Is there a more disposable job in pro sports than NHL head coach?

Senators coach Travis Green is a pretty good example of just how quickly the NHL coaching carousel spins. The Senators just hired Green two summers ago, and somehow, he's already the 12th-longest-serving active NHL coach with his current team.

In a 32-team league, that's pretty crazy.

Green has done an excellent job since arriving in Ottawa. The Senators have made the playoffs in each of his first two years, ending a seven-year postseason drought in his first year and then navigating a much more difficult 2025-26 season to get back there again.

Green's work this past season earned him significant recognition around the league. He finished sixth in Jack Adams Trophy voting and received four first-place votes.

That's pretty good company, but a two-season run feels like a cup of coffee, like you've barely had enough time to really put your stamp on the club. It shouldn't place you near the top third of the NHL.

NHL head coaches continue to get hired, fired and recycled at an unreasonably high rate in the NHL.

A couple of disappointing months can suddenly put an established coach on the hot seat. A bad playoff series can change everything. Sometimes, even winning doesn't buy much security.

Just look at Vegas, everyone's favourite team.

The Golden Knights were in a playoff spot in late March, but they felt like their dressing room was flat, so they fired their 2023 Cup champion, Bruce Cassidy, and brought in John Tortorella. Then, despite getting them to the Cup Final this year, they parted ways with Tortorella right after that run, then hired rookie coach Ryan Craig.

The Knights didn't give a reason for Tortorella's exit, but maybe he'll be back again to jolt them next spring like a walking-talking defibrillator.

The volatile state of coaching makes Jon Cooper an absolute unicorn.

Cooper took over the Tampa Bay Lightning in March 2013 and is now entering his 14th season behind their bench. He's won two Stanley Cups, reached four Stanley Cup Finals and taken Tampa Bay to the playoffs in 12 of his 13 full seasons.

And somehow, after all of that, he had never won the Jack Adams Trophy until this year. Cooper has been an outlier for a long time, and it's been suggested that the so-called Jack Adams curse may finally be his undoing.

But what coach isn't feeling cursed, hearing the footsteps of his replacement? No matter how well things are going, recent history will tell you that unemployment isn't far off.

Montreal's Marty St. Louis has been on the job for four years, and he's already the fourth-longest-tenured head coach in the entire league? 

Maybe it's the short attention span of today's young players, who are easily bored (and sometimes entitled) as they tune out coaches faster than ever.

Maybe with social media now so prevalent, general managers hear the barking from fans and media sooner and louder. A quick coaching change can be like throwing a hunk of meat to the wolves. It gives them something else to chew on as the GM slowly backs into the hedges like Homer Simpson.

Whatever it is, Cooper's longevity is a million times more impressive than the silly notion of a trophy curse.

As for Green, who's done a tremendous job so far, Senators fans should probably enjoy the coaching stability while they have it because it can obviously be fleeting. 

It's truly hard to believe that a two-year run qualifies as veteran status now.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest headlines below:

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On Sunday, the NHL Network will release its list of the top 20 centers in the NHL right now, and after seeing one of their players make the first three rankings, it is likely the Montreal Canadiens will also be represented on this fourth and final list. Cole Caufield was named the ninth-best winger, Lane Hutson the sixth-best defenseman, and Jakub Dobes the 10th-best goaltender. Where will Nick Suzuki rank on the best center list? We’ll have the final answer on Sunday night, but for now, let’s have a look at where he should land.

Last year, Suzuki ranked 10th, and when he entered the conversation ahead of the 2024 season, he was 16th. Needless to say, he should carry on climbing the rankings this season.

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It’s been a fantastic season for the Canadiens’ captain, who not only broke the 100-point barrier with 101 points but also won his first major NHL award when he claimed the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive winger. He was the first choice for the award on 151 of 198 ballots and a top-five pick for 191 of the voters. He received a total of 1,726 voting points, a 1,259-point lead over his closest rival, Anthony Cirelli, who had 467 points.

From a pure point-production standpoint, Suzuki was fifth amongst all centers last year, trailing only Connor McDavid (138 points), Nathan MacKinnon (127 points), Macklin Celebrini (115 points), and Mark Scheifele (103 points). However, Suzuki is more than points on the scoresheet for the Canadiens. This past season, he ranked sixth in the NHL in faceoffs taken with 1,449, or 32.2% of all Habs faceoffs, and when he was on the ice, the Sainte-Flanelle outshot its opponent 94-58. His contribution is so valuable to the Canadiens that he finished fifth in Hart Trophy voting, earning one first-place vote, 19 fourth-place votes, and 35 fifth-place votes for 102 points. He was light-years away from first place (Nikita Kucherov with 1,436 points), but those votes show how well regarded he is in the NHL.

Habs goal of the day:

Nick Suzuki vs Colorado Nordiques (January 29, 2026) pic.twitter.com/HxKoX7ucGz

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 17, 2026

Even though he failed to make the cut for the 4 Nations Face-Off roster, Suzuki’s performance in the last two seasons forced Hockey Canada to bring him to the Milano Cortina Olympics, where he showed the rest of the NHL what he could actually do.

Last season, McDavid, MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl, Aleksander Barkov, Sidney Crosby, Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, Brayden Point, and Mark Scheifele all finished ahead of Suzuki in the top-20 centers rankings, but that should change this season. For one, Barkov didn’t play a single game last season after suffering a serious knee injury, tearing both his ACL and MCL. Point also missed just under 20 games and saw his scoring drop from 82 to 50 points. Matthews’ scoring also dropped significantly, from 78 points to 53, as he played only 60 games and couldn't lead his Toronto Maple Leafs to the playoffs. As for Crosby, he could only muster 74 points ( in 68 games), his lowest total since the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season (62 points in 55 games). In other words, there is room for Suzuki to climb up a few spots in the rankings.

Based on last season’s results, it would make sense for Suzuki to make his way into the top five, behind McDavid, MacKinnon, Celebrini, and Draisaitl, who put up 97 points in just 65 games. We’ll find out on Sunday at 7:00 PM if NHL Network agrees with our assessment.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

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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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 21. Matous Kucharcik -  Forward (Youngstown - USHL) 

Kucharcik is a lanky forward who played for Slavia Praha in the Czech junior system, and played for his country at the Under-18’s before being selected by the Sabres in the fourth round (103rd overall) at the 2025 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old forward was born in Italy, as his father (a 1991 Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick) played throughout Europe during his career. 

The youngster is described by Elite Prospects 2025 Draft Guide as “a smart two-way center who excels at facilitating others through his strongly ingrained supporting habits. He backtracks to intercept passes in the neutral zone, pickpockets opposing defencemen on the forecheck and takes the right routes to provide his teammates with passing options. There’s also a clear defensive upside with Kucharčík. His motor is solid, but it’s how he angles and positions that really drives his defensive value.”

Instead of remaining in Czechia, Kucharcik played for the Sabres favorite USHL club. the Youngstown Phantoms last season, and scored 16 points (9 goals, 7 assists) in 35 games. He is moving on to the NCAA to Miami (OH) University, where he will play with Sabres 2026 first rounder Ilya Morozov.   

Follow Michael on X, and Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

EA Sports' NHL 27 player ratings are out - and there is a member of the 99 Club for the first time.

That belongs to Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, a three-time Hart Trophy winner who was runner-up for the NHL's MVP award last season.

McDavid was the highest-rated player in NHL 26, at a 97. He then finished the 2025-26 season with a league-best 90 assists and 138 points, the sixth time he has led the league in scoring.

EA Sports released only forward ratings on Tuesday, Aug. 18. It will unveil defenseman ratings and overall ratings later.

McDavid is followed by Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, the 2025-26 MVP, and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon at 97 each.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, who's on the cover and signed a record-setting extension in July, received a 95 rating. So did Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, who missed all of last season after preseason ACL surgery.

Here is when NHL 27 is available for purchase and this season's top forward ratings:

More: When does 2026 NHL preseason schedule begin? Dates, times and sites

When is the NHL 27 release date?

NHL 27 will be released on Sept. 11. A pre-order link can be found here.

NHL 27 top forward ratings

Forwards with ratings of 95 or higher, with overall rankings in parentheses:

• 99 - C Connor McDavid, Edmonton (1)
• 97 - C Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado (2)
• 97 - RW Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay (3)
• 96 - C Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton (4)
• 95 - RW David Pastrnak, Boston (7)
• 95 - C Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh (8)
• 95 - Macklin Celebrini, San Jose (10)
• 95 - Aleksander Barkov, Florida (11)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: EA Sports' NHL 27 ratings are out; Connor McDavid receives first 99

If Patrik Laine wants to save his NHL career, he may have no choice but to finally bet on himself.

Reality Has Finally Caught Up

Laine remains unsigned on Aug. 18, nearly seven weeks after NHL free agency opened, and that is becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss as a simple case of patience.

The former No. 2 overall pick still possesses one of the most dangerous shots in hockey. He has scored 224 goals in 537 career regular-season games, including a 44-goal explosion with the Winnipeg Jets in 2017-18.

But NHL teams aren't paying for what Laine used to be.

They're paying for what they believe he can be.

And right now, the league appears increasingly skeptical.

Stefan Rosner, of The Hockey News, reported earlier this summer that the Islanders had conversations with Laine's camp but weren't prepared to offer him an NHL contract, with a professional tryout being the most they were willing to consider.

This is for the same player who signed a four-year, $34.8 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets just a few years ago. 

It becomes even more understandable when looking at his recent availability.

Laine played just five games for the Montreal Canadiens last season, recording one assist before undergoing surgery for a core muscle injury. Despite being medically cleared late in the season, he never returned to the lineup.

That continued a troubling pattern.

He played 52 games in 2024-25 and just 18 games the season before that. Over the past three seasons, Laine has appeared in only 75 games. That lack of availability has become impossible for teams to ignore.

Colorado Has A Reason To Listen

This is where the Colorado Avalanche become interesting.

Colorado needs a top-six winger. There is no mystery surrounding that. The Avalanche need more offensive depth, particularly after another disappointing postseason, and they don't have the luxury of throwing significant money at every potential solution.

Laine, however, could represent a fascinating exception.

The talent is still there. His release is still elite, and his power-play ability could give Colorado another legitimate scoring threat. At 28 years old, he isn't some aging veteran hoping to squeeze one final season out of his career.

But Colorado shouldn't be interested in Laine because of what he accomplished in Winnipeg. It should be interested only if it believes he can still become that player again.

That's a significant distinction.

The Avalanche have too much at stake to take a major financial gamble on someone whose biggest question is whether he'll actually be available. But if Laine is willing to accept that his market has changed, the equation becomes considerably more appealing.

Laine May Have To Bet On Himself

A one-year contract with a modest base salary and performance bonuses could give both sides exactly what they need.

Colorado would get an opportunity to add an incredibly talented scorer without making a significant long-term commitment, while Laine would get something perhaps even more valuable: an opportunity.

And there could be another factor working in Colorado's favor: the chance to play alongside some of the best offensive players in hockey.

If Laine were willing to take less money for a season, he wouldn't exactly be walking into an offensive wasteland.

He'd have the opportunity to play alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, giving him the kind of supporting cast that could make it easier to rediscover his scoring touch. Laine wouldn't have to carry an offense in Colorado. He'd have elite playmakers around him, dangerous players commanding defensive attention and potentially more opportunities to do what he does best — shoot the puck.

And if Laine can stay healthy and capitalize on those opportunities, a one-year discount could ultimately become a very profitable decision.

He could sacrifice money now to put himself in position to make significantly more later.

That's the part Laine may have to accept now.

He doesn't need to get paid like the player he once was.

He needs to get paid like the player he is capable of becoming.

A short-term deal could ultimately be the bridge between those two realities.

The gamble could make sense for Colorado, but only if Laine is willing to play ball and gamble on himself first.

Who's going to make the first move?

Mike Sullivan has high expectations for the New York Rangers going into his second season as the team’s head coach. 

Sullivan, who left the Pittsburgh Penguins last year after a decade-long tenure and two Stanley Cups, admitted that he did not expect the Rangers to struggle as much as they did during the 2025-26 season when he originally took the head coaching gig.

After a slow start to the season, Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury issued a letter to fans in January, outlining the team’s plan to “retool” the roster. 

The Rangers proceeded to trade multiple veteran players leading up to the trade deadline, including Artemi Panarin, Carson Soucy, and Sam Carrick. 

New York finished the year in last place in the Eastern Conference standings with a 34-29-9 record and 77 points. 

However, Drury’s recent offseason moves indicate the Rangers’ intentions to fast-track their retool and jump back into the playoff race. 

The Rangers opened the offseason with their biggest splash, acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the No. 26 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft.

Dorofeyev has scored over 30 goals over each of the past two seasons in Vegas, as he instantly becomes the Rangers’ most lethal offensive threat. 

Sullivan is now focused on pairing the 25-year-old forward with a playmaker who can bring the most out of him. 

“He’s a scorer and he needs someone to get him the puck,” Sullivan said via NHL.com’s 32 in 32 series. 

On top of the Dorofeyev addition, the Rangers beefed up their blueline, acquiring Sean Durzi from the Utah Mammoth as part of the Vincent Trocheck package, while also trading for Marcus Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2030 NHL Draft.

Sullivan is optimistic about the Blueshirts after a busy offseason, and he seems to be satisfied with the direction of the team. 

“I’m real excited about the potential of this team and where we can go,” Sullivan said. 

Uh oh. The NHL has just shared the new ranking for Connor McDavid in the EA Sports rankings. Becoming the first inaugural member of the EA Sports NHL 99 Club in NHL 27, some fans aren't happy. 

Some were quick to point out that there should be no way McDavid could earn a 99 rating. "This year being the year he gets 99 shows how insanely disconnected EA is from hockey." Others said that with no Stanley Cup, this shouldn't even be a conversation. 

Others then pointed out that Ray Bourque was given a 99 rating in NHL '94. Mario Lemieux was also once given a 100. They used a different rating structure back then, but you get the point...

“No one tell them about all the 99 and 100 overalls in the games in the 90s," Nick Spence wrote on X.com.

A 99 for No. 97.

Connor McDavid is officially the inaugural member of the EA SPORTS NHL 99 Club in NHL 27 👏

Pre-Order #NHL27 🎮 https://t.co/bqjGPs3H2Ypic.twitter.com/mE23L2Apku

— NHL (@NHL) August 17, 2026

Others seemed to be upset that this might lead to uneven gameplay. “So, he’s basically unstoppable in the game.” – Carlo Colaiacovo wrote. 

Is this really a big deal? For game historians and EA Sports gurus, it seems to be. For Oilers fans who know how good McDavid is -- especially those that aren't big into gaming -- some are wondering why all the fuss and why it took so long?

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

The yearly EA (Electronic Arts) NHL video game is just a month away, and with the start of the 2026-27 NHL season alongside it, ratings for a large number of players were revealed Tuesday, including a handful of Avalanche players.

This year, the biggest news in the game is that Connor McDavid has been revealed as a 99 overall, the first player ever to reach that ranking (though I think it's a bit late and should have been a 99 overall when he scored 64 goals and 89 assists for 153 points during the 2022-23 season while taking home the Art Ross and Rocket Richard trophies, but better late than never?)

While McDavid stands alone at 99, right behind him is Nathan MacKinnon at 97 overall, tied alongside Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov as the only 97 overall in the game. 

Most notably, his top stats include his acceleration at 96, only behind McDavid's 98. His speed is 95, which is behind McDavid at 98, and his passing is 95, with guys like McDavid, Kucherov, Leon Draisaitl, and Sidney Crosby, along with a few others, whose passing stats rank higher than his.

Coming off an impressive season in which he scored a career and league-high 53 goals and took home his first-ever Rocket Richard Trophy, his stats have been boosted to reflect his successful season. Ninety-four slapshot accuracy with a 91 slapshot power, alongside a 92 wristshot power and a 96 wristshot accuracy.

Nathan MacKinnon Wins The 2025-26 Maurice "Rocket" Richard TrophyWith a career-best 53 goals, Nathan MacKinnon has won the 2025-26 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.

Alongside MacKinnon is Martin Necas, who has cracked the top 30, coming in as the 28th highest overall player with a 92 overall stat. Coming off a career season that saw him finish with career highs across the stat sheet of 38 goals and 62 assists for 100 points, Necas earns himself the highest overall he's ever been in the game, and the stats have bumped up dramatically to highlight it.

His offensive stats rival some of MacKinnon's stats in certain areas. Ninety-five offensive awareness, slapshot power of 92, and a slapshot accuracy of 94. With a wristshot power of 90 and wristshot accuracy of 93. While his skating and puck handling are in the high 80s and low 90s, his physicality and general stats (durability, faceoffs, discipline, and poise) don’t rank as high as MacKinnon's.

THROWBACK: When Martin Nečas Became A Stone-Cold KillerA throwback look at the moment Jared Bednar’s message finally clicked for Martin Nečas—and the talented forward began turning hesitation into a stone-cold scoring instinct.

In addition to those two, they also revealed four other forwards. Those being Nazem Kadri, ranked 173rd with an 86 overall. Brock Nelson has a rank of 192 with an overall of 85. Gabriel Landeskog ranked 248th with an overall of 85, and Artturi Lehkonen ranked 267th with an overall of 84.

The biggest outliers on the team that haven't had their overall released yet are the goaltenders and the defensemen, who will likely be released at a later date. While it will be interesting to see how they rank Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood for the success they had last season, it's going to be obvious how high Cale Makar will rank, but just how high among the rest of the forward skaters and matched up with other defensemen.

The full ratings can be found here.

Scott Wedgewood Deserves Better: The Avalanche Goaltender’s Latest NHL Snub Is AbsurdScott Wedgewood has become one of the NHL’s most overlooked goaltenders, and the latest ranking may be the most baffling snub yet for the Avalanche netminder.

There are still a good amount of unrestricted free agents (UFAs) still looking for their next contracts. 

When looking at the UFA defensemen still available for the taking, a former Columbus Blue Jackets defender is arguably the best of the bunch: Nick Blankenburg. 

It is a little surprising that Blankenburg has still not been signed at this point in the summer. The former Blue Jackets defenseman just had the best season of his NHL career so far. In 61 games split between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche, he set new career highs with eight goals, 16 assists, and 24 points. 

Teams looking for a puck-moving defenseman could very well consider signing Blakenburg to a short-term deal or a professional tryout (PTO) agreement before training camp. He would have the potential to be a solid addition to a team needing more defensive depth and offense from the point. 

Overall, with Blankenburg being a top UFA defenseman left, it would not be surprising if he lands a new home soon. 

Blankenburg spent each of his first three NHL seasons from 2021-22 to 2023-24 as a member of the Blue Jackets. In 55 games with the Metropolitan Division club over that span, the 5-foot-9 defenseman posted six goals, 12 assists, 18 points, and 101 hits. 

Every August, the NHL and NHL.com take a deep dive into each NHL team as part of their "32-in-32" series, highlighting 32 teams across 32 days.

Today, NHL.com took a look at the New York Islanders and highlighted several different pieces of the organization.

The most exciting of those deep dives has to be their ranking of New York's top five prospects entering the 2026-27 regular season.

On the flip side, Corey Pronman of The Athletic also released his annual ranking of all 32 NHL teams' prospect pipelines and then individually ranked each prospect.

Both took time to rank the Islanders' top prospects, and both came away with extremely different lists and rankings.

First, NHL.com and Jon Lane ranked New York's top five in this order: 1. Victor Eklund, 2. Malte Gustafsson, 3. Kashawn Aitcheson, 4. Dmitry Gamzin, and 5. Cole Eiserman.

Eklund, seen by many as New York's top non-NHL prospect, is fighting for his spot in the NHL this fall after making his NHL Debut in Game #82 this past season.

Where he might fit in the lineup remains to be seen, but anywhere in the top nine could work:

Eklund will have every opportunity to make the #Isles out of training camp.

If he does, how the Islanders handle him will be one of the more interesting things to watch early this season.

And his initial role may not be what you expect @TheElmonters ⤵️https://t.co/sLeEULjRIx

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) August 18, 2026

The Islanders just selected Gustafsson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, while Aitcheson had a standout year one season after New York used the 17th overall pick on the defenseman.

Gamzin, a 2024 fourth-round pick, continues to shine brightly in Russia, but is locked up long-term there with CSKA Moscow and isn't expected to be in the NHL for multiple seasons. However, his skills look unbelievable, and it's very easy to see him as a starting goalie in the NHL at a minimum.

Lastly, Eiserman, a first-round pick from 2024, enters his first professional season, and will likely start with the Hamilton Hammers as he gets set to polish his game around his game-breaking shot.

Not one of those rankings from NHL.com can be considered too shocking, as it features all the big names and showcases them in what's the consensus ranking of them, though Aitcheson likely figures above Gustafsson at this point.

Then came Pronman's ranking with The Athletic, where he goes off the board with his Top 5:

1. Kashawn Aitcheson, whom Pronman lists as a "Bubble Top, Middle of the lineup player," giving him a ceiling as high as a top-pairing NHL Defenseman.

2. Malte Gustafsson, who finds himself in that same tier as Aitcheson, but for very different stylistic reasons.

At this point, you might be shocked to see Eklund slip down below both defensemen, but there are people who are extremely high on both players, which Pronman is. 

Both are going to be factors soon for the Islanders, and both have elite skill sets at what they excel at.

Eklund, meanwhile, is far more well-rounded and has fewer holes in his game, hence why he's the most NHL-ready of the trio.

But Pronman doesn't have him as New York's top forward prospect.

"3. Daniil Prokhorov, 2025 second-round pick. Middle-of-the-lineup player"

Pronman goes way off the board and shows huge love for Prokhorov, the very raw, but physically massive Russian winger, who stands at 6'6 and has impressed at consecutive Islanders' development camp.

Prokhorov surprised some when he came to North America after just one season, but he figures to be a big piece for the Hammers, and his NHL future may not be so far off.

Pronman is the only spot to have Prokhorov above the NHL-ready Eklund, and it's due to perceived ceilings alone.

"4. Danny Nelson, 2023 second-round pick. Middle-of-the-lineup player"

Nelson, who was reportedly highly-coveted by other teams in trade talks, has seen his stock explode in the last two years. 

Once thought of a future 4C, his future looks to be that of a great third-line center who is responsible on both ends of the ice, and can be depended on by their teams.

Nelson is set to play one more year in college before turning pro in the 2027 Spring.

"5. Victor Eklund, 2025 first-round pick. Middle-of-the-lineup player"

Pronman is not as low as it may seem on Eklund as it appears. Rather, he seems to be just that high on Nelson and Prokhorov's potential.

Maybe Pronman doesn't see a first-line winger, which many disagree with, but based on his breakdown, he very clearly sees a reliable, point-producing second-line winger who can play in all situations.

It's a shocking sight to see Eklund below Prokhorov and Nelson nonetheless.

Eiserman came in sixth on Pronman's rankings, just missing out on the top 5 of the non-NHL guys.

Last off-season, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed winger Anthony Mantha to a one-year, prove-it deal. This move certainly paid off for Pittsburgh, as the 6-foot-5 winger set new career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists, and 65 points in 81 games. He also played a role in Pittsburgh getting into the playoffs.

While Mantha had a very good year for the Penguins, they decided not to re-sign him. Although this is the case, they did bring in an interesting winger to replace him in Andrei Kuzmenko. 

The Penguins signed Kuzmenko to a one-year, $5 million contract earlier this off-season. This comes after he posted 13 goals, 12 assists, and 25 points in 52 games last season with the Los Angeles Kings.

Overall, Kuzmenko had a decent year offensively for the Kings, but there is reason to believe that he could be another success story for the Penguins next season, just like Mantha was in 2025-26. 

Kuzmenko has shown at points during his career that he can produce like a true top-six winger. During his rookie year with the Vancouver Canucks, he posted 39 goals, 35 assists, and 74 points in 81 games. He also recorded 14 goals and 25 points in 29 games with the Calgary Flames during the 2023-24 season after being acquired from Vancouver mid-season. He posted 17 points in 22 games with the Kings when they acquired him from the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2024-25 campaign as well.

With numbers like these, Kuzmenko has undoubtedly had some success in the NHL. With this, it would not be surprising if he puts up good numbers for the Penguins next season. He tends to have strong starts when he joins new teams, and that could end up being the case with Pittsburgh.

It will be interesting to see how well Kuzmenko performs for the Penguins next season. He certainly has the chance to be Pittsburgh's next Mantha. 

As the anticipation for the 2026-27 NHL season grows, TheHockeyNews.com will be taking a look at the top 10 prospects in the St. Louis Blues' system, kicking off our list with Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who comes in at No. 10.

The players in this ranking do not have extensive NHL experience and are all 23 and under. Therefore, players like Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Logan Mailloux, among others, won't feature in this ranking for those reasons.

The order of these rankings reflects a mix of their ceilings and potential, as well as how they've performed over the past year with their respective clubs. 

Kaskimaki is a 22-year-old, left-handed Finnish center who occasionally plays on the wing as well. Drafted by the Blues in the third round (73rd overall) in the 2022 NHL draft, Kaskimaki is a reliable two-way forward with a strong shot that he demonstrated plenty in his sophomore season in the AHL.

Kaskimaki was one of the driving forces of the Springfield Thunderbirds' offense last year, posting 20 goals and 44 points in 64 games, ranking second in goals and points. 

Kaskimaki is at his best with the puck on his stick in transition. He utilizes shot angles and uses the defenders as screens to put the puck on net. His strong second AHL season earned him a call-up to the NHL, where he skated in five games.

St. Louis Blues NHL Prospect Rankings: Honorable MentionsBefore we count down our top 10 St. Louis Blues prospects, we take a look at five honorable mentions who just missed the cut.

The Blues were at a low point in their season, playing poor hockey and dealing with a plethora of injuries, resulting in Kaskimaki not standing out and failing to record any points in those games. But earning the call-up was the goal Kaskimaki needed to achieve at that point in his career. Now, it's to earn another and force the coaching staff to keep him up in the NHL. 

Kaskimaki's chances of earning a roster spot out of pre-season and training camp are very slim. The team's center depth is projected to be Robert Thomas, Mason McTavish, and Dalibor Dvorsky in the top nine, with Pius Suter and Dillon Dube battling for the fourth-line role. 

With injuries throughout an 84-game season, there could be opportunities for Kaskimaki to earn a call-up. 

The Espoo, FIN native likely won't ever amount to more than a bottom-six NHLer, but those are still valuable pieces to winning hockey teams. With a six-foot frame, positional versatility, and a trustworthy game, Kaskimaki could be a valuable piece of the Blues lineup very soon. 

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On Monday night, the Victoriaville Tigres announced that winger Alexey Vlasov had been invited to the Montreal Canadiens’ rookie camp. The 5-foot-9, 176-pound left winger is 18 years old and has played two seasons in North America. In 2024-25, he skated in the USHL, scoring 23 points in 51 games with the Sioux Falls Stampede before moving to the QMJHL for 2025-26. With the Tigres, he put up 80 points in 64 games.

While Vlasov doesn’t have the size element the Canadiens desperately need, it’s an interesting invite from the Habs. The youngster is talented, has a knack for scoring goals, and was ranked 102nd among North American skaters ahead of the 2026 draft. With 44 goals, he was the highest-scoring rookie in the QMJHL this past season. He was a constant scoring threat, skating on an all-Russian line completed by Egor Shilov and Kornei Korneyev.

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It’s not hard to know why he was passed over in the draft, given his size and the fact that his skating isn’t quite up to par. However, the Canadiens have excellent development coaches, and he could greatly benefit from rookie camp. This will be an exceptional opportunity for the youngster to show he can measure up to drafted players.

Rookie camp invites do not always lead to contract offers, of course. Still, some players seize the opportunity and turn it into something more, like Arber Xhekaj, who was undrafted but forced the Canadiens to offer him an ELC in October 2021.

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Despite the Montreal Canadiens desperately in need of depth forwards and scoring, they have remained very patient in negotiations with former St. Louis Blues first-round pick Zachary Bolduc.

Bolduc was dealt to the Canadiens last off-season in a one-for-one deal that sent Logan Mailloux to the Blues.

Both 23-year-olds have had up-and-down seasons, but they occurred at different points. For Mailloux, the season started very poorly and resulted in a brief stint in the AHL. Upon returning, Mailloux was a different player and locked down a role on the top pairing alongside Philip Broberg. 

The goal for Mailloux is to start the season strong and prove that he is worthy of keeping his role on the top pairing.

For Bolduc, he started his Habs career with a bang, scoring in three consecutive games and finding time on the top line and top power play unit. That scorching start faded relatively quickly, resulting in a 12-goal, 30-point season in 78 games.

Both his goals and points were down from his previous season with the Blues, where he posted 19 goals and 36 points in 72 games. 

In the playoffs, Bolduc's ice time dipped further down to 11:23, compared to the 13:38 he averaged during the regular season. 

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But despite his inconsistencies, Bolduc has the tools to be an effective middle-six winger, capable of bringing a physical edge and winning his minutes. With players like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov leading the front lines, and soon-to-be-added Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky, the Habs need players like Bolduc who will bring depth scoring while understanding their role.

The expectation remains that Bolduc and the Canadiens come to an agreement before the season starts, but the clock is ticking.

"I'd love to play in Montreal for several seasons," said Bolduc to RDS. "But on the other hand, management has to make their own decisions too. Like I said, I'm not going to get ahead of myself on anything, but I trust my agent on that end and I'm confident that good things are coming."

The Canadiens have been almost scarily quiet this off-season. Could that mean a bigger move is on the horizon, and Bolduc could be going the other way? Time will tell, but what remains is that Bolduc will be a solid winger for any NHL club. 

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In one of the 2025 offseason’s biggest surprises, the Anaheim Ducks parted ways with then-head coach Greg Cronin after just two seasons on the job and improving by 21 points in the NHL standings between years one and two.

Less than one month later, the Ducks hired the second-winningest head coach in NHL history, Joel Quenneville, with a mandate to qualify for the 2026 playoffs. With Quenneville inserted behind the bench, the Ducks achieved their goal, improving from 80 points in 2024-25 to 92 in 2025-26 and finishing third in the Pacific Division.

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Anaheim won their opening round of the playoffs against the defending Western Conference Champion Edmonton Oilers in six games but were defeated in the second round by the eventual Conference Champion Vegas Golden Knights, again in six games.

After finishing among the final eight teams in the NHL playoffs, the Ducks are expected to build off their performance and continue their evolution into sustainable Cup contenders. With several of their young players having solidified themselves as NHL stars and foundational pieces, coupled with veteran experience on the roster, the Ducks’ contending window could be considered presently open.

The Ducks were unable to make many significant moves to improve the roster in the 2026 offseason due to sudden, unexpected salary cap constraints and parting with several key roster pieces such as Mason McTavish, Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, Radko Gudas, and Olen Zellweger.

Quenneville (67) will have his work cut out for him in the upcoming 2026-27 season to build on his club’s efforts from a year ago and return to the playoffs while continuing to develop the Ducks’ core and secondary young pieces.

An interesting wrinkle to Quenneville’s short tenure thus far in Anaheim is the fact that he’s now on an expiring contract, per reporting from TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.

To Anaheim, Quenneville brought with him a resume that included 1768 games as an NHL head coach, 969 wins, three Stanley Cup rings, and (to some) a stained reputation due to his role in the scandal surrounding the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks.

He’ll be 68 years old when the 2026-27 season starts. The upcoming season will be his 27th as an NHL head coach, he’s now the second head coach in history to eclipse the 1000-win mark, and his reputation seems to have rebounded as much as it possibly could have. The questions now become: how much longer does he want to coach? And what more does he have to prove?

Quenneville brought the Ducks back to the playoffs on the backs of a young core that includes Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, Jackson LaCombe, and Lukas Dostal, and in theory, they’ll only continue to grow and improve. However, expectations of truly competing for a Stanley Cup seem multiple years down the road, beyond the length of Quenneville’s current contract, at least.

It’s clear Quenneville’s passion for the sport and coaching remains. To the Ducks locker room and bench, he’s brought an even-keeled demeanor throughout the highs and lows of an 82 (soon to be 84) game schedule, but he also outwardly displays fiery emotions behind the bench, “going to bat” for his players and pressing proper buttons when needed.

For the most part, he’s done well to nurture and guide his most talented young roster players, coaching them through and eventually erasing predictable mistakes while allowing them to grow and flourish on their own without fear of elongated time on the bench or healthy scratches. That area of his coaching prowess will continue to be ever-important in the upcoming season, where the Ducks will rely on an even greater influx of youth on the roster in prominent roles.

Quenneville has a lot left to give the Ducks organization and roster as their head coach, and with another successful season, it can be expected that a contract extension would be on the horizon. However, at the start of the 2026-27 season, he’ll be the second-oldest in the NHL, three years younger than Rick Bowness of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he’d be 69 years old at the start of his potential new contract. The Anaheim job seems to be his as long as he wants it, especially if he repeats or improves on the successes of a year ago.

The Ducks are in a position of luxury, as despite the ever-circulating NHL head coaching carousel, they maintained the services of their offense/power play assistant coach and one of the most sought-after candidates for the past two summers: Jay Woodcroft.

In less than three seasons as the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, Woodcroft was let go after posting a 79-41-13 record and three NHL playoff series wins. With two seasons in the Ducks organization and a deep familiarity with the roster, Woodcroft seems the heir apparent if Quenneville were to call it a career or exit for greener pastures following the upcoming season.

The Hockey News ranked Quenneville as the NHL’s fifth-best current head coach, and the work he’s done to overhaul the systems, on-ice philosophy, and off-ice philosophy in Anaheim cannot be understated. His current contract is yet another layer to yet another all-important transition season for the Anaheim Ducks franchise in 2026-27.

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