHL with the Victoriaville Tigers, drives play and makes offence happen.
Vancouver also holds two other picks within the first two-round of the draft: 33rd-overall (own pick) and 41st-overall (from the San Jose Sharks). The players available around that point will vary, but generally-speaking, these prospects are expected to be drafted sometime during the second round.
- Maddox Dagenais: 6’4 centre who averaged a point-per-game pace in the QMJHL this season with 30 goals and 32 assists, strong in the faceoff dot.
- Markus Ruck: CHL’s points-leader in 2025–26 with 21 goals and 87 assists in 68 games, can create offence as a playmaker while maintaining a solid defensive presence as a winger.
- Casey Mutryn: Two-way power-forward who spent the season with the U.S. National Team Development Program, set to play for Boston College for the 2026–27 season.
- Jaxon Cover: High-motor, no-quit winger who scored 20 goals and 32 assists in his first full OHL season with the London Knights.
- Alexander Bilecki: Left-shot defenceman who performs well in the O-zone, scored nine goals and 20 assists in his sophomore OHL season with the Memorial Cup-champion Kitchener Rangers.
The first round of the 2026 NHL Draft begins on June 26 at 4:00 pm PT. Rounds 2–7 will take place on June 27, starting at 8:00 am PT.
Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; The video board shows the 20th overall pick for the Columbus Blue Jackets is about to be announced in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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There are talks around the league that the Seattle Kraken could be open to trading the former fourth-overall pick at the 2022 draft, Shane Wright. The Montreal Canadiens are in need of a second-line center. Is there a fit there? It appears doubtful.
In the past, Kent Hughes has taken swings in his search for a second-line center. Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook were both projected to be centers, but neither of them panned out at that position. After a 44-point season with the Kraken in 2024-25, Wright’s production went down to just 27 points in 2025-26. His shooting percentage, face-off percentage, power play time on ice and overall time on ice have all gone down. He went from a 0.56 point-per-game average to a 0.36 point-per-game average.
When Hughes rolled the dice on Dach and Newhook, it was early in the Canadiens’ rebuild. They were in the assets accumulation phase; they had time to bet on potential alone. But it’s been three years since the GM landed Newhook, and the Habs have improved by leaps and bounds since then. They’ve made the playoffs in the last two years, reached the Eastern Conference Final, and their core has increased exponentially. Juraj Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson, and Ivan Demidov have all become important cogs in the Sainte-Flanelle’s machine.
Martin St-Louis and the coaching staff are no longer solely about development. Montreal is after results; the Habs brass wants this team to keep growing and improving, but they don’t have as much time to spend on development.
Yes, the Canadiens are after a second-line center, but they’re not after a player that has yet to prove himself in the NHL; they’ve passed that stage. They need someone who’s ready to slide into the line-up and assume an important role. That’s not Wright. Given his struggles, the Canadiens wouldn’t be doing him a favor by bringing him to Montreal. While the city lives and breathes hockey, it’s not the right setting for a young player who’s struggling with his confidence and came to the league with huge expectations, especially not now that the fans have had a taste of victory.
The Florida Panthers roster Aleksander Barkov and “Baby Barkov” Anton Lundell, but could they add another big, two-way Finnish center?
Oliver Suvanto has made headlines for his play in the top Finnish league this year, skating in 48 games while scoring two goals and 11 points. Suvanto and Tappara won the Liiga Championship, although Suvanto played just one playoff game.
Suvanto also earned a spot on Team Finland’s world junior roster as a 17-year-old, scoring twice as Finland lost in the bronze medal game.
While his numbers aren’t eye-popping, Suvanto has plenty of elements to his game that make him a very projectable NHLer. To begin, his best trait, like Barkov’s and Lundell’s, is his defensive game.
“Oliver Suvanto is the most complete and mature 17-year-old center seen in Liiga since Aleksander Barkov,” NHL Director of European Scouting Jukka-Pekka Vuorinen said. “He has already been trusted in key roles for powerhouse Tappara. His strong skating, balance and physical strength make him highly effective in face-offs, battles and defensive coverage. A natural two-way player, he combines reliability and intelligence, rarely making mistakes while consistently supporting both ends of the ice.”
He’s responsible in his own end, cutting down passing lanes and stealing pucks off his opponents with ease.
On the offensive side, Suvanto uses his body to gain positioning around the front of the net, and he’s continued to improve as a net-front presence. Another aspect of his game, similar to those of Barkov and Lundell, is his ability to protect the puck. Around the boards, he’s able to shield his opponents from the puck to create space. He’s a strong puck handler, but it’s the next step that Suvanto needs fine-tuning on.
Decision-making in high-danger areas.
Unlike Barkov, whose offensive game was already very polished by the time he entered the NHL, Suvanto takes after Lundell. Lundell posted strong results in Finland, but elements of his offensive game needed improvement. Still, at 24, the belief is that Lundell can still take his offensive game to another level.
Suvanto can follow the same path as Lundell. Suvanto is one of the youngest players in the draft, born on Sept. 3, 2008. With an impressive frame and polished defensive game, the Panthers can be patient with him and let his offensive game develop.
Suvanto considers Barkov a role model and someone he looks up to. Given their recent success in drafting players with profiles similar to Suvanto’s, they seem like a perfect match.
Drafting Suvanto at nine could be considered a bit of a reach, as most project him somewhere around the mid-teens. If the Panthers facilitate a trade back, they could still draft Suvanto while recouping more assets. Still, if the Panthers drafted Suvanto at nine, no one would bat an eye with their history of success.
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Every offseason produces at least one difficult decision, and this one might define the Colorado Avalanche's pursuit of another Stanley Cup.
Valeri Nichushkin is simultaneously one of the team's biggest strengths and one of its biggest uncertainties.
When he's healthy and on the ice, few power forwards in the NHL can match the combination of size, speed and relentless puck pursuit that has made him such an integral part of Colorado's identity. But injuries and off-ice setbacks have repeatedly interrupted what could have been one of the league's most dominant careers, leaving the Avalanche to answer a question that doesn't have an easy solution.
Do you move one of the best playoff performers in franchise history while he still carries significant value? Or do you trust that a healthy offseason finally allows him to become the player everyone inside the organization knows he can be?
There's a compelling case for both.
When Nichushkin is healthy, he is one of the most efficient and impactful skaters on Colorado's roster. He can score in bunches, and when he finds his rhythm, he has a tendency to take over games.
Nichushkin finished the season with 17 goals and 32 assists for 49 points in 72 games. He scored in just 12 of those contests, but four of them were multi-goal performances, including a hat trick on New Year's Eve in a 6-1 rout of the St. Louis Blues — the same night Nathan MacKinnon scored his 400th career NHL goal.
Beyond the production, Nichushkin does countless things that don't always show up on the scoresheet. He has underrated puck skills that allow him to carry the puck into the offensive zone with possession, his speed makes him one of Colorado's best forecheckers, and his combination of size and hockey IQ helps him win battles along the boards and extend offensive-zone time.
He's exactly the type of power forward every contender wants.
The problem is that he isn't always available.
In fact, Nichushkin shares an unfortunate distinction with Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux: he has never played a full 82-game season. The closest he came was during the 2013-14 and 2015-16 campaigns with the Dallas Stars. Throughout his career, injuries have consistently interrupted his seasons, and in recent years, so have off-ice issues.
On April 22, 2023, Avalanche staff found a heavily intoxicated woman in Nichushkin's room at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle before Game 3 of Colorado's first-round playoff series against the Kraken. The team doctor called emergency services, the woman was transported to a hospital, and Nichushkin abruptly left the team.
No criminal charges were filed against Nichushkin, but he returned to Denver and did not play again as Colorado's Stanley Cup title defense ended in seven games. Nichushkin later revealed he would have returned had the Avalanche advanced to the second round.
Less than a year later, in January 2024, Nichushkin entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, and the Avalanche announced he would be away from the team indefinitely.
The program consists of four stages. Stage 1 involves an initial in-patient treatment program with no disciplinary penalty. A violation of the Stage 1 treatment plan moves a player into Stage 2, where he can be suspended without pay during active treatment before becoming eligible for reinstatement.
Stage 3, which follows a violation of the Stage 2 treatment plan, carries a suspension without pay for at least six months before reinstatement can be considered. Stage 4, following a violation of the Stage 3 treatment plan, results in a suspension of at least one year, with no guarantee of reinstatement.
Nichushkin completed treatment in late February 2024 and entered follow-up care under the Stage 2 treatment plan. He returned to the Avalanche on March 8 and still managed to finish the regular season with 28 goals.
Then came another setback.
After scoring nine goals in eight playoff games during Colorado's first-round series victory over the Winnipeg Jets, Nichushkin failed a drug test, was suspended for six months without pay, and entered Stage 3 of the Player Assistance Program.
Since returning, however, there have been no public issues. Head coach Jared Bednar repeatedly said throughout this past season that Nichushkin was in a great place mentally and had become an important presence inside the locker room.
That part of the story is often overlooked.
Nichushkin isn't someone who seeks the spotlight. If Nathan MacKinnon is quiet around the media, Nichushkin is even more reserved. Yet Bednar has spoken about how younger players gravitate toward him because he's approachable and easy to relate to. It's also no secret that he and goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood have developed a close friendship.
His statistical decline this season wasn't entirely his fault.
After Colorado's 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 11, Nichushkin had five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 17 games. In that game, though, he blocked a shot and suffered a lower-body injury that sidelined him for nearly a month.
Only a month after returning, Nichushkin was involved in a car accident on his way to the rink and missed a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. He later dealt with an upper-body injury in early April before suffering another lower-body injury in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. He missed the final 22 minutes of that game and Game 4 as Colorado was swept by the Vegas Golden Knights.
There may not have been a player more ready for the offseason than Nichushkin.
A healthy summer devoted entirely to recovery and conditioning could set him up for another productive campaign.
People also tend to forget what he has already sacrificed for the organization. Nichushkin has fought for this team, played through pain for this team and helped deliver a Stanley Cup.
During the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, he played Game 6 with a broken foot and still produced four goals and two assists in the series. Those four goals tied a franchise record shared by Joe Sakic and Alex Tanguay for the most in a Stanley Cup Final.
That's the version of Valeri Nichushkin the Avalanche are betting still exists.
Colorado could certainly explore moving his $6.125 million cap hit after creating additional flexibility with the Ross Colton trade. A left-shot defenseman or a younger, more physical forward could make sense on paper.
But there's another way to view it.
Nichushkin is 31 years old, not 36. His recent postseason numbers — five goals over his last two playoff appearances — don't erase the 19 goals he scored in the previous three postseasons, nor do they erase the reality that, when healthy, he remains one of the NHL's most dominant playoff wingers.
That's why the smarter approach may simply be patience.
Give Nichushkin a healthy offseason. See what he looks like over the first half of next season. If he returns to the player Colorado knows he can be, the Avalanche keep one of the league's most unique forwards. If not, his combination of production and contract certainty still makes him a valuable trade asset at the deadline.
If the Avalanche can find a way to retain Jack Drury and Brett Kulak while working within the nearly $7 million they have left in cap space, even better. The downside, however, is that it could leave Brent Burns as the odd man out.
But for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations, moving on from Valeri Nichushkin now might be the bigger gamble.
On Friday morning at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in Winnipeg, one of the most emotional moments of an already deeply moving retirement speech came when Toews began working his way through the teammates who defined his historic NHL career, and the first name mentioned was one that surprised nobody in Patrick Kane.
The two arrived in Chicago together, were drafted back to back in 2006, and spent the better part of 16 seasons as the engine behind one of the most celebrated dynasties in 21st century hockey.
From their rookie season in 2007 all the way through Kane's trade to the New York Rangers in 2022-23, Toews and Kane were one of the best duos the sport has ever seen, winning three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks and built a bond that clearly ran far deeper than the rink.
"Kane came in with me as a rookie, we're kind of an odd couple for a lot of those years, especially when we were rooming together," Toews laughed.
"Going through the journey with a young player like himself definitely took the pressure off me, but at the same time, a guy like that is going to push you to get better and his commitment to the game and the career he's had. I get to look back and be thankful I got to play with a player like him."
Toews closed his NHL career having played 1,149 games, recording 383 goals and 529 assists for 912 points, numbers that tell only part of the story of a player whose value was always measured in championship rings and leadership as much as individual statistics.
Kane, meanwhile, is not yet finished writing his own chapter as the Detroit Red Wings winger put together a strong 2025-26 campaign, posting 57 points in just 67 games, and is widely expected to return to the ice next season despite not yet signing an extension with Detroit.
When he does return, he will carry a distinction that no other player in the league can claim, as the last remaining active player from those legendary Blackhawks teams, a living piece of hockey history skating on into a new era while his former partner steps away from the game for good.
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On Friday morning at the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in Winnipeg, the hometown hero officially announced his retirement from the NHL, closing the book on a 17-year career that cemented his legacy as one of the greatest winners the sport has ever produced and arguably the finest athlete Manitoba has ever given the world.
Toews admitted he was more nervous than he expected to be, but spoke with the same calm, measured presence that defined him throughout his playing days, working his way through a lengthy and heartfelt speech that touched on the people, the moments and the memories that shaped everything he became.
He began with the Chicago Blackhawks, the organization that drafted him third overall back in 2006 and gave him the stage to become a legend. Toews described his time in Chicago as going by in the blink of an eye, calling it a special chapter he remains deeply grateful for.
He thanked former general manager Stan Bowman and head coach Joel Quenneville before reflecting on the three Stanley Cups that defined the Blackhawks dynasty, recalling the surreal feeling of winning the first one and the almost incomprehensible moment of bringing the Cup home to Winnipeg, describing the experience of having it sitting in his living room and barely being able to process that any of it was actually happening.
As the first teammate he wanted to single out, Toews turned to Patrick Kane, his longtime linemate and the other half of one of the most celebrated duos in modern NHL history.
"Patrick Kane came in with me as a rookie. We're kind of an odd couple for a lot of those years, especially when we were rooming together," Toews laughed.
"Going through the journey with a young player like himself definitely took the pressure off me, but at the same time, a guy like that is going to push you to get better and his commitment to the game and the career he's had, I get to look back and be thankful I got to play with a player like him."
Toews also extended gratitude to Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Patrick Sharp, describing the veteran core as big brothers who helped shape his understanding of leadership and what it meant to be a captain in the NHL. He thanked the Chicago faithful as well, noting that the pace of the game rarely allowed him to stop and appreciate what was happening around him.
Toews reflected on how the NHL demands you always be focused on what comes next, leaving little time to smell the roses, but said the ovations he received from the Chicago crowd caught him off guard and that being able to skate around and soak it all in served as a powerful reminder of just how special his years with the Blackhawks truly were.
Toews finished his tenure with the Blackhawks with 372 goals and 511 assists for 883 points in 1,068 games, adding 119 points in 137 playoff games across 16 seasons.
When he turned his attention to the Winnipeg Jets, Toews began by singling out Jets chairman Mark Chipman, calling him a hero and crediting his work in bringing the NHL back to Winnipeg as nothing short of monumental.
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream of pulling on that Jets sweater and playing in front of my hometown community, my family, my friends, all the people that have supported me over the years. It meant a lot to them and it means a lot to me," Toews said.
He thanked general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Scott Arniel for taking a chance on a player who had been away from the game for two years and represented something of an unknown commodity.
"I know I was kind of a wild card, not knowing what this year would look like, having been away from the game for two years," Toews explained.
"It's a business and you guys are out there to win and I can't thank you enough for your patience and your support, helping me find my way and be part of this locker room and this team."
Toews spoke warmly about his Jets teammates, laughing as he noted he had collected more nicknames in one season in Winnipeg than in his entire career before it, and was quick to praise the culture Cheveldayoff and Arniel have built within the organization, noting it was not something that happened overnight.
"Even though I feel like I struggled on the ice and didn't quite contribute the way I wanted to at times this year, you guys made me feel part of the group right away."
He spoke to the resilience of the group throughout a season that did not end the way any of them had hoped, and offered words that carried the weight of someone who has lived through both the highest highs and lowest lows the game has to offer.
"I wish I could have done more, I wish we would have had a little bit more team success. I think we all wanted that this year, and you guys just kept showing up every day, ready to work and have fun and that starts with you guys."
Toews went on to thank the training staffs of both the Blackhawks and Jets before reflecting on the personal journey that brought him to this moment, one that included prolonged health battles that left him uncertain whether he would ever play again.
"I think, when you're heading into the unknown a little bit and your whole life has kind of been structured and predictable from one year to the next, it is not easy. Sometimes I catch myself wishing that things had gone differently, and I could have finished my career on a different note these last five years or so, but truth be told, I'm grateful for the struggle and the learning experiences I've been through," Toews noted.
"Ironically, I feel like I've learned so much more about myself and about life through the low points than I ever did when my career was at its height."
He closed by thanking his family for consistently putting their own needs aside to support his dream, and offered a final word to the city that raised him.
"The old saying goes, it takes a village. In my case, it couldn't be more true. Too many people to name, my coaches, childhood friends, people all over the city of Winnipeg. It was super special this year to reconnect and cross paths with people I haven't seen in 15, 20 years. It's just special to see what the Jets and hockey means in the city and thank you all for everything."
To close out his speech, Toews spoke directly to Jets fans one final time.
"Lastly, thank you to our loyal Jets fans and the city of Winnipeg. Something special about being from this city. I'm so proud to be from Winnipeg and thank you guys for making this year so special. I hope I represented you guys well over the years, so thank you very much."
Among the most decorated players of his generation, Toews leaves the game with a resume that will make Hall of Fame voters take little time in making their decision. He won three Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015 with the Blackhawks, capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010.
At the international level, he was equally dominant representing Canada, winning two Olympic gold medals with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014, a World Junior Championship gold medal and a World Championship gold medal, becoming one of the rare players in hockey history to complete the Triple Gold Club.
Individually, he was a Frank J. Selke Trophy winner as the league's best defensive forward, a Mark Messier Leadership Award recipient and was named Winnipeg's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee this past season.
It was a fitting final scene for a player who began his hockey journey with the Winnipeg Warriors U15 AAA and the Winnipeg Jr. Jets, and who ends it in the same city, having represented it with distinction every step of the way.
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The Ducks' 2025-26 season has been over for just over a month and with the 2026 NHL Entry Draft just around the corner, it feels like a good time to start recapping this past season for each player in the organization.
Today's edition of 'By the Numbers' will feature players who wore Nos. 11-20 this season.
If you missed the previous edition of 'By the Numbers', you can click here to read it.
Mason McTavish
2025-26 was a very mixed bag for McTavish. He missed the start of training camp due to a contract dispute, but got off to a hot start in October and November while playing on a line with fellow youngsters Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke.
However, the second half of his season was a bit more inconsistent. Some of that can be attributed to being split up from Gauthier and Sennecke, but McTavish was also given the opportunity to fill in as the top line center while Leo Carlsson was recovering from surgery to remove a Morel-Lavallée lesion and still wasn't able to produce consistently, even with the increased ice time.
An upper-body injury in late January sidelined McTavish for six games, and things didn't get much better for him upon his return as he managed just 11 points in the final 26 games of the regular season. A shift to the wing and a couple of healthy scratches in mid-March and twice during the playoffs have caused trade rumors to crop up this summer.
With McTavish under contract for five more years, this situation feels much different from what transpired last June, when Trevor Zegras was dealt for the Philadelphia Flyers for Ryan Poehling. Moving on from McTavish now would signal that general manager Pat Verbeek does not believe McTavish is capable of being the Ducks' 2C behind Leo Carlsson. 2025 10th overall pick Roger McQueen may get a look during training camp this fall, but it's unfair to expect him to come in right away and have an immediate impact like Sennecke did last October.
Mikael Granlund is more than capable of acting as a second line center, but he is 33 and missed 24 games this past season due to various injuries. The aforementioned Poehling can also fill in in a pinch, but is more suited for a third line role on a perennial playoff contender, which the Ducks hope to be moving forward.
Improving his foot speed and defensive habits are two focus points that McTavish touched on during his exit interview in May. A faster, more defensively-inclined McTavish, while maintaining his offensive abilities, would dissuade any worries that have started.
Jansen Harkins
When Harkins signed a two-year contract with the Ducks on the second day of Free Agent Frenzy in 2024, not much was made of it. It appeared to be a simple signing to strengthen the Ducks' AHL depth. But just four games into the regular season, Harkins was recalled by the Ducks after Frank Vatrano returned home for the birth of his second child. After being sent down following that game, Harkins was again recalled 11 games later and remained on the NHL roster for the rest of the season.
Harkins likely would have been on the 2025-26 opening night roster if he hadn't suffered an upper-body injury during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings. He missed a month with the injury before returning to the NHL roster and was a regular fixture in the bottom-6 up until December. He, along with Nikita Nesterenko, was a healthy scratch for almost the entire month.
May 6, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Jansen Harkins (24) shoots and scores an empty net goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Upon his re-insertion into the lineup on Dec. 22, Harkins once again became a regular in the bottom-6 before suffering a hand injury in late March. Hand surgery ruled him out for a minimum of four weeks and he didn't return to game action until Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Harkins is a pending UFA and, at his best, is a reliable depth forward who forechecks well, brings energy and can play on the penalty kill. He is also capable of playing all three forward positions. His price tag shouldn't be too high in the event of a return, but there are also several players from AHL San Diego who need to get NHL action at some point or be moved on from (Ex: Nathan Gaucher).
Ryan Poehling
As mentioned above, Poehling was acquired from the Flyers in the Trevor Zegras deal and demonstrated his ability to be a jack of all trades during his first season with the Ducks. He began the season as the team's fourth line center, but was elevated to the third line after Granlund suffered a lower-body injury eight games into the season.
Granlund's return in November ironically coincided with Poehling being sidelined due to a back injury. He missed seven games with the injury before returning, but continued to nurse it throughout the season. Poehling continued to provide secondary scoring in his role as a bottom-6 forward, even getting elevated to the second line for a bit in February. His stellar debut season with the Ducks was good enough to earn him a four-year contract extension, which was signed on Mar. 5. His contract carries an AAV of $3.75 million.
Depending on how things shake out with McTavish this summer, Poehling will likely be the Ducks' third line center next season. He is a vital part of the penalty kill, forming a tandem with Alex Killorn on the top unit. His season came to a premature end after he was on the receiving end of a violent hit from defenseman Brayden McNabb in Game 5 of their playoff series against the Golden Knights. Poehling has a history of concussions, so there was concern about the after-effects. Fortunately, the Ducks announced in their season-ending injury report that Poehling did not have any lingering symptoms.
Jeff Viel
Another player whose addition to the roster initially received mixed reactions, Viel was acquired from the Boston Bruins on Jan. 16 for a 2026 fourth-round pick and made his Ducks debut the very next day against the Kings. He did his best to have an immediate impact, fighting Samuel Helenius in the first period. He would then have three points (two goals) in the next three games, quickly endearing himself to the Anaheim faithful.
A gritty forward, Viel found himself playing all over the lineup, with head coach Joel Quenneville finding plenty of ways to deploy him. But Viel saved his best for last. For the first round of the playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers, Quenneville chose to run a line of Viel, Tim Washe and defenseman-turned-forward Ian Moore against one of the NHL's best players in Connor McDavid. Their job would be suppressing the Oilers star as best as they could, and they did quite well. Viel also had two big goals in Games 3 and 4, both of which the Ducks won. His impact wasn't as profound in the Vegas series, but he did provide two assists, with both again coming in Anaheim victories.
Viel is also a pending UFA and finds himself in uncharted territory after setting a new career high in games played. His sandpaper style of play is attractive to many teams and his performance on the national stage surely will not go unnoticed. It's possible that he prices himself out of the Ducks' price range thanks to those performances.
The Montreal Canadiens are in need of an upgrade at their second-line center spot. Because of this, they have been viewed as a potential fit for New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, who is one of the NHL's top trade candidates.
While Trocheck would have the potential to be a nice pickup for Montreal's 2C spot, it appears that he is not on the Canadiens' radar.
"Many of the teams believed to have interest are the same as The Athletic reported in March, but others have emerged as potential suitors in recent weeks. The Montreal Canadiens are not one of them, according to a league source, who noted there has been no contact between the two clubs about Trocheck," Mercogliano wrote.
With this update, it seems very unlikely that the Canadiens will be the landing spot for Trocheck this off-season. While the Pittsbrgh, Pennsylvania native could be a nice pickup in theory for the Habs, he is also 32 years old, and the Rangers want a lot for him in a move. Due to this, it would make sense for the Canadiens to explore other options who would be a long-term fit on their roster.
In 67 games this past season with the Blueshirts, Trocheck had 16 goals, 37 assists, and 53 points.
That, of course, makes life a little different for the club’s amateur scouting staff leading up to the 2026 NHL draft. Barring a trade, the Flyers will pick at 21st overall. It’s their lowest first-round spot since 2020.
So the Flyers know the draft is still critical to what they want to do, even when they’re lower in the order.
“We’ve said it for a long time, we wanted to build a team that was going to be here for a long time; not just to go for it for a year or two,” general manager Danny Briere said last month. “That’s still the same approach on my end.”
After the recent trade with the Maple Leafs, the Flyers have only four picks in this draft, which will be held June 26-27. The first round is Friday at 7 p.m. ET, while Rounds 2-7 are Saturday starting at 11 a.m. ET.
“I’ll tell you how I feel about drafts and I’ll be totally blunt with you,” TSN director of scouting Craig Button said June 2 in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think it’s f—ing bulls–t when I hear about, ‘Oh, this draft isn’t as good.’ Here are the numbers. Approximately 45 players from any draft will play 350 games or more in the NHL. It might be 47 one year, 42 another year. That’s the number — you get 45 players that’ll play 350 games or more with varying degrees of success.
“And I know this about the draft. The teams that get good players from the draft say it was a good draft. The teams that don’t get good players from the draft say it wasn’t a good draft. So when people start telling me about a draft ahead of time, I call bulls–t.”
“What you’re trying to do is find a player that you feel has the potential to be an NHL player,” Button said. “That might be a third-line center, that might be a second-line scoring winger. Hey, listen, maybe you get David Pastrnak, who’s a superstar (drafted 25th overall in 2014).
“But the focus has to be on, ‘OK, what type of player do we like, what type of player do we think the guy can be?’ And then get after it and understand what the development path is, and then try to help that player be the best he can be. Put a stake in the ground and celebrate who you’re drafting.”
Before the draft arrives, we’re breaking down first-round targets for the Flyers.
Next up:
Egor Shilov
Position: Center Height: 6-foot Weight: 177 Shoots: Left Team: Victoriaville
Scouting report
Shilov is highly skilled and under control when the puck is on his stick. He’ll survey the ice and generate offense with creativity. He also possesses a sneaky shot.
“I feel like he’s best when he plays the game a little slower and he can slow things down and make those right decisions,” Daily Faceoff associate editor and prospect analyst Steven Ellis said last Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Because he doesn’t make a lot of bad decisions. Like, I think his hockey sense is actually fantastic and I think he’s a really good playmaker.”
The 18-year-old Russian led all QMJHL rookies with 82 points (32 goals, 50 assists) in 63 games for Victoriaville. He had two hat tricks and a pair of five-point performances.
“When he goes 1-on-1, he doesn’t really miss many plays, he doesn’t make many mistakes,” Ellis said. “He can go up there and he’ll pull off a quick move and defensemen seem to really struggle with that.”
Shilov’s methodical pace may elicit concerns from NHL teams. Will he be able to make plays through contact and with far less time and space? Can he do it along the boards? The QMJHL is geared toward offense and open ice.
“He’s afraid of going anywhere near a physical player,” Ellis said. “He does really shy away from that. I think there are just points where I want to see him make plays at a higher speed and quicker. … The real question is did he get a lot of points this year because he’s a good player or did he get a lot of points because he was playing against lower than average QMJHL defensemen? I think that’s what makes it interesting.”
But Shilov is pretty sound in his two-way approach. He won 54.8 percent of his faceoffs and had a minus-11 rating on a team that sported a minus-69 goal differential. He’s the 26th-ranked player on Ellis’ final top-120 draft board.
“He has got the ability to shut down guys when he really wants to; it’s just being able to do that every single time,” Ellis said. “The one name that gets thrown around a lot is you’re hoping he kind of has a Matvei Gridin development where he has got that talent and if he could just show it every shift.”
Gridin went to the Flames at 28th overall in 2024. He had 20 points in 37 games for Calgary this season.
If the Flyers like Shilov and they feel he’s a reach at No. 21, they could trade back to grab him later in the first round. Considering the Flyers have only four picks in this draft, it would give them an opportunity to gain another one.
Shilov plays a premium position and the Flyers could use more options down the middle in their system. He’d also be able to relate to Matvei Michkov and potentially play on his line in the future.
But it’s fair to wonder if the Flyers will target a player with more speed and size to his game.
Chicago Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews (19) reacts to a call during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Coyotes in Chicago, Monday, April 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
AP
Jonathan Toews announced his retirement Friday, ending a decorated NHL career that included three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals and a comeback season with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
The 38-year-old center returned to the NHL in 2025-26 after a two-year absence related to Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID, recording 11 goals and 18 assists while appearing in all 82 games for Winnipeg.
Toews spent 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, captaining the franchise to Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015 while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010.
He finished his NHL career with 383 goals and 529 assists in 1,149 regular-season games and was recognized as one of the league’s premier two-way forwards.
Toews also starred for Canada on the international stage, winning Olympic gold twice in 2010 and 2014, the World Cup in 2016, a world championship in 2007 and consecutive world junior titles in 2006 and 2007.
His final season allowed one of Manitoba’s most accomplished hockey players to complete a full-circle return home before stepping away from the game.
