With less than a month to go before the official start of the 2026-27 NHL regular season, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have a lot of decisions to make regarding their roster.

Of course, the biggest story during this year's training camp will be which prospects, if any, crack the opening night roster. Lineups and deployment will also be an interesting thing to watch out for, especially since there will be legitimate positional battles at all three junctures for the Penguins.

As intriguing as things will be on the forward and goaltending fronts, though, the blue line will be equally as interesting to keep an eye on. 

With the left side being, pretty much, anyone's game, the right side is a bit of a different story. On the right, two longtime NHL veterans in Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang will populate roster spots - and their respective careers are in much different places right now. 

Karlsson, 36, is coming off his best year as a Penguin, as his 15 goals and 66 points in 75 games as well as his spectacular play down the stretch of the regular season earned him Team MVP honors last season. He is, by all measures, still a top-pairing defenseman who can play at an elite level on a playoff team.

As for Letang? The 39-year-old has put together an impressive 20-year career in the NHL with the Penguins, registering 178 goals and 806 points in 1,235 career games. His production wasn't bad for a player his age last season, either, with three goals and 34 points in 74 games.

2026-27 Pittsburgh Penguins Player Projections: Kris LetangKris Letang's game has been on a downward trend over the last two years. Can he reverse course this year?

However, aside from the production falling off with age, it's the other parts of his game that have become a bit of a concern. He no longer has the wheels to be the effective one-on-one defender he used to be, and he can't get himself back in plays on the backcheck like he used to. His defensive zone reads are becoming an issue, the turnovers are a concern, and he isn't quite as effective in transition as he used to be.

Letang's minutes were reduced to 21:41 per game on average last season, which was almost a two-minute dip from the 2024-25 season. According to Moneypuck, he also had the worst mark among Penguins' defensemen in expected goals against per 60 minutes (3.44), and his on-ice expected goals share of 49.4 percent was also the worst mark among the eight Penguins' defensemen with more than 300 minutes of ice time. 

It's understandable to give Letang some benefit of the doubt here, especially since he had a rotating carousel of defensive partners throughout the season. He seemed to have a fair bit of chemistry with Brett Kulak in the short time he spent in Pittsburgh last season, and he did play better with Sam Girard in the last few games of the regular season and into the playoffs. 

4 Penguins Poised For Big Breakouts In 2026-27There are a few younger Pittsburgh Penguins who have the potential for massive seasons in 2026-27.

But, at this point, it's reasonable to suggest that Letang and the Penguins may benefit from slowly reducing his minutes. That is not necessarily a suggestion that Letang should be out of the lineup, as sheltered minutes could help maximize his performance in those minutes. Letang still has the capability of being a serviceable NHL defenseman, so as long as he is willing to adapt his game to be a bit more calculated and less risk-averse than it was in his younger years. 

Down the stretch, we did see that a bit with him and Girard. Girard, 28, is a decade younger and plays a comparable style to Letang's at the same age, and as they got used to playing with one another, Letang took a bit more of a backseat to Girard joining the rush and jumping up on the play. 

If he continues to develop chemistry with Girard and can tap into that style of play moving forward, he'll still be a valuable part of the Penguins' defensive corps. But whether he should be doing this in top-four minutes is a different story.

Report: Mario Lemieux, Ron Burkle Sell Penguins' Ownership SharesPittsburgh Penguins' legend cuts formal ties with the organization for the first time in nearly 40 years.

But things are not really that simple. 

Karlsson will be the top right defenseman for this team, but he is also in the final year of his contract. Depending on how the season goes for the Penguins, he is a potential trade candidate, should he be willing to move. They also just acquired Kaedan Korczak from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for left defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, and although the Penguins are intrigued by Korczak, he's still largely a wildcard and has not been tested in a top-four role.

Then, there's Harrison Brunicke - just named Pittsburgh's top prospect on our annual Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list - who will more than likely make a strong case for himself at training camp, just as he has done in the past two years. If both Brunicke and Korczak put on strong camp showings, how will the Penguins manage Letang? Could he potentially play his off-side? Will one of them unseat him for a second-pair role?

To start the season, the last thing is a bit unlikely. But, especially as the season goes on, it's a distinct possiblity, especially if either one of Brunicke or Korczak gain any kind of momentum.

Regardless, the Penguins are set to have some tough decisions to make about their blue line, and Letang's role is going to be one of the biggest questions heading into the 2026-27 season. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026: The Full ListThe Pittsburgh Penguins have an influx of talent in their system from the last few years, and THN - Pittsburgh Penguins counted down the Top-20 prospects in the organization right now.

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The 2026-27 season is on the horizon for the New York Islanders, so it's time to preview the season and highlight expectations for the team and each specific player.

Perhaps the single best story in all of hockey right now might just be the return of Semyon Varlamov to the hockey.

Varlamov, 38, underwent a double-knee replacement and has not appeared in the NHL since November 2024. The journey he's gone through since then to work his way back to this point where he's considered healthy and NHL ready is astounding.

He played two rehab games with the team's then-AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders at the very end of the season, going 2-0 while making 46 saves out of 49.

Varlamov's return also can end the carousel of backups behind Ilya Sorokin, as both David Rittich and Marcus Hogberg struggled behind Sorokin, forcing the Russian into extra starts down the stretch of the last two seasons.

A healthy and strong Varlamov can change all of that and will give the Islanders two goalies they can trust.

While September is just about here, there are still players who remain unsigned at this point in the off-season. 

A former Chicago Blackhawks forward is one of the top unrestricted free agents (UFAs) left with NHL training camps soon getting started: Philipp Kurashev.

Kurashev still being a free agent comes after he spent the 2025-26 season with the San Jose Sharks. In 43 games with the Pacific Division club, he posted seven goals, 13 assists, 20 points, and a plus-1 rating. It was a step in the right direction for the 26-year-old, as he had seven goals, 14 points, and a minus-28 rating in 51 games for Chicago in 2024-25. 

Now that NHL training camps are almost here, it would not necessarily be surprising if Kurashev lands a PTO from an NHL club. He could be a decent player for another team to take a chance on with a PTO to create more competition for their NHL roster. 

Kurashev was selected by the Blackhawks with the 120th overall pick of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He spent his first five NHL seasons with the Original Six club, where he posted 42 goals, 82 assists, and 130 points. His best season with Chicago was in 2023-24, as he set career highs with 18 goals, 36 assists, and 54 points. 

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The countdown is on, with the Detroit Red Wings now less than three weeks away from officially opening training camp ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season.

For now, the club has more questions than answers, most notably who its next general manager will be (and when that announcement will come), as well as the ultimate fate of captain Dylan Larkin, who requested a trade earlier this offseason.

Meanwhile, multiple former members of the Red Wings are facing questions of their own, specifically whether or not their NHL careers could be at an end. 

Among the veteran players who recently played in Detroit and continue to await their next contract are forwards James van Riemsdyk and Vladimir Tarasenko, defenseman Jeff Petry, and goaltenders Cam Talbot and James Reimer. 

van Riemsdyk, who was the No. 2 overall selection in the 2007 NHL Draft (one selection behind now-former Red Wings forward Patrick Kane), scored 15 goals with 16 assists in his first and only season in Detroit.

The 37-year-old veteran has played 1,154 NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Red Wings. 

Tarasenko, a two-time Stanley Cup champion, spent just one season in Detroit in 2024-25, struggling with just 11 goals in 80 games.

After being traded to Minnesota last offseason, he bounced back with 23 goals and 24 assists in 75 games, the type of production the Red Wings had hoped to get when they signed him to a two-year deal in 2024. 

Petry, a 38-year-old Ann Arbor native and the son of former Detroit Tigers World Series-winning pitcher Dan Petry, spent two seasons with his hometown team from 2023 to 2025. He split last season between the Florida Panthers and the Minnesota Wild. 

He's played in 1,048 career NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Red Wings, Panthers, and Wild. 

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

Talbot, who is coming off a two-year contract with the Red Wings signed in 2024, went 12-9-6 with a 3.19 goals-against average and an .833 save percentage in 2025-26. 

At age 39, his options are dwindling.

Red Wings' David Perron Remains Unsigned as Training Camp ApproachesAfter a disappointing homecoming and a quiet free agency, the Stanley Cup champion faces an uncertain future as roster spots vanish across the league’s training camps.

Meanwhile, Reimer spent last season with the Ottawa Senators, who signed him to a one-year contract after he failed to secure a deal following a PTO with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he began his NHL career.

During his only season with the Red Wings in 2023-24, Reimer posted an 11-8-2 record with a 3.11 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage and two shutouts. 

Reimer will turn 39 in March, and like Talbot, the chances of him landing another NHL contract aren't strong. 

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The Buffalo Sabres had an excellent season last year, winning the highly-competitive Atlantic Division, then beating the Boston Bruins in the first-round of the 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoffs. The bar has been raised for Buffalo, but the rest of the Atlantic is just as competitive, if not more so than the Sabres are. 

So, for the second straight season here at THN.com, we're going to break down Buffalo’s Eastern Conference opponents in a series we like to call “Know Your Enemy”. We’re going to focus on the Bruins’ changes, as well as their scheduled games against Boston. Let's get to it:

BUFFALO SABRES VS. BOSTON BRUINS

NEW BRUINS PLAYERS: J.J. Peterka, (LW); Ivan Ivan (LW), Connor Clifton (D), Jiri Patera (G), Brendan Gaunce (LW), Will Borgen (D)

2025-26 SERIES: Sabres 1-1-2, Bruins 3-1-0

2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: January 5, at Boston; March 23 at Boston; April 1 at Buffalo; April 7 at Buffalo

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Bruins surprised many people this past season, and that includes the Sabres, who lost three of four regular-season games against Boston in 2025-26. Buffalo got their revenge in the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean the Sabres won’t have their hands full with the Bs next season. To the contrary.

Buffalo will get a longer look at former Sabres star Peterka, who played with the Utah Mammoth last year before the Bruins traded for him this summer. But Boston’s other moves were largely cosmetic. The Bruins are still built around star winger David Pastrnak, defenseman Charlie McAvoy and goalie Jeremy Swayman, and that hasn’t changed.

The weird twists and turns of the NHL schedule will see Buffalo take on Boston three times in a two-week period at the tail end of their schedule. That means the Sabres will be a very different team post-trade-deadlne, and they’re going to have a tough time keeping pace with the rest of their Eastern Conference rivals.

Indeed, the Sabres and Bruins could wind up fighting it out for one of the final wild card berths in the East this season. And that makes every game they play incredibly important for Buffalo. The Sabres have to take care of their intra-divisional games, and although Buffalo won’t see Boston until the new calendar year, the two teams are going to be fighting it out, tooth-and-nail, for prime real estate in the Atlantic.

The Sabres will need to be consistently excellent to have a hope at winning their division. But as Boston has shown, there’s no lack of challenge for Buffalo, regardless of their opponent. The Sabres can’t afford any prolonged stretch of sub-par play, and that means taking care of business against a proud and determined Bruins squad.

Because if they can’t do that and the Bs overtake them for a playoff spot, Buffalo will be haunted over their losses to Boston. The Sabres probably won’t be as dominant in 2026-27 as they were this past year, but finishing ahead of the Bruins will be a must for Buffalo.

Heading into the 2026-27 season, the Winnipeg Jets have plenty on their plate as they look to get back into the mix as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. From roster battles to a lingering trade saga to a long list of players auditioning for their next contract, here are the three biggest storylines to watch as training camp approaches.

Are Brayden Yager and Elias Salomonsson Ready to Make the Pro Jump This Season?

Some of Winnipeg's hope for a bounce-back season rests on fresh blood joining the roster full-time. Brad Lambert has already established himself as a lineup fixture, with both Elite Prospects and Daily Faceoff projecting the 22-year-old to make the team out of camp. Less certain are the roles awaiting Brayden Yager and Elias Salomonsson.

Salomonsson was a regular presence for the Jets over a stretch of last season, but the additions of Jack St. Ivany and Haydn Fleury, both capable of playing the right side of the defense, muddy his path to a roster spot. 

What a shot from Elias Salomonsson for his first NHL goal 👏🎯 pic.twitter.com/3DSjjhV7mZ

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 28, 2026

The former second-round pick appeared in 32 games with Winnipeg last season, recording a goal and four assists for five points with a minus-six rating, while also posting nine points in 29 AHL games with Manitoba. His season ended early after a shoulder injury suffered during the Moose's playoff push required surgery.

Yager, also 21, may be a step behind Salomonsson in NHL readiness, but he made a strong case for himself in his first full pro season, picking up 30 points in 68 games with Manitoba and adding four points in seven playoff games. He also got a brief NHL look, appearing in three games with the Jets late in the year. Both players figure to be among the most interesting names to watch once camp opens.

Will Connor Hellebuyck Remain in Winnipeg All Season?

No storyline looms larger over the Jets than the future of Connor Hellebuyck. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner made his intentions known during his end-of-season media availability, saying that after winning Olympic gold with Team USA, all that's left on his mind is a Stanley Cup, whether that happens in Winnipeg or elsewhere.

That stance nearly resulted in a trade to the Buffalo Sabres around the draft, in a deal reportedly involving the fourth overall pick, before talks fell apart. On August 27, Hellebuyck's agent, Ray Petkau, released a statement confirming that Hellebuyck had requested a trade months earlier and that his "position has not changed." 

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. 

The Jets have already hedged against his potential departure by acquiring goaltender Stuart Skinner in free agency, giving them a capable option in net regardless of how the situation resolves.

Several Impact Players Enter Contract Years

Beyond the Hellebuyck situation, the Jets have a notably long list of players entering contract years who could shape the roster's direction going forward.

Up front, Nino Niederreiter is looking to bounce back from one of the roughest seasons of his career, having posted just 19 points in 61 games last year and at 33, he'll be chasing what could be his final contract.

Center Vladislav Namestnikov faces a similar situation after a down year of his own, managing 14 points in 60 games, and will be looking to return closer to his previous near-40-point form. 

Morgan Barron, who posted a career-best 23 points in 65 games despite missing time to injury, could be in line for a bigger role and a corresponding payday if he can build on that progress. And Lambert, entering the final year of his entry-level deal, faces his own prove-it season as he looks to lock down a long-term role.

On the back end, veteran Haydn Fleury enters the final year of his contract as Winnipeg's projected seventh defenseman, while Salomonsson, still on his entry-level deal, will need to show he's ready for full-time NHL minutes to secure his next contract.

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After two seasons and a Czech Extraliga Championship with HC Kometa Brno, former San Jose Sharks defenseman Brandon Davidson will be looking for a new home for the 2026-27 season.

"We thank Brandon for everything he has done for Kometa," HC Kometa Brno Sports Manager Tomas Vincour said in a press release. "The reason why our paths are now diverging is the overpressure in the defensive ranks and the decision to give more space to our younger players. It is definitely not an easy farewell for us, but considering the breadth of the squad, its reduction was inevitable. We wish Brandon good luck and success in his future hockey journey,"

"I will never forget the time I spent at Kometa," Davidson himself said in the same release. "The championship title, the energy and the atmosphere around the club in the last two years changed my life. I would like to thank the fans for the support I have always felt here. I appreciate it very much. I am proud to have been part of such a first-class organization. My thanks go to the entire Kometa team, led by Libor Zábranský, for everything they have done for me."

Davidson didn't play at all during the 2025-26 season due to injury, leaving the 35-year-old defenseman's future somewhat up in the air moving forward. 

Davidson played for the Sharks during the 2019-20 season, when he appeared in five games for the team in teal after being acquired for future considerations. The defenseman also had stops with the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, and Buffalo Sabres. 

DENVER — Cale Makar already knew where he wanted to spend the prime of his career.

Two days after signing an eight-year contract extension that will keep him with the Colorado Avalanche through the 2034-35 season, Makar sat alongside Joe Sakic at The Inverness Denver Hotel on Monday and reflected on a decision that, in many ways, never felt particularly complicated.

He wanted to stay.

The Avalanche wanted him to stay.

And after seven seasons in Colorado, Makar said the relationship he has built with the organization, his teammates and the community made committing to another eight years an easy choice.

“I’m very fortunate to be able to sign this deal and be here for the next long, long while,” Makar said.

The extension, which was announced Saturday, will make Makar the highest-paid player in NHL history on an annual basis. But when the 27-year-old spoke about the contract Monday, the conversation centered less on the size of the number and more on what those eight years represent.

Makar could have pursued a shorter contract and positioned himself for another major payday as the salary cap continues to climb. Instead, he wanted the security of knowing he would remain in Colorado — while giving the Avalanche the same clarity as they continue building their roster around him and Nathan MacKinnon.

“I think for myself and the team, it gives us a lot of clarity in the sense of the direction that we want to go,” Makar said.

That stability was important to Sakic, too.

The Avalanche’s president of hockey operations and general manager said the two sides began discussing the possibility of an extension shortly after the season. The process eventually picked up in July, after the draft and free agency, as the league’s rapidly escalating salary market began to take shape.

Still, Sakic said, the negotiation itself was relatively straightforward.

There was never much debate over the term.

Both sides wanted eight years.

For Colorado, securing Makar long term means one of the most important pieces of its future is no longer something the organization has to wonder about.

“He’s a generational player,” Sakic said. “Unreal to watch, fan favorite. To see what he does and what he can do on the ice is so special.”

Makar has already built a résumé few defensemen in NHL history can match. Since Colorado selected him fourth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, he has won the Calder Trophy, two Norris Trophies and the Conn Smythe Trophy while helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.

He has also become one of only three defensemen in NHL history to average at least a point per game over his career, joining Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey.

Yet Makar seemed more interested Monday in what comes next than in everything he has already accomplished.

He acknowledged how quickly the years have passed since Colorado drafted him and admitted it is strange to think about where he will be when the new contract expires.

“It’s crazy,” Makar said.

The expectations, naturally, will only grow with the contract.

Makar said he already puts plenty of pressure on himself to perform, regardless of what is written on his paycheck. The historic nature of the deal may add another layer from the outside, but he does not intend to let it change how he approaches the game.

If anything, he hopes it pushes him harder.

“I feel like I’m a guy that just puts a lot of pressure on myself to do well year in and year out,” Makar said. “For me, I’m actually kind of excited. I think it’s going to make me hopefully push myself even a little bit more.”

Now, the uncertainty is gone.

Makar is staying in Colorado. The Avalanche know what they have committed to him. And for the next eight years, the franchise can focus on the same question it has been chasing since Makar arrived in Denver:

How many more championships can they build around him?

Over the past seven seasons, the Florida Panthers haven't had to worry much about their goaltending situation. 

Sergei Bobrovsky was a workhorse who delivered when the team needed him to. But now, Bobrovsky is the starting netminder for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Panthers have moved on.

Heading into the 2026-27 season, the Panthers goaltending duo will consist of Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid. 

Markstrom is a proven goaltender, having played 578 NHL games. But Markstrom is now 36 years old and is coming off two poor seasons with the New Jersey Devils despite high expectations. He is far from a safe option in goal and has lost the ability to be a workhorse No. 1.

Schmid, on the other hand, is just 26 years old but has only 82 NHL games of experience. His numbers have been inconsistent, but he is coming off a season in which he played 34 games with the Vegas Golden Knights, who went to the Stanley Cup Final.

The likelihood of Schmid stealing the No. 1 role from Markstrom is slim, but Schmid will still be an important piece of the Panthers' success.

Connor Hellebuyck Makes Trade Request Public, But Could Florida Panthers Explore Potential DealConnor Hellebuyck is still looking for a new home, as the elite netminder's public demand could spark a trade frenzy across the NHL.

Markstrom hasn't eclipsed the 50-game mark in any of the three previous seasons. With an 84-game schedule, Markstrom's 44 games during the 2025-26 season would equal just 52 percent of the games. If Markstrom is unable to play more than 44 games again, either due to fatigue, injury, or poor performance, it would require Schmid to dress in 40 games, setting a new career high. 

That raises multiple questions. Can Schmid handle the workload, and will he be able to perform at a high enough level to keep the Panthers competitive in a strong Atlantic Division?

There is evidently more pressure on Markstrom than there is on Schmid. Markstrom is the goalie the Panthers want starting games when the playoffs come, but as the 2025-26 season demonstrated, the Panthers need to play well in the regular season to get themselves there. There is far too much parity in the NHL to just coast to the playoffs.

Remaining NHL Free Agent Goaltenders The Florida Panthers Can Target To Be The Third StringerAs it stands, the Florida Panthers have two goaltenders on their NHL roster and no real candidates from their AHL team to step up as a third-string goaltender. Who can the Panthers target on the UFA market?

That's where the pressure on Schmid will arise from. In the past, the Panthers felt comfortable with Bobrovsky starting over 50 games a season and then throwing strong backup netminders like Anthony Stolarz and Spencer Knight into the crease when Bobrovsky required rest. 

The Panthers no longer have that workhorse and need to see positive results before they can trust their backup netminder. 

While Markstrom will be important and has plenty of pressure on him, Schmid is almost just as important. 

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There have been quite a few people who have worn the number 31, but the two standouts were goaltenders who held the number back-to-back, Antti Niemi and Martin Jones. Today though, we'll focus on Jones.

Jones started his NHL journey with one of the Sharks' biggest rivals, the Los Angeles Kings after he signed as an undrafted free agent. 

After multiple more seasons in the Western Hockey League and a few in the American Hockey League, Jones finally got his first NHL opportunity during the 2013-14 season and massive impressed. In 19 games that season, he registered a 1.81 goals against average and a .934 save percentage while going 12-6-0 with the Kings. He then appeared in two playoff games that season, which eventually culminated in him winning his first, and only, Stanley Cup.

Jones played 15 games for the Kings during the following season, but considering he was stuck behind one of the NHL's top goaltenders of that era, Jonathan Quick, there was simply no path forward for him in Los Angeles. As a result, the Kings traded him to the Boston Bruins during the summer of 2015, as they didn't want to face him on a regular basis, so they opted to keep him away from the Western Conference. The Bruins had different plans though, as they flipped him to the Sharks just four days later. 

With the Sharks, Jones' game found reached a new level. During his first season in teal, he finished seventh in Vezina Trophy voting and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Final before ultimately being defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The following season, he was named an NHL All-Star for the first, and only, time in his career. 

Jones' play diminished considerably in his final three years with the Sharks, registering an .896 save percentage and hovering around a goals against average of 3.00 each season. As a result, he was bought out in the summer of 2021 and remains on the Sharks' payroll today.

Jones then went on to have short single season stints with the Philadelphia Flyers, Seattle Kraken, and Toronto Maple Leafs before his career came to an end following the 2023-24 season. 

Last season, Jones served as a goaltending coach for the BCHL's Coquitlam Express as he begins his path into coaching. 

Arguably the least sensical Philadelphia Flyers saga of the 2026 offseason is nearing a close, and mercifully so with the start of training camp just over two weeks away.

On Monday afternoon, PHLY's Anthony Gargano shared on the PHLY Flyers podcast with Charlie O'Connor that young Flyers star Matvei Michkov will be making his long-awaited return to the local area on Monday night in preparation for the start of training camp.

Michkov's absence has been a source of consternation amongst Flyers fans on social media for most of the last several weeks, as many had hoped the 21-year-old would return to North America earlier on the heels of a sophomore season that saw statistical regression across the board, in addition to head coach Rick Tocchet publicly stating that Michkov didn't come into last year's training camp in good shape.

Fortunately for the fist-shakers, Michkov's impending return will put an end to all the debate, and it's worth noting that Michkov spent most of his summer training anyway, regardless of location.

For instance, the 2023 No. 7 overall pick had previously trained with Artemi Panarin and Mikhail Sergachev, among others, overseas in Russia.

Oh, and Michkov at times trained multiple times a day with an unnamed Flyers coach, too.

Flyers not too worried about Michkov

You can be sure the Flyers are aware that, in spite of everything that went on with Michkov last season, the Russian phenom still delivered a very productive campaign relative to his usage.

In a recent interview with RG, Flyers GM Danny Briere noted that this, more than anything, is indicative of how high Michkov's ceiling really is.

"It's pretty funny, when we talk about Matvei having a bounce-back season, he still had 20 goals and 50-plus points," Briere said. "But that’s how much he’s seen as a guy that can be a difference-maker, which is really exciting."

Of equal importance, Michkov is heading into the last year of his three-year, entry-level contract, and while the Flyers can sign him to an extension at any time, the Flyers have until Sept. 15 to make an extension eight years.

After that, changes to the NHL's CBA will limit the Flyers and Michkov to a maximum of seven years.

In any event, Michkov's long summer of training overseas back home in Russia was never a true issue to anyone except those who made it a point to take exception to that. For the sake of comparison, New Jersey Devils fans had little to say about their Russian winger, Arseny Gritsyuk, who also just returned this week and earned himself a three-year, $9.75 million payday back on June 30.

Now that Michkov is returning, though, the real work is set to begin, and the Flyers starlet will need to show the fruits of his labor to Tocchet and the Flyers' coaching staff on the ice and in the weight room in a few weeks' time.

The New York Islanders announced on Monday that David Shuman of Lateralus Holdings is set to join the ownership group, pending the NHL's approval.

Shuman, a lifelong Islanders fan, is the founder of Lateralus Holdings, a venture capital firm that invests in high-growth and transformative technology companies. Shuman serves as Chairman of both Oura and webAI, per the club's release.

"Hockey has been a constant in my life since childhood, both as a fan and a player,” Shuman said. "And the 1980 Miracle on Ice, combined with the Islanders’ four consecutive Stanley Cup championships, cemented a lifelong passion. My childhood bedroom was covered in newspaper photos and magazine covers of Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Clark Gillies, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, John Tonelli and Bobby Nystrom. Being part of this organization today is a full-circle moment. I’m honored to help support the Islanders’ future and their drive for a fifth Cup.”

Islanders owner Jon Ledecky loves the addition.

"David is one of the most passionate Islanders fans I know and an extraordinary builder of companies," Ledecky said. "That mindset will be invaluable as we continue to invest in this organization and in this community."

#Isles have a new minority owner: David Shuman

He’s a lifelong Isles fan. pic.twitter.com/6PeKC4jGAg

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) August 31, 2026

Shuman will join Scott Malkin (principal owner and governor), Ledecky (co-owner, alternate governor), Dewey Shay (co-owner), John Collins (operating partner and co-owner who oversees business operations), and Oliver Haarmann (co-owner) as the Islanders' ownership group. 

His investment will not impact any of the club's day-to-day operations, front office leadership or hockey operations. 

 

Joel Hofer broke out in a major way during the 2025-26 season for the St. Louis Blues. 

He started a career-high 43 games and played in a career-high 46. He posted a .910 save percentage, the second-highest of his NHL career, and a career-high 2.61 goals-against average. He also registered the second-most shutouts in the NHL with six, which was once again a career-high.

But his success goes further. According to moneypuck.com, Hofer posted 11.7 goals saved above expected, tying for the 11th most in the NHL.

Hofer checked off every box of a No. 1 starter. He showed he could handle an increased workload while not only keeping his level of play but also improving. At 26 years old, the 6-foot-5 Canadian netminder gave the Blues every reason to believe he is the No. 1 goaltender above Jordan Binnington right now and heading into the future.

There are a few challenges Hofer faces heading into the 2026-27 season. The first obvious challenge is that the Blues need Hofer to replicate his success. With a career save percentage of .909 and consistent performances over the past three seasons, there is a high level of confidence that Hofer will replicate that production.

The second challenge is that Hofer enters a critical season for his future. This campaign will be the second and final season of Hofer's two-year, $3.4 million contract. A strong performance as a No. 1 should earn him a long-term deal at a very respectable price, especially due to the demand for goaltenders and his age. An element that should help Hofer feel more secure about his future with the Blues is that he is a restricted free agent. 

Unless he is traded or signs an offer sheet after the Blues tender him a qualifying offer, he'll be back with the Blues. His play during the season will determine how long the deal is, the dollar amount, and whether he signs a deal in-season, as the Blues have done very frequently with RFAs performing at a high level.

It's Joel Hofer's Crease Now; Young Blues Goaltender Making A Strong Case To Be No. 1 Goaltender In 2026-27Joel Hofer has dominated the league since the NHL resumed play following the Olympics, and the St. Louis Blues’ hopes of making the playoffs rest on Hofer’s shoulders.

But the final challenge Hofer faces is the one he has no control over: Binnington's performance. Binnington remains a fan favorite, an experienced veteran goaltender with a Stanley Cup, an Olympic silver medal, and plenty of NHL success. Binnington, too, is entering the final year of his contract, but he is an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team on July 1, 2027. 

There have been plenty of trade rumors surrounding Binnington, but so far, the Blues have elected to keep the 33-year-old. 

If Binnington posts similar numbers to his .873 save percentage as he did during the 2025-26 season, Hofer should have no issues locking down the No. 1 role. But if Binnington bounces back to his 2024-25 season, he'll likely steal starts from Hofer and see the Blues crease become more of a tandem. 

The Blues have aspirations of making the playoffs, and they'll need excellent goaltending to do so. Can Joel Hofer overcome these challenges and be the man for the job?

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The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.  

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games. 

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Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

9. Luke Osburn – Defense (Wisconsin – NCAA)

Osburn was the Sabres fourth-round pick at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas. The Plymouth, MI native is a product of the Compuware youth hockey system and played for Youngstown of the USHL in his draft year. After scoring 23 points for the Phantoms as a 17-year-old, the offensive-minded blueliner broke out in 2024-25,  scoring 41 points (10 goals, 31 assists) in 55 games and was named the USHL’s Defenseman of the Year.

The 19-year-old impressed at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase for Team USA and got on the radar for the 2026 IIHF WJC in Minneapolis this December, but his performance as a freshman for the University of Wisconsin pushed him over the line. He posted 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists) in 33 games for the Badgers, and had to step up into a larger role at the WJC when Cole Hutson was injured early in the tournament. 

Elite Prospects says that Osburn’s “activation looks instinctive; he instantly joins the play at the right moments and stays inside passing lanes. From the point, he uses stop-starts and heel-to-heel skating to pull in defenders before slipping down the boards. In the rush, he manipulates defenders with crossovers, weight shifts, and fakes, then walks inside for a scoring chance.”

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NEW YORK (AP) — David Shuman has joined the New York Islanders’ ownership group as a limited partner, subject to NHL approval.

Shuman’s venture capital firm, Lateralus Holdings, and the team announced his minority investment on Monday. The Islanders did not disclose financial terms or what percentage Shuman is getting other than to say there will be no changes to day-to-day business and hockey operations or front office leadership.

Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky serve as governor and alternate governor, with Oliver Haarmann, Dewey Shay and John Collins also listed as co-owners.

“David is one of the most passionate Islanders fans I know and an extraordinary builder of companies," Ledecky said in a statement. “That mindset will be invaluable as we continue to invest in this organization and in this community.”

In addition to founding Lateralus Holdings, Shuman serves as chairman of Oura and webAI.

“Hockey has been a constant in my life since childhood, both as a fan and a player, and the 1980 Miracle on Ice combined with the Islanders’ four consecutive Stanley Cup championships cemented a lifelong passion,” Shuman said in a statement, referring to the Islanders' glory days of the early '80s. "I’m honored to help support the Islanders’ future and their drive for a fifth Cup.”

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See AP’s full NHL coverage here