Category: NHL

Piggybacking off the earlier look into the forwards that could make sense for the Penguins to consider with the 22nd pick in Friday’s NHL draft, let’s take a turn to the blueline.

Be it coincidence or preference, Kyle Dubas has only drafted one defenseman in the first round since he became a general manager in 2018 (the year Toronto took Rasmus Sandin 29th, from – surprise, surprise, the Soo Greyhounds). The last five first rounders Dubas has made (Rodion Amirov [RIP], Brayden Yager, Ben Kindel, Bill Zonnon, Will Horcoff) have all been forwards. Forwards have also been the first pick Dubas made in 2019, 2021 and 2022 when his first selection of the draft was in the second round of those respective years. (He did take a defenseman, Harrison Brunicke, with his first selection of 2024).

Tendencies can sometimes be broken, but that might be worth keeping in mind when handicapping who the first pick of the Pens will be. You wouldn’t go wrong betting on a forward in most years, but there are some intriguing options on the blueline to consider as well.

Xavier Villeneuve 

Villeneuve could be the most polarizing prospect in the whole 2026 class. The Athletic’s recent feedback from NHL scouts included such snippets on him as, “the size and lack of willingness to defend scares the hell out of me” and from another “a bit one-dimensional and still questionable risk management”, a third saying “he can look like a mess. Bad defensive reads. A lack of strength to defend” yet another saying “Villeneuve is really bad defensively”. There was more along those lines, you get the picture.

What Villeneuve has going from him getting beyond the flaws is a very dynamic ability to impact the game as an offensive defenseman. He skates like the wind with excellent edge work. He sees the ice well and can make plays like few other. He performed incredibly well in off ice combine testing, showing that he’s one of the best pure athletes in the class. Villeneuve’s style doesn’t make fans of everyone, his positives are bright even if the negatives can be glaring at times, themselves.

To add to the consternation about his game, Villeneuve didn’t have a great draft season where he dealt with injuries and what some saw as a lack of progress in his season when he did play, including a shaky playoff when he likely wasn’t 100% in his return from an injury. Despite the unimpressive season, Villeneuve has such an extreme talent level which has kept him considered in the range to being a late-first round pick. He’ll have some teams that won’t rate him that way due to the question marks and style concerns with the lack of defensive dimension in his game, but he has his fans too.

It’s difficult to say if this is a player the Penguins are truly interested in, because this type of profile is so unique. In this day and age smaller defensemen like Quinn Hughes and Lane Hutson can thrive, yet other high-risk styles like Erik Brannstrom and Ty Smith end up mostly fizzling out. NHL teams strive for game-breakers, yet they also risk drafting a new-age Marc-Andre Bergeron (tiny, dynamic, power play weapon but little else of value). And, who knows, an M-A Bergeron comparison could even prove generous for Villeneuve.

The Pens added three defensemen in the top-100 picks of the 2025 draft, the average size of the trio being over 6’3″ and 200 pounds. Is that the profile they are going to want to stick to, or conversely have they built enough there to expand their horizons to seek something different and go in the direction of skill?

Villeneuve would be an intriguing pick, if only to show the Pens are willing to take on a large degree of tolerance to look for a big swing that could add a significant player to the roster, hedging against the chance that it flames out. Drafting a player with low-end compete and questionable on ice work ethic would be something of a deviation from the profiles of most players selected recently, and could also prove to be a little too risky at 22nd overall when the prospect pool has so many other needs and possibilities to add more of a sure thing. Taking Villeneuve will be the bold move someone will make, whether or not that will be the Penguins is questionable at best.

Tommy Bleyl

Bleyl could be seen as a more moderate version of Villeneuve. Both are nearly the same size (5’11” and about 165 pounds), Bleyl adds a difference in being a right shot defender. Unlike Villeneuve who was seen as having a stagnant season in 2025-26, Bleyl is coming into the draft with his stock on a rapid and massive rise. NHL’s Central Scouting had a 4th/5th round grade on Bleyl at the beginning of the season, he ended up being the 17th ranked North American skater in the final rankings that has him looking at a possible first round selection.

Bleyl’s strength is his skating and offensive ability, he also led the QMJHL in assists from his defense position which speaks to his ability to read and develop plays in the offensive zone. He does have concerns about his overall strength and how his transition to playing in the pros will go defensively, but is considered to be a better gap and positional defender than Villeneuve (which might not be saying that much).

Dubas and the Pens love to stockpile right shot defenders, and they don’t have many in the mold that can lead the rush and could be potential power play options in the NHL. Bleyl offers that dimension and would also make for a good debate to be picked, should he be available at 22.

Ryan Lin

Lin is a player with a lot more detail, maturity and well-roundedness in his game compared to Villeneuve and Bleyl. Being closer to 180 pounds, he’s got a more pro ready body type as well. As such, the Penguins sitting at No. 22 might not be in position to draft Lin. Getting him might require moving up the board a handful of picks, which can be a challenging exercise, though not an impossible one.

Scott Wheeler says of Lin, “Lin does almost everything at a high level, executes the small things extremely well and plays the game with a rare quality, maturity and detail for a D his age. He steers play with his quiet efficiency, feel for the game, puck-moving, A-level hockey IQ, good skating (he could use another gear in straight lines, but his footwork, pivots, edges, surfing, etc., are all high-end), a great stick offensively and defensively, and head-on-a-swivel defensive play and reads (shoulder checks, positioning, etc.). He’s comfortable in any situation and playing with anyone, and excels on both special teams”.

Corey Pronman used Sandin as a comparable to Lin, which depending on how the Pens’ brass sees it would certainly make Lin fit the profile of players that they’ve been interested in previously. The big question here looks more about availability within the Pittsburgh pick rather than concerns about the player. Should Lin still be around at 22, you’d have to think he was a player that will be under heavy, heavy consideration from Pittsburgh.

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Beyond that, the Pens could make what would be considered a reach at 22 for a defender like Jakub Vanecek or Adam Goljer but neither fit the profile of a player that Dubas has selected previously in the first round. Based on the strengths of this draft, there are better defenseman at the top-half of the first round, then a gap in talent. (Wheeler has five defensemen selected in a recent mock in the top-14, then only one from pick 15-24). Based on the overall talent pool, the back-end of the first round is shaping up to be more forward-heavy, which could suggest that Pittsburgh will be adding to that area with their first pick.

ST. LOUIS -- In what will be his last final time at the helm as general manager of the St. Louis Blues guiding the NHL Draft, Doug Armstrong will for the second time in four years have three first-round picks barring trade.

And true to form, in years past, Armstrong has always maintained the mantra that the Blues, who currently have pick Nos. 11, 15 and 29, the ladder two acquired from the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders, respectively, pick the best player available on their board when their selection arrives.

They even did such when they had the 10th, 25th and 29th picks in Nashville in 2023. But will that be the case this time? This time, the Blues, who have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in three of the past four seasons, should they make their selections, may be looking at organizational depth.

Should they pick more what they need rather than what they may deem the best player should that player on their board be available?

"I don't want to say what we won't do because then we'll end up doing it," Armstrong said Monday. "But I think we want to get some variety in our picks if possible. We've drafted heavily defensively lately and our organizational depth chart could use players in a couple different slots. We don't want to ask the scouts to jump out of a block to get a position, but we do want to talk about taking a position within a block, if that makes sense.

"So if we have five players in one block that we see somewhat similar, we might say, 'Hey, we're lacking in this area, can we move him up? Tell me the difference between moving up and if this guy's at the top and this guy's at the bottom of the block, is the positional difference great enough?' And that's things that the group will discuss over the next four days. It's a fun four days because our job is to go through every scenario that we can think of and then we get to the draft and then the first phone call is something we never thought of. That's what we like to call in our group, the crazy Ivan's. We've got to be ready for the crazy Ivan's."

The Blues selected Carbonneau, a forward, at No. 19 a year ago; defenseman Adam Jiricek was the 16th pick in 2024. They have focused on the defense position in the later rounds more so in the past couple seasons, so the forward slot, center or wing (preferably a big, powerful one) sounds like the preferred choice at No. 11.

But in a draft where there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut choice past probably Gavin McKenna going to the Toronto Maple Leafs first overall, imagine the scrambling when it gets into the teens when the Blues may make their pick?

"It's probably a couple players wider, but we see a distinction, and then we see probably not a lot greater than other years but more the just the number of players in that group of eight, nine, 10," Armstrong said. "... I think it's exciting, especially when you have the number of first-round picks that we have. Our amateur scouts have put a lot of work in since the trade deadline making sure we're prepared to select that 11, 15 and 29 to move up a few slots, to move into the late teens, early 20s. There's a lot of different options that we have and obviously the landscape has changed in the NHL regarding player movement, so our pro scouts are excited over that part. Everybody's excited for this week to see how it unfolds."

If the Blues don't pick in their positions, what would it take to move up? The Ottawa Senators, who acquired the ninth pick on Sunday from the Florida Panthers in the Brady Tkachuk trade, sound like they're open for business should the Blues want to move up a couple spots. Do the Blues trade picks for young players? All options are on the table.

"That's the one constant. That hasn't changed in our game," Armstrong said. "You let people know what you're considering to do and then that's probably a Thursday-Friday thing more than it is a today thing for the teams looking to move and for the teams looking to move up. There's very rarely much movement in that area. I think going from 11 to two, three or four would be seismic, and I haven't seen a seismic move like that in a long time. But maybe moving up two or three slots with our available picks is something. Then you have to weigh that with what you're giving up to move up. I haven't seen a lot of difference from this year. I'm not saying there won't be a difference, but that usually comes Thursday night and early into Friday morning as people have to make real decisions."

When Armstrong said "seismic," it likely means the Blues aren't in a position to pay the price of what it would likely cost to get into the top five. Their best bet is somewhere getting to perhaps No. 8 (Winnipeg Jets), maybe No. 7 (Seattle Kraken) but that's about as high as it sounds without giving up a boatload.

"Maybe Toronto, maybe San Jose this year. There's been teams, Dallas went to four ... usually go through a lot of pain to get that pick," Armstrong said. "So when you're lucky enough to win a lottery, you haven't gone through (just) six months of pain to earn a top three or four pick. I think there's always a difference in ... there's a line usually at every draft and that line is usually at three or four. Sometimes it's at one when it's a [Connor] McDavid. Sometimes it's a two or three. This draft seems to have more volatility to it where you've seen at least, I've seen at least four players go one, but I've seen nine players probably in the top five. That has more variety to it than I've seen in the past. So there could be a little more movement this year because of that variety. We have nine on our list and someone has three and then you make that move. You work in your blocks, I guess."

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The Trevor Zegras era in Anaheim was one full of high highs, but came crashing to earth with an unceremonious thud exactly one year ago today when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for center Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick.

The Anaheim Ducks drafted Zegras with the ninth overall pick in the 2019 draft, and he’d be the first of seven top-ten selections in consecutive years made by the Ducks through their long rebuild process. 

2025-26 Anaheim Ducks: By the Numbers, Part 6

Anaheim Ducks Could be Susceptible to Offer Sheets this Offseason

During two of the darkest years in the Ducks’ franchise history, Zegras became one of the faces of the NHL, dazzling with highlight-reel plays on a seemingly shift-by-shift basis. He was the Calder Trophy runner-up in his rookie year of 2021-22, scoring 61 points (23-38=61) in 75 games, and would follow it up with 65 points (23-42=65) in 81 games during his 2022-23 sophomore season.

A lengthy contract negotiation following the expiration of his ELC in 2023 caused Zegras (along with Jamie Drysdale) to miss the majority of the 2023-24 training camp, the first under then-new head coach Greg Cronin. After a surprisingly difficult start to the season, where he was attempting to play through injury, Zegras landed on IR with a lower-body injury (osteitis pubis) early in the season.

He would return to the lineup after missing 20 games, only to break his ankle seven games later. He’d finish the 2023-24 season missing a total of 51 games and only scoring 15 points (6-9=15) in 31 games. 

Ducks’ Zegras learned lots of lessons in tough 2023-24 season

During Zegras’ second stint out of the lineup, Jamie Drysdale was traded to Philadelphia, and speculation surrounding Zegras’ future with the Ducks began. From there, his name was in trade rumors for the next 18 months until his eventual departure seemingly became an inevitability. 

With rumors and speculation swirling for the duration and Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek appearing non-comital toward his talented forward’s future with the organization, Zegras totaled 32 points (12-20=32) in 57 games during another injury-riddled 2024-25 season.

Zegras’ hands are only rivaled by his vision and creativity on the ice. His game lacks the pace and intensity that many covet, but by all accounts (including former head coach Greg Cronin), he attempted to tweak and alter his game to fit the club’s system and intended direction.

On May 8, 2025, the Ducks hired Joel Quenneville as their next head coach. The system Quenneville intended to and eventually implemented, along with his previous success with comparable stylistic players to Zegras like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Huberdeau, had optimists believing a Zegras bounce-back season with the Ducks in 2025-26 was in the cards.

To add to that notion, on June 12, 2025, five weeks after Quenneville was hired, the Ducks acquired Chris Kreider, an offseason training partner and friend of Zegras. With a new compatible coach and a new compatible teammate, it seemed like Verbeek was making moves to get the most out of Zegras as he was entering his prime NHL years. 

Zegras was traded 11 days after Kreider was acquired, and that idea was put to rest for good. 

Zegras, of course, had his bounce-back year with the Flyers, notching a new career high in points by scoring 67 (26-41=67) in 81 games and leading Philadelphia back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season and advancing to the second round. 

The Ducks found success of their own in 2025-26, making the playoffs for the first time since 2017-18 with Ryan Poehling playing a huge role on the Ducks’ bottom six and penalty kill all season. He was one of their most effective two-way, shutdown forwards and contributed a career-high 36 points (11-25=36) in 75 games and added five more (4-1=5) in 11 playoff games. 

Poehling will continue to be a significant part of the Ducks’ build toward contention, as on March 5, he signed a four-year contract extension that carries an AAV of $3.75 million. 

With the second-round pick acquired in the trade, the Ducks selected forward Eric Nilson (45th overall in 2025), son of former NHL forward Marcus Nilson (48), out of Djurgardens IF in Sweden. 

Nilson played the 2025-26 season for Michigan State in the NCAA, scoring 11 points (3-8=11) in 35 games during his freshman season and adding three points (1-2=3) in seven games for Sweden at the 2026 World Junior Championships, where he won a gold medal. Nilson projects as a competitive, two-way, middle-six center at the NHL level. 

Verbeek’s cited intention of this trade stemmed from roster construction, as he felt Poehling filled a specific role he was looking for, and Zegras did not. Critics of this trade will reference timing as their biggest gripe. 

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on Trevor Zegras-Ryan Poehling Trade

As the months of trade rumors piled up, it became clear Zegras wasn’t in Verbeek’s long-term plans for the Ducks. It was also clear from the second that the trade was submitted that Zegras was sold at his lowest possible value after back-to-back seasons of poor production and injury came on the heels of back-to-back 60-plus point seasons to begin his career. 

Those who felt the value was off will suggest Zegras’ value could have been increased by playing any number of games under Quenneville. Others will argue his value could have increased by simply waiting a week or two until the dust of the draft and free agency settled. Much like in 2026, the 2025 offseason, whether analyzing the trade or free agency market, didn’t provide enough available players for the number of teams looking to add top-six forward talent.

Ryan Poehling had an excellent first year with the Anaheim Ducks and will likely remain an impactful piece on the depth chart through his prime years in the NHL. Ducks assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Martin Madden compared Eric Nilson to William Karlsson at the time of his draft, and if Nilson reaches 80% of what Karlsson became, the Ducks will be overjoyed. 

The snag with this trade will remain timing, as one may have hoped for a more sizable return when moving on from a talented former face of a franchise (and for a brief period of time, a former face of the NHL). 

2025-26 Anaheim Ducks: By the Numbers, Part 5

Former Anaheim Ducks Goaltender Frederik Andersen is a Stanley Cup Champion

The NHL Buyout Window is now Open, Anaheim Ducks May Need to Use It

The Philadelphia Flyers may have missed out on a Brady Tkachuk trade that was never going to break for them, but they can still go out and strike a deal for a power forward to complement their current forward group.

With a bit of luck in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Flyers were able to come away with top prospect Porter Martone, who is now the only stereotypical power forward the organization has in its long-term top-six.

Owen Tippett has developed a power forward game, though he isn't exactly the type to muck it up like a Tkachuk would.

Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny will, but they don't have the size to back up the bark.

To bridge the gap, and to get the power forward goal-scorer Flyers fans have long wanted, the front office can instead consult the NHL trade market.

The low-hanging fruit here, of course, is Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, whose name has been dangled in trade rumors all year long. Plus, it has been widely reported that the 23-year-old nearly ended up on the Montreal Canadiens at the NHL trade deadline.

In any event, Knies remains with the Maple Leafs, who could still be motivated to find a trade in the right situation.

The 6-foot-3 left winger has scored 52 goals across the last two seasons, and still managed a career-high 66 points in what was an overall catastrophic season for the Maple Leafs.

Flyers 'Entered' Trade Discussions for Former 4th Overall Draft PickThe Philadelphia Flyers are beginning to consider a potential trade opportunity for former No. 4 overall draft pick Shane Wright.

Knies can hit, fight, and most importantly, score, and his age and continued ascension make him an obvious target for the Flyers.

Should the Flyers want to find their Tkachuk alternative at the center position and knock down two needs at once, they need only to look at his Ottawa Senators.

The Flyers reportedly hold varying degrees of interest in each of the Senators' top three centers, but only one--Dylan Cozens--fits the mold we're looking for here.

Cozens, 25, has dished out north of 200 hits in each of his last two seasons, comes with 30-goal upside, at a minimum, and can do a bit of everything.

His 17 minutes of average ice time tell us that he isn't being used as a No. 1 center, and perhaps he never will be, but with the Flyers, Cozens would get that opportunity.

Philadelphia covets Cozens's 6-foot-3 size, as well as his being a right-shot center, which head coach Rick Tocchet can use for matchup purposes.

Senators center Shane Pinto certainly deserves some consideration, but he cannot provide the same elements Cozens can despite the Flyers reportedly preferring the former the most.

While with Knies, the Flyers have already made one deal with the Maple Leafs, while talks with the Senators have been ongoing for sometime.

The Senators are reportedly interested in defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, so that is a logical starting point between the two sides.

Last but certainly not least is Dallas Stars superstar Jason Robertson who, while he doesn't bring the nastiness Tkachuk, Knies, and Cozens might, still plays a game that allows his size and hockey IQ to do the talking.

NHL Trade Rumors: Flyers Linked to Multiple Senators CentersThe Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly interested in three different Ottawa Senators forwards, including two established goal-scorers.

Undoubtedly a far better player than Tkachuk, Robertson, 26, is a pending RFA with three 40-goal seasons under his belt, which includes a 109-point campaign back in 2022-23.

It goes without saying that 100-point players don't grow on trees, and this is as good an opportunity as any for the Flyers to nab one for themselves.

Robertson is a complete 200-foot player who is among the most impactful forwards in the entire NHL.

That's someone the Senators could conceivably target to replace Tkachuk, but the Flyers have plenty of ammo of their own to compete with the package Florida just sent to Ottawa.

In any case, the Flyers will have to give in order to get, with no player on this short list coming in at a minimal price tag.

Vitals

Player: Sergei Murashov
Born: April 1, 2004 (22 years old)
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185 pounds
Hometown: Yaroslavl, Russia
Catches: Right
Draft: 2022, Pittsburgh Penguins (fourth round, 118th overall)
2025-26 Statistics: Five NHL games played (1-1-2 record, .897 save percentage, 2.56 goals against average) and 38 AHL games played (24-9-8 record, .919 save percentage, 2.20 goals against average).
Contract Status: Signed through the 2026-27 season at a $936,000 cap hit before hitting restricted free agency ahead of his age-23 season.

Monthly Splits

via Yahoo!

Story of the Season

Mursahov took a few major steps toward coming the Penguins’ potential goaltender of the future this season.

Part of that involved Murashov making his NHL debut during a four-game stretch in November, followed by one appearance in mid-December.

Murashov spent most of the season in the AHL, where he ranked third in the league in both goals against average (2.2) and save percentage (.919) during the regular season.

He improved those numbers even more with a 2.11 GAA and .931 SV% in the postseason as he helped the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins reach the Eastern Conference Final of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Penguins general Manager Kyle Dubas said last fall he felt goaltenders had the best chance of succeeding in the NHL after putting together “a very long stretch of dominant play at the American League level.”

With Murashov having achieved that and with Stuart Skinner hitting unrestricted free agency this summer, there’s a chance Murashov could be one of the goaltenders on the Penguins’ roster to start next season.

Regular season 5v5 advanced stats

Data via Natural Stat Trick.

HDSV%: .800
HDGAA: 0.79
GSAA: 0.31
Shots Against/60: 22.25
Saves/60: 20.14
HD Shots Against/60: 3.97
HD Saves/60: 3.18
Rush Attempts Against/60: 1.32
Rebound Attempts Against/60: 2.38
Average shot distance: 36.31 feet
Average goal distance: 21 feet

It’s difficult to draw any major conclusions from these numbers, which took place over just five NHL games. Murashov faced 15 higher-danger shots and made 12 high-danger saves over that span.

Highlights

MURASHOV SAYS NO!

Sergei's showing off with Fleury watching 👏 pic.twitter.com/5rCZT47ZMo

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) September 28, 2025

ROBBED BY MURASHOV 🚫 pic.twitter.com/GDQwLMalJ1

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 14, 2025

SERGEI ‼️ pic.twitter.com/t0tgzxj9Pv

— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 15, 2026

Sergei keeps us scoreless 😳 pic.twitter.com/DwEejSwWO4

— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 5, 2026

Sergei doing Sergei things pic.twitter.com/GqQyWJwM3a

— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 12, 2026

SERGEI MURASHOV pic.twitter.com/GG8TZKaKsP

— x – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) February 28, 2026

Questions to ponder

Kyle Dubas said at the end of the Penguins’ regular season that whether Murashov could continue taking on a heavy workload during the WBS Pens’ conference finals run would serve as a “massive test” for the goaltender.

Murashov went on to start all six games of the series for the WBS Penguins before the team was eliminated in Game 6 overtime by the Toronto Marlies.

But that run is likely not enough to secure Murashov his spot in the NHL next season. Joel Blomqvist also had a strong season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he posted a .913 SV% and 2.40 GAA in 26 games.

“My full expectation is that the two of them, Sergei and Joel, will be competing for a roster spot here this year… They both have earned, over years now, the chance to compete for that,” Dubas said in his end-of-season media availability.

The major question for Murashov next fall will be whether he is able to build on his AHL success to beat out Blomqvist, who has 15 games of NHL experience from the 2024-25 season, for a roster spot in Pittsburgh.

Ideal 2026-27

The ideal next season for Murashov could be earning a roster spot with the Penguins out of training camp and functioning as a tandem, potentially alongside a more experienced netminder, as he adjusts to the NHL.

Who that other goaltender would be remains to be seen, although Arturs Šilovs is an option should the team re-sign him in restricted free agency.

Bottom line

Murashov has already proven himself to be one of the best goaltenders in the AHL. The big question for next season will be whether he is ready to make the jump to the next level with the Penguins.

Final Grade

Murashov’s work with the Penguins arguably came over too small of a sample size for a grade at the NHL level, although the Penguins ultimately went 1-2-2 over his five appearances.

His grade at the AHL level has to be an A. Murashov was stellar throughout a campaign that led to him being named to the league’s Top Prospects Team as voted on by AHL general managers at the end of the season.

On Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced the schedule for their annual prospect development camp, which will take place during the week immediately following the NHL Entry Draft.

In years past, the camp has featured some of the organization's very best prospects. And while that may not be the case across the board this time around, there is still plenty of intrigue with the players who will be showing up. 

Development camp will be held from Jun. 29 - Jul. 3, which is right after the draft and during the onset of free agency. It will be open to the public and offers a rare opportunity for fans to see a glimpse of the Penguins' future.

Some of the most prominent prospects featured will be 2025 first-round pick (24th overall) Will Horcoff, defensive prospect Quinn Beauchesne, newly signed NCAA prospect defensemen Jake Livanavage and Maleek McGowan, and goaltender Gabriel D'Aigle. 

The initial roster features 22 players, but more will be added to the roster following the draft, which will take place on Jun. 26-27. 

Now That The Trade Floodgates Have Opened, Eyes Are On Kyle Dubas And The PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins may not have the "big-fish targets" like some other teams do right now, but because of where they find themselves, they'll be one of the more interesting teams to follow in the next two weeks.

The camp will kick off each of the first four days with a goaltending session - at this point, featuring only D'Aigle - followed by three different sessions split into three teams. As always, the final day of camp will feature a tournament between the three teams.

The full roster and details can be found here. Follow development camp, in addition to the draft, free agency, and more, by joining the THN - Pittbsurgh Penguins community.

Does Oilers' Defenseman Darnell Nurse Make Sense For Pittsburgh? Edmonton Oilers' defenseman Darnell Nurse has, reportedly, requested a trade to Pittsburgh. And, even if he is not the ideal left defenseman for them this offseason, taking him on may not be as detrimental as it seems.

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THN Draft Rankings—Jan 7, 2019 - VOL. 72, Issue. 07 - Ken Campbell

TURN ON YOUR TELEVISION on any given night and retire to the barcalounger and you’re bound to see a 21-year-old Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews do something so incredible that it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Is that a 22-year-old Mikko Rantanen we see leading the whole freakin’ league in scoring? And what about that 21-year-old Thomas Chabot kid in Ottawa? Ain’t he something special?

Everything we’ve heard and everything we’ve seen keeps pounding at the notion that the NHL is now a young man’s league. Like the late Whitney Houston, the NHL believes that children are the future. And it’s right. What were once thought to be “generational talents” are now being churned out every couple of years. And if you go to your local youth hockey arena and watch the kids, chances are you’re going to see some young boys and girls who can do some very special things on the ice.

But take a dive into the most important position in the game and you find that the goaltending fraternity has clearly not received the memo. While the rest of the league is having trouble developing a duster in the month of November, the goaltenders are at the point where they’re applying Grecian Formula and getting two minutes for looking so good.

It seems that once teams find a reliable goaltender, and it often takes a while, they hang onto him and ride him well into his 30s. That’s certainly the case these days, which leaves us wondering from where their replacements are going to come.

Consider this: the 31 No. 1 goalies in the NHL have an average age of 31.3. Last year, the average age of an NHL player was 27.1. Twenty-two of these starting goalies (or co-No. 1s) have already blown out 30 candles on their birthday cakes, and just two – Matt Murray of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning – are younger than 25. Pekka Rinne, who became the oldest first-time Vezina Trophy winner since the league began awarding it to the best goalie as chosen by the NHL’s GMs in 1982, just signed a two-year extension with the Nashville Predators that will take him past his 38th birthday, despite the fact the Preds have a top-notch 23-year-old backup in Juuse Saros patiently waiting his turn.

In The Hockey News’ annual Future Watch edition in 2018, we had only eight goaltenders in our top 100 NHL-affiliated prospects. Only 12 teams had a future goaltender among its top five prospects, and six teams – the Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Minnesota Wild, Nashville and the San Jose Sharks – did not have a single stopper among their top 10.

When THN prospect savant Ryan Kennedy produced the top 100 players aged 21-and-under in the world, which included non-drafted players, just four goalies appeared on the list, and only one – Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers – ranked in the top 25. Only one goalie, Jake Oettinger by the Dallas Stars, has been selected in the first round of the past three NHL drafts.

We realize that some of this is due to the fact goaltenders are notorious for taking longer to develop than skaters, and they often only do it with their second or third organizations. And there are probably some young men out there toiling in the minors who have yet to blossom. But with the greying of the goaltending position and the prospect of a good number of them aging out in the next few years, you have to wonder where teams are going to find their replacements.

By the end of this season, five No. 1 goalies will have eclipsed their 35th birthdays, and within five years, 11 of them will be at least 38. It’s been clearly established that it takes about five years for a goaltender to develop from the day he’s drafted, so either some of the backups in the NHL are going to have to step up or the league might be looking at a dearth of quality goaltending – which, when combined with the talent that is on the way, might not be a bad thing for hockey fans who prefer offense.

Ask any amateur scout how easy it is to find good goalies these days and he or she will tell you a tale of woe. Part of that is because Canada, which was once a place where you shook a tree and good goalies would fall out, has lagged in producing elite netminders.

One scout had a theory that it might be because from the time kids are seven until they’re 14 or 15, they’re sharing the goaltending duties and it doesn’t allow them to develop quickly enough. In fact, the Canadian Hockey League, tired of seeing the best European netminders go to the USHL, opened its doors once again to European goalies this season.

And these things tend to ebb and flow. Finland was once the country producing all the talent, and now Russia – with top prospects Ilya Samsonov, Igor Shestyorkin, Ilya Sorokin and Daniil Tarasov – seems to be providing the pipeline.

The top players on a good number of teams would have trouble getting into a bar where the drinking age is 21. But the goalies? They’d have a 31-seat table all to themselves. And it doesn’t look as though they’re going to be giving up their comfortable spots anytime soon. 

Malte Gustafsson is a name that’s starting to come up more and more ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft.

He’s 6-foot-4, 201 pounds, so the size is already there, and that’s usually what gets teams interested early. But it’s not just the frame. He actually moves pretty well for a defenseman that size, which is part of why he’s been able to handle tougher competition in Sweden.

Most of his game is built in his own zone. He stays on top of plays, uses his reach to break things up, and makes it hard for forwards to get comfortable once they enter the zone. It’s not the type of game that stands out every shift, but you notice it over time.

Offensively, there’s something to work with, just not much flash. He can make a first pass, move the puck out cleanly, and keep things simple when he needs to. That’s probably where it ends, at least for now. 

Scout's Takes:

Here are some of the scouting reports put out by the most notable scouts/hockey writers in the NHL.

"His skating is good for his size, allowing him to play a very mobile game. Gustafsson rarely struggles to get the puck out of his zone. A lack of flash and high-end offensive instinct likely won’t help his draft projection, but there’s still a ton to like about the way he defends and takes up space." 

- Steven Ellis, Daily Faceoff

"Gustafsson’s game isn't about his offense despite having some elements (above-average skating and respectable handling for a big man). He’s a big, rangy, strong, sturdy defender who plays a physical, competitive brand and moves well. He projects as a solid two-way NHL D, and his profile is the coveted one in the league these days." 

- Scott Wheeler, The Athletic 

"He has a presence to his game. Gustafsson isn’t shy about engaging physically and pushing opponents off his crease to clear shooting lanes for his goaltender to see pucks clearly. He’s also capable of occasionally rushing the puck and pulling up to make plays in the offensive zone." 

- Jason Bukala, Sportsnet

"On top of having excellent positional play with a great stick, he's added a physical element that helps him win battles in the corners. His passing on the breakout has always been solid, but he's added a layer of puck carrying to his transition game." 

- Tony Ferrari, The Hockey News

Draft Projection:

As we enter NHL Draft week, Gustafsson finds himself in a very unique spot. He is projected to go anywhere from 10-15, which depends on what the team's picking in the 10-15 range decides to do. Obviously, with the Predators picking at number 10, if he is available, there's a good chance they could call his name. Especially with some scouting reports comparing him to former Predators' defensemen Mattias Ekholm.

A day after his NHL star sons joined forces in Florida, Keith Tkachuk was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday. 

The Hall of Fame election was the icing on the cake of a “great weekend for the Tkachuks” after Brady was dealt to the Panthers in a deal with the Senators that united him with his older brother Matthew in South Florida on Sunday, and also included a celebration for the duo’s gold medal at the Winter Olympics and a baptism, the Associated Press reported. 

Keith waited 45 minutes to clue his family in on his good news after he got the call. 

“I said, ‘Hey, you guys want to have a beer together?’” Tkachuk recalled. “And I told them and broke the news to them there.”

Keith played 18 years in the NHL, spending time with the original Winnipeg Jets and making the move with the franchise to Arizona when the club relocated in 1996. He played for the Blues and briefly for the Atlanta Thrashers. 

He had 1,121 points in 1,290 games, which includes playoffs, while being part of the victorious 1996 United States team at the World Cup of Hockey and won silver during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

“It’s been a crazy weekend, but this tops it off. … This is the ultimate, for sure,” Keith said. 

Keith joins Patrice Bergeron, Carey Price, Pekke Rinne, Cindy Curley and Brian Burke as part of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2026. 

The trade of Brady to Florida ended speculation around his stay in Ottawa, which seemed uncertain, and united him with his brother on a team one season removed from winning back-to-back Stanley Cups. 

“Brady is a dynamic competitor and one of the most physical and relentless forwards in the league. A proven leader and exactly the type of player we want in our locker room, he strives to make everyone around him better both on and off the ice,” Florida general manager Bill Zito said in a news release. “We’re thrilled to welcome Brady to South Florida to join our group as we continue our pursuit of championship hockey.”

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As the fallout continues from the explosive reported trade request earlier this month from Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, a new club has reportedly emerged as the potential frontrunner. 

According to a report from NHL Insider Nick Kypreos, the Dallas Stars, who are led by former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill, are now Larkin's preferred landing spot in the wake of the Florida Panthers acquiring Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators. 

While Kypreos notes that another former Red Wings executive in Pat Verbeek, a former Detroit teammate of Steve Yzerman who also served under him as assistant GM in both Tampa and Detroit, could try and acquire him for the Anaheim Ducks, the Stars "appear" to be Larkin's preferred destination.

Kypreos wrote: 

"Frustration and lack of playoff games finally got Larkin to a point where he requested a trade from Detroit with multiple years left on his contract and a full no-trade clause. While Larkin will have some control over his next destination because of that clause, GM Steve Yzerman also has control on if Larkin gets traded at all. There is a strong push for Larkin to expand his list of teams he’s willing to go to. Yzerman will not move him if he feels he’s getting squeezed. Look for Yzerman's former assistant GM, Pat Verbeek, to try and get in on this. However, it appears Larkin's destination of choice is Dallas."

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The elephant in the room regarding a potential trade of Larkin to the Stars is whether Detroit could pry away the rights to pending RFA forward Jason Robertson, a Michigan native who has scored 40 or more goals multiple times in his career, to his hometown.

Robertson's contract expires at midnight on June 30, and will also be eligible to receive offer sheets from other NHL clubs. 

A likely stipulation from Yzerman would be that Robertson agree to a long-term extension with Detroit before any trade is finalized.

According to multiple unconfirmed reports, a potential December deal that would have brought defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Red Wings fell through due to his reported reluctance to commit to a long-term extension, despite being ineligible to sign one until this summer.

The Stars were not included in Larkin's initial reported short list of teams he'd be willing to accept a trade to; that list only included the Panthers, the Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild.

However, Yzerman reportedly asked Larkin’s representation to expand that list, and they were said to be receptive. 

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Brian Burke is officially becoming a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

The former Vancouver Canucks General Manager was one of six individuals named to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2026, the likes of which features former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, Keith Tkachuk, three-time World Championship silver medalist Cindy Curley, and legendary goaltenders Carey Price and Pekka Rinne. 

Burke, whose career as an NHL executive and with the league itself spans over 30 years, first got his start with none-other than the Canucks as the team’s Director of Hockey Operations in 1987. He spent five seasons with Vancouver before serving as GM of the Hartford Whalers. After six seasons as the NHL’s Director of Hockey Operations, Burke returned to Vancouver — this time adding the role of General Manager to his collection. 

During his second stint with the Canucks, Burke pulled off one of the most notable moves the franchise has ever made to this day. In an ambitious draft-day move, Burke acquired the second and third-overall selections in the 1999 NHL Draft, selecting franchise icons and now co-Presidents of Hockey Operations Daniel and Henrik Sedin. 

Burke’s career as an NHL executive also features tenures with the Anaheim Ducks (with whom he won his first Stanley Cup), Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He has also owned a variety of WHL franchises including the Tri-City Americans and Chilliwack Bruins. 

The 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame induction weekend takes place from November 7 to 9. 

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The Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was announced on Monday afternoon, and it featured a former Pittsburgh Penguins executive. 

Brian Burke, who served as the Penguins' President of Hockey Operations from 2021-23, was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder.

He was with the Penguins while Ron Hextall served as the general manager.

Introducing the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026! 👏#HHOF2026#HHOFpic.twitter.com/jwTD6Q0OUL

— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 22, 2026

Burke also spent time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Hartford Whalers, and Calgary Flames. 

He helped the Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007 as their general manager and Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. 

Burke even had a stint in the NHL office as the Director of Hockey Operations.

Patrice Bergeron, Cindy Curley, Carey Price, Pekka Rinne, and Keith Tkachuk were also elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday. 

---

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When it came to Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators, there was always a lingering seed of doubt that the captain’s future with the organization would continue for much longer.

Not many anticipated that it would end this soon, however.

With a little over a year before the Senators could formally offer a contract extension to him, the organization unexpectedly traded Tkachuk yesterday afternoon to the Florida Panthers for the ninth and 25th overall selections in the 2026 NHL Draft, Florida’s top-10 protected 2029 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick.

Inevitably, when Brady returned to Ottawa following the birth of his second child, Lila, at the end of April, a difficult conversation between him and the organization was necessary. And, obviously, from the information that general manager Steve Staios gleaned from that meeting, it became clear that Tkachuk was uncertain or hesitant about signing an extension with the Senators. Rather than have that distraction linger over the team for the next year, the general manager pivoted and ultimately sent Tkachuk packing.

It is a staggering development at a pivotal point in this franchise’s competitive window.

The Ottawa Senators were an analytical darling, finishing in the top-five in the percentage of shots for (52.85 CF%, 5th), percentage of shots on goal (54.08 SF%, 4th), and percentage of expected goals (54.54 xGF%, 3rd). If the organization had gotten the saves early in the season, this would have been a team that would have finished amongst the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

There is something to be said for the maturation process and finding success with a young core group of players who had grown up together after some challenging seasons.

And Tkachuk could not commit to that.

For some, it will be a bitter pill to swallow. In his episode of the Amazon Prime docuseries ‘FACEOFF: Inside the NHL’ that aired earlier this season, Tkachuk detailed how he had a unique story to tell.

“Everybody ties what he did, and everyone's expecting me to do the same thing,” Tkachuk stated. “It's just two different stories. Matthew on his path, and it worked out for him. My path is chugging along, grinding it out and winning a Stanley Cup for the Ottawa Senators."

A lot can obviously change within a year.

From his thumb surgery, to Linus Ullmark’s leave of absence and the accompanying speculation that occurred, to the post-Olympics gold medal victory fallout and dealing with the ramifications of Kash Patel’s inclusion and Donald Trump’s crack regarding having to include the women’s team for a White House visit, to his Wingmen Podcasts where he and his situation in Ottawa were frequently a target of his co-host brother and father, Tkachuk dealt with off-ice adversity and controversy.

Some of it he had no control over, but over other parts, he most certainly did.

All of it was a distraction.

And that is before even mentioning the omnipresent trade speculation that dogged the captain for the past few years. It was a frustrating development for this market because all of that noise and speculation was fuelled by outside forces, yet Tkachuk still had to respond to it.

Eventually, speculation regarding his future led to this answer during his end-of-year media availability.

“I haven't had the chance to talk to Steve (Staios), but I feel like I've answered this hundreds of times,” Tkachuk explained. “None of those things ever came out of my mouth. And quite honestly, it's just getting frustrating. It's becoming a distraction. I've been fully committed to this team, to the city, and it's just becoming a distraction and frustrating to (continue to) do it.”

Tkachuk chose his words carefully, but whenever he spoke about his level of commitment, it was impossible not to notice that he always used the present or past tense. There is no doubt that Tkachuk would have played out the remaining two years of his contract here before testing unrestricted free agency, but he conveniently never referenced any prospective commitment to this city or the organization beyond what was left on his deal.

So understandably, Steve Staios had to have a frank discussion with the captain regarding his future. When it became clear that the odds of Tkachuk remaining in Ottawa were remote, the general manager pivoted and got ahead of the situation. And after seeing the discourse in Detroit following the revelation Dylan Larkin had requested a trade, the Senators and Tkachuk’s representatives deserve credit for keeping this situation under wraps until a trade was being finalized.

Now the Ottawa Senators and Staios have work to do.

For a team in its competitive window, their core is ready to win.

Not landing a young and NHL-ready asset in return was a blow, but it was not for a lack of trying. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the Senators had inquired on Anton Lundell, but were rebuffed by Florida general manager Bill Zito, who viewed Lundell as a key foundational piece.

Despite giving the Senators a list of teams that he would be interested in waiving his no-movement clause for, including the Minnesota Wild, who Michael Russo indicated made a “huge offer”, the reality was that Tkachuk’s full no-movement clause gave him control of the process.

He ultimately wanted to be in Florida with his brother, and it left the Senators accepting a package laden exclusively with futures.

The silver lining is that this accrued draft capital and cap space afford the organization a ton of flexibility in terms of the direction it can take.

The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta indicated that the Senators really like Dallas’ Jason Robertson, who is a restricted free agent. The caveat is that, as a restricted free agent who is also American, a Brady-less Senators team may not necessarily be high on the list of places where he’d be willing to sign a long-term extension.

If Robertson is not a realistic option for the Senators, the market is not exactly laden with established high-end talent that teams are looking to move.

As an organization that needs to maximize the value of the picks they have accrued, the best opportunity to add a high-end player may be to draft one. Armed with seven first-round picks across the next four drafts, the Senators have the capital to move up in this year’s draft.

In the Senators’ official press release announcing the trade, general manager Steve Staios said, “This was not a decision we took lightly, but ultimately we did what we felt was best for the long-term future of our hockey club. We now possess cap space and draft capital and will be actively working to improve our roster.”

It could be reading too much into his wording, but if the organization viewed a Tkachuk deal within that “long-term future” lens, it stands to reason that moving up in this year’s draft would align with that vision.

The best trade in franchise history was made under similar circumstances when the Senators dealt Alexei Yashin to the New York Islanders for Bill Muckalt, Zdeno Chara, and the second overall selection in the 2001 NHL Draft that became Jason Spezza.

Regardless, the Senators need to maximize the value of its draft picks.

We do not even have to go too far back in history to recognize that follow-up trades after significant departures can create buzz, but have the potential to fall short of expectations.

Following Daniel Alfredsson’s free agent departure, the Senators traded a significant opportunity cost to the Anaheim Ducks for Bobby Ryan. Ryan was a decent player, but he was never a dynamic one who could move the needle. Ultimately, the organization would have been better served holding onto the assets they moved out.

It may take a season or two for whoever the Senators could pick to turn into an impactful player, but if said player is adjudged to be the best value, that should be the route the team should take. At least a player on an entry-level contract would theoretically allow the organization to allocate more money towards free agency.

Whatever the case, for a front office renowned for its analytical approach and for exploring every avenue through due diligence, having flexibility is key.

As for Brady, it’s a disappointing end to his career in Ottawa.

He was the face of the franchise and the captain of a Canadian market. He was one of the most productive players in this team’s modern existence, and his goal-scoring, shot generation and physicality made him one of the most unique players in the NHL. After years of clamouring for a Gary Roberts-type during this organization’s heyday, Ottawa finally had one.

He was also an unbelievable contributor to this community through his philanthropic work. Unfortunately, when this team was finally trending in the right direction and playing the right way, he left. Not only did he leave, but he chose the path of least resistance that flew in the face of everything he had said previously.

He followed Matthew’s path.

He had a chance to write his own story and be his own person, and he balked.

That is his legacy here.

By Graeme Nichols
The Hockey News

Move coverage of the Brady Tkachuk Deal at The Hockey News at the links below:

Steve Staios Confirms Brady Tkachuk Requested A Trade Out Of Ottawa

The Trade Fallout: Another Deal Coming? And Who Will Replace Tkachuk As The Senators' Next Captain?

End Of An Era: Senators Trade Captain Brady Tkachuk To Florida

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The Hockey Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2026 on Monday, and multiple names familiar to fans of the Detroit Red Wings were included. 

Among the names heading to Toronto later this year include Keith Tkachuk, Patrice Bergeron, Pekka Rinne, Carey Price, and Brian Burke.

However, a pair of notable former Red Wings players who more than proved their worth of being enshrined in the Hall of Fame during their respective playing careers were once again snubbed.

Henrik Zetterberg, the 2008 Conn Smythe Trophy winner who is also a member of the  Triple Gold Club, along with goaltender Chris Osgood, who won the Stanley Cup three times (twice as a starter) and accumulated 400 career wins, will have to wait another season. 

Introducing the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026! 👏#HHOF2026#HHOFpic.twitter.com/jwTD6Q0OUL

— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) June 22, 2026

Zetterberg has already earned well-deserved inductions into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame along with the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. 

A late-round gem discovered by the Red Wings, Zetterberg was selected 210th overall in the 1999 NHL Draft, and would burst onto the scene as a rookie in the 2002-03 season on a club still chalk-full of future Hall of Fame players. 

He was snubbed for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, falling short to St. Louis Blues defenseman Barrett Jackman. However, Zetterberg would go on to become one of the best defensive forwards in recent hockey history. 

His best production came between 2005 and 2011, including a 43 goal, 49 assist campaign in 2007-08 that culminated not only in the Stanley Cup, but the Conn Smythe Trophy. 

Upon the retirement of fellow Swede Nicklas Lidstrom in 2012, Zetterberg would be named the 36th captain in team history. His 960 points rank fifth overall in team history.

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Osgood, whom the Red Wings selected with the 54th overall pick in the 1991 NHL Draft, spent the early years of his NHL career in Detroit. He saw significant action during the regular season and the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs before the club acquired Hall of Fame goaltender Mike Vernon from the Calgary Flames.

Named Detroit's starter for the 1996 postseason, Osgood also handled the bulk of the workload the following season. However, coach Scotty Bowman turned to Vernon's veteran experience for the 1997 playoffs, a decision that helped lead Detroit to its first Stanley Cup in 42 years while Vernon captured the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Vernon was traded to the San Jose Sharks later that summer, leaving Osgood as Detroit's unquestioned starter. He responded by backstopping the Red Wings to a second consecutive Stanley Cup championship in 1998.

After Detroit acquired Dominik Hasek, Osgood was placed on waivers before the 2001-02 season and claimed by the New York Islanders. In his first year on Long Island, he helped lead the Islanders to Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Osgood was traded to the St. Louis Blues the following season, where he remained until the 2004-05 NHL lockout.

Following the lockout, he returned to Detroit on a one-year contract and formed a goaltending tandem with Manny Legace.

Though he spent most of the next two seasons backing up Hasek, Osgood took over during the 2008 playoffs after Game 4 of Detroit's opening-round series against Nashville and carried the Red Wings the rest of the way to their 11th Stanley Cup title.

While Osgood struggled during the following regular season, he was again named Detroit's playoff starter and received Conn Smythe Trophy consideration as the Red Wings finished one win shy of repeating as Stanley Cup champions.

Eventually supplanted as starter by Jimmy Howard, Osgood won his 400th career game in December 2010, and called it a career later that summer with 401 career wins, which currently rank 15th all time. 

His 317 victories with the Red Wings are second in team history behind only Terry Sawchuk. 

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Trades around the NHL may be picking up right now, but the Montreal Canadiens have been quiet so far. While this is the case, the possibility of the Habs making a trade before or at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is certainly there.

The Canadiens are entering the summer with some roster needs to address, with a top-six center and right-shot defenseman being their most notable. This could lead to the Canadiens looking to free up some cap space.

Because of this, let's take a look at three Canadiens who could be traded before or at the draft. 

Brendan Gallagher 

Brendan Gallagher is an obvious trade candidate for the Canadiens. Gallagher was honest following the Canadiens' playoff run that his time with the Habs was coming to a close. The Canadiens have been looking to find him a new home, and ridding of his $6.5 million cap hit would offer Montreal a good chunk of money to make an upgrade elsewhere.

Samuel Montembeault

It would not be surprising in the slightest if the Canadiens traded Samuel Montembeault this off-season. He dropped to the No. 3 spot on the Canadiens' goalie depth chart and simply is no longer a fit on their roster because of it. With this year's free agent market being weak, there could be some teams out there willing to take a chance on Montembeault because of his past success. His $3.15 million cap hit would also be good for the Canadiens to move on from.

Kirby Dach 

Kirby Dach is another Canadiens player who should be watched leading up to the draft. If the Canadiens do not view the pending restricted free agent as a part of their plans, it would make sense for them to try to move him elsewhere. The former third-overall pick could interest some teams looking for help down the middle.