A former Columbus Blue Jackets goalie is calling it a career.
The Winnipeg Jets shared that former Blue Jackets goalie Michael Hutchinson has announced his retirement from professional hockey.
Hutchinson spent the 2022-23 season with the Blue Jackets organization. In 16 games with Columbus that campaign, he posted a 2-6-3 record, an .877 save percentage, and a 4.29 goals-against average. This would be his lone season with the Blue Jackets, as he spent his first NHL season with the Detroit Red Wings in 2023-24.
Hutchinson played his final professional season overseas with SaiPa of Finland's Liiga during the 2024-25 campaign, where he had a 7-9-6 record, an .886 save percentage, and a 3.02 goals-against average.
In 154 career NHL games split between the Jets, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Blue Jackets, and Red Wings, Hutchinson had a 57-62-18 record, a 2.94 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage, and six shutouts.
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Most of the $94 million in the new contract will be paid to Celebrini in the form of signing bonuses. Only $4.9 million will constitute base salary over the life of the deal.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Celebrini is set to play the 2026-27 season on the final year of his Entry-Level Contract, which will pay him $877,500 in base salary and carries a $97,500 signing bonus and $3.5 million in performance bonuses.
Celebrini’s raise is well-deserved, as he broke the Sharks’ single-season points record in the final game of the regular season, recording 115 points.
The Sharks missed the playoffs, but Celebrini gave them a legitimate shot to end the drought last season.
With Will Smith, Michael Misa, Ivar Stenberg and others by his side, Celebrini has a chance to carry the Sharks to lofty heights.
Wednesday’s news is just the beginning for Celebrini.
One of the brightest young stars in the sport, Celebrini previously had expressed his openness to an extension this summer.
“I’m just open to every possibility. There’s nothing really that goes into it,” he told reporters on April 18, two days after the Sharks’ season ended. “I want to commit to this team and be here, and I love it here. I’m just open to whatever happens. Like I said, I haven’t really talked about it.”
The newly 20-year-old phenom became eligible for an extension on July 1 as he begins the final year of his entry-level contract, signed after San Jose selected him No. 1 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The agreement comes after a historic 2025-26 NHL season for Celebrini, who broke the Sharks franchise record for points in a single season with 115, eclipsing Joe Thornton and his 114 points from the 2006-07 season.
In only his age-19 season, Celebrini nearly carried San Jose to the Stanley Cup playoffs almost single-handedly; his 45 goals led his team by 21 (Will Smith, 24) and his 70 assists the most by 32 (William Eklund, 38). With a point on 46.2 percent of the Sharks’ goals, Celebrini set an NHL record for a teenager as San Jose narrowly missed out on the Western Conference’s final-wild-card spot.
At $18.8 million AAV, Celebrini’s new contract — which will kick in for the 2027-28 NHL season — ranks as the highest in the league in annual value. Minnesota left winger Kirill Kaprizov’s eight-year deal worth $136 million was the largest contract in NHL history in both total and annual cost.
One of the brightest young stars in the sport, Celebrini previously had expressed his openness to an extension this summer.
“I’m just open to every possibility. There’s nothing really that goes into it,” he told reporters on April 18, two days after the Sharks’ season ended. “I want to commit to this team and be here, and I love it here. I’m just open to whatever happens. Like I said, I haven’t really talked about it.”
The newly 20-year-old phenom became eligible for an extension on July 1 as he begins the final year of his entry-level contract, signed after San Jose selected him No. 1 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.
“In just two seasons as a teenager in the National Hockey League and on the International stage, Macklin has established himself as one of the premier players in the world,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier wrote Wednesday in a statement announcing the record-setting extension. “We are extremely excited to have him secured and committed as the centerpiece of a core of talented players in San Jose.
“As we continue our goal of building a team capable of annually competing for the Stanley Cup, we want to thank Macklin and his representatives for a respectful negotiation process, and acknowledge the flexibility they have provided to the team in how we allocate future dollars towards the team being constructed around Macklin.”
The agreement comes after a historic 2025-26 NHL season for Celebrini, who broke the Sharks franchise record for points in a single season with 115, eclipsing Joe Thornton and his 114 points from the 2006-07 season.
“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today,” Celebrini wrote in a statement. “The faith and support that Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the entire staff have shown me throughout the past two seasons is proof that we are building something special here. My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans. I can’t wait to get going.”
In only his age-19 season, Celebrini nearly carried San Jose to the Stanley Cup playoffs almost single-handedly; his 45 goals led his team by 21 (Will Smith, 24) and his 70 assists the most by 32 (William Eklund, 38). With a point on 46.2 percent of the Sharks’ goals, Celebrini set an NHL record for a teenager as San Jose narrowly missed out on the Western Conference’s final-wild-card spot.
At $18.8 million AAV, Celebrini’s new contract — which will kick in for the 2027-28 NHL season — ranks as the highest in the league in annual value. Minnesota left winger Kirill Kaprizov’s eight-year deal worth $136 million was the largest contract in NHL history in both total and annual cost.
The Los Angeles Kings entered the offseason knowing they had one impossible task: replacing Anze Kopitar.
For nearly two decades, Kopitar was the foundation of the franchise. He was the player who drove the offense, handled the toughest defensive assignments, won important faceoffs, and provided the type of leadership that cannot simply be replaced through one roster move.
Now, with Kopitar officially retired, the Kings are entering a new era — and one major question remains unanswered: who is the true No. 1 center of this team?
That uncertainty is exactly why The Athletic placed Los Angeles near the bottom of its offseason rankings of the NHL's best top-six center duos. The Kings landed in the seventh tier, categorized among teams with a "major weakness" down the middle.
And it's difficult to argue with that assessment.
The Kings have made improvements throughout their roster, but center depth remains one of the biggest concerns heading into the 2026-27 season. If Los Angeles wants to finally get past the first round of the playoffs after years of early exits, finding more stability at the position has to be a priority for general manager Ken Holland.
The Kings drafted Quinton Byfield second overall in the 2020 NHL Draft because they believed he could eventually become the next elite forward to lead the franchise.
At 23 years old, Byfield still has plenty of time to reach that potential. His combination of size, skating ability, vision, and shooting talent gives him all the physical tools needed to become a legitimate first-line NHL center.
But the reality is that he has not reached that level yet.
After showing signs of a breakout, Byfield finished last season with 49 points in 79 games. That production is respectable for a young forward still developing, but it falls short of expectations for a player who was viewed as a future cornerstone of the franchise.
Now, with Kopitar no longer there to shoulder the responsibility, Byfield will face a completely different challenge. He will not just be expected to improve — he will be expected to become the player the Kings envisioned when they selected him nearly six years ago.
The talent is there. The question is whether he can consistently produce at the level of a true No. 1 center over an entire season.
One of Los Angeles' biggest offseason additions was Artemi Panarin, who gives the Kings a much-needed offensive weapon.
Panarin is still an elite talent capable of changing games offensively, but his production has dipped slightly from the level he established during his prime years with the New York Rangers.
Last season, Panarin recorded 28 goals and 56 assists for 84 points in 78 games between the Rangers and Kings. Those are impressive numbers, but they also show a slight decline from the player who consistently produced 90-plus points in New York and recorded 120 points during the 2023-24 season.
That does not mean Panarin cannot still be a difference-maker in Los Angeles. He absolutely can.
However, the Kings cannot expect one player to fix all of their offensive issues. Panarin needs the right supporting cast around him, and that includes having enough talent down the middle to maximize his playmaking ability.
The familiarity with head coach Peter Laviolette should help, considering their previous success together in New York, but coaching familiarity alone will not solve the roster's biggest weakness.
The Kings need more than just one elite offensive player.
Where Los Angeles continues to separate itself is on defense.
The Kings have built one of the stronger defensive structures in the NHL, and their ability to limit chances and play a physical style has kept them competitive for years. Goaltending should also remain a strength, with Anton Forsberg expected to take over as the team's starter.
But defense can only carry a team so far.
The biggest concern remains the lack of scoring depth and uncertainty at center. Players like Scott Laughton and Erik Haula bring experience, defensive responsibility, and faceoff ability, but neither player is expected to replace the offensive impact Kopitar provided for years.
That leaves Byfield with enormous pressure and leaves Holland with a difficult decision.
Earlier this offseason, The Hockey News discussed the possibility of Los Angeles exploring a trade involving Darcy Kuemper in an effort to address the need for more center depth. Moving a veteran goaltender for help down the middle could make sense if the Kings believe Forsberg is ready to handle the starting role.
Because this weakness is unlikely to disappear on its own.
The Kings have built a roster capable of competing, but their biggest question is located directly in the middle of the ice. If Byfield takes the next step and their veteran centers provide more offense than expected, Los Angeles could quickly prove The Athletic's ranking wrong.
But until that happens, the center position remains the biggest obstacle standing between the Kings and the deeper playoff run they have been chasing.
Professional athletes rarely get to choose the moment they are remembered for. For Michael Hutchinson, that moment came unexpectedly inside the NHL's 2020 playoff bubble.
With the Colorado Avalanche facing elimination and their goaltending depth tested beyond its limits, Hutchinson was suddenly asked to take on one of the biggest challenges of his career. He was never expected to become the centerpiece of Colorado's postseason push, but for two games, the veteran netminder gave the Avalanche exactly what they needed: a chance to keep their Stanley Cup dreams alive.
Now, Hutchinson is officially calling it a career.
The 36-year-old announced his retirement from professional hockey after 11 seasons in the NHL, ending a journey that took him across six organizations before finishing overseas with SaiPa Lappeenranta of Finland's Liiga. While Hutchinson spent the majority of his NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets, where he established himself as a reliable backup goaltender, his most memorable moments came wearing an Avalanche sweater during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Colorado acquired Hutchinson from the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline, sending defenseman Calle Rosen back to Toronto in the deal. At the time, the move was viewed as a depth addition, providing the Avalanche with veteran insurance heading into a postseason run.
Nobody expected that insurance policy to become necessary so quickly.
During the second round against the Dallas Stars, injuries left Colorado searching for answers in net. Hutchinson made his playoff debut in relief during Game 4, entering a difficult situation with the Avalanche trailing in the series. Although Colorado ultimately fell 5-4, the veteran showed enough to earn the start in the biggest game of his career.
With the Avalanche facing elimination in Game 5, head coach Jared Bednar handed Hutchinson the crease.
He delivered a performance Colorado needed.
Backed by a dominant offensive explosion that saw the Avalanche score five goals in the opening period, Hutchinson stopped 31 of 34 shots in a 6-3 victory to extend the series. Two nights later, he was even better, making 27 saves while allowing only one goal in a 4-1 win that forced a decisive Game 7.
Almost overnight, Hutchinson went from emergency option to one of the most unlikely playoff heroes in franchise history.
Colorado came within minutes of extending the series after repeatedly fighting back against elimination, carrying a 4-3 lead deep into the third period of Game 7. But the Stars refused to go quietly, forcing overtime on a late equalizer before Joel Kiviranta completed a shocking hat trick in the extra frame, ending the Avalanche's postseason run in heartbreaking fashion.
Despite the heartbreaking ending, Hutchinson's impact on the series was undeniable. He finished the postseason with a 2-1 record, a .910 save percentage on 100 shots faced, and became one of just a handful of goaltenders in NHL history to win his first two career playoff starts while facing elimination.
His performance also placed him among the select group of goaltenders to record multiple postseason victories for the Avalanche.
Outside of Colorado, Hutchinson built a reputation as one of hockey's most dependable backup goaltenders.
Originally selected by the Boston Bruins in the third round of the 2008 NHL Draft, the Barrie, Ontario native spent several seasons developing in the minor leagues before signing with Winnipeg in 2013. The Jets became the organization where Hutchinson found the most stability, spending five seasons with the franchise and posting a 43-39-11 record, a 2.65 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage across 102 games.
He also earned NHL Rookie of the Month honors in December 2014 while establishing himself as a trusted option behind goaltenders Ondrej Pavelec and Connor Hellebuyck.
Following his time in Winnipeg, Hutchinson continued his NHL journey with the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings. He finished his NHL career with a 57-62-18 record before playing his final professional season overseas.
Hutchinson joined SaiPa Lappeenranta in November 2024, appearing in 24 games and posting a .886 save percentage and a 3.02 goals-against average before stepping away from the sport.
The Winnipeg Jets will honor Hutchinson this October when he returns for the organization's Alumni Game, a fitting tribute for the franchise where his NHL career truly began.
For Avalanche fans, however, his legacy will always be tied to those two unforgettable nights in 2020.
When Colorado needed someone to step into the spotlight, Hutchinson answered the call and delivered one of the most unexpected playoff performances in franchise history.
He discusses the Islanders' hiring of former Stars' head coach Pete DeBoer, who the next captain is going to be after Anders Lee's dismissal, what Patrick Roy was like and more.
The Florida Panthers are adding a familiar name to their prospect pipeline.
On Tuesday, the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers announced the signing of 22-year-old forward Kasper Lundell to a one-year, two-way AHL contract.
Lundell is the younger brother of Panthers center Anton Lundell.
The Checkers have signed forward Kasper Lundell to a one-year, two-way AHL contract.
— Charlotte Checkers (@CheckersHockey) July 28, 2026
Over the past three seasons, Lundell has been sharpening his skills with HIFK in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland.
He’s played in 101 games with HIFK, accumulating 16 goals and 26 points to go with 24 penalty minutes and a minus-4 on-ice rating.
The Helsinki-based club has been a bit of a breeding ground for the Lundell family, as it’s where Anton was playing when he was drafted by the Panthers in 2020 and its also where Anton and Kasper’s father, Jan Lundell, was lauded for his excellence as a goaltender for many years.
Jan Lundell is currently HIFK’s Director of Goaltending after serving as the club’s goaltending coach for over a decade following his retirement.
Additionally, HIFK’s current head coach is former Panthers star forward Olli Jokinen.
The younger Lundell could join his older brother for the start of training camp in Fort Lauderdale, which typically features several players on the Checkers roster who eventually make their way up to Charlotte for AHL camp.
Photo caption: Nov 26, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers centerAntonLundell(15) enters the ice during player introductions before the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Former Winnipeg Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson has played his last game in the NHL.
The 36-year-old is retiring after 11 seasons in the league, the Jets confirmed Monday, closing the book on a career that began, and was defined, in Winnipeg. Hutchinson will return to the city this October, when the Jets host him at their Alumni Game.
Hutchinson's NHL journey started with Winnipeg in 2013, after he signed with the club as an unrestricted free agent following three seasons splitting time between the AHL and ECHL in the Boston Bruins' system, the team that had originally drafted him in the third round of the 2008 NHL Draft.
He made his NHL debut with the Jets that year and went on to spend five seasons with the franchise, the longest stretch of his career with any team. Those five years in Winnipeg produced Hutchinson's best professional numbers, serving as a reliable backup netminder with a 43-39-11 record, a 2.65 goals against average and a .910 save percentage in 102 games. Hutchinson was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month in December of 2014.
He served behind then Jets starter Ondřej Pavelec before eventually settling in as the backup to Connor Hellebuyck, giving the Jets a dependable presence in net as the franchise built toward its playoff runs later in the decade.
After leaving Winnipeg, Hutchinson entered a well traveled stretch of his career, suiting up for the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings.
The signature moment of Hutchinson's career outside Winnipeg came during his time with Colorado, inside the 2020 NHL postseason bubble. With Avalanche starters Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz both sidelined by injury in the second round against Dallas, Hutchinson was thrust into a Game 5 start with Colorado trailing 3-1 in the series.
He stopped 31 shots to pick up the first playoff win of his career, then backstopped the Avalanche to a Game 6 victory to force a decisive Game 7, making him just the seventh goaltender in NHL history to win his first two career starts while facing elimination.
He closed out his playing days overseas, joining SaiPa Lappeenranta of Finland's Liiga in November 2024, where he appeared in 24 games and posted a .886 save percentage and a 3.02 goals-against average in what proved to be his final professional season.
Across six organizations, Hutchinson built a career on consistency and trust, and it was in Winnipeg, where it all started, that he found his most productive years, and where he'll be welcomed back this fall.
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The Chicago Blackhawks hit their fans with a hint of nostalgia over the last week as they have signed Patrick Kane to a two-year contract. He is coming back to contribute to winning and the future of the team, more than it being some "ride off into the sunset" moment, but it will surely bring back great memories for him and the fanbase.
It wasn't just Kane who contributed to three Stanley Cups in six years, the greatest in the history of the franchise. Many were a big part, and none were bigger than former captain Jonathan Toews.
Toews was away from the game for a few years after his final season with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022-23. In 2025-26, he came back to the NHL and played one year with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.
Following the conclusion of that campaign, Toews announced his retirement from the National Hockey League. The Winnipeg Jets held a presser for him to do so on his own terms.
Now, it is time for the Blackhawks to give him the proper send-off that he deserves. Eventually, he will have his number retired, be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and possibly get a statue, but a ceremony should be a must for the 2026-27 season.
In the past, the Blackhawks have brought back former players for "one last shift". A moment like that for Toews would be unlike any other that came before him, as he was so beloved as the captain of the team.
"Nothing is set in stone or anything, but I think it's likely we'll go down [that path]," Davidson said when asked about the possibility of Toews getting a moment like that during the upcoming season. He all but confirmed that it's in the works.
"Having him back and having him back with [Kane] back in a Blackhawks sweater would be a pretty exciting thing, too. But, again, much like I’ve said in the past with Patrick, Jonathan, he’s a Blackhawk for life.”
Is it possible that Toews comes back as an employee someday? He hasn't confirmed or denied being interested in coaching or a front office role in the NHL since retiring, but the way he played the game makes it clear that he might have the wisdom to consider a job like that.
Scouting or player evaluation could be in his future as well, if he chose to do so. For now, he deserves a proper send off as a player, and he's going to get it.
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As we rapidly approach the end of July, it's reaching a point in the summer where action lulls and rosters are mostly set for the 2026-27 season. With that being said, when training camp approaches this September, there will be a number of players fighting for a job on the San Jose Sharks.
There are three categories of player on each team at this point in the summer: the locks, the bubble players, and the long shots. Over the next three days, we'll take a look at where each player falls and get a rough idea of what the San Jose Sharks should look like on Opening Night. Today, kick things off with the forwards.
Locks: Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Mason Marchment, Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Toffoli, Alexander Wennberg, Michael Misa, Zack Ostapchuk, Barclay Goodrow
Of the 12 forwards that will take the ice on October 1, nine fall directly into the "lock" category. The reasoning behind some are obvious, Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Michael Misa are the long-term stars of the Sharks and should be expected to play a big role in the long run.
Others, like Mason Marchment, Kiefer Sherwood, Alex Wennberg, and Zack Ostapchuk, are in the first year of big-money contracts and it would make zero sense for the Sharks to sign the deals if they weren't going to use them on their everyday roster.
That accounts for seven of the nine players in the lock category, but what about Tyler Toffoli and Barclay Goodrow?
Toffoli is one of the most well-liked figures in the Sharks' locker room. Although his play did regress a bit last season, the Sharks are hoping he'll be able to bounce back this fall. With that being said, even if he doesn't, there's not much they can do since he has a full no-trade clause. They could, of course, do what the New York Rangers did to Goodrow and place Toffoli on waivers for someone else to claim, but it's hard to imagine that would go over well in the locker room. As a result, he seems to be here to stay for at least one more season.
Goodrow, on the other hand, is seemingly a favorite of both Mike Grier and Ryan Warsofsky. He was one of only four players to appear in all 82 games, despite Warsofsky constantly rotating players in and out of the bottom-six forward group. While many fans likely don't feel that Goodrow should be guaranteed a roster spot this season, and there is some merit to that with his on-ice performance, it seems very unlikely that he'd be taken off of the Opening Night roster.
On the Bubble: Collin Graf, Ivar Stenberg, Igor Chernyshov, Ty Dellandrea, Adam Gaudette
If Collin Graf's contract were done and we had an idea of what term he's going to be signed to, he'd easily be a lock for the Opening Night roster. He finished third on the Sharks in goals last season and played very well alongside Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. While he does have the versatility to play a bottom-six role, at this stage, it seems like a waste of his talent.
As someone who has overcome the odds numerous times to even reach this point in his career though, Graf will find a way to make it work regardless of what happens.
The re-signing of Kiefer Sherwood followed by additions of Mason Marchment and Ivar Stenberg have made it tough to find a spot for Graf in the top-six, or even the top-nine for that matter. While Graf should undoubtedly be on the ice when the Florida Panthers come to town on October 1, it's hard to tell what the Sharks are planning on doing with him at this point and as a result, he fell to the top of the bubble.
Speaking of Stenberg, while many will likely pencil him in as a lock on the Opening Night roster, the Sharks are at a point where there's no need to rush him. While he was incredible in the Swedish Hockey League last season, some players struggle to adapt to the tighter confines of a North American rink which could hinder his performance in training camp and during the preseason.
Since he's coming out of Europe, Stenberg would be eligible to report to the American Hockey League right out of the gate if he were to struggle early on. It seems more likely than not that he'll take the ice on October 1, but it doesn't seem guaranteed just yet.
Igor Chernyshov is another player who has been hampered by the Sharks' additions over the summer. He seemed like a strong contender to earn his first full-time NHL role this season, but now there's even less room for him. If he's not going to be on the ice regularly, sending Chernyshov back to the AHL would be the right call, but it could lead to some frustration in the long run.
Lastly, Adam Gaudette and Ty Dellandrea are in an odd spot. On paper, they'd likely slot in as the Sharks' 12th and 13th forwards. However, it seems more likely that they're competing strictly for the 13th forward role. Whoever wins out the battle will likely play very little in the coming season, while the other could be placed on waivers, and likely claimed, when the time comes.
The Longshots: Quentin Musty, Filip Bystedt, Ethan Cardwell, Patrick Giles
Of these four, Quentin Musty has the highest NHL upside at this point in time, which ironically makes him the least likely to earn a spot with the Sharks this season as he'd be better suited to playing top-six minutes at the AHL level.
Filip Bystedt's odds of ever getting an opportunity with the team in teal seem slim at this stage, as I discussed in detail earlier this week.
Meanwhile Ethan Cardwell and Patrick Giles are slightly different. They're never going to be counted on as top-nine forwards at the NHL level at this stage, but they could fill a depth role if the Sharks opted to move any of their bottom-six wingers like Gaudette and Dellandrea for example. It's very unlikely to happen, but if both players were moved, Cardwell or Giles could sneak into the 13th forward role with a strong performance at training camp.
There's certainly a lot to consider for Mike Grier and Ryan Warsofsky when training camp gets underway this fall. One thing is for sure though; they'll have to make at least a couple of difficult decision.
Earlier today, Rogers Communications and Prime Video announced a 12-year agreement that will see the latter gain rights to Wednesday Night Hockey broadcasts and three playoff series per season in Canada, with the deal beginning in 2026–27. Prime Video was previously home to Monday Night Hockey in Canada since the 2024–25 season, with this deal replacing their previous position.
“Over the past two years, Prime Video has been a valuable addition to the NHL’s media lineup in Canada, joining Rogers in bringing marquee NHL games to Canadian fans,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said of the deal in a press release. “We’re excited that Prime Video and Rogers are deepening their relationship through this long-term agreement, reflecting our shared commitment to serving English and French-language hockey fans across Canada with premium NHL content for years to come.”
While no official schedule has been released, as it stands, the Vancouver Canucks are set to play in eight Wednesday games during the 2026–27 season. Vancouver’s first Wednesday game of the upcoming season takes place on November 25 in Detroit against the Detroit Red Wings, while their first home Wednesday game is on December 30 against the Seattle Kraken.
Here are the eight Canucks games that could potentially be broadcasted on Prime Video in 2026–27.
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Victor Mancini (90) handles the puck in warm up prior to a game against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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With the general manager's chair now open in Hockeytown, speculation continues to swirl around who will take over the coveted role for the Original Six franchise.
While several names from around the league's upper management ranks have surfaced as possible in-house or external hires, one name that has generated buzz because of his deep roots in Detroit, Jim Rutherford, appears to be a non-starter, according to at least one prominent NHL insider.
Appearing on Tuesday's episode of Daily Faceoff's "The Sheet," Jeff Marek addressed the chatter surrounding Rutherford, the three-time Stanley Cup-winning executive and former Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations. Marek said that, to his knowledge, there has been no traction between the Red Wings and Rutherford regarding the GM opening, and that he had heard nothing to suggest Rutherford is part of Detroit's search.
The connection between Rutherford and the Red Wings runs deeper than most may think. Detroit selected Rutherford 10th overall in the 1969 NHL Draft, and he went on to play 457 career NHL games over 13 seasons, with 314 of those starts coming in a Red Wings sweater across 10 seasons.
He posted a 97-165-43 record with a 3.69 goals-against average and an .876 save percentage during an offensive-heavy era of the league.
Jeff Marek: Re Red Wings management search: To my knowledge there is nothing between the Red Wings and Jim Rutherford; to my knowledge not part of the process - The Sheet (7/28)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 28, 2026
Rutherford's front-office career also has ties to the Windsor-Detroit corridor as he landed his first job in hockey management as general manager of the Ontario Hockey League's Windsor Spitfires from 1984 to 1988.
He would go on to then served as president and GM of the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors, later renamed the Detroit Jr. Red Wings, from 1990 to 1994. That role set up his biggest career leap, joining the ownership group of the Hartford Whalers as a minority owner, president and GM, his first NHL job since his playing days ended.
Rutherford held those three titles through the franchise's relocation to Carolina, remaining in charge of the Hurricanes through the 2014-15 season before departing to become general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He stayed on as a Hurricanes owner through the end of the 2015-16 season before fully stepping away. Rutherford remained with the Penguins until resigning in January 2021, after which he joined the Canucks' front office as president of hockey operations, briefly holding the interim general manager title as well before it passed to someone else.
Now 77, Rutherford appears to be entering a new phase of his hockey journey, shifting into a senior advisor role with Vancouver, stepping back from day-to-day decision-making after a career that has spanned 45 years in the sport.
Rutherford's career has been a decorated one, winning three Stanley Cups as an executive, one with Carolina in 2006 and back-to-back titles with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017, and earned the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award in 2016.
In 2019, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder category, cementing his standing as one of the most respected hockey minds of his generation.
Given that résumé and his stated desire to scale back, Marek's report that the Red Wings and Rutherford have shown no real interest in each other for the vacancy is likely a mutual sentiment.
Rutherford appears poised to enjoy a lighter workload in Vancouver while remaining connected to a game and a league he has now been part of for nearly half a century, leaving Detroit's search for its next general manager to play out among a different field of candidates.
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A second
former Montreal Canadiens player has had his day with the Stanley Cup after the
Carolina Hurricanes won Lord Stanley’s mug last June. About 10 days ago,
Nicolas Deslauriers got to spend some quality time with the Stanley Cup. On
Monday, Jesperi Kotkaniemi got his turn as he took the most highly sought
trophy in hockey back home, in Finland.
According
to the former third-overall pick's Instagram account, he took the Cup back to
where it all started for him: the arena where he played with Assat Pori in the
SM-Liiga. Pori’s also his hometown, so it was a real homecoming for the
centerman.
While
Kotkaniemi didn’t get to play a single game in the playoffs, he still met the
requirements to have his name on the Stanley Cup since he played 41 regular-season
games with the Hurricanes in the regular season. It was probably not the fashion
in which he dreamt of winning the championship growing up in Finland, but at
the end of the day, he still has his name on the precious trophy and can check
winning a Stanley Cup off his bucket list.
Photo credit: Jesperi Kotkaniemi Instagram
The pivot
is under contract for another four years with the Canes at a $4.82 M cap hit.
He’s halfway through the puzzling eight-year deal he was signed to by Don
Waddell back in March 2022, months after being poached from the Habs with a
single-year offer sheet that had a $6.1 million cap hit.
Kotkaniemi
never got more than 43 points in a season, despite being a very high draft pick.
It looks like he will never live up to the lofty expectations the Habs had when
they picked him third overall in the 2018 draft, or those the Canes had when
they signed him to both the offer sheet and the eight-year contract extension.
Some
believed the Hurricanes would be buying him out this offseason, but that didn’t
come to be. However, there were reports that Carolina told teams who wanted to
trade for RFA defenseman Alexander Nikishin that they would have to take Kotkaniemi
in the deal. Unsurprisingly, both Nikishin and Kotkaniemi remain part of the
Hurricanes right now.
The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures.
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago. Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.
Who will the Sabres bring in to provide some offensive jump?
Kekalainen ideally would like to make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six.
Someone who became a free agent on July 1 and has extensive experience playing in the Atlantic Division is veteran winger James van Riemsdyk. The 37-year-old was a second overall selection after Patrick Kane in the 2007 NHL Draft, and spent his first 14 seasons with Philadelphia and Toronto. The last three seasons, the New Jersey native has become a journeyman, signing one-year deals with Boston, Columbus, and Detroit for just under or right at a $1 million AAV.
JVR’s skating has decreased significantly in his latter years, but he can still put the puck in the net, especially playing on the power play. With the Wings last season, van Riemsdyk 15 goals averaging under 12 minutes per game, and seven of those goals were on the man advantage. Similar to Patrik Laine, the veteran winger would slot in as a middle-six winger and specialist, and someone that Lindy Ruff would have to avoid using late in games, but he would be able to fill some of the offensive gap created by the departure of Tuch, especially on the power play.
If Kekalainen is reserving his available cap space for a potential Connor Hellebuyck deal, someone like van Riemsdyk, who would likely be willing to sign for a year around $1 million might be all that the Sabres could afford to sign.
