Brent Peterson, former assistant coach with the Nashville Predators and longtime hockey ambassador in Nashville, has died. He was 68.
The Predators announced Peterson's death in a social media post on Friday, Sept. 11.
Peterson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2002 and founded the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's in 2009 as part of his battle.
He is survived by his wife Tami, his son Brad, and his daughter Kristin. Brad Peterson has served as an assistant equipment manager for the Predators since 2019.
"In addition to serving as a beacon to so many involved in the fight against Parkinson's, Brent served as an inspiration to hundreds of Predators players, coaches, and staff members for nearly 30 years," the team said.
We are incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend Brent Peterson. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends and all those who knew Petey đ pic.twitter.com/nrRIsfg9fs
Peterson was named assistant coach of the Predators under Barry Trotz in 1998, serving in that role until 2011. In 2014, he joined the Predators' radio team as a broadcaster until 2017.
In practice on Friday with the named roster, Toronto Marlies head coach Steve Sullivan said the Leafs' 2026 first overall pick won't be travelling with the team for the two games taking place in Gatineau, Que.
The Maple Leafs' rookies play against the hosts of the event, the Ottawa Senators, on Saturday, and the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday. McKenna will not be participating in either of them.
The 18-year-old isn't participating because the organization wants him to rest and prepare for his first NHL season, with training camp kicking off in about one week. Not to mention the lengthy summer of events, media opportunities, and other responsibilities that come with being a No. 1 pick on the Maple Leafs, no less.
"Gavin will not be travelling with us to Gatineau," Sullivan told reporters at the Ford Performance Centre. "Management has made the decision to have him participate last night in the opening dinner, also have him practising with the group."
Practising with the rest of the Prospects Challenge roster, McKenna was skating as the left winger on a line with center Luke Haymes and Brandon Buhr on the right wing.
"But what's best for him is to stay here, continue to train with the NHL players, and prepare for a big season," Sullivan added. "Short training camp for them, they got an 84-game schedule. He's got a lot coming in front of him, and he had a really, really busy summer. So for him, those three, four days in Gatineau is probably not beneficial for him. So we think that staying back and preparing for the season is going to be best for him.
"Watching him in practice, he's impressive," the Marlies bench boss added.
"I was just doing whatever the team wanted me to do," McKenna reacted to the news. "Obviously, it would be fun to play some games, but if they think me staying here is best, then I'm okay with that, and I'll listen to what they want.
The first game action that McKenna will get to see will be on Sept. 19, when the Maple Leafs play two pre-season games, both against the Montreal Canadiens. One will be played at the Bell Centre, while the other will be played at home at Scotiabank Arena.
The regular season begins on Sept. 29 with Toronto's home opener, and possibly McKenna's first NHL game, marking the start of his rookie season.
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The Calgary Flames Celebrity Charity Golf Classic has become something of an unofficial kickoff to hockey season in Calgary.
Players are back in town. Informal skates are underway. Rookie camp is around the corner, and with that comes the part of the season that can be every bit as important as it is unpredictable: training camp and the preseason.
"It's an exciting time of year for everybody."#Flames head coach Ryan Huska speaks with the media about getting set for rookie and main camp. pic.twitter.com/piKqoWqVDN
For the established players, exhibition games are largely about getting their legs back, building chemistry and preparing for the regular season. For everyone else, they can mean considerably more.
There are jobs to be won.
Flames head coach Ryan Huska made that clear while speaking with the media during the charity golf tournament. With a number of roster spots still up for grabs, Calgaryâs preseason schedule will provide prospects, younger players and veterans looking to re-establish themselves with an opportunity to make an impression.
That opportunity could be particularly important this year.
Yan Kuznetsov. Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Under the NHLâs new preseason guidelines, players with more than 100 NHL games are limited to two exhibition appearances. That means more ice time for younger players and those fighting for a spot on the roster.
It also means there isnât much room for a bad game.
âI think for people trying to steal jobs, the exhibition games are going to be important,â Huska said.
The Flames have several players who will be looking to do exactly that.
A strong camp can change the conversation quickly. The same is true for Calgaryâs younger prospects.
With veteran players limited to two preseason appearances, there should be more opportunities for players who might otherwise spend much of the exhibition schedule watching from the sidelines. A good performance can create momentum. A couple of good performances can make the coaching staff think twice about where a player fits.
âThose are going to be situations where you want to make sure that you really can show that youâre ready to, one: play and two: take someoneâs job,â Huska said. âAnd take advantage of it if youâre in those couple games.â
Thatâs really what preseason is about for a large portion of the Flamesâ camp roster.
The Flames host the Edmonton Oilers in the NextGen Showcase on Monday, September 14, giving fans an early opportunity to see some of the organizationâs promising young talent in action.
Matvei Gridin. Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Matvei Gridin, Tyson Gross, Axel Hurtig and Arsenii Sergeev are among the prospects expected to take the ice as they begin making their case.
For some, the preseason will be little more than a tune-up. For others, it could be the beginning of something much bigger.
Senators fans get a chance to gaze into the future this weekend.
The Sens opened their 2026 rookie camp on Friday morning, with players taking the ice at Canadian Tire Centre before heading across the river for this weekendâs NHL Prospect Challenge in Gatineau.
The four-team tournament at Centre Slush Puppie features prospects from the Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets.
Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot was asked this week about the possibility of being the Senators' next captain (Senators YouTube)
Ottawa will face Toronto on Saturday at 6 p.m. before taking on Montreal at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Jets and Canadiens will open the tournament Saturday at 1 p.m., while the Jets and Maple Leafs meet Sunday at 1 p.m. Ottawa Senators tournament schedule.
The Senatorsâ roster includes four goaltenders, nine defencemen and 16 forwards, with several intriguing names worth watching.
At the top of that list are the Sens' two first-round selections from the 2026 NHL Draft: Jonas Lagerberg Hoen and Jaxon Cover. The Senators selected Lagerberg Hoen 25th overall after acquiring the pick from Florida in the Brady Tkachuk trade. The Swedish winger missed most of his draft season after suffering a knee injury in October, but the organization believes his offensive ceiling could be elite.
Jonas Lagerberg Hoen (@Senators on X)
Before the injury, JLH had nine goals and 16 points in only nine games with Leksandsâ under-20 team. The Sens' scouts have praised his skating, competitiveness and ability to score from different areas of the ice.
However, he wore a yellow non-contact jersey on Friday morning, and his name appeared in italics on the club's official roster, so he may not dress for either game this weekend.
All in all, though, that knee looked pretty strong.
Cover, selected 32nd overall, may have even more room to develop.
The Cayman Islands native played roller hockey until he was 13, but he has less than six years of experience on the ice. Despite that limited background, Cover recorded 20 goals and 52 points during his rookie season with the London Knights.
He is still raw, but his rate of improvement and potential for further development are off the charts. And as his first OHL season showed, he's already a very good player.
The Knights are well represented at Ottawa's camp with three ex-London players who have an excellent chance at good NHL careers.
Along with Cover, Kasper Halttunen will make his first appearance in a Senators uniform after being acquired from San Jose in the William Eklund trade.
At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, Halttunen combines power-forward size with an excellent shot. He helped the Knights win consecutive OHL championships and scored 32 goals in 35 playoff games across those two runs.
Halttunen had 16 goals and 35 points during his first full AHL season with the San Jose Barracuda. He should have a prominent role in Belleville and could force his way into Ottawaâs plans if his scoring continues to develop.
His former Knights' teammate, Blake Montgomery, will also be in Gatineau after a solid first season at the University of Wisconsin and a late-season audition with Belleville.
Adam Nemec is another 2026 draft pick who could prove to be a good third-round find.
Nemec spent the first half of last season in Slovakia before joining the Sudbury Wolves. He quickly adjusted to the OHL, scoring 14 goals and 35 points in 31 games and has some excellent hockey bloodlines. Nemecâs older brother, Ĺ imon, was selected second overall by New Jersey in 2022 and now plays for the Calgary Flames.
There's also plenty to like in goal.
The new face is six-foot-six Elliot Lennon, Ottawaâs fourth-round pick in June, who joins a group that includes Lucas Beckman, Jackson Parsons and Kevin Reidler.
Beckman was traded from Baie-Comeau to Chicoutimi last season and helped the SaguenĂŠens win the QMJHL championship and reach the Memorial Cup. He was traded again this summer to Cape Breton, where he will try to help the Eagles make a similar run.
Parsons and Reidler are expected to be part of the goaltending picture in Belleville this season. Leevi Meriläinen, who is not participating in rookie camp, remains ahead of both on the organizational depth chart.
One of the more experienced players at the tournament will be 24-year-old Norwegian forward Eskild Bakke Olsen.
The undrafted free-agent signing helped Norway capture a surprise bronze medal at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. He played nearly 20 minutes during Norwayâs upset victory over Canada and is coming off a 32-point season with LinkĂśping in the Swedish Hockey League.
Bakke Olsen brings good size at 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds and will have an opportunity this weekend to show whether his game can translate to North America.
Right-shot defenceman Christian Kyrou is another older free-agent signing who could, if injuries strike, push for an NHL opportunity.
Originally selected 50th overall by Dallas in 2022, Kyrou signed a one-year, two-way contract with Ottawa on July 1. The 23-year-old produced 10 goals and 34 points in 59 AHL games split between Texas and Lehigh Valley last season.
Kyrouâs puck-moving ability will make him a valuable addition in Belleville, especially if Carter Yakemchuk makes the NHL squad in his third camp.
The seventh-overall selection in 2024 had 10 goals and 40 points in 54 games with Belleville last season before making his NHL debut. He recorded a goal and an assist in four regular-season games with Ottawa and added two assists in his lone playoff appearance.
The Senators clearly believe he has now moved beyond the need for another rookie tournament.Â
The weekend will also include several free activities for fans outside Centre Slush Puppie.
Doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday for an open Senators practice. Beginning at noon, the outdoor fan area will feature street hockey along with family events and activities.
Winnipeg and Montreal play at 1 p.m. before the doors reopen for the Senators game at 5 p.m. Ottawaâs rookies will sign autographs on the concourse beginning at 5:15, with the Senators and Maple Leafs facing off at 6.
The outdoor activities return at noon on Sunday, followed by Toronto against Winnipeg at 1 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the Sens' game against Montreal, with another rookie autograph session scheduled for 5:15 before the 6 p.m. faceoff.Â
Many of these prospects will be invited to continue their auditions at the main training camp, which begins Wednesday at Canadian Tire Centre.
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 THN Ottawa headlines below:
Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin will report to training camp after making a trade request, he announced in a statement released by the team on Friday, Sept. 11.
"Over the past couple of weeks, Red Wings leadership and I have had several in-depth discussions," Larkin said. "Iâve appreciated those candid conversations, and I will be at training camp with my teammates. When new leadership is in place, weâll talk further about the direction of the team. We will keep those conversations private, and I will keep my focus on the season ahead and on the guys in that room."
Larkin, who won a gold medal for the USA at the 2026 Olympics, made the request this offseason after the team missed the playoffs for a 10th consecutive season.
What did the Red Wings say about the Dylan Larkin news?
The Red Wings said in a statement they were looking forward to Larkin and his teammates showing up to training camp.
"Dylan is under contract as a member of the Detroit Red Wings," the team added. "Any conversations regarding his future with the club will take place privately when a new hockey operations leader has been named."
Larkin is signed through the 2030-31 season and is entering the fourth year of an eight-year deal with a $8.7 million cap hit.
Will Dylan Larkin still be Red Wings captain?
The team said it would start the 2026-27 season without a captain being named.
"Any further discussions or decisions regarding this topic will be made once new hockey operations leadership is in place," the Red Wings said.
Where does Dylan Larkin's trade request stand?
The Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, said Larkin wanted to traded to the Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers or Vegas Golden Knights. The publication also said Detroit reached out to the Dallas Stars and former Red Wings executive Jim Nill.
The Red Wings will have to wait until a new general manager is hired to make a trade or persuade Larkin to stay.
The Buffalo Sabres have yet to do anything consequential to replace the offense lost from the departures of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram this summer, and one week before the opening of training camp, the subtraction of more than 40 goals from their roster last season should be the main area of concern for GM Jarmo Kekalainen.
NHL clubs have been unusually stingy in inviting veteran free agents to their roster on professional tryouts or signing available free agents to short-term deals. At this point, former Sabre Tyson Jost (Nashville), former Buffalo first round pick Alex Nylander (Calgary), former Sabre draftee Cal Petersen (Washington), goalie Chris Driedger (Vancouver) have been the only players brought in on PTOâs.Â
Buffalo has a number of options still available on the open market, including winger Chris Krieder, whose contract was terminated with the Anaheim Ducks earlier this week. Other still-productive forwards like Cup winner Vladimir Tarasenko and Michael Bunting are out there, as is a wildcard like the oft-injured Patrik Laine.Â
Where will Connor Hellebuyck end up?
The Sabres currently have over $5 million in available cap space and only 43 pro contracts (the limit is 50), which means they have no excuses not to take a chance on someone. The club seems to be completely relying on a trio of youngsters in Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, and Jiri Kulich, to make up for the offense that went out the door, but Kekalainen has to realize that everything went right for the club last season.
If Buffalo does consummate a deal with Winnipeg for goalie Connor Hellebuyck, it is almost certain that one of those youngsters, as well as a veteran like Ryan McLeod or Jack Quinn could be in the deal. If more scoring is headed out the door in a Hellebuyck trade, Kekalainen would almost certainly need to bolster his forward group, with the likes of Conor Sheary, Tyson Kozak, and Justin Danforth next in line.Â
The Montreal Canadiensâ rookie camp is now underway, and on Thursday, the coaching staff met with the media. Coach Daniel Jacob and assistant coaches Martin Laperrière and David Urquhart spoke at length about the camp, whatâs to come, and the players who will wear the Red, White and Blue this weekend.
Jacob was asked about the list of players he has to work with in the next few days and clarified that he didnât have a say in who was invited; that responsibility falls to the scouting staffâs department, and he added that some of the Rocket players from last season have now moved on to the next stage since they have a chance to make the main camp, which no doubt means David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom, Florian Xhekaj and Owen Beck.
As for Laperrière, he conceded that, unlike some of the past years when they were lucky enough to have some big names at camp, such as Kaiden Guhle, for instance, this yearâs roster lacks big names, but that doesnât mean the staff cannot find diamonds in the rough. After all, Arber Xhekaj was once an invitee, and he certainly showed that he belonged.
Last season, Martin St-Louis repeatedly praised Pascal Vincent and his staff for how ready the players were once the Canadiens gave them an opportunity, and that shouldnât change this season even if Vincent is gone. Jacob made it clear that everyoneâs goal is to get players ready to play with the big team; their job is to make sure that when they get the call, they put on their skates, have few questions, and can hit the ground running.
The coaching staff had kind words for Owen Protz. Laperrière recalled that the first time he saw him at development camp, he was very rough, but he was ready to learn and do what was expected of him. Last year, he made such a good impression that he was invited to the main camp. Protz knows whatâs expected of him: a rugged style of play and a good first pass, and chances are thatâs what heâll be putting forward this time as well. Last March, he was signed to a three-year ELC deal that starts this season, and he should be a regular with the Rocket once the AHL season starts.
None of the coaches wanted to put tags on the players; for now, they are all competing to make the Canadiensâ roster, and the coaching staff feels it would be unfair to start categorizing them.
This weekendâs games against the Winnipeg Jets and the Ottawa Senators prospects may not feature very big names, but it takes a little bit of everything to make up a winning team. You do need star players with lots of skills and talent, but you also need good players down the lineup who can play the game the right way, even if they cannot be expected to produce like your top-of-the-lineup guys.
Daniel Jacob et ses adjoints sâadressent aux mĂŠdias en direct du Camp des recrues des Canadiens Ă Brossard
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The Vegas Golden Knights moved on from Ilya Samsonov after one season, and now the former Vegas goaltender is getting another chance to make his way back to the NHL.
The San Jose Sharks announced Friday that they have signed Samsonov to a one-year, two-way contract, bringing the 29-year-old back into the NHL picture after he spent the 2025-26 season playing in Russia.
Samsonovâs most recent NHL season came with Vegas in 2024-25, when he took on a significant role in the crease. He started 29 games and finished with a 16-9-4 record, along with a 2.82 goals-against average and an .891 save percentage.
The record was solid. The save percentage was not.
That .891 mark continued a recent stretch in which Samsonov has struggled to consistently produce at the level expected of an NHL starter. He has posted a save percentage below .900 in three of his last four NHL seasons.
That makes his return to the league something of a reclamation project for San Jose.
Samsonov spent last season with HK Sochi in the KHL, appearing in just 14 games. He finished with a 3.27 GAA, a .903 save percentage and one shutout, leaving the Sharks with a goaltender who has plenty of NHL experience but is coming off two consecutive seasons in which his numbers have slipped.
There is, however, a much more accomplished goaltender somewhere in Samsonovâs history.
Across 200 NHL regular-season appearances, Samsonov has compiled a 118-48-25 record with a 2.77 GAA, a .902 SV% and 15 shutouts. His best season came in Toronto in 2022-23, when he established career highs with 27 wins, a 2.33 GAA and a .919 SV%, adding four shutouts along the way.
That season helped reinforce the belief that Samsonov could develop into a legitimate long-term starter.
His career has never quite followed that trajectory.
After beginning his NHL career with Washington, Samsonov spent two seasons with the Maple Leafs before landing in Vegas. He now joins San Jose following a year away from North American hockey, with the Sharks giving him an opportunity to compete for another NHL job.
The move also brings Samsonov back to the league after a difficult stretch in the postseason. He has appeared in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games during his career, recording a 3.05 GAA and .901 SV%.
There is still plenty of experience for San Jose to work with.
Samsonov originally arrived in North America as a highly regarded prospect after Washington selected him 22nd overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. Before that, he had already established himself in Russia, winning the Gagarin Cup with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in 2016.
Over five KHL seasons, Samsonov went 36-24-9 with a 2.37 GAA and .924 SV% across 87 games.
Now, after a season away from the NHL, Samsonov gets another opportunity.
The Sharks are hoping the move can help them uncover the version of Samsonov who once looked capable of becoming a dependable NHL starter. Samsonov, meanwhile, has a chance to show that his recent numbers were a detour rather than the final chapter of his NHL career.
Hockey is back on Long Island. The New York Islanders Rookie Camp officially opens Friday, marking the official beginning of hockey season for the Islanders.
Wednesday, the Islanders released the roster for camp, which contains 25 players, including 15 forwards, seven defensemen, and three goaltenders:
The headliners are first-time rookie camp participants Victor Eklund, Cole Eiserman, Kashawn Aitcheson, and Quinn Finley.
All four could be massive standouts at camp, with Eklund expected to be one, with his goal and target being the NHL roster.
The camp will be run by Hamilton Hammers' Head Coach, Jay McKee, his first year running camp as he enters his first year as the AHL Head Coach of the Islanders' organization.
There are also a few rookie camp invitees: Lane Gallacher, Samuel Beachemin, Ryan Bottrill, Kadon McCann, Luke Puchner, Luke Antonacci, Julian Brown, and Aaron Trotter.Â
Gallacher, took part in Islanders' development camp and played the 2024-25 and 2025-season for McKee, when both were with the Brantford Bulldogs.Â
Samuel Beauchemin is a 20-year-old left-shot center who has spent the last four seasons with the QMJHL's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. He recorded 66 points (16 goals, 50 assists) in 64 regular-season games, along with 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 17 playoff games.Â
Samuel is also the son of longtime NHL defenseman Francois Beauchemin, who played 903 NHL games and won the 2007 Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks.
According to a statement by the NHLPA, defenseman John Klingberg is officially announcing his retirement from professional hockey. Following a career that spanned 700 games played, and time with the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and San Jose Sharks, Klingberg is hanging up his skates to become the new hockey expert at SVT.
Klingberg was an unrestricted free agent this summer, one of many who still didn't have a contract as training camps started to approach. That likely led to his decision to start a new career path.Â
John Klingberg is officially announcing his retirement from professional hockey after 700 NHL career games played â wishing all the best to this former blue liner in the future! pic.twitter.com/ebjLBp7sKM
"It feels very inspiring, actually. It's something that I've thought I could do well moving forward in life when I'm done with hockey. So I'm very excited to get this chance," he said.
Klingberg, 34, saw his career plagued by ongoing hip problems. The Swedish defenseman underwent three hip surgeries and says his body ultimately could no longer keep up with the demands of the game. He also revealed he frequently relied on injections, anti-inflammatory medication and painkillers to manage the pain and continue playing. After hoping his latest surgery would restore him to full health, he realized his body wasn't responding and his motivation had eventually run out.
He'll be remembered as one of the most elite offensive defensemen in the NHL, showcasing his skills as a member of the Dallas Stars in the mid-2010s. But, his success got to his head and he turned down an eight-year, $7M AAV contract extension in 2021-22. He struggled to find consistent work after, especially given his injury troubles.Â
Klingberg wound up being a bit of a journeyman defenseman, which included a short stint with the Edmonton Oilers. He signed late as a free agent in 2024-25, played 11 regular-season games and was a big part of their playoff run to the Stanley Cup Final. However, that playoff success led to him jumping ship when the San Jose Sharks offered him a deal in free agency.Â
Now, as a retired NHL player, he'll take on a new role, analyzing hockey on television. "I think I can come in and see hockey from a different perspective..."
Klingberg will work with SVT's national team broadcasts, including the Junior World Cup and the Euro Hockey Tour.
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It was was an exciting day for a set of siblings who mean a whole lot to the Pittsburgh Penguins.Â
On Thursday, Phil and Amanda Kessel were both named to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Amanda is currently the Penguins' Director of Minor League Operations and the Assistant General Manager for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins and won three Olympic medals during her prolific women's hockey career, while Phil played for the Penguins from 2015-19, registered 110 goals and 303 points in 328 games during that time, and won back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships with the team in 2016 and 2017.Â
The other three 2026 inductees were forward T.J. Oshie, defenseman Ryan Suter, and athletic trainer Stan Wong, who has been working with the NHL and USA hockey for more than 40 years.
"This is a great honor," Phil said to reporters during the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame call Thursday, "You know me, I loved playing for USA Hockey over the years. Enjoyed my time, enjoyed all the friends I made. It was always a great honor to play for the team. I'm just happy to be included.Â
"This is a great class. Obviously, I'm excited to go in with my sister. She was a great player."
And a great player she was. Aside from her dominant play for the University of Minnesota - she recorded 46 goals and 101 points in 46 games for the the team in 2012-13 and led them to three National Championship titles in 2012, 2013, and 2016 - she brought home seven gold medals for USA Hockey on the international stage and had 26 goals and 74 points in 60 combined games for Team USA internationally, which doesn't even include her 10 goals and 30 points in 10 World Junior Championship (WJC) appearances.
In her four seasons with the Penguins' hockey operations staff, the 35-year-old has helped rebuild the prospect pipeline along with the front office under General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas, with the Wheeling Nailers - former ECHL affiliate of the Penguins - and WBS Penguins each going to the Eastern Conference Final in 2026.
Phil was drafted fifth overall by the Boston Bruins in 2006 and played in 17 NHL seasons between the Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, and Vegas Golden Knights. In addition to three Stanley Cups - he won with Vegas in 2023 - Kessel had 413 goals and 992 points in 1,286 career games and owns the NHL's all-time iron man streak for consecutive games played at 1,064.Â
He represented Team USA at the WJC twice, at the World Championship three times, and the Olympic games twice, winning a silver medal for Team USA in 2010.
Kessel is the first former member of the Maple Leafs to be inducted into the U.S Hockey Hall of Fame since former president and GM Brian Burke was inducted in 2023. Before Burke, it was former Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson, who was inducted in 2017.
As for former players, Mathieu Schneider was the last player to be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame who served for Toronto in their career. He was inducted in 2015.
Kessel represented the Maple Leafs for a large chunk of his career. In fact, it was the longest stop at any destination throughout his 17-year NHL career.
The right winger played six seasons for the Maple Leafs, from 2009-10 to 2014-15. He appeared in a total of 446 regular-season games for the club, scoring 181 goals and 394 points. His best season came in 2011-12 when he notched 37 goals and 82 points in 82 games. Kessel never went on to score more goals in one year.
He also played for the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes, and Vegas Golden Knights, winning two Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and one with the Golden Knights in 2023.
Kessel's all-time best campaign was with Pittsburgh in 2017-18 when he scored 34 goals and 92 points in 82 games.
He currently holds the record for most consecutive NHL games played, with 1,064 outings in a row. The 2022-23 season was his last year in the NHL. In total, he's played 1,286 NHL games, scoring a total of 413 goals and 992 points.
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On Friday evening, Philadelphia Flyers rookie camp officially begins with an on-ice training session at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., at 4 p.m., and from there, we'll have the two rookie series games on Saturday night and Sunday night.
Top prospects like Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey will be the headlining acts for rookie camp, and they will joined by 2026 first-round pick Maksim Sokolovskii, who was interestingly included on the training camp roster as well.
Players like Brek Liske, Matthew Gard, Nathan Quinn, and Ilya Pautov, for example, were excluded.
The Flyers may want to just have Sokolovskii under their watch for a while longer, or they intend to have the hulking defenseman play in a preseason game before sending him back to the OHL London Knights.
In either case, fans heading to Allentown or the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees over the next week will have several opportunities to watch Sokolovskii further.
Here's the full Flyers rookie camp schedule as follows:
Friday, Sept. 11: Training session at PPL Center from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12: Morning skate from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., game vs. Rangers prospects at 7:05 p.m. at PPL Center
Sunday, Sept. 13: Morning skate from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., game vs. Rangers prospects at 5:05 p.m. at PPL Center
Monday, Sept. 14: Training session at to-be-announced time at Flyers Training Center
Tuesday, Sept. 15: Training session at 11:15 a.m. at Flyers Training Center
Wednesday, Sept. 16: Day off
Thursday: Sept. 17: Flyers training camp begins
In just over two weeks, the Flyers will have played their last preseason game against Washington on the 26th, then dive right into the season opener against Pittsburgh on the 30th.
Many roster battles will have to be settled in a short period of time, in which case it helps that the rookie camp roster and training camp roster are mostly separate.
Martone, Barkey, and Bump will see some extra work, of course, but it's fair they put some extra time in for having what are effectively guaranteed roster spots.
Macklin Celebrini is here for the long haul. After finishing his second NHL season with over 100 points and proving his superstar status in the league, the Sharks rewarded him with a five-year, $94 million extension. Now Celebrini enters the season fully focused on hockey and leading the Sharks to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
But Celebrini is not just a hockey player, he is also one of us. Hockey players have a reputation for being focused solely on hockey and nothing else, giving off the vibe that they only really care about being the best players they can be. But sitting down with actor Belmont Cameli in a video for The Hollywood Reporter, Celebrini squashed that notion.
âI think hockey players in general have a bad rap of not having much personality,â Celebrini told Cameli. âJust kind of what the culture has always been with hockey. If you meet some of the guys that play in the NHL, itâs some of the best people you ever meet. Obviously, when the cameras are off and youâre just shooting it with them, just some of the best guys to hang out with. I feel like that doesnât really get portrayed very well on camera. People donât really see it.â
Since joining the Sharks as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft, Celebrini has captured the hearts of many in the Bay Area, quickly becoming a star right before our eyes. Celebrini firmly put himself on the map during the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he finished the tournament as the leading goal scorer en route to guiding Canada to the silver medal.
This offseason, Celebrini made even more history when he was named the cover athlete of NHL 27, making him the youngest NHL player ever to receive that honor.
The Sharks last made the playoffs in 2018-19, and while the team has experienced down years in recent seasons, confidence in this yearâs team is sky high â especially if Celebrini stays healthy and continues to play at an elite level. Already being mentioned in MVP conversations, Celebrini will head to training camp on a mission to become the face of the NHL.
