Not every talented Philadelphia Flyers prospect has been able to enjoy a straightforward, linear development path. In some cases, that is due to their environment, and in others, unavoidable and untimely injuries.
The latter is true for prospect defenseman Spencer Gill, who has played in only 67 regular season games, including just 16 last season, since being drafted 59th overall by the Flyers in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Still, despite the compounded lost development time from a season-ending ankle break to end the 2024-25 season and a significant upper-body injury late in 2025, the 20-year-old is blazing the comeback trail, starting with two strong performances in the Rookie Series against the New York Rangers over the weekend.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden, who will get to know Gill extra well as his coach in his first pro season, had nothing but good things to say about the 6-foot-4 defender so far.
"It's been a tough couple of years for him with injuries. He's an awesome kid. He just wants to learn, he wants to work. He's got great energy about him. I thought he was really good this weekend. I thought he showed some really good, high-quality things you're going to want out of a defenseman," Snowden said of Gill on Monday.
"He's big, he's long, he's poised when the puck hits his stick. One of the biggest things we talked about after the game was just his ability to get guys on his back under pressure and just drop his heart rate and make a really positive play. There was one, I think it was in the second period, where he was under pressure from our offensive blue line all the way back to almost the crease, and he kept a guy on his back the whole way and shook him and skated and we were going the other way quick.
"And those are some pretty good moments, when you see a guy at his size and his ability, a right-shot defenseman that can hold onto the puck and suck guys in and make a positive play coming out of it."
Where Spencer Gill currently fits and will fit with the Flyers
Snowden and the Flyers had Gill feature in a variety of roles over the weekend to test his mettle, including the second power play unit and penalty kill. Transporting and moving the puck, as Snowden highlighted above, is one of the young defender's more underrated skills.
Ty Murchison, who wore the 'C' for the Flyers in Game 1 against the Rangers, was Gill's defense partner for that matchup, and camp invitee Riley Steen filled in for the next.
For the young Gill, playing in both matchups was important as a means to get extra reps; as Snowden and the Flyers are calling it now, camp has already started for the young players.
While it's all but a certainty Gill will start his pro career in the AHL with Snowden and the Phantoms, making a positive impression on the coaching staff after all the injuries will only boost his stocks going foward.
The right side of the Flyers' blue line is suddenly crowded with Jamie Drysdale, Oliver Bonk, David Jiricek, Gill, Brek Liske, and Carter Amico among the former first- and second-round picks gunning for long-term NHL roster spots in Philadelphia.
This Flyers regime's modus operandi has always been to allow the players to decide their own fate, which means Gill will have to beat out other players and prove that he belongs above the rest.
After a challenging two seasons, he's back to charting the course towards doing just that.
The Detroit Red Wings indicated that veteran goaltender Cam Talbot would not return for a third season when his contract expired, signing Daniil Tarasov to a one-year deal after he became available from the Florida Panthers.
And while the prevailing thought was that the 39-year-old Talbot would hang up the pads, he's not ready to do so yet.
According to NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, Talbot will be joining the Columbus Blue Jackets on a one-year contract.
Hearing the Blue Jackets will be signing UFA veteran goalie Cam Talbot, 39, to a one-year deal ($950k) later today. Colleague @Aportzline speculated in his piece today that this might possibly happen.
Talbot, who was coming off a two-year contract with the Red Wings that he signed in 2024, went 12-9-6 with a 3.19 goals-against average and an .833 save percentage during the 2025-26 season.
Never drafted into the NHL, he signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers in 2010, and worked his way up through their system before eventually being called up to the Rangers in 2013.
Since then, he's suited up for the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators, and Los Angeles Kings.
Talbot has a career record of 278-204-53 with a 2.69 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage, and 33 shutouts.
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Matt Boldy has blossomed into everything the Minnesota Wild hoped he would be and more after drafting him 12th overall in the 2019 NHL draft.
He's become a true top-line winger, capable of playing in offensive and defensive scenarios, on the top power-play and penalty-kill unit, and, as he's developed and matured, a leader.
He's an Olympic gold medalist, a world junior gold medalist, and just an overall big-time performer when the lights are brightest.
Boldy's ascent to superstardom has been a treat to watch, and it would shock no one if the 25-year-old took another step forward, because that's all he's done in the NHL.
Boldy has played five seasons in the NHL, and each year has set a new career-high in points. In his rookie season, Boldy notched 39 points in 47 games, which was outdone by his 63 points in 81 games in his sophomore season. In year four, he posted 69 points in 73 games, and then exploded for 85 points in 76 games last season.
This was Boldy's first season scoring above a point per game, and he set a career-high in goals with 42. His outstanding season saw him receive Selke Trophy votes (finished 32nd) and finish sixth in All-Star votes among left wingers in the NHL.
Although his 42 goals and 85 points were outstanding, there's a path for him to outdo those numbers again. At 25 years of age, he's now truly entering the prime years of his NHL career. His understanding of the game, his skill set, and how his opponents want to defend him are as clear as they've ever been. He's also at a great spot physically, standing 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds.
Everything in Boldy's game is coming together, and his all-around approach is beginning to become borderline dominant. In the 2025-26 season, Boldy ranked in the 94th percentile in hardest shot and the 85th percentile in average shot speed, according to NHL EDGE. His skating speed numbers slightly decreased from the prior season, but they were still above average.
Only 14 players threw more shots on goal than Boldy, only eight players scored more goals, only 18 players recorded more points, only 13 players recorded more power-play points, and only eight players recorded more shorthanded points, while just one player recorded more shorthanded goals.
Everything Boldy has shown through the first five seasons of his career demonstrates that he will continue to add elements to his game, improve in areas that are already strengths, and take on more responsibility.
With some of the departures this off-season, Boldy will be called upon to elevate his game, and all his tools suggest he is equipped to answer those calls.
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The Florida Panthers are going to be a team that is watched closely this season.
Coming off an injury plagued campaign a year ago, the Panthers are once again healthy and ready to resume their role as one of the league’s top teams.
But they are also on the cusp of becoming something the NHL has not seen in over a decade and rarely has seen over the past half century.
A dynasty.
Generally, a team can be considered a dynasty when they win three of more championships during the same era of dominance.
Most recently, the Chicago Blackhawks won three Stanley Cups in a six-year span (2010, 2013 and 2015). Prior to that, the Detroit Red Wins won Cups in 1997, 1998 and 2002.
Those count as dynasties.
Before that, the New York Islanders winning four straight titles from 1980 to 1983 and the Edmonton Oilers winning five titles between in seven years between 1984 and 1990 dominated the 80s, and the Montreal Canadiens basically running the 70s with six Stanley Cup wins in nine years were absolutely dynasties.
Now what about the Panthers?
Florida won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025 after reaching the Stanley Cup Final in three straight seasons, starting in 2023.
Another championship (or two, or three) over the next several seasons will absolutely qualify the Panthers as a dynasty.
Looking forward, the team’s window of opportunity to continue finding that kind of success seems wide open.
They have an incredibly formidable core group of players who are all signed through at least the end of the decade and are entering or currently residing in the prime years of their respective careers.
It’s a list that includes Sasha Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Aaron Ekblad, Seth Jones, Brad Marchand, Carter Verhaeghe, Gustav Forsling, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola.
Additionally, Florida General Manager Bill Zito and his staff will have more money to spend in the coming years as the league’s salary cap continues to rise.
Some of that will go toward an extension for Brady Tkahcuk, whose contract has two years remaining and is eligible to sign a new deal next summer, and the team’s future goaltenders, as both Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid are under contract through the end of the 2027-28 season.
Based off his track record, Panthers fans can feel confident that Zito will continue to build and maintain Florida’s elite, championship contending roster.
Under head coach Paul Maurice, the team will continue to play a brand of physically imposing and aggressively defensive hockey that thrives once the playoffs arrive.
Will all that be enough for the Panthers to reach the mountaintop at least one more time over the next several seasons?
Time will tell, but there’s an argument to be made that Florida will be as prepared and capable of any team vying to make that climb.
Their next bite at the championship apple will begin later this week in Fort Lauderdale.
Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; The FloridaPanthershoist theStanleyCupafter winning game six of the 2025StanleyCupFinal against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
It’s always hard to use the Rookie Faceoff as a measuring stick for immediate NHL impact.
The difference in the level of competition — the Rookie Faceoff might be between NCAA-to-AHL caliber? — is just too wide.
So what’s that mean for top Sharks prospect Ivar Stenberg? Can he help the big club this year? San Jose Hockey Now spoke with multiple NHL scouts about their impressions of Stenberg at the Rookie Faceoff.
The No. 2 overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft had two goals in the games, both in an 8-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.
San Jose Barracuda head coach John McCarthy offered a smart yardstick.
Last Rookie Faceoff, Collin Graf was something of a surprise inclusion of the Sharks roster, after a successful rookie campaign split between the NHL and AHL.
How did Graf use the rookie tournament as a runway to a breakout 21-goal campaign with the Sharks?
“He was the best player in the tournament,” McCarthy said. “He took advantage of it. He came in with the right attitude and wanted to show everybody that he was the best player on the ice, and it worked.”
Granted, last September, Graf was five years older than Stenberg is now, with a lot more North American pro experience.
Nonetheless, that’s a good barometer for any prospect in a tournament like this, and not getting ahead of ourselves about what the Rookie Faceoff means: They should dominate a tournament like this.
“I thought Macklin was uber-competitive,” McCarthy said then. “I re-watched the game [he played], every loose puck, he’s inside, he’s winning.”
And while Stenberg did not overwhelm scouts, he did impress them.
“Obvious skill,” Scout No. 1 said. “Probably tried to do too much at times, but the games were so sloppy.”
“I thought he looked really good,” Scout No. 2 said. “Made a lot of plays.”
“He’s young,” Scout No. 3 said, and not as a compliment.
The 5-foot-11 winger definitely held the puck for too long and tried plays that weren’t there, I think normal for a youthful player getting used to the small North American rink. He did show a defensive conscience, which bodes well for him to earn minutes as a rookie.
The question is how Stenberg processes all that for his next test, an NHL preseason. Sharks training camp opens on Sept. 17. He’ll need to pick up his pace if he wants to keep up with the fastest league in the world.
Stenberg showed enough in the Rookie Faceoff that the rest of the league wants to see what he’s got against a bigger challenge.
“Excited to see him in an NHL environment,” Scout No. 1 said.
“Will do better with better players,” Scout No. 2 said. “He should be ready to play this season.”
Stenberg’s biggest challenge could be a much deeper Sharks roster with bigger things in mind than their eighth straight NHL draft lottery appearance.
“I’m not sure if he gets the same opportunity and leash as Smith and Misa got their first year,” Scout No. 1 said.
2023 No. 4 pick Will Smith and 2025 No. 2 pick Michael Misa were afforded more NHL playing time in their respective rookie campaigns, in part because the Sharks weren’t expected to make the playoffs.
These Sharks, after adding expensive veterans Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba and Mason Marchment over the summer, are expecting to return to the postseason.
They’re also stocked with offense at wing, headlined by Smith, Marchment, Graf, Igor Chernyshov, Kiefer Sherwood, Tyler Toffoli and Adam Gaudette.
“Team is deeper and they’re going to be looking to take the next step,” Scout No. 1 said. “Not as easy to develop on the fly at the NHL level, when playoffs are the priority.”
No scouts were willing to commit to Stenberg surpassing 50 points during the 2026-27 NHL season.
“Hard to say on points,” Scout No. 2 said. “Depending on where they fit him. They do have depth, so no need to rush him.”
On Monday, more and more contract extensions appear to be coming through across the NHL, while fans of the Detroit Red Wings anxiously await word on a Simon Edvinsson deal. If it doesn't happen by Tuesday night, the Red Wings will be operating under an entirely new set of standards when it comes to contracts.
That's because Tuesday marks the moment the NHL's new collective bargaining agreement officially kicks in, bringing with it several significant changes to how contracts can be structured. If you've noticed a flurry of eight-year deals getting done across the league over the past few days, that's because under the new CBA eight-year contracts will be replaced with seven years as the new maximum for a player re-signing with his own team, and six years for a player signing with a new organization.
Also changing under the new deal, teams will no longer be able to defer salary on new contracts, and front-loading deals will be significantly more restricted, closing off two mechanisms clubs have used to artificially lower cap hits.
So if Detroit wants to use the current rules to its advantage in getting an Edvinsson extension done, whether that means tacking on an eighth year or structuring the deal with deferred or front-loaded money, the window is closing fast, and the price tag isn't getting any cheaper while they wait.
The market for young defensemen shifted dramatically when the Vancouver Canucks signed 20-year-old Zeev Buium to an eight-year, $75.04 million extension carrying a $9.38 million annual cap hit. With Edvinsson holding a stronger NHL track record than Buium at a similar stage of his career, it's fair to expect Detroit's young blueliner could command a deal in a similar range, and possibly a cap hit well into eight figures.
Beyond the contract-length changes, the new CBA brings several other notable shifts that will shape the league going forward. Players further down NHL lineups stand to benefit as well, with the league minimum salary climbing from $775,000 to $850,000 in 2026-27, with further bumps to $900,000, then $950,000, and eventually $1 million by the final year of the deal.
The regular season is also expanding from 82 to 84 games, while teams must now ice a cap-compliant roster for playoff games, closing a loophole where clubs used long-term injured reserve during the regular season to build rosters that would've otherwise exceeded the cap.
Other changes include a new AHL recall rule requiring a player to play at least one minor-league game before being recalled, closing a "loan" loophole, and a provision allowing teams to assign one 19-year-old CHL graduate per season directly to their AHL affiliate instead of back to junior, though 18-year-olds remain ineligible.
Rounding out the changes, any player making his NHL debut in 2026-27 or later will be required to wear cut-resistant neck protection, and teams can no longer mandate a specific dress code like suits and ties.
The Red Wings have a rare, closing window to lock up a promising young defenseman on terms that simply won't exist once the calendar flips and once the new CBA takes hold, Detroit will be negotiating under a new set of rules.
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Bolduc appeared to be an important part of the Habs' core, but as the off-season progressed, trade rumors began to sprout, and uncertainty around his future with the organization grew. The public may have felt that way, but internally, the organization seemed to expect to complete a contract sooner or later.
Now, the Canadiens have signed their 23-year-old left-handed winger to the 2030 season, when he'll become a UFA at 27.
Bolduc has played two full seasons in the NHL, one with the Canadiens and one with the Blues, as well as a short 25-game stint with the Blues in 2023-24.
With the Blues, Bolduc scored 24 goals and 45 points in 97 games, finishing eighth in Calder Trophy voting during the 2024-25 season. After his impressive rookie season, he was dealt to Montreal in exchange for defenseman Logan Mailloux.
The trade filled needs for both teams, as the Habs needed middle-six depth and the Blues needed to add younger pieces to their defense core.
Bolduc has received a mid-term contract, just a bit longer than a standard bridge deal that would keep him an RFA, but shorter than a long-term deal. Mailloux, on the other hand, received a one-year contract, asking him to prove his late-year resurgence is sustainable.
As the years go by, it will be interesting to see how the deal shakes out.
For now, Bolduc will continue to be a physical middle-six winger with the potential to score 20 goals and be a depth producer on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
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The Buffalo Sabres have been proactive with a number of their own players in getting them signed to long-term extensions prior to them getting close to becoming eligible for an offer sheet or unrestricted free agency. Previously, the club under former GM Kevyn Adams signed core players Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Matias Samuelsson locked up long-term. New GM Jarmo Kekalainen has followed suit with Zach Benson, Josh Doan and Beck Malenstyn.
With the expiration of the previous collective bargaining contract structure on September 15, Kekalainen was able to get another of his promising young forwards to commit to a multi-year deal. The Sabres announced on Monday they signing of center Noah Ostlund to an eight-year, $52.8 million deal ($6.6 million AAV).
The 22-year-old posted 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 60 games as a rookie, and was dependable at both ends of the ice, which made him a favorite of Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff in the second half of last season.
“He’s a coach’s dream, because those are the type of players you don’t really have to coach,” Ruff said. “He pretty well knows where he’s going almost every time. Very few times in the D zone does he get out of position.”
As with most of their long-term deals, Buffalo could get paid off if their projections on Ostlund are correct. With the salary cap exploding, other clubs are rolling the dice on young forwards with potential who have not made their mark in the NHL yet.
The Pittsburgh Penguins did so with winger Ville Koivunen, who they signed to an eight-year, $32 million contract extension ($4 million AAV) after only 47 games of NHL experience and just 14 career points. Boston did so last week with center Fraser Minten, locking up the 22-year-old to a seven-year, $50.4 million deal ($7.2 million AAV).
Buffalo has both Jiri Kulich and Jack Quinn entering the final year of their contracts before becoming restricted free agents, but with Kulich’s health concerns, it is likely the Sabres want further evidence before committing to him as well.
LAVAL, Quebec (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens have signed head coach Martin St. Louis to a multiyear extension.
The team announced the deal Monday without revealing how long St. Louis is now under contract.
St. Louis, 51, has guided the upstart Canadiens to consecutive playoff berths, including a trip last year’s Eastern Conference final, after beginning his tenure during a full-scale rebuild.
Montreal hired St. Louis in on an interim basis following Dominique Ducharme’s dismissal in February 2022, taking on his first-ever role behind an NHL bench after previously coaching at the youth hockey level.
A Hall of Fame winger as a player, he had the interim tag removed at the end of that season.
St. Louis has a 163-155-47 record entering his sixth season as Canadiens coach. He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in 2025, after leading the Canadiens to the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season. Montreal, at the time the youngest team in the league, was eliminated in the first round by the Washington Capitals.
“Marty has done a terrific job leading our young team,” Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said in a statement. “He is a great communicator and teacher. We look forward to his continued efforts to mold this group into a championship-caliber team.”
Inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018, St. Louis totaled 1,033 points before retiring in 2015.
His most decorated season was in 2003-04, when he won the Hart Trophy as league MVP, the Art Ross trophy as leading scorer with 94 points and helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup.
As National Hockey League clubs open training camps this week, a few former Buffalo Sabres have still not found a home. In recent days, veteran blueliners Carson Soucy and Nick Blankenburg have agreed to professional tryouts with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs respectively, but players with extensive NHL experience may be running out of time to land a job or may be waiting for a club to need an injury replacement early in the year.
Last season, veteran goalie James Reimer’s pro career looked to be nearing its end, as he failed to latch on with the Toronto Maple Leafs after being brought in on a PTO late in the preseason, but Ottawa came calling in January for a dependable backup for Linus Ullmark, with youngster Leevi Merilainen struggling, and his addition helped the Senators get into the playoffs. The 38-year-old is still unsigned.
Evander Kane also has not found a landing spot, but after a subpar season in Vancouver, being 35, and a chaos agent in many of the locker rooms throughout his career, only a desperate club would go down that road.
A player that surprisingly has not found a home is big defenseman Logan Stanley. The former Winnipeg first rounder played nearly six seasons with the Jets before being traded at the deadline along with Luke Schenn to the Sabres for Isak Rosen, Jacob Bryson, and two draft picks. With Buffalo, the 6’7”, 231 lb. defenseman played mostly in a third pairing role and posted five assists in 17 regular season games, and eight of Buffalo’s 13 playoff games.
There had been speculation that coming off a career-high 26 points last season, and with a very thin crop of defensive free agents on the market, that the 28-year-old was in a prime position to get overpaid and get some term on a deal, but clearly Stanley and his representatives miscalculated.
The veteran is currently skating with his former junior club, the Kitchener Rangers, and may be holding out for a one-year deal in a good landing spot, where he can get plenty of ice time, have a good year and hit the open market again next July, but that may not come until the regular season.
Boston Bruins training camp starts Wednesday, and one player to keep a close eye on is top prospect James Hagens.
The former Boston College star, who the B’s selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, dominated the Buffalo Sabres in the 2026 Prospects Showcase at LECOM Harborcenter over the last two days.
Hagens scored twice in the first game Sunday to propel the Bruins to a 6-2 win.
Hagens played even better in the second game Monday afternoon. He scored all four of his team’s goals, including the winner in overtime for a 4-3 victory.
Did we say Hagens Hatty? We meant Hagens FOUR GOAL GAME 💪
The 19-year-old forward was playing against Sabres prospects and not a bunch of NHL players, but it was still very encouraging for the Bruins to see how powerful and accurate he was with his shot in this event.
Hagens has a ton of potential as possible top-six forward in the near future. He is a gifted playmaker who has steadily improved his abilities as a goal scorer over the last two years.
He’s also a potential X-factor for the Bruins during the upcoming 2026-27 season. The B’s need a couple young players to take a jump offensively and provide valuable scoring depth. Fraser Minten, a 22-year-old center who recently signed a seven-year extension, is a prime candidate for a breakout. Marat Khusnutdinov scored a career-high 15 goals last season. Can he get to the 20-goal mark in 2026-27?
Hagens was able to get some valuable NHL-level experience last season. He played in two regular season games and three of Boston’s six playoff matchups versus the Sabres in the first round.
The defensive aspect of his game still need some work, and he has to be better on faceoffs. But the offensive talent is special. Four of his six goals in the Prospect Showcase this week came on the power play. That’s one area where he could make a real difference for the Bruins next season.
Hagens will have to earn an Opening Night roster spot in training camp and the preseason. But if he shows the kind of dynamic offensive skill set that was on display in Buffalo the last two days, he shouldn’t have much trouble making the team.
MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. -- When Mason McTavish made the case that he would play
with a chip on his shoulder after being traded by the Anaheim Ducks
to the St. Louis Blues, the same can’t be said for newly-acquired
defenseman Brandon Carlo.
In
Carlo’s case, getting traded was a welcomed sight.
In
the 29-year-old’s case after being traded by the Toronto Maple
Leafs to the Blues on June 27 -- which was the second day of the 2026
NHL Draft -- for a pair of third-round picks in 2026, it’s a
welcomed change of scenery.
It
simply didn’t work out with the Leafs, who paid a hefty price to
acquire the 6-foot-5, 227-pound right-handed shot from the Boston
Bruins at the 2025 trade deadline. It cost Toronto forward Fraser
Minten, who recently signed a long-term extension with the Bruins, a
conditional first-round pick in 2026 and a fourth-round pick in 2025.
In
75 games with the Leafs, including 55 last season, Carlo finished
with 10 assists (seven in 2025-26) while playing just under 19.5
minutes per game.
“There's
no secret that I wasn't my best (last season) by any means, but
overall I am excited for the new opportunity and to be welcomed by a
group is always a great compliment,” Carlo said. “So yeah this is
a good, fresh start and I hope to come in here and just take my
experience and knowledge and help in any way I can. Just continue to
do my best each and every day, that's all I can really control. You
can't control certain things with getting traded, but overall I
definitely was excited to hear that I was going to be a St. Louis
Blue.”
So
when the news came down, with Carlo driving in his car with his wife
and five-year-old daughter and two-year-old son, it came as a
welcomed relief.
“I
was driving to my niece's birthday party, so my wife and my kids were
in the car. I just got a call and it was just one of those trade
calls where you can tell right off the bat when they say, 'How are
you doing?' 'I'm OK,’” Carlo
said.
“Overall, it's a good thing. I'm thankful for my time in Toronto.
It was a good learning experience overall. I'm thankful to have
played with those guys. They have some great guys in that room and,
yeah, I think overall you've got to go through some hard times to
continue to grow as an individual and this is one of them for me.”
Carlo
and his wife understood their lives would be changing, but the kids?
Not so much.
“Yeah,
my kid was shaking a maraca in the back or something,” Carlo
joked.
“Yeah, but you know it's a part of my family life, too, and it
affects all of us. Kind of good to just rip off the
Band-Aid
with everybody.
“…
I
think my daughter is starting to understand a little bit, but it's
great just to see it through their eyes. She was super excited to go
to school the other day in a new place and had a lot of fun with
that. I just try to take that approach and learn from it as well to
have that childlike mentality with it all because it is a new
experience. It's exciting. It can be nerve-racking as well, but from
a child's perspective, as an adult you can lean on that and see that
it's a fun opportunity.”
Carlo,
who has one year remaining ($4.1 million cap hit, $3.25 million base
salary) on a six-year, $24.6 million contract he signed with the
Bruins in 2021, gives the Blues stability and size on the blue line;
he is a nice security blanket and insurance for 2024 first-round pick
Adam Jiricek, who is no guarantee to sew up a spot on the NHL roster
this season.
When
then-general manager Doug Armstrong made the trade, he mentioned
specifically that Carlo’s experience was too good to pass up.
“That’s
exactly it,” Armstrong said. “We think that Jiricek is going to
come in and have a great training camp and I know you guys are sick
of me saying this, but the NHL fails more people than players fail
the NHL, so we don’t want to put someone in a position where
they’re surviving. We want to put them in a position where they can
potentially thrive. Jiricek is going to have the opportunity to come
in here and push, but we’re in for the marathon with this young
man. He played a lack of hockey last year, I think 90-plus games, but
if you look at the number of games he played the two years before
that, it wasn’t a lot. Sort of hope for the best and plan for the
worst might be the best way to look at this. It’s a one-year deal
(for Carlo) too. We’re not bringing in a contract that’s going to
preclude someone mid-season or next season. This is reflective of
what I think the NHL should be as great competition, so when he’s
ready to take someone’s job, he will.”
In
the meantime, Carlo’s 10 years and 692 regular-season games’
worth of experience should suit the Blues well, and whether he plays
with Cam Fowler or Tyler Tucker or whoever the Blues put him with,
they’ll be getting someone who should help the overall defensive
game, particularly the penalty kill, a penalty kill that was not very good (25th, 76.7 percent) last season.
“Yeah,
I think overall each year I've learned so much and that goes for
everybody,” Carlo said. “Each year you play in the league, you
learn more about yourself, you learn more about your game. I think I
can understand the role that I play and it's not the sexiest role,
but overall I love what I do, I love my job and what I can contribute
to a team. I feel confident in that and look to just bring that every
day that I can.
“I
think just kind of take some of the knowledge that I've learned from
some of the great players that I've played with on the penalty kill
... my first year, I was lucky enough to play with Zdeno Chara and
learn from him, especially on the penalty-kill. Communication is key.
You'll hear me being pretty loud out there, yelling all over the ice,
especially on the penalty kill, because as long as we can be each
other's eyes and take away the passing lanes, that can be really
helpful. And I think with a goalie like ‘Binner’ and ‘Hof’
behind us, there should be a recipe for success there.”
And
the Blues hope to get more success from Carlo, who played some of his
best hockey when Blues coach Jim Montgomery coached Carlo in Boston,
in 2022-23 when he had three goals, 13 assists in 75 games and a
career-high plus-44 and in 2023-24 (four goals, 10 assists in 76
games, plus-23).
“Yeah,
our team was very good that year and that obviously helps and was
fun,” Carlo said of the 2022-23 season, the best in NHL history at
65-12-5. “But I really enjoy playing under ‘Monty.’ I think
he's a great coach and sends a great message, so a lot of respect
there for him and really happy to be reunited with him.”
Now
that the Band-Aid has been ripped off, Carlo, who faced the Blues in
the 2019 Stanley Cup Final that the Blues won in an epic seven-game
series, is eager to get to work with a blue line that will also
feature 6-4, 210-pound Philip Broberg; 6-6, 228-pound Colton Parayko;
6-2, 213-pound Fowler; 6-3, 212-pound Logan Mailloux, and 6-1,
204-pound Tucker with some length and beef.
“It's
been awesome (so
far),” Carlo said.
“I haven't had many experiences with many guys in this room besides
‘Monty’ obviously. It's been great. All the guys have been great.
Yeah, it seems like a very good group. Pretty tight-knit from what I
can tell, and yeah, I think I can continue to get more comfortable
each and every day. It was nice to get all of the introductions out
of the way on the first day, and from there just start building
relationships with guys.
“Just
a bunch of guys who are big and like to compete. You can tell out
there, even in practice that everybody just wants to compete hard and
I have a lot of respect for that. The goal is to go through camp just
working as hard as we can. Yeah, there are some guys that I can
continue to learn from, too. Fowler and Parayko as well, they have a
lot of experience in this league. I've looked up to (Parayko) for a
while, just similar style of play in some aspects, and he's a great
player. Yeah, it should be fun to learn and grow with these guys.”
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The Calgary Flames moved from Atlanta in the summer of 1980 and began their tenure in southern Alberta by playing at the Stampede Coral. In 1983, the Scotiabank Saddledome opened its doors, giving the Flames their permanent home for the past 43 years. Through the highs and lows, Stanley Cup Final appearances, and one championship, the Saddledome has earned a special place in franchise history. As we begin to celebrate the building’s final NHL season, which begins on October 1, we will publish a series of articles showcasing its history. Today, we look at the Top 5 winningest seasons in Saddledome history.
5. 1989-90 Season (28-7-5 — 61 points)
Months after winning the Stanley Cup at the Montreal Forum, the only visiting team to ever achieve that, the Flames kicked off the 1989-90 season against the Detroit Red Wings on October 5, 1989. They won a high-scoring contest 10-7 to begin the year 5-0-2 at home before losing on November 11 to the Los Angeles Kings. Before the end of the calendar year, the Flames lost only three times at the Saddledome, going 11-3-4 before New Year's.
In mid-January, Calgary had a four-game home winning streak, before a 3-2-0 record in February. Their last regular-season home loss came on March 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers, before finishing the season on a nine-game home win streak. Despite losing to Wayne Gretzky and the Kings in the first round, the Flames were Smythe Division champions after finishing 42-23-15 with 99 points.
4. 1990-91 Season (29-8-3 — 61 points)
The Flames carried their regular-season home success into 1990-91. They defeated Vancouver and Toronto to begin the season, then finally lost to the St. Louis Blues on October 18. However, that was their only home loss until November 14, when they lost to the New York Islanders.
After a rocky start to December and four straight home losses, Calgary went on to win their next eight home games, with a tie against Detroit on February 19, 1991, ending their streak. Yet, that didn’t slow the team down, as they won their next nine at the Saddledome. From December 29 until the home finale on March 31, the Flames were 20-1-2 at home. They finished second in the Smythe Division with a 46-26-8 record and 100 points. In the first round, the team lost to the Edmonton Oilers in seven games, losing Game 7 in overtime at the Saddledome on April 16.
3. 2006-07 Season (30-9-2 — 62 points)
Under new head coach Jim Playflair, the Flames secured 30 of their 43 regular-season wins at the Saddledome. Things started shakily, with a 2-3 record to start the season, before they went on a 10-game home winning streak and finished the calendar year at 14-4-0. Naturally, they started 2007 with a loss to Vancouver on January 4, before winning their next eight home contests.
Following a February 6 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Flames lost only four more times at home. Their only overtime loss during that stretch came against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 10. Calgary also secured two shootout wins on February 28 (Minnesota) and March 12 (St. Louis), plus an overtime win over Nashville on March 22. The Flames finished third in the Northwest Division thanks to a 43-29-10 record and 96 points, bowing out to the Red Wings in the first round. After winning Games 3 and 4, they lost Game 6 in double overtime on April 22.
2. 2005-06 Season (30-7-4 — 64 points)
In 2004, the Flames played in the Stanley Cup Final, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7. Unfortunately, a lockout canceled the 2004-05 season, so the next home game at the Saddledome was on October 13, 2005. Calgary lost its first game in overtime to the Dallas Stars, but after going 1-1-1, the team won its next eight home games. Following a couple of losses in November and December, the Flames finished the calendar year by beginning another lengthy win streak, this one reaching six games.
After a shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 1, Calgary finished the regular season 11-3-1 at the Saddledome. In the end, the Flames won the Northwest Division title thanks to a 46-25-11 record and 103 points. Despite their regular-season success and push to return to the Stanley Cup Final, the Flames once again lost in the first round, this time to the Anaheim Ducks in seven games. Ilya Bryzgalov recorded a 22-save shutout to preserve a 3-0 Ducks’ Game 7 victory at the Saddledome.
1. 1988-89 Season (32-4-4 — 68 points)
Fittingly, the Flames' Stanley Cup-winning 1988-89 season is also the greatest home campaign in Saddledome history. Although the club tied the New York Islanders in their home opener, Calgary didn’t lose at home until December 29, when they lost to their future Stanley Cup Final opponent, the Montreal Canadiens. They began the season at the Saddledome with an almost perfect record of 14-1-4.
Surprisingly, the Flames tied the Winnipeg Jets in the very next home contest following their first loss, and didn’t lose at home until the Boston Bruins came to town on February 18. Four nights later, the Toronto Maple Leafs earned a 4-3 overtime victory, before the Canadiens pulled off another visitor victory on March 2. Calgary went 18-3-0 in the calendar year of 1989 to finish the regular season with a 54-17-9 record. Their 117 points helped the team win its second Presidents’ Trophy.
En route to the Stanley Cup, the Flames went 9-3 at the Saddledome in the playoffs, including a 2-1 record in the Stanley Cup Final. The club lost Game 1 of the first round to Vancouver in overtime before rallying to win Game 7 in overtime and advance. Calgary then opened the second round with another overtime victory over the Kings. Although they would go on to win the Stanley Cup in Montreal, that season’s team forged their identity at the Saddledome, where the Flames put together the greatest home season in franchise history.
The Chicago Blackhawks prospects are going to take on the St. Louis Blues prospects on Monday night at USG Center at Blackhawks Ice Center. They have had three practices to prepare for this event.
Lines were established throughout, and it seems like their top line will feature three of the top forwards who are attending this camp. Sacha Boisvert is expected to center AJ Spellacy and Ryan Roobroeck.
Spellacy and Boisvert are a little bit older, while Roobroeck was just selected in the 2026 NHL Draft. All three of them play a different game from one another, but the type that could compliment as a trio.
Spellacy has already played in these prospect games and has even had some exciting preseason moments with Chicago before ultimately returning to his major junior team. Boisvert made his NHL debut at the end of last season, following a disappointing ending with Boston University.
Both Spellacy and Boisvert are trying to make the Blackhawks out of camp, but it is more likely that they will get some seasoning in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs. Regardless, they both have impactful NHL ceilings.
Roobroeck is getting a nice opportunity to show his tools on this line. He is going to return to the Guelph Storm no matter what, so he has a limited amount of time to make himself noticeable. He believes that being a part of this line could do that.
"Those guys [have] a lot of experience between both of them," Roobroeck said of his linemates. "Being able to play with those guys is great. [I want to] take any information I can."
Whether it's for the betterment of the team or everyone's long term development, this is good trio to use. They all have a certain level of physicality in their game, but they also have skills that should allow them to find the back of the net with frequency.
"I think offensively, we will be able to produce if we play together," Roobroeck said when asked about what the line will look to accomplish.
You can also assume that there will be an emphasis on being hard to play against, based on his follow-up answer to tips he got from his linemates:
"A little bit in the defensive zone, just how the structure is and how they want to play. Just that and a little bit off the offensive rush, figuring out how they are and where they are on the ice is going to be huge."
Down in the lineup is going to be Marek Vanacker, who can drive his own line in an event like this, which should allow the Blackhawks to keep pace with a group of Blues prospects who possess a lot of skill.
After one of the practices, Rockford IceHogs coach Jared Nightengale (who is also running this team), confirmed that upper management created the lineup and wants to see Roobroeck, Boisvert, and Spellacy togehter. It makes sense, considering they are three of the forwards most likely to become impact pros.
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There are few rewards for finishing last in the NHL, but the Vancouver Canucks are about to receive one.
After ending the 2025–26 season in 32nd place with a 25-49-8 record, Vancouver will hold the league’s highest waiver priority until November 1. If multiple clubs claim the same player, the Canucks get the player. Priority does not disappear after one use. Vancouver would remain first after making a claim, allowing General Manager Ryan Johnson to add multiple players.
The Canucks know how much unfinished talent can hide on the waiver wire. Vancouver once snuck Jacob Markström through waivers, and every team passed. The organization was fortunate. Markström developed into a starting goaltender and has since played over 550 NHL games.
Now, the Canucks are on the other side of that equation. If another organization exposes the next Markström, Vancouver gets the first opportunity to decide whether he is the player they cannot let get away.
Two Claims In Two Days
The Arizona Coyotes finished 31st before making two claims in October 2022. They claimed defenceman Juuso Välimäki from the Calgary Flames on October 9, then added goaltender Connor Ingram from the Nashville Predators the next day.
Calgary selected Välimäki 16th overall in 2017, but injuries disrupted his development. After playing nine NHL games in 2021–22, he produced four goals and a career-high 34 points in 78 games with Arizona. Although the Utah Mammoth waived him in February 2025, the franchise received nearly 200 games without surrendering an asset.
The next claim produced a greater return. Ingram became the Coyotes' starter, tied for the NHL lead with six shutouts in 2023–24, and won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. In two days, Arizona found a productive defenceman and a starting goaltender. Neither required a trade.
When A Claim Becomes A Building Block
The Columbus Blue Jackets found a longer-term piece when they claimed Dante Fabbro from Nashville in November of 2024. Selected 17th overall in 2016, Fabbro received a fresh opportunity alongside Zach Werenski. That year, Fabbro recorded career highs of nine goals and 26 points in 68 games with a plus-20 rating. The Blue Jackets then signed him to a four-year, $16.5-million extension.
Columbus acquired a defenceman they valued at more than $4 million per season without surrendering an asset. Fabbro didn't meet every expectation attached to his draft position, but becoming a dependable NHL defenceman made the claim a clear success.
Nov 8, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro (15) stick checks Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson (40) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Eeli Tolvanen offers the offensive equivalent. The Predators waived the 30th-overall pick in December 2022 after he put up four points in 13 games. The Seattle Kraken already had a 16-8-3 record when they claimed him, meaning most teams had the first opportunity. Tolvanen went on to score 16 goals in 48 games with Seattle that season. He developed into a middle-six forward, producing three consecutive seasons with more than 35 points and scoring 23 goals in 2024–25.
The Right To Be Selective
Successful claims remain the exception. A player normally reaches waivers because something has stalled, and a new organization cannot guarantee a different result.
There are also costs. A claimed player occupies a spot on the 23-man roster, counts against the salary cap and may force Vancouver to waive someone else.
If the Canucks later place him back on waivers, his former club could reclaim him. If they were the only claimant, they could assign the player directly to the AHL. A claim is therefore a commitment, not an easy way to build depth in Abbotsford.
The CBA limits a flip. Before trading the player that season, Vancouver must first offer him to any clubs whose original claims were unsuccessful.
That selectivity should be guided by what Vancouver needs.
The Canucks scored 216 goals last season, ranking 31st, and no player reached 25 goals. A young forward with offensive upside would have an opportunity. A defenceman capable of handling a meaningful role could also strengthen a group being rebuilt around Zeev Buium.
The best opportunity may not arrive during the final training-camp cuts. Injuries, returning players and early-season cap pressure will create more decisions throughout October.
Vancouver does not need to find a star. A middle-six forward, dependable defenceman or capable goaltender would be a meaningful return on an acquisition that costs no draft capital.
Välimäki, Ingram, Fabbro and Tolvanen each became valuable after another organization moved on.
The Canucks now get the first opportunity to identify the next one. Johnson does not need every gamble to work. He only needs to make sure Vancouver doesn't pass on the one that could.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Flyers Handle Rangers in Chippy Rookie Series Opener; Who Stood Out?Alex Bump, Cole Knuble, and Carson Bjarnason were the stars of the show for the Philadelphia Flyers against the New York Rangers on Saturday night.
