We handed out reasons for losing to the Eastern Conference on Monday, and since no one shall be spared, it’s time for a look at the Western Conference! If no one in the East is gonna win, then someone from the West has to, right? Wrong!

17. Anaheim Ducks

NEW ACHIEVEMENT! Congratulations, Anaheim: you have paid far too much for a player who has much more to prove and has effectively blasted through the old equilibrium, inflating the market even faster!

Your prize?! A top-heavy (in money, not talent) lineup! You’d better hope Carlsson lives up to that deal or else you’ll drift back into obscurity faster than Louis Mendez barrelled toward that stack of cans back in the Mighty Ducks days. You may not be owned by Disney any longer, but that doesn’t mean your team isn’t a cartoon!

Here to stay! 🦁

Leo Carlsson will be a Duck through the 2030-31 season.#FlyTogetherpic.twitter.com/0EXAEUVg0Z

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) July 9, 2026

18. Calgary Flames

Calgary set the trend of trading away talented Americans, and since Jonathan Huberdeau has gone ghost, I don’t see any real talent or threat coming from Cowtown. It’s going to be another point-and-laugh sort of season, kind of like how Avalanche fans are pointing and laughing at you for ever thinking Cale Makar would force his way home. The Flames won’t win a Stanley Cup because they think they are too good for the Saddledome.

I can’t believe I didn’t see this earlier. You know Iggy is forever a Flames God, but it seems Calgary and the Avs be sharing a lot of talent between us

Makar, Iggy, Kadri… bruh lmao

— Sirenity (@Sirenity_yyc) July 17, 2026

19. Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks keep trying to position themselves by adding talent around Connor Bedard, but keep forgetting that having a decent power play is a good idea. Sure, Bedard seems like he will be a franchise player, but beyond him I see very little scoring. You did, however, sign Bowen Byram, which is a step in the right direction. The problem isn’t that you aren’t walking toward success; it’s that you are walking, not running.

20.Colorado Avalanche

Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Presidents’ Trophy, but can’t-beat-Dallas-or-Vegas: Colorado Avalanche. The Avs won’t win the Stanley Cup because, once again, Jared Bednar will play your generational talents far too much in meaningless regular-season games. We’ve been beaten over the head with a ‘youth movement,’ but that will only last until January meetings where management will decide that none of the guys who played six minutes a night did enough for them. Then they’ll trade one or two for an old fringe middle sixer who won a cup in the 2010’s.

1 is Makar, 2 is Jason Robertson, 3 is Celebrini and 4 is Leo Carlsson (only including Leo due to salary) pic.twitter.com/60LuUu4ro7

— Kaleb Cavalier (@KalebRadio) September 8, 2026

21. Dallas Stars

Dallas won’t win because, although they were smart to land a player like Mikko Rantanen, they were too foolish to consider how it would affect keeping Jason Robertson. They could have both, and they still won’t win a cup because this isn’t the 1990s, and reviews negate any chance they might have at cheating their way to another cup victory. They keep trotting Jamie Benn out there, who is collecting dust faster than the rafters at American Airlines Center.

22. Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers won’t win a cup because they are the Oilers. Connor McDavid passed on breaking the bank so that management in Edmonton could build a team that would finally get over the hump. They responded by bringing in Tristan Jarry to solidify the net. Uh, what exactly was the thought process there? Edmonton’s best player gave them a free $20 to spend at the concessions, and they keep paying too much for day-old and overpriced hot dogs. They won’t return with a cup anytime soon. “OH BUT NOW THEY HAVE ANDERSEN,” okay, pal.

23. Los Angeles Kings

Okay, LA is intriguing in that (I don’t know if you heard this) they were ‘right there’ all series long against the Colorado Avalanche. It’s hard to remember that they got swept that series with how fortified that narrative became. If LA was right there against the Avalanche, I’m ‘right there’ as it pertains to being 7 feet tall. (I am 5 feet 7 inches tall, by the way). LA won’t hoist because this isn’t a league of almosts.

24. Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild were feeling great heading into their matchup with the Avalanche, until Nathan MacKinnon decided to show Quinn Hughes what happens when you stay on the tracks when the train is coming through. Speaking of Quinn Hughes, he wants to buddy up with his brothers in New Jersey, and Billy Guerin isn’t gonna stop him. Minny won’t win a cup because they don’t win cups.

BREAKING NEWS: The @mnwild have officially replaced the light bulbs in their trophy case! #GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/XpX2zIjGFn

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) April 20, 2021

25. Nashville Predators

The Colorad… oh wait… the Nashville Predators have entered the chat with new GM Chris MacFarland at the helm. The preds won’t hoist because the cup-or-bust mentality MacFarland weaponizes to move picks will prove detrimental to a team that isn’t even close to resembling a real competitor. Sure, CMac restocked the arsenal of 1st-rounders to deal, but it won’t be long till he uses them as a throw-in on a less-than-capable second-line center.

26. San Jose Sharks

The Sharks dealt MacKenzie Blackwood in hopes that Yaroslov Askarov would become the franchise netminder they needed going into the future. Well, it’s looking rough after his first year as a starter, and the last thing they want is to waste Macklin Celebrini’s youth by giving up four goals a night. You could go after Connor Hellebuyck, but that’s gonna take some doing! Celebrini won’t be celebrating and might not even make the playoffs yet again.

27. Seattle Kraken

The NHL’s expansion darling that got the playbook from Vegas but decided to throw it in the bin. Seattle’s call to fame is beating the Avalanche that one time and booing Cale Makar (yes, still) after his suspension from the previously mentioned playoff series. The Kraken won’t be securing any hardware because they have zero high-end scoring talent and are susceptible to magic.

28. St. Louis Blues

I was gonna say ‘oh, how the mighty have fallen,’ but I wouldn’t consider the one-off 2019 Binnington-led Blues all that mighty. Just like their goalie, this team is all bark and no bite. They pick the fight and then skate to the corner or wait until a piece of trash is available during the press scrum. I’m not even sure who the Blues will go with at left wing and/or what sort of depth they feel they have. Not a cup-winning combo.

29. Utah Mammoth

The Winter Classic will be the highlight of the Utah Mammoth season as it will be the only home game they have that won’t be set at the Zoolander Institute for Teams Who Can’t Hockey Good. I’m not even sure they can fit a banner in that stadium. Maybe above the sections of seats that are pitched like a double black diamond?

Me to Delta Center when they do the fly by shot: #GoAvsGopic.twitter.com/q4N1n1zEDU

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) February 26, 2026

30. Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver won’t win a Stanley Cup. I need not expand.

31. Vegas Golden Knights

Money can buy a lot of things in Vegas, but it can’t buy youth. The Golden Knights are like that older gentleman at the nightclub that wears way too much cologne and gold jewelry. Yes, they have the trappings of wealth, but make sure their checking account has enough for another Red Bull. Behind those knockoff Ray-Bans lie the old, tired eyes of an aging core. Mitch Marner was a great playoff performer, but unfortunately it took him too long to escape Toronto.

32. Winnipeg Jets

This one will read very similarly to the reasons I listed for the Detroit Red Wings in part one. Your own starting goalie doesn’t think you are winning a Stanley Cup, so why should I?

#NHLJets captain Adam Lowry on avoiding the Connor Hellebuyck trade request being a distraction: "It's not something that we think is going to really impact the room”

“Until that situation is resolved, we're going to approach it… he's our teammate, our friend, and go from… pic.twitter.com/VAjX6cVjxI

— Connor Hrabchak (@ConnorHrabchak1) September 8, 2026

Disclaimer: this article is satirical in nature.

Ahead of NHL training camps, each team sends a representative to the NHL Media Tour in Las Vegas. This year, the New York Islanders sent Calder Trophy-winning defenseman Matthew Schaefer as their representative.

Matthew Schaefer Representing Islanders At NHL Media Tour In Las VegasThe Calder Trophy winner heads to Sin City as the face of the franchise, showcasing his elite skill and community leadership on hockey’s biggest promotional stage.

Schaefer, 19, lit the hockey world on fire last season as an 18-year-old rookie, shattering all previous records for 18-year-old defensemen and establishing himself as a generational talent.

He recorded 23 goals and 59 points, good for second on the team in both categories, while also landing him the Calder Trophy awarded to the NHL's best rookie. 

The question is, how does he even top a season like that?

Schaefer's already motivated to blow it out of the water.

"I will always have the highest expectations," Schaefer said to reporters, including The Hockey News' Michael Traikos, at the NHL Media Tour. "Last year was good, but I think I can be even better this year [...] I've gotten bigger, stronger, and faster. And I put on some weight, which was awesome."

As for how different it feels going from year one into year two, Schaefer practically called it night and day.

"Yeah, I mean, you go into your first year, you don't know what to expect," Schaefer said. "You're at training camp, you're at rookie camp, and you're a little nervous because you don't know many guys there. You're coming in, it's different. But honestly, I've learned so much from start to finish. I gained my confidence.

"I learned what the league was like," Schaefer continued. "Obviously, there weren't many days off, so you're playing basically every other day, and I found a lot of ways to get my rest and recovery, take care of my body, but play at 100, you know, as close to 100 percent, each and every night, and be hungry every night.

"Year 2 can be even better. And, you know, it took me the first little bit of the season to get going. I want to come out of the gates going right away and carry it through the whole season."

Going straight from Juniors into the NHL is not an easy task whatsoever, but one thing Schaefer has consistently praised the Islanders' organization for everything they've done.

"Obviously, I think the main thing that helped me last year was just everybody in the Islanders organization," Schaefer said. "Mainly my teammates and coaches and all the staff. They helped me so much from top to bottom. So I would like to thank, you know, everybody.

“This is the most fun I've had playing hockey, and, it's all because of the people that are surrounding me and my support system," Schaefer continued. "Every time I come to the rink, I have a smile on my face. I'm ready to learn. I'm ready to work. And I'm ready to just be there with my family. It's awesome.”

There is nobody on the planet in the hockey world like Matthew Schaefer. 

It's also increasingly clear that nobody is more motivated than Schaefer to build off his first year and be even better in year two.

"Bigger, stronger, faster."

How's it even possible for Schaefer to get any faster? Only time will tell, but it feels like a pure warning shot to the entire league that the Schaefer Show on Long Island is only just getting started.

The St. Louis Blues have had little trouble finding NHL-caliber players in the early rounds of the NHL draft as of late.

On their projected opening-night roster, four players were selected by the Blues in the first round, but another five were acquired via trades or free agency. Additionally, the Blues have first-round picks like Otto Stenberg, Theo Lindstein, Zach Dean, Adam Jiricek, Justin Carbonneau, Tynan Lawrence, and Maddox Dagenais waiting for their opportunity as former first-round picks. 

Their U-25 talent is extensive, but it hasn't all come from the first round. Dmitry Buchelnikov, Milton Gastrin, Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Juraj Pekarcik, Colin Ralph, Lukas Fischer, Love Harenstam, and Marcus Gildof are all on the Blues' radar as prospects, all of whom were selected in the second round or later.

But another late-round pick has put his name on the map. That is none other than Matvei Korotky.

Selected in the seventh round (211th overall) by the Blues in the 2025 NHL draft, Korotky was impressive in his sophomore season in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg, scoring 14 goals and 27 points in 43 games. 

Standing 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, Korotky is a skilled center with a heavy shot. His shot is likely his best offensive trait, as he doesn't need much time and space to show it off. In his KHL rookie season, Korotky notched five goals and nine points in 30 games. 

NHL Prospect Pool Overview '26-27: St. Louis Blues Balancing Retool Better Than Most TeamsThe St. Louis Blues are trying to balance improving their prospect pool while also remaining a playoff team. They've done a solid job of improving their NHL roster through trades, and they've beefed up their prospect pool through multiple first-round picks.

But he is more than just a shooter, which should excite Blues fans. Korotky has power-forward traits and is willing to engage physically when the opportunity presents itself. But maybe more importantly, Korotky hounds down pucks on the forecheck. 

With his speed and energy, Korotky often forces turnovers and creates instant offense. But as he has developed, Korotky has become more comfortable skating with the puck in transition. Using a combination of skilled hands and power, Korotky drives the puck to the net or slot, as he is always looking to move the puck into high-danger areas. 

The now 20-year-old was likely a near throwaway pick as they gambled on some positive traits Korotky possessed. That gamble is looking to pay off early, as those traits- his shot and forechecking- have continued to develop while he has rounded out his game. 

Korotky is likely still a ways away from competing for an NHL spot, but he is an interesting prospect who could, down the road, become a useful NHL player for the Blues or a trade chip. 

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The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Wednesday that the team has signed RFAs Cayden Primeau and Justin Robidas to contract extensions, while also bringing back UFA Skyler Brind'Amour as well.

The three were all key contributors for the AHL's Chicago Wolves last year, who made it to the Calder Cup Final before losing in five games to the Toronto Marlies.

Primeau, 27, was signed to a two-year, one-way deal that will pay him $850,000 in 2026-27 and $975,000 in 2027-28.

The netminder posted a 21-11-7 record last year, with a 0.916 save percentage, a 2.41 goals against average and four shutouts. He then went 9-9-0 in the playoffs with a 0.913 save percentage.

Even though Primeau is expected to play this upcoming season in the AHL, the two-year, one-way deal acts as a bit of deterrent for other teams that may look to claim him as he'll be owed both money and term.

Robidas, 23, signed a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him $850,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level, with a guarantee of at least $125,000.

The 5-foot-8 forward had 23 goals and 60 points in 58 games with the Wolves last season and tacked on an additional seven goals and 16 points in 21 playoff games.

Brind'Amour, 27, signed a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him $850,000 at the NHL level and $125,000 at the AHL level, with a guarantee of at least $225,000.

The son of Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, Skyler had 16 goals and 34 points in 68 games with the Wolves last season and added two goals and four points in 21 playoff games.

All three players will have to go through waivers if reassigned to the AHL.

With the three signings, the Hurricanes only have one outstanding free agent left to work out a contract with that being Russian blueliner Alexander Nikishin.

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With the New York Rangers, Pavel Dorofeyev is entering unfamiliar territory. 

As a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Dorofeyev emerged as an elite goal scorer over the past two seasons, recording 35 goals in the 2024-25 campaign and 37 the following season.

However, throughout his tenure in Vegas, the Golden Knights have always been a team filled with superstar talent and big-time names, including Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner. 

After being traded to the Rangers this offseason and signing a seven-year, $77 million contract, Dorofeyev is now expected to be the main driver of the Blueshirts’ offense.

That comes with a lot of pressure, something he wasn’t exposed to with the Vegas Golden Knights despite his impressive offensive production. 

The 25-year-old forward expressed his readiness to take on this new challenge during the player’s media tour. 

“If you fear that type of challenge, you just have to be a man and accept the challenge and do your best to just just be the same way,” Dorofeyev said. “I don’t have to change much.”

The Rangers have missed the playoffs two years in a row and have gone through a tremendous amount of overhaul as a team. 

The direction of the franchise has fluctuated from competing to retooling. 

While the addition of Dorofeyev shows Chris Drury’s desire to make the Rangers a younger team, it also indicates his eagerness to become competitive again and push for the playoffs as opposed to going into a prolonged rebuild. 

Dorofeyev believes in this Rangers core as currently constructed. 

“We have a great group of guys,” Dorofeyev said. “We have a lot of skill, a lot of potential, and we're gonna work hard to be good. We're gonna put that effort together.”

The Russian native instantly becomes an instrumental piece to the Rangers’ main nucleus of players featuring Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Mika Zibanejad. 

Through conversations with these players during the offseason, Dorofeyev believes he’s better equipped to fit in with his new team going into a critical training camp. 

“When I got traded, I knew them (Shesterkin and Gavrikov) before,” Dorofeyev said. “We were in touch a little bit. Not just necessarily Shesterkin and Gavrikov. I can easily talk to J.T., Mika, Lafrenière. We are all on the same page.”

Shifting into an entirely new role, Dorofeyev will have to embrace the bright lights and expectations of New York, and time will only tell if he’s prepared to take on that challenge.

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Alex Formenton is the third player acquitted in the Hockey Canada sexual assault case to receive an NHL contract since the trial ended in July 2025, joining with the Edmonton Oilers.

Formenton signed with Edmonton for the league-minimum $850,000 for this season. The 26-year-old joins fellow forward Dillon Dube with St. Louis and goaltender Carter Hart in Vegas after they signed their respective deals in July and October.

Formenton has not played in the NHL since 2022 with Ottawa. He spent three of the past four seasons playing in Switzerland and the other not in hockey at all.

Michael McLeod is under contract in the KHL. Cal Foote signed this summer with a team in Sweden, which then terminated the deal after fans raised objections.

The NHL a year ago reinstated all five players, allowing them to play beginning Dec. 1. That came after a judge in London, Ontario, found them not guilty of sexual assault and McLeod additionally of a separate count of being a party to the offense, in connection with an event there in 2018 celebrating Canada's gold medal-winning world junior team.

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here

On Tuesday, Crave released episode three of its docuseries on the Montreal Canadiens, The Rebuild: Inside the Montreal Canadiens, and it was a rather interesting episode. Not only because it was centered around Jacob Fowler’s recall in early December, but also because it gave us a bit more information on how that decision came to be, and it allowed the public to find out a little bit more about the Habs’ mentor trip and who the players decided to invite.

As you will recall, the call-up came on the back of a 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning, one in which both Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes allowed three goals on 11 shots or fewer. The show shows Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes watching the game before heading down to ice level to meet the coaching staff, where Gorton told Martin St-Louis and co. that Adam Engstrom, Owen Beck, and Fowler had been called up. No one discussed the possibility of a call-up; the coaching staff was simply told it was happening.

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Gorton also expressed his disappointment not only about the goaltending in that game but about the rest of the team’s performance in the third frame. Down 4-1 after 40 minutes, the Habs put up a less-than-satisfying effort in the last 20 minutes, only managing to take five shots on net and taking two early penalties, which certainly didn’t help matters. Speaking to St-Louis, the president of hockey ops was clear about his dissatisfaction and used a few choice words to get his message across.

Later in the episode, we were also given a peek inside the Canadiens’ dressing room in a road game against the Boston Bruins. After 40 minutes, the teams were tied at 2-2, and nobody wanted to lose the last game before the Christmas break. In a silent room, it wasn’t a veteran who spoke up to motivate the troops; no, it was the young Fowler who did, and it worked like a charm. The Habs ended up scoring four unanswered goals in the third and won the duel 6-2. This says a lot about how comfortable the 21-year-old was in the room and how much of a leader he can be. To feel comfortable enough to do that after just two weeks with the big club is quite a feat.

Fowler was sent back down to Laval in mid-January after a loss to the Buffalo Sabres, but he was called up again before the end of the season and served as backup for the duration of the playoffs. If it weren’t for Montembeault, it would be a foregone conclusion that Dobes and Fowler would be sharing the net this season, but since the Becancour native is still a member of the organization, it’s likely that Fowler will get another taste of the AHL. Still, what he showed last season, not only on the ice but behind the scenes, no doubt pleased the organization.

As for the mentor trip, the episode revealed that Alexandre Carrier and Cole Caufield invited their brothers to join them, while Lane Hutson chose his first-ever coach: his dad. Montembeault and Noah Dobson had their fathers along for the ride. As for Dobes, he asked his billet mom, Stacie Mullen. The netminder explained that he was lucky to have her and that she’s part of his second family in the USA. Dobes goes back to St. Louis every Summer to train and as often as he can during holidays. Mullen was honored to be invited and added that she thought she was the only lady on the trip; clearly, at that point, she didn’t know that Arber Xhekaj had invited his sister Sophia to tag along.

The fourth episode of the Rebuild will be out on Tuesday, September 15th, the day before the Canadiens’ training camp officially opens and the day after the golf tournament. It’s truly starting to smell like hockey…

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6 players to watch as Flyers head into rookie camp, series vs. Rangers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Flyers’ rookie training camp usually features a couple of players pushing for the big club’s roster.

This year, the camp features five players that saw action in the NHL playoffs last season. So the camp is not lacking roster hopefuls.

There’s plenty of intrigue with 2026 rookie camp, which opens Friday. You can see the roster and schedule below.

A look at Flyers' rookie camp roster and schedule. pic.twitter.com/Oe32tC1dO4

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 3, 2026

The camp again revolves around a pair of rookie games as the Flyers welcome the Rangers to PPL Center, the home of AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Game 1 is Saturday (7:05 p.m. ET) and Game 2 is Sunday (5:05 p.m. ET).

Let’s look at six players to watch.

Porter Martone, No. 94

Martone is undoubtedly the rookie camp headliner. The Flyers will look for the winger to lead the charge.

As one of the NHL’s top prospects, Martone is among the favorites to win the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year award). He’ll be in the Flyers’ season-opening lineup and is primed for a big role.

Martone fueled the Flyers’ playoff run last season after joining the club at the end of March. He doesn’t turn 20 years old until next month.

“He was well-prepared for pro hockey,” Flyers special advisor Patrick Sharp said in July. “But for him to step in in the middle of a playoff chase and be an impact player right away with the great players we had on the Flyers, to be counted on in the playoffs was, I think, really special. It’s hard to do. You don’t see that very often.”

Rick Tocchet working with Porter Martone before the 19-year-old’s first home game tonight. pic.twitter.com/o3t4bUlT69

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) April 2, 2026

Denver Barkey, No. 86

No one in rookie camp has more NHL experience than Barkey. The 21-year-old forward played over half of last season with the Flyers and appeared in all 10 playoff games.

Now he’s trying to nail down a season-opening lineup spot.

Barkey is also a joy to watch compete. He’ll treat a rookie game like a playoff game.

“The biggest thing about him is that he’s just so competitive,” Phantoms head coach John Snowden said last September. “He’s a smaller guy, but he plays like he’s 6-4.”

Think Denver Barkey likes to compete? He had back-to-back goals within maybe 15 to 20 seconds to win his team the 3-on-3 tourney. pic.twitter.com/3CQZZpR9TU

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 3, 2026

Alex Bump, No. 20

Bump opened eyes with the Flyers last season once he was called up after the March trade deadline.

He scored a goal in his NHL debut and finished with nine points (five goals, four assists) over 17 games. The Flyers went 6-0-1 when he recorded at least a point. He then had two goals in six playoff games, including one in his debut.

The 22-year-old winger understands you have to perform this time of year. He went scoreless in the rookie series last year and didn’t make it to final cuts during main camp. He’s in a better position now, but he knows what’s at stake.

“Nothing’s guaranteed,” Bump said in June. “You have to come into camp ready to make the team. You have to push someone out of their spot almost. That’s just the reality of being a young guy coming in, you have to take someone’s job.”

Alex Bump with a slick finish after stick-handling through a few guys. pic.twitter.com/OEyAfyuJ1x

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 3, 2026

Oliver Bonk, No. 59

The Flyers’ decision to play Bonk in last season’s second-round elimination loss said a lot. They trusted him in a game of that magnitude, which tells you they don’t think he’s all that far off from playing a role now.

The 21-year-old defenseman missed the rookie series last year because of an upper-body injury that ended up really lingering. He didn’t see game action with Lehigh Valley until December.

But the Flyers had Bonk around for the playoffs and gave him a look against the Hurricanes. He’s the most polished defenseman in rookie camp and could push for the big club’s season-opening roster.

“I think he’ll challenge at camp,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said in July. … “He may force his hand. To me, the moment’s never too big for him, just the way he plays the game. Doesn’t matter the level.”

Really nice shot here by Oliver Bonk as Matvei Michkov provides a screen. pic.twitter.com/DzXdjF08rB

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) May 3, 2026

Jett Luchanko, No. 77

The Flyers (and the fan base) would love to see Luchanko stand out in the rookie series.

His development has not been a smooth path. This offseason, he had to address an injury to his core area that had plagued him for about a year and a half. Last season, he fractured his jaw. And he has played on a lot of teams over the last two seasons.

Luchanko just turned 20 years old. He possesses very good speed and vision. He got a taste of the playoffs last season. But the Flyers will want to see him stay healthy and be a more assertive scorer in his first full season at the pro level.

“We want to push that offensive side this year, really challenge him to be a threat when he’s on the ice,” Snowden said in June. “Be a threat to shoot, be a threat to take pucks to the net. We don’t have to pass every single time. Just be a dual threat all over. His skating is going to give him that advantage; now we’ve got to make him see those opportunities to attack.”

Phantoms head coach John Snowden said Jett Luchanko is “an astute kid who works his butt off.” Said there’s offense inside of him. pic.twitter.com/gfSyEOOEVX

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) June 30, 2026

Maksim Sokolovskii, No. 61

The massive defenseman won’t be hard to find. Sokolovskii, a 6-foot-7, 240-pounder, will have a chance to show what he can do against some bigger and older players.

The Flyers drafted him at 27th overall this summer and he’s a project of sorts. But he’s only 18 years old and his ingredients are compelling.

“You watch him in drills, some of the things he can do for a player that size, at his age, are impressive,” Flahr said in July. … “His physical tools are immense. For us, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

Can see Maksim Sokolovskii’s reach here. He finds a way to stop Alex Bump, who had a head of steam. pic.twitter.com/PoMMtrmjzh

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) June 30, 2026

As the NHL inches closer to the regular season with training camps and preseason action just around the corner, there is still meat on the bone when it comes to the trade saga surrounding the Winnipeg Jets and superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. However, the end may finally be in sight, according to new reports.

According to TSN's Chris Johnston, the Jets have re-engaged to some degree in trade talks with the Buffalo Sabres around a potential deal for the three-time Vezina Trophy winner. 

Johnston noted the two clubs were linked heavily on a deal that might have happened around draft day, tied to some of the first-round picks involved, and that both sides have since had to reimagine what that package might look like.

This comes after the two clubs nearly struck a deal around the time of the draft that would've seen the Jets add the fourth overall pick and top-six forward Jack Quinn among other pieces in a returning package. However, the deal fell through when Winnipeg wasn't willing to move off its own first-round pick at ninth overall.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported on NHL Tonight this past Friday that he's heard there are "big challenges" when it comes to getting a deal done, which may be part of the reason Winnipeg is returning to the table with Buffalo. 

"Some of the things that were available at the beginning of the summer or at the draft are no longer available," Friedman explained, noting that no-trade lists reset on July 1, meaning players like Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen who might've been available to Winnipeg earlier in the summer could now be off the table. 

That means the Jets may not get the same return package they were offered around draft time. Still, with the storyline dragging into training camp, Winnipeg may simply look to move on from the situation and finalize a deal, even at a reduced price.

Hellebuyck is coming off a down season by his standards, finishing 2025-26 with a 23-23-11 record, a 2.86 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage, a steep drop from his back-to-back Vezina campaigns, when he combined for an 84-31-7 record, a 2.19 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. 

It will be a blockbuster deal whatever comes to pass, and with both sides reportedly reigniting talks, something may get done sooner rather than later.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 22 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #22. 

Let's take a look.

Chris Nielsen - 2001-2002 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 1998. 

After signing with Columbus, Neilsen played 52 games over the course of two seasons. After bouncing around the AHL for a few seasons, he left for Europe and played in Germany for a year. He decided to retire in 2006.

Nowadays, he's the attending surgeon at University Health Network and an Assistant Professor in the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.

Luke Richardson - 2003-2006 - Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1987. 

Richardson, a former Captain of the CBJ, played 190 games in Columbus. On March 8, 2006, he was traded to the Maple Leafs, later signing with the Senators, and then retiring on November 27, 2008. 

He moved into coaching in 2008 and has bounced around the NHL and AHL. His last job was with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he was fired on December 6th, 2024. Richardson is an asst. coach for the Nashville Predators. 

Mike Commodore - 2009-2011 - Drafted by New Jersey in 1999. 

Commodore was signed by Columbus on July 1, 2008, to a five-year contract worth $18.75 million. After 158 games, he was put on waivers on January 17, 2011, where he cleared waivers and was assigned to the Springfield Falcons. He would report to the AHL and play 11 games, but that was it for the Mike Commodore experience. 

He bounced around for a few seasons and finished his career playing in the KHL. Mike Commodore is mostly famous for his very nasty feud with Mike Babcock. 

Václav Prospal - 2012-2013 - Drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1993. 

Vinny Prospal played 130 games for Columbus and had 85 points. After two seasons, he retired on January 24, 2014. 

After retiring, he moved into coaching. He coached youth in the Tampa area before returning to Czechia in 2021. In 2023, he was named an asst. coach for the Rochester Americans of the AHL. For the upcoming season, he will be an asst. coach for the St. Louis Blues. 

Sonny Milano - 2016-2020 - Drafted by Columbus in 2014. 

Milano played 116 games for Columbus over five years and totaled 42 points. He spent the majority of his time playing for the Lake Erie/Cleveland Monsters, playing in 163 games. He scored 45 goals and had 112 points. 

The Sonny Milano experiment ended on February 24, 2020, when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. He played the last 4 seasons with the Washington Capitals before leaving for SC Bern in Switzerland this offseason. 

Jake Bean - 2022-2024 - Drafted by Carolina in 2016.

On July 23, 2021, Bean was traded by the Hurricanes to the Columbus Blue Jackets and then immediately signed to a three-year contract. Bean only played 153 games for the CBJ, and in one season he played only 14 games due to having shoulder surgery. 

The Jackets let him walk in 2024. He signed a deal with Calgary in 2024 and played only 80 games in two seasons. He remains a free agent today. 

Jordan Harris - 2025 - Drafted by the Montréal Canadiens in 2017. 

Harris was traded to Columbus before the 2024-25 season in exchange for Patrik Laine. He only played 33 games for the CBJ last season, even though he was healthy all year. The Jackets kept a lot of defensemen on the roster, and that led to him being a healthy scratch for most of the season. 

Harris was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2025, and he signed with his hometown Boston Bruins. 

There are 22 days until opening night at NWA. 

Carson Lambos is entering a much different training camp with the Minnesota Wild this fall.

For the first time in his professional career, the 23-year-old defenseman is no longer waiver exempt. If Lambos does not make the Wild’s opening-night roster and Minnesota wants to assign him to the Iowa Wild, he will first have to pass through waivers.

That creates an interesting situation for the Wild and their former first-round pick.

Minnesota selected Lambos with the 26th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He signed his three-year entry-level contract shortly afterward and spent two more seasons in the WHL before beginning his professional career with Iowa in 2023-24.

Now, after three seasons in the AHL, Lambos has reached the point where Minnesota can no longer freely move him between the NHL and AHL.

And there doesn’t appear to be an obvious spot waiting for him in Minnesota.

The Wild already have Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, Jonas Brodin, Jared Spurgeon, Olli Maatta, Zach Bogosian and Daemon Hunt on their blue line.

That’s seven defensemen before Lambos is even included.

Unless an injury occurs during training camp, Lambos faces an uphill battle to make the opening-night roster. Carrying him would likely require the Wild to keep eight defensemen, something they wouldn’t necessarily want to do when Lambos could instead be playing regular minutes in Iowa.

Even an injury wouldn’t necessarily guarantee Lambos an extended look.

Minnesota has additional organizational depth, including Viking Gustafsson-Nyberg, giving the Wild another option if they need to recall a defenseman during the season without creating the same roster complications.

3 Wild Prospects Who Could Make A Splash At Training CampThese three Wild prospects could be poised to make a splash in training camp.

That makes Lambos’ situation one of the more intriguing roster decisions to watch during training camp.

The 6-foot-1 left-shot defenseman has yet to establish himself as an NHL regular. He finally made his NHL debut last season, appearing in one game for Minnesota, while spending the majority of the year with Iowa.

Lambos remains an intriguing player because of his mobility and willingness to play hard. His skating has long been one of his better attributes, but questions remain about whether his offensive game and overall hockey sense will allow him to carve out a regular NHL role.

Those questions become increasingly important now that the Wild risk losing him if they attempt to send him back to Iowa.

Being placed on waivers doesn’t mean Lambos would automatically be claimed. Every NHL team makes similar decisions at the end of training camp, when the waiver wire becomes crowded with players fighting for roster spots around the league.

But Lambos’ situation could draw some attention.

He’s only 23 years old, was selected in the first round five years ago and has already accumulated three seasons of professional experience. A rebuilding team or an organization searching for young defensive depth could potentially view him as a worthwhile claim.

Still, it’s a risk the Wild haven’t had to consider with Lambos until now.

Minnesota could avoid the situation entirely if Lambos earns a roster spot during training camp. But with Hughes, Faber, Brodin, Spurgeon, Maatta, Bogosian and Hunt already occupying seven spots on the depth chart, there isn’t an obvious path.

That puts additional pressure on Lambos to make an impression during camp.

For the past three seasons, the Wild could simply send Lambos back to Iowa when he didn’t make the NHL roster. This year, they’ll need the rest of the league to let him get there.

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The Penguins announced their roster for this weekend’s prospects tournament in Detroit a full three days ahead of time. (Given the last minute nature of past roster releases, that statement is meant with a minimal level of irony).

Prospect Tournament is right around the corner!

Meet the 27 players representing the Penguins this weekend in Detroit. All three games will be streamed on the Penguins website.

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 8, 2026

Only 14 forwards are going, so it’s going to be a great chance for those involved. The core of this week’s team ought to be four players who finished the year with AHL Wilkes-Barre last season: Atley Calvert, Mikhail Ilyin, Tanner Howe and Bill Zonnon. They’re joined by recent draft picks in Liam and Markus Ruck, Pierce Mbuyi, Carter Sanderson and Jordan Charron – with the rest of the team rounded out by players signed to minor league contracts.

Defense should figure to be a strength for this week’s tournament. Harrison Brunicke should be ready to shine against this competition level and he’s joined by some talent with Finn Harding and Chase Pietila turning into solid AHL players last season. The blueline will be rounded out with Jake Livanavage and a couple of former second round picks (Tomas Galvas and Peyton Kettles) which creates a very talented back-end before getting to a couple of extra bodies with minor league contracts.

Goaltending might give some headaches this week, Pittsburgh is bringing three 18-year olds to Detroit. Only one, Matvei Nikonovich, was drafted. It’ll be fun to see how undrafted invite Carter Casey does after a strong summer development camp in Pittsburgh.

These tournaments can be important, last year it served as the launching point for Brunicke and Ben Kindel to make the NHL opening night roster. That process started in the prospects tournament. Even if that drastic jump is out of the reach for many this time around, it’s the start to a season and players like Livanavage, Zonnon, Howe and Ilyin can use the opportunity to show their skills and start making a case for working towards a potential mid-season call-up.

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

Here we go:

A little pre-training camp team-bonding today for the #NJDevils, and looks like everyone is in town well in advance of the Sept. 16 opening of main camp.

Looks like the team got together today for a round of golf at Echo Lake Country Club.

📸 : echolakecc / IG pic.twitter.com/FXpmJghgE3

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) September 9, 2026

“It’s a day that ends with the letter ‘y’ and you know what that means: it’s time to spread the good word of Luke Evangelista. Let’s dig into five things you should know about the newest member of the New Jersey Devils heading into the first of many seasons with the team.” [Infernal Access ($)]

“Markstrom is gone. The $6 million that was about to kick in is Florida’s problem. What is left in Newark is Allen, Nico Daws, and David Rittich at a combined $3.9 million and a public plan Sunny Mehta has already described as crease-by-committee. Allen said in July he can live with three goalies if the communication is clean. He also said he did not like it the last time he was in one. Both things can be true. Camp has to make them usable for the Devils.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]

Hockey Links

“The Wild have remained confident they will sign Hughes to an extension before the start of this season, which is only three weeks away. They’ve insisted these kinds of deals take time and have insinuated they’ve been given no indication that he doesn’t intend to sign. But until Hughes actually signs, there’s going to be a cloud of doubt over the potentially franchise-altering negotiations, just like with Kirill Kaprizov a year ago.” [The Athletic]

Chris Johnston on TSN today, when asked how the Quinn Hughes situation will play out: pic.twitter.com/xgcQoMoVzp

— JP Gambatese (@jp_gambatese) September 8, 2026

Fraser Minten gets a seven-year deal:

Fraser Minten has signed a 7 year $7.2M AAV extension with the Bruins 🤑

The 22 year old was in the Brandon Carlo trade at the 2025 deadline and then put up 35P as a rookie 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ef0p2cz7yq

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 8, 2026

NHL Draft news:

The NHL draft, which is being held June 25-26, will once again be with the de-centralized format for a third year in a row, the league confirms.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 8, 2026

Another negotiation situation to watch:

#CBJ Adam Fantilli, who remains an unsigned restricted free agent just eight days from the start of training camp, did not take part in the Blue Jackets’ annual pre-camp golf outing today at club owner John P. McConnell’s exclusive golf club, Double Eagle .

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) September 8, 2026

“Sidney Crosby said Tuesday that extension talks are underway with the Pittsburgh Penguins, though finding a term is a difficult proposition as he weighs his future. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer is entering his 22nd NHL season with the Penguins and last of a two-year, $8.7 million extension signed in 2024.” [TSN]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

The NHL’s North America media tour has begun (the Europe one was late last month), so expect a trickle of quotes and headlines to come as teams get ready for training camps beginning in one week.

Islanders News

• Matthew Schaefer is part of that media show. Here are photos of him…in a car or something, and sitting politely at a table. [Isles] Look for quotes and such in the days ahead.
• The top 26 prospects to watch this season; Victor Eklund gets a mention at 16. [NHL]
• Not Islanders-specific, but relevant: What the NHL and NHLPA will be monitoring with the changes under the new CBA (shorter camps, 84-game season, full-time EBUGs, no more grueling fitness tests). [Athletic]

Elsewhere

• Stan Fischler on the Devils going with three goalies. Chico Resch approves. [NHL]
• Connor McDavid observes that free agents are commanding “a lot of money.” He also is put in the odd position of needing to insist that American players do want to play in Canada. [Sportsnet]
• It’s time for a new washer already? The Flyers and 76ers are getting a new arena again. But it’s apparently privately funded, and the design harkens back to the Spectrum, which is cool. [ESPN]
• Ilya Samsonov is back in the NHL (maybe) with San Jose. [Sportsnet]
• Brady Tkachuk says it was a “really, really hard decision” to bail on Ottawa to go play with his brother. [Sportsnet]
• Adam Lowry says they can’t be distracted by Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request. Good luck with that. [Sportsnet]
• Despite all the turmoil in Detroit, Michigan native Alex DeBrincat’s intention is to stay. [Sportsnet]
• Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are talking his next contract. He wants to play forever but Father Time is undefeated. [NHL]

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With only eight days remaining until the Detroit Red Wings gather for Training Camp, the club continues to face more questions than answers, particularly surrounding its vacant general manager position and Dylan Larkin’s trade request.

The trade request of Larkin, a Metro Detroit native who was named captain in 2021, stunned fans when it became public in early June. Almost equally shocking was Steve Yzerman vacating his role as general manager just over a month later, in mid-July.

Forward Alex DeBrincat, who has been Larkin’s teammate since joining the Red Wings via trade in 2023, represented Detroit at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour in Las Vegas. He said that while Larkin’s trade request “sucks,” he and the rest of the team still view Larkin as a great player, and, for DeBrincat, a friend.

"It sucks," DeBrincat said via Hockey News managing editor Michael Traikos. "But it doesn’t really change what we think of him. He’s still a great player, he’s been a great friend and a great teammate. We obviously love him here. It's up to him to answer what's next. But we're happy to see him at the rink."

And while there may be plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Red Wings right now, DeBrincat has no plans to jump ship.

“When a new GM (is announced), I’m sure there’s going to be some conversations, but you know, as of right now, my opinion hasn’t changed,” DeBrincat said via NHL.com columnist Nick Cotsonika. “I love playing for the Red Wings. I love wearing that jersey and battling with those guys out there. My intention is obviously to stay in Detroit. We’ll see what happens, I guess.”

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

While the jury is still out on Larkin, one of DeBrincat’s teammates and friends has already chosen to move on from Detroit. Patrick Kane, who joined the Red Wings as a free agent in December 2023 thanks in large part to DeBrincat’s recruitment, is back with the Chicago Blackhawks after signing a two-year, $18 million contract.

Kane returns to the club that selected him first overall in the 2007 NHL Draft and helped lead to three Stanley Cup championships. 

For DeBrincat, who played alongside Kane in both Chicago and Detroit, it’s a disappointing loss - not only because of their friendship and on-ice chemistry, but also because of the leadership he brought. 

“It (stinks) for me and for our team,” DeBrincat said. “He was a big part of our team, obviously skill-wise but also leadership-wise. For me, he’s one of my best friends. He’s a guy I hang out with. Our kids are great friends. In that aspect of it, it (stinks). But if he’s going to go anywhere, I’m happy he went to Chicago. I feel like him going back home is probably the story that needed to be written.”

Last season, DeBrincat became the first Red Wings player since Marian Hossa in 2008-09 to reach 40 goals scored. His current contract pays him just under $8 million annually, a number that will easily increase on his next contract. 

But while the Red Wings are facing multiple uncertainties, one thing hasn't changed for DeBrincat - he's proud to represent his hometown club. 

"I know everyone in that room has immense pride in putting on that jersey and playing for the Detroit Red Wings,” he said. “From the outside looking in, I could see how you think it’s maybe doom and gloom, but in the locker room, everyone’s excited to go and ready to play and ready to show people what we’re made of."

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