The Columbus Blue Jackets have 59 days until the home opener at Nationwide Arena. Today, we talk about Yegor Chinakhov and the drama that surrounded him. 

Yegor Chinakhov was drafted in October 2020 and selected #21 overall. It was a headscratcher to experts, and the silence was deafening. They had no clue who he was. 

Chinakhov had only played junior hockey in Russia before being drafted, and he would make his KHL debut during the 2020-21 season for Avangard Omsk. In his first pro season in the KHL, he scored 10 goals and had 17 points. Chinakhov played so well that he was elevated to Avangard Omsk's top line. After one season in the KHL, Chinakhov was signed to a three-year NHL ELC in May of 2021.

Chinakhov then came to North America to start his pro career later in 2021. He would play in 62 games for the Blue Jackets in his rookie year, scoring seven goals and totaling 14 points. Under ex-coach John Tortorella, he averaged 12:30 of ice time and chipped in a single power-play goal. He played one game for the Cleveland Monsters, scoring one goal.

A high-ankle sprain derailed Chinakhov's 2022-23 season. He played in 30 NHL games, scored 4 goals, and totaled 13 points. After he came back from injury, he was sent down to Cleveland, where he played seven games and tallied eight points. He was again struck by the injury bug while playing for Cleveland.

In April of 2023, Chinakhov was signed to a one-year contract extension for an AAV of 800k. He was still waiver-exempt, so he spent some time in Cleveland that season, playing in three games and scoring 3 goals while rehabbing an injury.

In the 23-24 season, Yegor Chinakhov broke out. While playing in 53 games, he set career highs in goals, assists, and points. He scored 16 goals and had 29 points while averaging 15:10 of ice time. He also shot 14.5%, which was up by 5% from the previous year.

Unfortunately, he dealt with some injuries last season. He missed the first few weeks of the season, making his CBJ debut on November 4th. He also missed the final month of the season with an upper-body injury.

Later in 2023, there were rumors that he was "unhappy" in Columbus and may want out. His agent, Shumi Babaev, told THN Columbus that "At the moment, there are no conversations about a trade on our part. He likes Columbus, both the team and the city." He went on to tell us that "We are in touch with the General Manager (Jarmo); the only thing Yegor wants is to have more ice time, feel the coach's trust, and help the team win more games. He's very happy after yesterday's game. Felt great on the new line."

When he was drafted, the Jackets needed a shoot-first winger who could score goals. They had two in the form of Kirill Marchenko and Chinakhov. Until they didn't. 

Don Waddell got his new contract taken care of almost right away after coming to Columbus, signing him to a 2-year, $4,200,000 contract on June 21st, 2024. About a week before his re-signing, his agent told THN Columbus that the two sides weren't really close on a new deal. A week later, the deal was made.

Chinakhov only played in 30 games in 24-25, scoring 7 goals and totaling 15 points. He attempted to come back later in the season, but was benched when he just didn't look right to Dean Evason.

Fast forward to the 25-26 off-season, and Yegor Chinakhov was embroiled in a bit of drama again. Chinakhov said through his agent on X, "I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season. Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location. Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here."

He went on to say, "The most interesting thing is that at the end of the year, even at a meeting, everyone was called, but there were no questions for me. I mostly talked to the assistants because the head coach said, 'The assistants will explain everything to you.' But they don’t explain anything."

His agent reiterated a wish for a trade in an interview where he said, "I hope that the club has heard Yegor and will try to find a trade before the championship starts. Let's hope that he will start the season on another team."

Both he and defenseman Jordan Harris raised concerns about a lack of communication between players and the coaching staff.

Don Waddell had since come out and said that he and Chinakhov's agent would talk, and if something came along that satisfied Waddell in terms of a trade, he would consider it. 

Chinkhov started last season in Columbus, but played only 29 games and totaled 6 points. He was finally traded to Pittsburgh by Columbus for Danton Heinen, a 2nd-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and a 3rd-round pick in 2027 on December 29, 2025.

Of course, in typical NHL fashion, when a player is traded, they get rejuvenated. After this trade, he played in 43 games, scored 18 goals, and totaled 36 points. 

In the playoffs however, he disappeared, scoring zero points in six games.

Many fans around Columbus wonder if the recent news that Kirill Marchenko wants out of Columbus has anything to do with how the Chinakhov situation went down. We may find out sooner or later, but for now, the "what-ifs" will be asked for years to come, especially if Chinakhov has a second straight career year. 

How did you feel about this situation?

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Came across this little note, and since it is August, why not sink into it a little bit? We all know the Penguins are really weak on the left side of their defense, enter a division rival over on Long Island who happen to be stacked at the position to at least make a fun thought for a summer day.

Elliotte Friedman: Re Islanders: Isaiah George, it's gonna be interesting to see what they do there, because that guy's ready to play, but they're really jammed up on the left side of the ice – 32 Thoughts (7/6)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 26, 2026

Winning the lottery and getting the first overall pick in 2025 Matthew Schaefer has upended the Islanders’ blueline. Schaefer joins Adam Pelech and Alex Romanov on the left side of their depth chart, NYI has Ryan Pulock, Tony DeAngelo and Scott Mayfield on the right.

That leaves no space for Isaiah George, 22, who is on the last year of his entry level contract and still can be sent to the AHL without waivers. His best use might be hedging against injury and adding to depth but more than ever young players get antsy about opportunity. George played 33 NHL games in 2024-25, down to just four in 2025-26. He’s already spent parts of the last two years in the AHL.

These days, the once nearly dead practice of interdivision trading is back in a big way. Within the last year, the Pens have picked up Hendrix Lapierre from Washington, Egor Chinakhov from Columbus and sent Philip Tomasino to Philadelphia. It hasn’t been too long since the Pens sent Cody Glass to New Jersey, Anthony Beauvillier to the Caps or even Reilly Smith to the Rangers. Some of these trades have been important, others not so much but it stands to give evidence that more than ever teams are willing to work with even their closest opponents if the best deal available comes from a rival. That said, there hasn’t been a Pittsburgh/NYI trade since Bill Guerin was acquired back in 2009, so that’s been an area where the two teams don’t end up completing trades between each other in the recent past.

How to find a way to make a deal satisfying for NYI could be a hurdle. The Islanders have little cap space and haven’t made many moves this off-season. One area that stands out is their levels of 20-24 year old forward talent is pretty much non-existent besides top youngster Calum Ritchie. In a need-for-need area, players like Tristan Broz, Rutger McGroarty or Ville Koivunen would fill some holes within the NYI organization for young talent.

Whether or not they’d be interested in giving up George or see the value in anything that Pittsburgh would give up is obviously a huge assumptive leap in logic, and could be a reason nothing comes to pass going down this path. It’s surely not 10/10 obvious that both sides have a ton of motivation and clear match, though there’s enough around lining up to make a scenario plausible.

As mentioned, there are often injuries that could make George a very valuable player to retain for the near future from the opposite perspective. There’s not even dots to connect at this point, but the Pens want young talent and they badly need some NHL level players for the blueline. George isn’t a sure thing just yet, though he fits the mold of the type of player that Pittsburgh has brought in recently for players in their mid-20’s that don’t have a clear path to a big role prior to their acquisition. That might not mean he’ll be available for a trade this off-season, but depending on how the situation develops shortly it could present an opportunity to fit a common roster-building strategy deployed in Pittsburgh if anything changes.

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

“The Devils went from having very few borderline NHLers on their AHL roster to having them strewn throughout the lineup. It’s a great problem to have – at some point or another, the Devils will need to call on them. Putrid fourth-line play cost them a few games in 2025-26, but it now seems as though that is an issue of the past.” [Infernal Access]

Brett Pesce on Sunny Mehta: “Yeah, [Sunny] has been awesome. I had a conversation with him at the end of the year, loved what he had to say, what he did this offseason. So far, so good. He’s a really smart guy and looking forward to getting to know him better.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]

Hockey Links

Tommy Novak gets a three-year deal:

Tommy Novak has signed a 3 YR $4.65M AAV extension with the Penguins 🐧💰

The 29 year old had 42P in 82GP this year in his first full season with Pittsburgh 🔥 pic.twitter.com/c9DEkBQvNN

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) July 31, 2026

And Collin Graf does too:

Collin Graf has signed a 3 YR $4.25M AAV deal with the Sharks 💸

The Undrafted 23 year old broke out for 21G-25A-46P in 81GP this season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BLz9h7498T

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) July 31, 2026

Looking ahead, who are some guys who could actually hit free agency next year? [Sportsnet]

NHL Network producers and analysts unveil their list of their top 20 wings in the NHL right now: [NHL.com]

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

It's officially another season, another prospects ranking for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

In years past, this has been a bit easier of an exercise, as there used to be a more clear-cut line between prospects with NHL upside and longshots. However, because of the work that general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and his staff have put in during the last several years, the line is blurring a whole lot more - and there is a substantially higher volume of talent in the system. 

This time around, making a top-20 list was challenging. So, a few criteria were put into place: To make our list, prospects must be under the age of 26 and have played less than 50 NHL games. This excludes names such as Ben Kindel, Filip Hallander, Oliver Okuliar, and Alexander Alexeyev.

We already went through some of the names who just missed the cut, so without further ado, the official list begins. We kick things off with a blueliner who has seen a steady progression within the Penguins' system the last two years and who is helping bolster depth on the right-side prospect pool.

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No. 20: D Chase Pietila

One year ago, the argument to include Pietila on the Top-20 list would have been met with some understandable doubt. For some, even including him this season might be questionable, given some of the other talent that the Penguins possess in the pipeline. 

However, Pietila's play last season warranted a selection on this list, as he is coming into his own as one of the more reliable blueliners in Pittsburgh's system.

Selected by the Penguins in the fourth round (111th overall) of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Pietila was first a product of the USHL program before moving on to Michigan Tech for two seasons. In the NCAA, he put together two consecutive campaigns with 22 points, with his second season featuring seven goals and the third-highest average time on ice (26:37) among NCAA defensemen.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects: Honorable MentionsTo kick off the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins annual Top-20 Prospects list, those who barely missed the cutoff are acknowledged.

By that second season, he had already been selected by Pittsburgh. His performance also earned him a brief look in the ECHL and AHL near the end of their respective regular seasons, and in 12 games combined between those levels, he had three points - all from his time with the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL - and was a plus-4. 

From there, he remained in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins after departing from the NCAA when he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins prior to the 2025-26 season. 

And, as mentioned, he took some big strides last season.

The two goals and 16 points in 66 AHL regular season games may not stand out in any kind of grand way, but it was Pietila’s work in his own zone, in transition, and in developing consistency that led to his success. Pietila’s ability to read and disrupt plays was on full display last season, and even if plus/minus is a largely arbitrary stat, his plus-27 mark wasn't by accident and was second only to Finn Harding.

He also provided a stabilizing presence on WBS’s blue line throughout the regular season and into the Calder Cup Playoffs. 

NHL Prospect Pool Overview '26-27: Pittsburgh Penguins Trust Youth To Bolster Aging CoreThe Pittsburgh Penguins are still transitioning from one era to the next, but integrating their prospects into the NHL over the next few years will be critical.

General manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas mentioned Pietila as part of a core group of young defensemen the Penguins have in their system and praised his work in the playoffs.

“What I saw in the playoffs down there was Owen Pickering, Harrison Brunicke, Finn Harding, Chase Pietila, I thought they had excellent playoffs. And, really, they used the playoffs to come a long way… I think we’re really happy with how those guys came along.”

Being grouped in with the other three is no small thing, especially since those are arguably the best three blueliners in the Penguins’ system right now. Like Harding, Pietila does have some offensive upside, but the bread and butter of his game is his reliability and steadiness, which is something Pittsburgh will need down the line on its NHL club if higher-risk offensive defenseman like Brunicke are part of the picture. If he can become a steady, reliable bottom-pair defenseman - which is likely his ceiling - that's still a win.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman still has some developmental steps to take if he is to eventually become a full-time NHL player. But his growth and progress is encouraging for an organization that desperately needs blue line depth, and if he can continue to build out his two-way game even more, he might continue to climb this list.

Decision To Sign Novak Serves As Reminder Of Penguins' Needs At CenterThe Penguins signed forward Tommy Novak to a three-year extension Friday, but it also exposed a glaring organizational need.

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Believe it or not, it's been a little over four years since former Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall acquired Rickard Rakell at the 2022 NHL trade deadline.

He was exactly what the Penguins needed and has been a stalwart in the top six ever since. He's had to go through multiple offseasons of trade rumors, including this one, but he's still with the Penguins and has two seasons left on his contract.

Rakell had a career season in 2024-25, finishing with 35 goals and 70 points in 81 games. His 35 goals and 70 points were career highs. 

He followed that season up with 24 goals and 48 points in 60 games this past season and would've been close to his numbers from the 2024-25 season if he hadn't missed a month and a half in the first half of the season with a broken left hand. 

Rakell spent a good chunk of the season as one of Sidney Crosby's wingers, but also spent time at center, a position he wasn't familiar with before this season. It was a major adjustment for him since he had to become more comfortable taking draws, becoming even more of a 200-foot player, and killing penalties.

He had barely spent any time on the penalty kill over the last five seasons before playing 34:57 on that unit this past season. It was Rakell's most time on the PK since the 2019-20 season, when he spent 45:04 on the Anaheim Ducks' penalty kill. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects: Honorable MentionsTo kick off the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins annual Top-20 Prospects list, those who barely missed the cutoff are acknowledged.

While Rakell did improve at center as the season went on, he's still a natural winger, and I expect him to start the 2026-27 season next to Crosby and Bryan Rust. Rakell is super comfortable with Crosby and does a great job reading off him while he's on the ice. If injuries do come up for some of the Penguins centers, Rakell can still shift to that position for a handful of games. 

Some of the deployment on the top power play unit might be different for the 2026-27 season, but I'd still have Rakell up there. He's great in the slot area and has one of the top shots on the team. He also has the ability to move around and keep the opposing penalty killers honest. 

Rakell might be another year older heading into this season (33), but I still expect him to score between 20 and 30 goals and finish with 50 and 60 points. He's been at or above that level in three of the last four seasons, and I don't see it changing right now. I'd be fairly surprised if he had a season similar to his 2023-24 year when he only shot 9.1% and finished with only 15 goals and 37 points. 

He'll be a key component for a Penguins team that's trying to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second season in a row. 

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Now that we are a month into NHL free agency, we should start to see UFAs sign professional tryout (PTO) agreements.

The Canadiens should not be against the idea of taking a look at a player or two on a PTO at training. When looking at the remaining UFA, one player who could make sense for Montreal to bring in a PTO is forward Reilly Smith. 

Smith remains unsigned after recording 16 goals, 10 assists, and 26 points in 69 games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. Overall, it was a bit a down year for the veteran forward, but it is fair to wonder if he bounce back if given another opportunity. 

Just back during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, Smith recorded 40 points in each campaign. He also recorded 26 goals and 56 points in 78 games with Vegas in 2022-23. With past numbers like these, the 15-year veteran could be worth taking a shot on with a PTO for the Canadiens. 

If Smith impressed during training camp and earned a contract for the season, he could be a solid addition to the Canadiens' bottom six. While he may not be the same top-six forward he was during his prime, it would not hurt for the Habs to add a veteran forward who can still provide decent secondary scoring to their depth. This is especially so when noting that Smith has won the Stanley Cup in the past. 

William Eklund hasn't played a game for the Senators yet, but one of his highlights from last season is still getting some attention.

Based on fan voting, the NHL just named Eklund's spectacular goal against the Boston Bruins as its goal of the year.

Playing for the San Jose Sharks at TD Garden, Eklund drove toward the Boston net, worked his way around Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke and got an initial shot on Jeremy Swayman.

Swayman made the save, but as Eklund was falling to the ice, he somehow located the rebound, and while pausing, in mid-air, mind you, he batted the puck past the Bruins goaltender.

The Senators were well represented in the voting, as Andre Burakovsky and Tim Stutzle also had goals that made the final six.

Burakovsky had a slick between-the-legs goal , the kind that Brady Tkachuk was always trying (and failing) to pull off. Stutzle had that memorable solo effort, splitting the Carolina defense, then making a sensational move at the net.

But according to the fans, Eklund's snipe was a cut above. For those who haven't seen it yet, it's worth a look.

The combination of puck skill, hand-eye coordination and body control immediately made it one of the season's most memorable goals.

Now it's been voted as the very best goal.

It came at 8:20 of the third period and helped San Jose to a 4-2 victory that night. Eklund also added an assist and was named the game's second star.

The goal was even more notable from an individual standpoint because it snapped a lengthy personal drought for Eklund. It was his only goal during a 30-game stretch. He'd gone 19 games without a goal and went scoreless for 10 more after this.

But by the end of the season, Eklund had put together another productive year, finishing with 15 goals and 53 points in 78 games.

Now he'll try to produce some new highlights in Ottawa.

The Senators certainly aren't expecting him to replace everything Tkachuk provided. He won't battle physically the way Tkachuk did, but he defends better and brings superior speed.

And, as the NHL Goal of the Year voters can attest, he's got some moments of serious creativity. 

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 Sens headlines below:

Career Year, New Deal Fuel Former Senator's NHL Comeback Bid
Jordan Spence On Tkachuk's Exit: 'I Think That It's Going To Make Us Better'
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Former Florida Panthers team consultant Andy O'Brien has joined the Toronto Maple Leafs organization as their new strength and conditioning coach, the Toronto Sun's Steve Simmons reported.

The Maple Leafs have made several moves to their roster, coaching staff and front office, guided by newly hired GM John Chayka. O'Brien is the newest hire in a series of very intriguing moves.

O'Brien had two separate stints with the Panthers. From 2005 to 2009, O'Brien was the head strength and conditioning coach. After he left the Panthers, he joined the Tri-City Americans of the WHL for three seasons as a team consultant. 

Then he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as the director of conditioning and the director of sports science. After five seasons with the Penguins, O'Brien rejoined the Panthers as a team consultant and the team consultant for high performance.

Although O'Brien is well known for his NHL gigs, he might be best known for being Sidney Crosby's trainer since he was 13 years old. 

O'Brien's training has clearly worked for Crosby, as the Penguins captain is 38 and still one of the best players in the NHL. He also played a crucial role for the Panthers, helping them win a Stanley Cup and transform the team into one of the NHL's most physically dominant teams, if not the most. 

O'Brien was not working in the NHL during the 2025-26 season, as his last season with the Panthers was in 2024-25. 

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This weekend, the NHL account on X sparked a lot of comments when it asked fans what the pettiest hockey grudge they were still holding was. There were plenty of answers that wanted to set the record straight by saying that there were no petty grudges in hockey and that all grudges were valid. A statement which would find a lot of support in Montreal, considering how seriously fans take their hockey in the Mecca of hockey. Here are, in chronological order, the five biggest grudges in Montreal Canadiens history.

1954-55: The Rocket Richard Suspension

On March 13, 1955, there was an altercation in a game between the Habs and the Boston Bruins. As the Canadiens were on a power play, Maurice Rocket Richard was high-sticked and a delayed penalty was called. Once the Bruins touched the puck and the penalty was called, Richard sought revenge on Hal Laycoe, and as linesman Cliff Thompson attempted to restrain a furious Rocket, he was struck by the star. That led to a disciplinary hearing with the league, and NHL President Colin Campbell decided that Richard, who was on his way to win the scoring race, would miss the remainder of the 1954-55 season and the playoffs.

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Unsurprisingly, the ruling was not well received in Montreal. When Campbell showed up to the game between the Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings on March 17, 1955, it sparked what would come to be known as the “Richard Riot,” an event that many would go on to describe as the start of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec. The League president was assaulted in the stands, was thrown various items at, and was slapped and hit with a tomato in the face. The crowd got so unruly that a tear gas bomb was set off and the building was evacuated, forcing the Habs to forfeit the game. A full-blown riot erupted outside as fans felt the Richard suspension was motivated by the fact that he was a French-Canadian.

The following day, Richard took to the airwaves to plead with fans and ask them to support the team rather than protest his suspension. They did, but they didn’t forget, and as Hab Bernard “Boom Boom” Geoffrion passed Richard in the scoring race, the Montreal fans booed him.

1995-96: The End of the Line for Patrick Roy

40 years later, on December 2, 1995, rookie coach Mario Tremblay hung out to dry superstar Patrick Roy when he left him in net in a game against the Red Wings when it was clear that it wasn’t St-Patrick’s night. By the time the coach finally pulled the goaltending legend, he had let in nine goals on 26 shots and had been booed and mocked by the home crowd. Once back on the bench, Roy told team president Ronald Corey that he had played his last game in Montreal. Days later, GM Rejean Houle traded Roy and captain Mike Keane to the Colorado Avalanche for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Ruscinsky, and Andrei Kovalenko, arguably the worst trade in Habs history and one that sent the franchise into a very dark age.

To this day, plenty of fans still hold a grudge against Tremblay for not pulling Roy sooner and against Houle for that awful trade. The fact that Roy went on to win two more Stanley Cups with the Avalanche after the trade while the Canadiens haven’t won a single one since certainly didn’t help.

2009-10: The Jaroslav Halak Trade

The 2010 playoffs will forever be known as the Halak spring in Montreal. That year, Jaroslav Halak wrestled the starting job away from Carey Price and carried the team to a surprise Eastern Conference Final. He ran out of gas in the third round, and the Habs were eliminated in five games by the Philadelphia Flyers, but his performances against the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins as the Canadiens beat both Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in seven games in the first two rounds were the stuff of legends.

It turned the goaltender into a fan favorite, and in the offseason, as he was about to become an RFA, GM Pierre Gauthier elected to trade him to the St. Louis Blues in what he called a “big picture decision”, deciding to bet on Price’s bright future rather than on Halak’s immediate success. However, the return Gauthier got from the Blues was judged to be far too low, as center Lars Eller, who had only played seven NHL games by then, and tough guy Ian Schultz came to Montreal. Fans felt betrayed that the playoff hero was sent packing, and despite Price turning out the way he did, there are still those who lament the trade. Canadiens fans can certainly hold a grudge.

2010-11: The Chara-Pacioretty Incident

Zdeno Chara from the Bruins became public enemy number one in Montreal when he hit Max Pacioretty, a hit that saw him hit the glass between the two team benches. It was very much as if he had hit a wall, and he fell on the ice unconscious. You could have heard a pin drop in the Bell Centre on that day; Chara silenced an arena that’s always raucous for a Canadiens-Bruins duel. There was real concern in that moment not only for Pacioretty’s health but also for his career. The sniper was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with both a severe concussion and a fractured fourth cervical vertebra.

Canadiens fans never forgot that hit, and they never forgave it either. From that day on, whenever Chara touched the puck on the Bell Centre ice, he was copiously booed by the Habs faithful.

2013-2014: The Turning Point In Price’s Career

Price was on fire in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs; he helped the Canadiens sweep the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round before being one of the key elements of a 7-game win in the second round against the Bruins. The Canadiens fans were hoping he could take them all the way to the 25th Stanley Cup in franchise history, but in the first game of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers, he was run over by Chris Kreider, skates first, colliding with the goaltender’s right knee.

If you ask a Rangers fan about that incident, they’ll tell you that Kreider was the innocent victim of a trip by defenseman Alexei Emelin. If you ask a Canadiens fan about it, they’ll tell you that if Kreider were tripped, he wouldn’t have fallen that way. The belief in Montreal was, and still is, that Kreider saw an opportunity to take Price out and he took it.

12 years later, Kreider, who’s now with the Anaheim Ducks, is still booed by the Habs faithful, and that will never change. Price did concede that the hit was part of the problem with his knee, but he wouldn’t call it “The problem” in a 2025 phone interview with The Gazette’s Stu Cowan. He added that he didn’t hold a grudge against Kreider, calling the incident a quick play in the playoffs and that he doesn’t have any ill will toward the power forward.

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Former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Hunt has called time on his professional hockey career, bringing an end to a remarkable journey that took him from the BCHL to the NHL, the AHL and ultimately a gold medal with Team Canada.

The 37-year-old Hunt announced his retirement from professional hockey on social media, closing the book on a career that spanned nearly two decades and included stops with seven NHL organizations — including the Avalanche.

His connection to Colorado, however, went beyond his time in the NHL.

Before and after his stint with the Avalanche, Hunt became a familiar face within the organization’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. He served as the Eagles’ captain and spent two seasons with the club, appearing in 94 games while recording 23 goals and 47 assists for 70 points.

That production was indicative of the offensive ability Hunt consistently displayed throughout his AHL career, while his leadership made him an important figure in the Colorado organization.

Hunt eventually got his opportunity with the Avalanche during the 2022-23 season, appearing in 47 games. The 5-foot-9 defenseman recorded four goals and six assists for 10 points during his lone season in an Avalanche sweater.

While Hunt was never a household name around the NHL, his career was defined by persistence. He continually found ways to carve out a role despite being overlooked because of his size, eventually playing 288 regular-season games at the highest level.

His final professional season came overseas with Sport Vaasa in Finland’s top domestic league. Hunt produced seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points in 53 games during the 2025-26 campaign.

After wrapping up his playing career, Hunt reflected on just how far hockey had taken him.

“Hockey has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. From dreaming about playing in the NHL as a kid, to living that dream for so many years … I am incredibly grateful for every opportunity, every teammate, every coach, every organization, and every person who helped me along the way.”

Hunt’s NHL résumé stretched across parts of 14 seasons. In addition to Colorado, he suited up for the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks.

Across those 288 NHL games, he finished with 20 goals and 60 assists for 80 points.

But the NHL represented only a portion of Hunt’s professional career.

He spent the majority of his time in the American Hockey League, appearing in 422 games for the Chicago Wolves, Oklahoma City Barons, Bakersfield Condors, Colorado Eagles and Hershey Bears. Hunt amassed 84 goals and 214 assists for 298 points in those games.

His consistency in the AHL earned him six All-Star selections. Hunt appeared in five consecutive AHL All-Star Games from 2012-13 through 2016-17 before earning another selection in 2022-23.

He also surpassed the 40-point mark four times and produced two 50-point seasons, establishing himself as one of the league’s more productive offensive defensemen.

Hunt’s path to professional hockey began in the BCHL with the Burnaby Express.

Over parts of three seasons, he registered 20 goals and 69 assists for 89 points in 122 regular-season games. His best campaign came in 2007-08, when he erupted for 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points in 59 games.

That performance helped pave the way to Bemidji State University, where Hunt spent four seasons.

He finished his collegiate career with 24 goals and 88 assists for 112 points in 150 NCAA games before beginning his professional journey.

For a player who entered the hockey world without the imposing frame traditionally associated with NHL defensemen, Hunt’s career was a testament to finding other ways to stand out.

Hunt’s final chapter with Canada provided an especially fitting conclusion to his playing career.

He represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship in Finland, recording three assists while helping the country capture a gold medal.

Two years later, Hunt would make his way to Finland permanently for the final season of his professional career.

Now, after years of chasing the game from one league and organization to another, Hunt is stepping away with an NHL career, multiple AHL All-Star selections, a stint as an AHL captain and a world championship gold medal on his résumé.

Hunt’s time as captain of the Eagles further cemented his connection to the organization and the Colorado hockey community — a fitting part of the journey for a defenseman who spent his career proving that size was never going to determine how far he could go.

It’s been quite the off-season for the Chicago Blackhawks. They made a big trade, signed some depth players, and brought back a franchise icon. Now, they are hoping that the 2026-27 season is another improvement over the year prior. 

Part of making these additions is taking up roster spots from guys who thought they might have cracked the lineup. This has become a hard team to make for every player on the bottom half of the roster, especially at forward. 

Multiple players with significant NHL experience may be on the outside looking in. It’s good to have depth, but some of these guys may begin the year in the AHL because of the additions pushing them down. 

3 Blackhawks Who Will Find It Difficult To Crack Opening Night LineupThe Chicago Blackhawks have many forwards who are capable of playing in the NHL. Some of them will be out on Opening Night because of the limited space.

It’s even harder for unproven prospects at this stage of their careers. If one of these rookies, not including Roman Kantserov, makes the team out of camp, it would mean that they were sensational in camp and the preseason: 

Sacha Boisvert

Sacha Boisvert was one of the best freshmen in the NCAA two years ago at the University of North Dakota. One year later, he transferred to Boston University, where things didn’t go as smoothly due to injury and inconsistencies. As a former first-round pick by the Blackhawks, he has the pedigree to eventually be a great contributor on a winning team. 

After his 2025-26 season at BU ended, he signed his entry-level deal with Chicago and played in 7 games. In those seven games, he had one goal and one assist, along with a fight to emphasize the physical nature of his game. Sometimes, he looked outmatched when it came to size and strength, despite being a physical player, but his skills belong in the NHL even now. 

This summer, a lot has been made about his bulking up. With the additions made to Chicago’s lineup, the AHL will be a great place for him to work on his game at the pro level before graduating to the NHL full-time. Injuries and potential trade deadline selling could force Boisvert into the lineup at some point, but starting in the AHL feels realistic. 

AJ Spellacy

At the end of the season, it seemed like AJ Spellacy would have a chance to impact the Chicago Blackhawks as soon as opening night. Everywhere he goes, whether it be major junior or the World Junior Championships, Spellacy makes a difference. 

Spellacy, a third-round pick (72nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, was not a high-end offensive producer with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. He did, however, have a knack for scoring big goals when the lights were brightest, and that applied to his time with Team USA at the World Juniors. 

Spellacy has the tools to be a solid bottom-six forward in the NHL. His ceiling might not be as high as other prospects, but his floor is much higher. He is NHL-ready now on a team that could afford to play prospects in middle-six roles for a while. 

For now, Spellacy will have to make his pro hockey debut as a member of the Rockford IceHogs (AHL). That league is perfect for him, as he will be able to prepare for the NHL by playing pro hockey against good players who are hungry to reach the NHL themselves.

There is a specific role that will have to open up for Spellacy to make his NHL Debut, but he will stay ready in the AHL under the development staff there.

Marek Vanacker

Marek Vanacker is an incredibly skilled forward whom Chicago took with the 27th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He is one of the many Brantford Bulldogs to enter the Chicago Blackhawks system over the last handful of years. 

In 2025-26, Vanacker took his game to another level to follow up his injury-riddled season the year before by having 47 goals and 35 assists in 82 games played. Those 47 goals led the OHL, beating out former Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham by one. 

Now, after all of that success, he is a bit blocked at the NHL level for now. As moves are made within the organization, Vanacker is going to get his chance, but the Rockford IceHogs will be calling his name on Opening Night unless he is so spectacular in the preseason that the Hawks have no choice but to play him. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Brad Hunt has officially called it a career.

The former Minnesota Wild defenseman announced his retirement from professional hockey on social media, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than a decade and took him through the NHL, AHL and Europe.

Hunt's journey to the NHL was anything but conventional. Undrafted out of Bemidji State University, the Maple Ridge, British Columbia native worked his way through the ECHL and AHL before making his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2013-14 season.

Over parts of 10 NHL seasons, Hunt appeared in 288 regular-season games with the Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche. He finished his NHL career with 26 goals, 60 assists and 86 points.

Minnesota fans will remember Hunt from his three seasons with the Wild from 2018-21.

After being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2018-19 season, Hunt carved out a role as a dependable depth defenseman with an offensive touch. He played 100 games for Minnesota, recording 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points while quarterbacking the second power-play unit at times.

His best offensive season came in 2019-20 when he set NHL career highs with eight goals, 11 assists and 19 points in 59 games.

Following his stint with the Wild, Hunt spent the 2021-22 season with the Vancouver Canucks before helping the Colorado Avalanche during the 2022-23 campaign. He later continued his career overseas before announcing his retirement. 

Although he never became a full-time top-four defenseman, Hunt's perseverance made him one of hockey's better underdog stories. From going undrafted to reaching nearly 300 NHL games, he proved that determination and offensive skill could earn a lengthy career at the highest level.

His retirement closes the book on a professional career defined by resilience, adaptability and an unwavering commitment to chasing the NHL dream.

Among the holes left unaddressed by the Philadelphia Flyers this offseason was defense, where the club added only Simon Benoit at the expense of Emil Andrae. If the Flyers want to take another step in the rebuild, they'll need to do more than that.

Fortunately, a young, potential future top four defenseman can be had via trade, and they needn't look very far to find him.

Elsewhere in the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes have yet to agree to a new contract with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin who, according to himself, would like north of $8 million a year on his next deal.

"Earlier, when asked about rumors that he wants $8 million per season on his new deal, the defenseman smiled and said: 'More.'" RG's Daria Tuboltseva wrote in her exclusive interview with Nikishin.

"My agents handle that. I don't push the situation much, they take care of everything themselves. If something concrete comes up, they'll call me. Right now there's nothing concrete about the contract," Nikishin said. "The salary cap keeps growing, and defensemen are getting bigger salaries. You can already feel the difference. I think contracts will keep getting bigger and bigger over time."

By the sounds of it, Nikishin, 24, is backing himself to earn his improved salary and do the Hurricanes, or a team like the Flyers, a favor by taking the money now instead of later.

With the Leo Carlsson offer sheet and trade links to Zach Werenski, it's been well-established that the Flyers are able and willing to spend big money to improve their roster.

Nikishin, with 11 goals and 33 points in his first NHL season, would provide an upgrade already, even while not yet reaching his full potential.

Flyers Should Lure Alexander Nikishin Away From Hurricanes with Matvei Michkov's HelpDefenseman Alexander Nikishin is the perfect trade target for the Philadelphia Flyers this late into the offseason.

Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale were the only Flyers defensemen to crack 30 points last season, and they were also the only two to have more than five goals (Sanheim had 11).

The young Russian blue liner already has 17 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience, winning it all with the Hurricanes this year while playing in a reduced role, and he's also a former teammate of Matvei Michkov's from their SKA St. Petersburg days in the KHL.

With Nikishin in need of a new contract and the Flyers willing to spend, plus the added element of familiarity, the trade fit between the two sides is obvious.

However, at the same time, other teams are pursuing the 6-foot-3 defender, and the Flyers will have to beat them to the punch if they are serious about making another upgrade this summer.

Recently, it was reported that the St. Louis Blues have interest in trading for Nikishin, and other teams will begin to realize soon, too, that the 24-year-old is worth the chase.

The Blues have enjoyed great success going this kind of route before, landing Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg with offer sheets that pried them out of Edmonton.

If a team like St. Louis is willing to pony up again, even if not necessarily an offer sheet, that might say something about Nikishin.

According to PuckPedia, the Flyers have $14.88 million in cap space remaining and only need to re-sign Nikita Grebenkin, so the decision to trade for and re-sign Nikishin is entirely up to them.

Some of Vancouver’s minor hockey associations are expressing their concern over the Vancouver Canucks’ potential practice facility project. 

In a joint statement released on Friday, the Vancouver Angels, Vancouver Thunderbirds, and Vancouver Minor Hockey Association said the following regarding the Canucks’ recent practice facility update of signing an MOU to build at Britannia Ice Rink. 

“...We are disappointed by the report that the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Canucks are exploring building a practice facility that could leverage an existing community rink at Britannia without creating desperately needed new ice capacity.

“The City of Vancouver has not added a net new municipal ice sheet since the 1970s, yet demand for ice time remains exceptionally strong and continues to grow. Minor hockey associations throughout the city are operating at capacity and, in some cases, turning away prospective players because sufficient ice time is not available. The shortage impacts not only minor hockey but also a wide range of community ice users, including figure skating, adult recreation leagues, and other ice sport organizations.” 

In the project proposal released on Thursday, the Canucks and City of Vancouver’s plan indicates that, rather than building a brand-new facility itself, the construction process will focus on creating a separate section attached to the pre-existing rink, referred to as the “training venue.” 

With this in mind, the statement made by the Vancouver Angels, Vancouver Thunderbirds, and Vancouver Minor Hockey outlines how the idea of a new practice facility complex, one they compare to the Seattle Kraken’s Community Iceplex, could be “a conversation worth having” regarding its benefit to both the team, the city, and the communities being impacted by potential work done at Britannia. 

“A partnership involving the Vancouver Canucks, the City of Vancouver, and a private-sector development or operating partner could help expand ice access, manage capital costs, and create a lasting legacy for future generations of Vancouver families,” they state. 

The full statement can be found via @vanminorhockey on Instagram. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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As the National Hockey League enters the second month of free agency, a number of former Buffalo Sabres still remain unsigned. At this point of the offseason, players who have not latched on with an NHL club might consider playing in Europe, or taking a short-term deal or professional tryout to earn a one-year deal. 

Marcus Johansson is the Webster’s Dictionary definition of a journeyman, having played for six NHL clubs during his 16-year career. After starting in 2010 and spending his first seven seasons in Washington, the 35-year-old has played for New Jersey, Boston, Buffalo (during the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season), Minnesota, Seattle, a return to the Capitals, and then the last four seasons back with the Wild.   

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Johansson’s best offensive years were during his first stint with Washington, where he posted a career-high 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists) in 2016-17, but for the most part, he has settled into a middle-six depth forward who scores in the 30-40 point range. Last season, with the Wild, he compiled 49 points (15 goals, 34 assists), four goals in the playoffs, and played for Sweden at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, yet he had not been re-signed by Minnesota GM Bill Guerin.  

There was some thought that the veteran forward was in a holding pattern waiting for the Wild to offer him another one-year deal, but the 35-year-old in early June signed a deal to return home to play with Farjestad, which likely marks the end of his NHL career. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo