The Vegas Golden Knights didn’t hand Rasmus Andersson a seven-year, $59.5 million contract expecting him to simply fit in.

They brought him to Vegas expecting him to make a difference.

The 29-year-old Andersson arrived in January after the Golden Knights acquired him from the Calgary Flames in a blockbuster deal that sent defensemen Zach Whitecloud and Abram Wiebe, along with a conditional 2027 first-round pick and a conditional 2028 second-round pick, to Calgary.

But his first postseason with Vegas left plenty to be desired.

Andersson managed just six points in 22 playoff games as the Golden Knights fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games in the Stanley Cup Final. For comparison, the last time Andersson appeared in the playoffs with Calgary during the 2021-22 season, he produced the same six points in just 12 games.

So when Vegas handed him a seven-year, $59.5 million extension carrying an $8.5 million annual average value, it was only natural for fans to wonder whether more was coming.

Andersson, however, seems more than happy with where he landed.

“Ever since I got traded here, I’ve loved it. Couldn’t be happier. We really fell in love with the city, as well,” Andersson said via Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

This is a good sign. 

And while the Golden Knights need Andersson to eventually live up to his contract, it is probably too early to write him off based on a 22-game sample with a new organization.

Joining a new team in the middle of a season is difficult enough. Learning a new system, adjusting to new teammates and finding your place within a different locker room takes time. Andersson didn’t have the benefit of a full training camp or preseason to settle into life in Vegas before being thrown into the pressure cooker of a playoff run.

There is also something to be said for the fact that Andersson genuinely wanted to be there.

The Swedish Olympian had spent years playing in Calgary and finally got the opportunity to join a team with legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations. Would Vegas rather have acquired a player who was reluctant to be there, or one who is excited about the city, the organization and the opportunity—even if he needs some time to fully find his footing?

The Colorado Avalanche faced a similar situation with Brock Nelson. There were plenty of questions when Nelson arrived, but he responded by putting together one of his best seasons in years before helping Team USA win Olympic gold.

Sometimes, patience pays off.

Andersson has had time to settle in now. He knows his teammates, understands the expectations and has a full offseason to prepare for his first complete season in Vegas.

The Golden Knights need more from their new defenseman.

But there is no reason to believe he can’t give it to them.

Andersson should arrive at training camp motivated, comfortable and determined to prove that Vegas made the right investment—and perhaps help deliver the franchise its second Stanley Cup.

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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Ostlund was the Sabres second first-round pick (16th overall) at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal after scoring 42 points for the Djurgardens junior-level club, 10 points for Sweden at the Under-18s, and a brief stint in the SHL. The following season, he had 26 points (8 goals, 18 assists) in 37 regular season games in the second-level pro league Allsvenskan and four points (1 goal, 3 assists) for Team Sweden at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships. 

He travelled to North America after his season in Sweden and joined the Rochester Americans for their Calder Cup Playoff run, but did not play. The Stockholm native chose not to come over and play for the Amerks in 2023 and instead returned to Sweden to play for Vaxjo and play again for his country at the 2024 World Junior in Gothenburg. 

After thriving at the WJC, (3 goals, 7 assists in seven games) and earning a silver medal, Ostlund followed that up being a solid contributor for Vaxjo, with 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 38 games. He joined Rochester at the end of the AHL season, earning an assist in two regular season games and one goal in three playoff games.

In his first full season in North America, Ostlund missed nearly two months with a hand injury, but returned just before Christmas and went goalless in his first 10 games, but finished the season with 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists) in 45 games and earned a late-season NHL call up.

Last season, after averaging over a point per game with the Amerks was called up by the Sabres, and became a regular, shifting between center and wing, playing solid two-way hockey, and scoring 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 60 games. With the departure of Alex Tuch, Buffalo appears to be relying on the 22-year-old to show more progress at the offensive end of the ice, likely in a third line role, but possibly graduating into the top six if he has success.  

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The San Jose Sharks have signed former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a one-year, two-way contract, the Pacific Division team announced on Tuesday.

His NHL salary will be $850,000 against the cap, according to PuckPedia.

Samsonov is returning to play hockey in North America after spending the 2025-26 season in the KHL with Sochi. He didn't end up playing as many games as he might've thought he would in Russia, making 14 appearances. He posted a .903 save percentage and a 3.27 goals-against average in that stint.

The 2024-25 campaign marked the last time Samsonov featured in the NHL. He featured for the Vegas Golden Knights that year, making 29 appearances. The Russian netminder posted a .891 SP in those 29 games, earning a 16-9-four record.

Samsonov also played two seasons with the Maple Leafs, one year much better than the other. He joined Toronto in free agency ahead of the 2022-23 season, signing a one-year deal at $1.8 million.

In that first season with the Leafs, Samsonov was great, sharing the net with Matt Murray for the most part. He wound up playing in 42 games and registered an excellent .919 SP and a 2.33 GAA with a 27-10-5 record.

Former Maple Leafs Forward Fraser Minten Signs Huge $50.4-Million ContractFormer Toronto Maple Leafs center Fraser Minten has inked a long-term contract extension with the Boston Bruins.

The next year wasn't so great for the 6-foot-3 goaltender. He signed a new contract, which was another one-year agreement, but at a $3.55-million cap hit. In 40 games, he posted a .890 SP and a 3.13 GAA. 

For the Sharks this upcoming season on a two-way deal, Samsonov likely ranks behind Yaroslav Askarov, Alex Nedeljkovic and Eric Comrie on the goaltending depth chart. Therefore, the AHL's San Jose Barracuda is where the 29-year-old will likely spend most of his time in 2026-27.

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In less than a week, the Montreal Canadiens’ training camp will officially open, but there are a couple of players who have yet to sign a new contract with the team. Arber Xhekaj and Zach Bolduc are still RFAs at the time of writing, and Bolduc’s agent was probably pleased to hear about the seven-year contract the Boston Bruins gave Fraser Minten.

Minten is a 22-year-old forward who can play center or wing and was a Toronto Maple Leafs second-round pick, 38th overall, at the 2022 draft. However, in March 2025, the Leafs, who were keen to acquire Brandon Carlo, decided to send Minten and a top-five-protected first-round pick to Boston to add the experienced right-shot blueliner.

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The 6-foot-2, 204-pound forward has played a total of 107 games in the NHL and has picked up a total of 40 points, 20 goals and 20 assists. That averages 0.37 points per game. He was held off the scoresheet in the six games he played in the playoffs, but his first full season in Boston still impressed the Bruins’ front office, judging by the long-term contract he obtained from GM Don Sweeney. The seven-year deal carries a $7.2 M AAV, which could be a home run if Minten’s development goes according to plan, but if it doesn’t, it could backfire in spectacular fashion.

This isn’t the first interesting long-term contract that’s been awarded to an unproven youngster this offseason. Just over a month ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed Ville Koivunen to an eight-year deal with a $4 million AAV. The 23-year-old has played 47 NHL games so far, putting up 14 points, or 0.33 points per game.

Meanwhile, Bolduc, also 23, has played 175 NHL games and picked up 75 points, averaging 0.42 points per game and making him the most productive of the three. Unlike Minten, Bolduc doesn't play at center.

Kent Hughes and the Canadiens aren't in the habit of giving long-term contracts to players who haven't yet shown what they can bring consistently in the NHL. Logic dictates that the Habs would likely want to sign Bolduc to a bridge deal, a prove-yourself contract much like the one that was first signed with Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook.

At this stage, however, one has to wonder if they’ll be able to stay the course. The salary cap is rising, and the NHL's contractual landscape is shifting as a result. With all due respect, Bolduc is no Ivan Demidov, but if he looks outside of the Canadiens’ dressing room, he can find instances of players who didn’t have Demidov-like seasons in the NHL but are signing for sizeable deals. Juraj Slafkovsky’s contract out of his ELC also had a sizeable cap hit of $7.6 million, but he signed it after a 50-point season in which he established himself as a mainstay on the Habs’ first line. 

Bolduc’s first and only season in Montreal saw him move up and down the lineup, and his most frequent linemates were Kirby Dach and Jake Evans. In 78 games, he could only manage to put up 30 points (12 goals and 18 assists), and in the Habs’ playoff run, he showed that he could play a gritty and physical game, but still ended the Canadiens’ 19-game run playing on the wing of the fourth line.

Since being hired as the Habs’ GM, Hughes has done wonders when it comes to contract negotiations, but the Bolduc case might force him to venture down the path less taken, which clearly wouldn’t be his first choice.

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A former Pittsburgh Penguins forward is calling it a career. 

Former Penguins forward Jean-Sebastien Dea announced through his personal Instagram account that he has officially retired. 

Dea calling it a career comes after he spent the 2025-26 season split between the KHL and the German DEL. In 16 games with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the KHL last season, he recorded one goal and three points. In 26 games with Eisbären Berlin this past season, he posted two goals, four assists, and six points. 

Dea kicked off his professional career with the Penguins organization. He spent the majority of his time with the organization down in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, as he played six seasons with them. 

In nine NHL games with Pittsburgh over three seasons from 2016-17 to 2018-19, Dea posted two goals, 14 hits, and a plus-2 rating. Dea also made appearances with the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Arizona Coyotes during his NHL career.

A former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman is heading to another Metropolitan Division team. 

The Carolina Hurricanes have announced that they have signed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph to a one-year, $850,000 contract for the 2026-27 season.

Joseph signing with the Hurricanes comes after he spent the 2025-26 season with the Vancouver Canucks. In 31 games with Vancouver last season, the former Penguins defenseman posted one goal, six points, 18 hits, and a minus-16 rating.

Joseph will now likely serve as a depth defenseman for the Hurricanes. This is a low-risk move for Carolina, and it will be interesting to see how the former Penguins defenseman performs with the reigning Stanley Cup champions from here. 

Joseph spent five seasons over two stints with the Penguins. In 171 games as a member of the Penguins, the 6-foot-2 defenseman recorded eight goals, 30 assists, 38 points, 88 penalty minutes, 114 blocks, and 186 hits. 

Joseph's second stint with the Penguins ended after the 2024-25 season when he signed with the Canucks during the 2025 NHL off-season. 

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph to a one-year, $850,000 contract.

The 27-year-old defenseman appeared in 31 games this past season with the Vancouver Canucks and has a total of 225 career NHL games across parts of six seasons with the Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues.

For his career, the 2017 first-round pick has nine goals and 46 points, 1155 blocks and 217 hits.

Despite playing for the league worst Canucks and dealing with a bit of injury trouble, Joseph had strong underlying numbers in a third-pairing role, which is perhaps the reason why Carolina brought him in.

The league minimum contract carries little risk for the Hurricanes and with the status of Alexander Nikishin still up in the air as training camp approaches, it doesn't hurt to have additional options in the organization.

Joseph is also the team's first and only UFA signing so far this offseason.

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Ahead of NHL training camps, each team sends a representative to the NHL Media Tour in Las Vegas. 

Last season, the New York Islanders sent Mathew Barzal as their representative. 

This season, the Islanders are sending Calder Trophy-winning defenseman Matthew Schaefer. 

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Schaefer has become one of the brightest faces of the league since even before debuting for the Islanders last season.

From the way he's carried himself off the ice in the community ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft to all the work he did throughout his first NHL season, plus his work as a host during the 2026 NHL Draft, the NHL can't get enough of him.

The first overall pick in 2025 announced the Islanders' No. 13 selection, Malte Gustafsson. 

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If you know Schaefer, he relishes the opportunity not only to be a spokesperson for his team but also for the Long Island community. 

The NHL Media Tour is two days long, beginning on Tuesday and concluding on Wednesday. 

Be on the lookout from Islanders media, as they'll post everything going on with Schaefer during the tour. 

There’s one area of the Calgary Flames’ roster where there doesn’t appear to be much uncertainty heading into the 2026-27 season.

Goaltending.

After plenty of turnover throughout the roster last season, the Flames enter training camp with Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley firmly established as their tandem. More importantly, the organization appears to have complete confidence in both.

Flames general manager Craig Conroy spoke about the duo during a recent appearance on the Raw Mike Richards show on QR Calgary, emphasizing the belief inside the organization that either goaltender can give the team a chance to win on any given night.

“Everyone’s got the belief, if either goalie goes in we can win every night, they’re going to give us a chance. It’s exciting, because I think the year before there was uncertainty. Wolfie was coming in to be the starter, but he’d never done it before,” Conroy explained.

That uncertainty is considerably different this time around.

Wolf enters his second full NHL season after taking over the starting job last year, while Cooley has established himself as a legitimate NHL option after showing he could handle the workload when called upon.

The two also have the benefit of already knowing what to expect from one another.

For a position where confidence and consistency can have a significant impact on a team over the course of an 82-game schedule, that familiarity could be important.

Conroy believes the competition between the two could ultimately make both goaltenders better.

“The NHL is a different beast. The shooters are that much better, the size, speed, the traffic, but to see them now together, they know each other, they get along great. Now to have them as a tandem, they’re going to push each other. That’s the one thing that Cooley did a great job (of), coming in and winning games, and now they can push together and we feel comfortable with either goalie on any given night, so I think it’s great. I think that is a real strength of our team going into the year, maybe the strongest part of the team going in.”

The numbers certainly give Conroy reason for optimism.

Wolf posted a 3.01 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in his first full season as an NHL starter. Cooley, meanwhile, appeared in 31 games and finished with a 2.69 GAA and .909 save percentage, along with a 10-10-6 record.

Those numbers aren’t perfect, but they provide the Flames with something they didn’t necessarily have entering last season: two goaltenders with NHL experience who the organization believes can win games.

There are still plenty of questions surrounding the Flames heading into the new season. How quickly will the younger players take another step? Can the revamped blue line hold up? Will the offence produce consistently enough?

The crease, however, doesn’t appear to be one of them.

And for a team entering another important season in its transition, having that kind of stability in net could be one of Calgary’s biggest advantages.

As Conroy put it:

“It does take a little time, goaltending is a tough position, but to know we have two guys that can play, it’s a real strength of the team this year.”

Former members of the Vancouver Canucks will take the spotlight in this off-season article series. From those skating with new NHL teams heading into the 2026–27 season to those who are now playing for international clubs, these featured players have skated in at least one game at the NHL level as a member of the Canucks. 

Today’s segment will take a look at the former Canucks that are expected to play in the DEL and in various Swiss hockey leagues in 2026–27. 

DEL 

Akito Hirose, Fischtown Pinguins: Joined Vancouver in 2023 after three seasons at Minnesota State University (Mankato). Played in 10 career games for the Canucks before shifting primarily to the Abbotsford Canucks, where he won the Calder Cup in 2025. Signed with Fischtown in 2025. 

Madison Bowey, Grizzlys Wolfsburg: Played in two games for the Canucks and 53 for Abbotsford in 2021–22. Went to the KHL after a season with the Laval Rocket in 2022–23. Made the switch to DEL in 2025–26, skating with Augsburger Panther before heading to Grizzlys Wolfsburg. 

Marc Michaelis, Adler Mannheim: Signed out of the NCAA by Vancouver in 2020–21 and played in 15 games. Spent 22 games with the Toronto Marlies the season after before returning to Europe and playing in the NL. Joined Adler Mannheim as their captain in 2024–25 and is entering his third-consecutive season with the team in 2026–27. 

NL 

Erik Brännström, Lausanne HC: Traded to the Canucks at the beginning of the 2024–25 season. Played in only 28 games with Vancouver, scoring three goals and five assists, before being dealt to the New York Rangers in the J.T. Miller trade. Joined Lausanne in 2025–26. 

Juho Lammikko, ZSC Lions: Acquired by Vancouver via the Olli Juolevi trade in 2021–22. Scored seven goals and eight assists in 75 games for the Canucks before heading to the NL and playing for ZSC Lions. Made a short return to the NHL with the New Jersey Devils in 2025–26 but has since found his way back to the NL. 

Jimmy Vesey, Genève-Servette HC: Spent 20 games of his 626-game NHL career with the Canucks in 2020–21 after being claimed off waivers. Went on to play for the Devils, Rangers, and Colorado Avalanche before heading to Genève-Servette of the NL in 2025–26. 

Markus Granlund, Genève-Servette HC: Traded to the Canucks from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Hunter Shinkaruk in 2016. Spent four seasons with Vancouver, including registering a career-high in points with 32 in 2016–17, before heading to the Edmonton Oilers in 2019–20. Entering his third season with Genève-Servette in 2026–27. 

SL 

Jayce Hawryluk, EHC Olten: Played in 30 games for the Canucks in 2020–21, scoring two goals and three assists. Spent time in the AHL in 2022–23 before heading to Czechia in 2023–24 and Slovakia in 2024–25. Joined EHC Olten in 2025–26. 

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ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues will open the 2026-27 training camp on Thursday, September 17, at Centene Community Ice Center.

Main camp will open with practice sessions on Thursday and Friday before the Blues begin the 2026 preseason schedule by hosting the Dallas Stars on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. at Enterprise Center. 

The first two days of training camp will see activities begin at 10 a.m.:

Fans in the Blues broadcast territory will be able to stream all four Blues preseason games on stlouisblues.com and the Blues app and listen on 101 ESPN.

Forty-eight players (28 forwards, 15 defensemen and five goalies) will participate in training camp this year, including newcomers Mason McTavish, Ross Johnston, Connor McMichael, Dillon Dube, and Brandon Carlo:

Prior to main camp, the Blues will hold rookie camp with practices on Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13 before the prospects travel to Chicago to face the Blackhawks’ rookies in a two-game showcase on Monday, Sept. 14 (6 p.m.) and Tuesday, Sept. 15 (4 p.m.) at the Blackhawks Ice Center. 

No radio broadcast or stream of those games will be available.  All camp practice sessions are free and open to the public. 

The roster that will travel to Chicago includes:

#stlblues prospect roster that will face #blackhawks prospects Sept. 14-15 ... pic.twitter.com/Zj3TP9X1UP

— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) September 8, 2026

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The Carolina Hurricanes announced their EBUG for the 2026-27 season and it is a familiar face indeed.

Head equipment manager Jorge Alves, who has been with the team since 2003, has been named as the Hurricanes' emergency third goalie for the upcoming season, adding another hat to a key member of the staff.

"What he's meant to this organization and what he does... MacIver, that series, that's Jorge Alves," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Literally, if you need something done, it can literally be your car, and he's got it. Obviously with equipment too, but then also if you need a guy to go out there and skate and be a goalie, he does that too. He's maybe one of the most valuable guys around in this organization. And then to boot, he's just an awesome guy."

Starting this year, every NHL club is required to supply and travel their own emergency backup netminder.

While those players were required to not have more than 80 games of professional experience, have played within the last three years, and also have zero games of NHL experience, the league seems to have made an exception for Alves, who is technically an NHL alumni. 

Alves made his NHL debut on Dec. 31, 2016, coming in for the final 7.6 seconds of a regular season game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The team's longtime equipment manager, who had previously played as high as the ECHL level, signed a professional tryout contract that day after netminder Eddie Lack fell ill before the game and backed up starter Cam Ward.

Nothing happened to Ward, but the team wanted to reward Alves for his years of hard work and gave him the chance to take the ice for real.

Alves didn't see a shot in the game and now also holds the record for the shortest career and single-game appearance for a goalie in NHL history.

The 47-year-old is no stranger to taking the net, having frequently filled in at practices for the team whenever they've been in need of a second goaltender and he should serve well in that role.

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When people talk about the greatness of the Montreal Canadiens’ history in net, they mention George Vezina, Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, Carey Price, and so many others. All too often, Rogatien Vachon doesn’t even enter the conversation, but the Pallamarole, Quebec, native was no slouch in the Habs net.

Born on September 8, 1945, just days after the end of the Second World War, Vachon joined the Canadiens in 1966-67 and would spend parts of six seasons with the club before requesting a trade. While wearing the Sainte-Flanelle, Vachon had a 108-58-31 record with a 2.65 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. Those were amazing numbers, and he helped the Canadiens dominate the late ’60s; in three of his six seasons, the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup.

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In the 1968-69 playoffs, he had a 7-1-0 record with 1.42 GAA and a .953 save percentage, but that wasn’t enough to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. He had only played half the games, splitting goaltending duties with Gump Worsley, while defenseman Serge Savard put up 10 points in 14 games and earned the MVP title.

Why did the Canadiens let go of Vachon? Well, in short: because of Ken Dryden. It’s not that the Habs decided to trade Vachon; the player actually asked to be traded, as Dave Stubbs explained in a 2021 article. After Dryden drove the Habs to the Cup in 1971, playing all of the Canadiens’ 20 games, the goaltender knew he needed to move on.

He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on November 4, 1971, for Denis De Jordy, Dale Hoganson, Noel Price, Doug Robinson, and an option to swap 1975 first-round picks. While none of those players ended up having as great a career as Vachon, it’s hard to lament the trade since the Habs would go on to win another five Stanley Cups with Dryden in net, but it does make you wonder how Montreal would have fared if that had kept Vachon around. He played until the end of the 1981-82 season, while Dryden called it quits after just eight seasons, at the end of the 1978-79 campaign.

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Connor Hellebuyck has made his trade request from the Winnipeg Jets public, with a statement on social media via his agent, Ray Petkau.

“Several months ago, I privately requested a trade,” Hellebuyck said in the statement. “I have tried to handle this situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options. With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request. My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.”

Before the public statement, several insiders revealed that the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes had made offers to the Jets, but the Jets turned them down. Outside of the Sabres and Hurricanes, the New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, and the Florida Panthers are said to have, or had, interest in acquiring the three-time Vezina Trophy and one-time Hart Trophy winner. 

On Sept. 4, Elliotte Friedman, a trusted NHL insider, joined the NHL Tonight show and discussed several trending topics around the league. Unsurprisingly, Hellebuyck was among them.

Friedman said the Panthers were "hot" for Hellebuyck, but since the Brady Tkachuk trade, making a deal has become much harder.

"I think one of the teams that was really in this hot was Florida," said Friedman. "And I think one of the challenges is that part of Florida's package, not all of Florida's package, but part of it was what they traded to Ottawa to get Brady Tkachuk. So, does Florida have anything that still makes sense?"

There are several roadblocks the Panthers must overcome to land Hellebuyck. For starters, their trade assets are scarce. They have no first-round picks in any of the next three NHL drafts, own a thin prospect pool that doesn't feature any projected stars, and they don't have the cap space to fit Hellebuyck. 

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

Although the Panthers would likely deal an NHL player back in a move for Hellebuyck, they would still be required to clear additional space to fit his $8.5 million AAV contract. 

Then comes the issue with Jacob Markstrom. The Panthers made a deal with the Devils to bring back their 2008 first-round pick. Moving on from him before the season starts would be a poor use of assets, and they'd have to navigate his 20-team no-trade list. 

While picturing Hellebuyck backstopping this Panthers team is fun, and it would make for one of the more dominant rosters in the NHL, it's likely impossible for the Panthers to acquire him.

It would be nothing short of a miracle if they did.

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Jean-Sébastien Dea is calling it a career.

The 32-year-old forward announced his retirement from professional hockey on Instagram, with TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie also sharing the news.

For the Utah Mammoth, Dea’s retirement brings an end to a career that included a brief stop with the franchise when it was still the Arizona Coyotes.

Dea played four games for Arizona during the 2021-22 season, recording one assist. It was a small part of a career that took the Laval, Quebec, native through several NHL organizations and overseas before ultimately bringing him back home.

Dea began his professional career near the end of the 2013-14 season after three years with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL. He signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as an undrafted free agent and spent much of the next five seasons with the club.

He became a consistent scorer in the AHL, putting up 72 goals and 163 points in 287 games. He also got his chance in the NHL, playing nine games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and scoring twice.

The 2018-19 season saw Dea move between Pittsburgh and the New Jersey Devils after being claimed off waivers by both teams. He scored three goals and five points in 20 games with New Jersey.

Following that season, Dea continued his journey around professional hockey, spending time in the organizations of the Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens and Coyotes.

His best AHL season came in 2021-22 with the Laval Rocket. Playing for his hometown team, Dea scored 26 goals and finished with 52 points in 70 games.

After his time in North America, Dea took his career overseas. He spent several seasons with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk of the KHL before finishing his career with Eisbären Berlin of the DEL.

Dea leaves professional hockey with 153 goals and 341 points in 517 AHL games. He also appeared in 37 NHL games, recording five goals and seven points.

His four games with the Coyotes may have been just a small chapter in his career, but they are now part of the history of the franchise that has become the Utah Mammoth.

After more than a decade spent chasing the game across North America and Europe, Dea is finally hanging up the skates.