It is no secret that it has been a far quieter off-season this year for the Chicago Blackhawks compared to last year. While this is the case, the Blackhawks did make a few new additions, as they brought in Andre Burakovsky, Sam Lafferty, and Dominic Toninato.

With this, let's take a look at where each player could end up fitting into the Blackhawks' lineup now.

Andre Burakovsky Should Fit In Blackhawks' Top Six 

When looking at the Blackhawks' current roster, it is likely that Burakovsky will have a spot in their top six. There are not too many better wingers than Burakovsky on the Blackhawks right now, and they are likely to give him the best chance to succeed after acquiring him from the Seattle Kraken.

Burakovsky could be a nice fit playing with either Connor Bedard on the first line or Frank Nazar on the second line. In either scenario, Burakovsky would give one of Chicago's young centers the opportunity to play with a skilled veteran.

Sam Lafferty Should Fit On Blackhawks' Fourth Line

Lafferty has been a bottom-six forward throughout his career, and this should not change during his latest stint with the Blackhawks. When looking at Chicago's current group, Lafferty could be a nice fit as their new fourth-line center. However, due to his versatility, he could move to the wing on their fourth line if needed.

Dominic Toninato Should Fit As Extra Or AHL Forward

It seems likely that Toninato will serve as simply an extra orward for the Blackhawks next season if he makes their NHL roster. However, Toninato could also be a nice addition for the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, as he would give them a veteran forward to help mentor their youngsters.

Blackhawks Key Forward Is Big X-Factor During the 2024 NHL off-season, the Chicago Blackhawks signed forward Tyler Bertuzzi to a four-year, $22 million contract. The expectation was that he would be a key part of the Blackhawks' forward group, and it is fair to say that he was just that for them during the 2024-25 season. 

Photo Credit: © Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

As one of the more active teams in free agency during the offseason, the Detroit Red Wings have brought in multiple new players that will suit up for them in the upcoming 2025-26 NHL Season.

One new face in Detroit is veteran forward James van Riemsdyk, who had spent the last two seasons playing for the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets, respectively. 

The former second overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft behind his now-current Red Wings teammate Patrick Kane, van Riemsdyk brings 1,082 games of experience to a team hoping to break their postseason drought. 

Having already played with multiple high-profile veteran players during his career like Claude Giroux, Danny Briere, Brad Marchand, and John Tavares, van Riemsdyk will be bringing his own leadership style to the Red Wings as he explained via the club's official website. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

“It’s a full-time commitment,” van Riemsdyk explained shortly after signing. “Whether that’s your preparation, being ready to practice, being ready to play and being ready to recover to get ready for the next game. Just trying to do the right things like that every day. And just trying to bring positive energy to the group and on the bench. It can be a long year, lots of ups and downs, so I think you need to have some of that sounding board just to help things stay even keeled when maybe things aren’t going your way.”

Throughout his career, van Riemsdyk has been known for making a living around the net and the lip of the crease in a style similar to that of former four-time Stanley Cup champion forward Tomas Holmstrom. 

James Van Riemsdyk: The Pride of Middletown, New Jersey @JVReemer21 | @NHLFlyerspic.twitter.com/ysKoSQmyVj

— NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2021

van Riemsdyk also brings considerable experience in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the Red Wings, having skated in 82 career playoff games, including a trip to the 2010 Stanley Cup Final (against Kane's Blackhawks). 

Having already trained with Kane and represented the United States alongside him as part of the 2014 Sochi Olympics as well as the World Juniors Championships and World Cup, van Riemsdyk is looking forward to playing with Kane for the first time on an NHL roster.

“(Kane) is one of my really good buddies and we’ve obviously been through this whole journey over the years together in a lot of ways,” van Riemsdyk said. “Through some different USA Hockey things, with training or bouncing ideas off each other for stuff like that, so really exciting that we get a chance to do all that." 

van Riemsdyk, Kane, and the rest of the Red Wings are now just over one month away from the start of Training Camp, held annually in Traverse City, Michigan. 

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The Ottawa Senators recently released their 2025–26 regular season schedule, and with it comes a parade of familiar faces poised to make their returns to Canadian Tire Centre. Fans can look forward to equal doses of nostalgia and rivalry as several former Sens come back this season in different sweaters, some for the first time.

That includes Josh Norris, who'll roll into Ottawa for the holidays wearing white, blue and gold and the number 13 – possibly a number chosen to offset his bad luck in the injury department.

Here's a look at the notable dates and returning players, along with a brief snapshot of their time in Ottawa:

Thursday, October 16 vs Seattle Kraken — Joey Daccord

Daccord, drafted by Ottawa in 2015, played parts of two seasons before being claimed in the Seattle expansion draft. Now entering the first year of a 5-year, $25 million deal, he’s back where his NHL journey began. Not bad for a 7th-rounder.

Saturday, October 18 vs New York Islanders — J.G. Pageau, Anthony Duclair, Matthew Highmore

"Pageau! Pageau! Pageau! Pageau!" The fan-favourite and Ottawa native spent seven seasons with the team and was known for his playoff heroics and clutch goals. Duclair, who had a 23-goal season with Ottawa in 2019–20, and possibly Highmore (if on the roster), also join him in the return. Pageau is entering the final year of his contract.

Monday, October 27 vs Boston Bruins — Mark Kastelic, Joonas Korpisalo

Mark Kastelic, a rugged centerman drafted by the Senators in 2019, will face his old team for the first time since being traded. Meanwhile, goalie Joonas Korpisalo—whose tenure in Ottawa didn’t go as planned—will be back in town on the Sens' dime. They’re still paying $1 million of his salary annually for the next three years.

Tuesday, November 11 vs Dallas Stars — Matt Duchene

Duchene returns once again to face the team that gave up a significant trade package to acquire him back in 2017. His time in Ottawa was brief and turbulent during the team’s retooling years.

Thursday, December 4 vs New York Rangers — Mika Zibanejad

Drafted sixth overall by Ottawa in 2011, Zibanejad played parts of five seasons before being traded to New York, where he blossomed into a top-line NHL centre.

Saturday, December 6 vs St. Louis Blues — Mathieu Joseph

Joseph returns after being traded in the 2024 offseason. He spent parts of three seasons in Ottawa.

Tuesday, December 9 vs New Jersey Devils — Connor Brown, Evgenii Dadonov, Stefan Noesen, Angus Crookshank (if rostered)

Brown, a key player during the rebuild; Dadonov, a high-priced signing who struggled in Ottawa; and possibly Crookshank, a former B-Sens standout, all come back under the Devils' banner. Noesen was a 2011 first-rounder who was dealt to Anaheim in the Bobby Ryan trade.

Thursday, December 18 vs Pittsburgh Penguins — Erik Karlsson

A marquee night as the two-time Norris Trophy winner with the Sens makes his return. Drafted in 2008, Karlsson served as captain and spent nine seasons in Ottawa before being traded in 2018.

Saturday, December 20 vs Chicago Blackhawks — Nick Foligno

At 37, Foligno is still rolling. A first-round pick by the Sens in 2006, he spent five seasons in Ottawa before being traded to Columbus for Marc Methot 13 years ago.

Tuesday, December 23 vs Buffalo Sabres — Josh Norris

The biggest homecoming of the season. Traded at last season’s deadline in a blockbuster that brought Dylan Cozens to Ottawa, Norris—if healthy—will face the team that gave him his NHL start and his current massive contract.

Monday, December 29 vs Columbus Blue Jackets — Erik Gudbranson

The Ottawa native played 36 games for the Senators during the shortened 2020–21 season. Now wearing an "A" in Columbus, he’ll enjoy some home cooking with the family.

Thursday, January 1 vs Washington Capitals — Jakob Chychrun

Chychrun returns after an impressive first season in Washington. He’s in year one of an eight-year, $72 million deal with the Caps.

Saturday, January 3 vs Winnipeg Jets — Vladislav Namestnikov, Dylan DeMelo

DeMelo was solid and a social media darling during his time in Ottawa. Namestnikov was here for a short cup of coffee in 2019–20.

Monday, January 5 vs Detroit Red Wings — Alex DeBrincat, Austin Watson, Cam Talbot, Jacob Bernard-Docker

A loaded return night. DeBrincat, once pegged as a long-term core player, didn't want to be here. So he was traded after just one season. The popular Watson brought grit and leadership during his three seasons. Talbot and Bernard-Docker round out the group of familiar faces.

Saturday, January 24 vs Carolina Hurricanes — Mike Reilly

The smooth-skating defenseman played 70 games with the Sens between 2019 and 2021. Reilly missed over four months with the Islanders after a heart procedure last season—so it’s good to see him playing anywhere.

Saturday, January 25 vs Vegas Golden Knights — Mark Stone

Stone, who spends his summers here, plays in Ottawa for the first time since 2022. The Sens’ 2010 sixth-round steal captained Vegas to a Cup two years ago.

Wednesday, January 28 vs Colorado Avalanche — Parker Kelly

Known for his relentless motor, Kelly was a locker room favourite during his tenure in Ottawa. He now grinds it out for the Avs.

Sunday, March 15 vs San Jose Sharks — Adam Gaudette, Zack Ostapchuk (if rostered)

Gaudette played a short stint with Ottawa, scoring a surprising 19 goals. Ostapchuk, a former Sens prospect, could face his former organization if he cracks the Sharks’ NHL lineup.

Saturday, April 4 vs Minnesota Wild — Filip Gustavsson, Vladimir Tarasenko

Gustavsson is no longer being pushed by veteran Marc-Andre Fleury, who's now retired. Now the internal competition comes from young Jesper Wallstedt. Tarasenko, whose brief stay in Ottawa helped out the top-six, comes back with the Wild after a tough season in Detroit.

Tuesday, April 7 vs Tampa Bay Lightning — Nick Paul, Boris Katchouk

Paul, a do-it-all forward in Ottawa, has been excellent for Tampa. Katchouk, once a Sens fourth-liner, also returns.

There it is — a season filled with emotional reunions, feel-good storylines, and, in the case of the well-liked Norris, whose exit is still so fresh, maybe a few tears.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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Former San Jose Sharks defenseman Markus Nutivaara has announced that he is continuing his hockey career with Kärpät of Liiga.

Unfortunately, Nutivaara was never able to play in a regular season game with the organization due to a hip injury that forced him to hang up his skates for a period of time.

Now, though, he is healthy enough to resume his career, and he’s very excited about it. In his press release, he had this to say:

"I have butterflies in my stomach and I feel like a little boy!" He went on to add, "The starting points are certainly challenging. I had hip surgery in November – it took a couple of months until I started to feel like I could move well. I went to watch a Kärppien game and realized that I couldn't just watch hockey, I wanted to be playing myself! I didn't have that feeling before the surgery because I was in so much pain. As the rehabilitation process progressed, I had the playful idea of trying it! Let's get my body back in top shape – there's nothing to lose. With good luck, you'll be able to play, with bad luck, at least you'll be in good shape and can live normally for the rest of your life."

Nutivaara has played 275 games in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers over six seasons. He has scored 17 goals and 54 assists for 71 points and had a plus-26 rating.

67 Days Until Opening Day: The Sharks' History of Number 67We’re officially just 67 days away from the San Jose Sharks taking the ice at SAP Center and hosting the Vegas Golden Knights on opening night. From The Archive: Nabokov For KiprusoffThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. 3 AHL Rookies Who Could Be Difference Makers for the San Jose BarracudaThe San Jose Sharks have an abundance of prospects who will be battling for spots in the NHL and the American Hockey League this coming season. From The Archive: Michael Misa vs. James Hagens The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

The New York Islanders announced that they have signed No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer to his entry-level deal. 

#Isles News: The New York Islanders have signed defenseman Matthew Schaefer to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Read more: https://t.co/6hCqZ281QDpic.twitter.com/CHurk65I0k

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) August 4, 2025

Just because Schaefer signed his ELC, that doesn't mean he's going to be on the NHL roster this fall. 

The soon-to-be 18-year-old's goal is to make the Islanders out of training camp, where he'll likely be battling with Isaiah George for the final starting blue-line spot. 

However, if Schaefer doesn't make the team, he'll be sent back to the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, where he must remain until the OHL season comes to an end before being recalled. 

Signing his ELC eliminates Schaefer from going the collegiate route. 

The most likely route for Schaefer and the Islanders is to give him a nine-game sample size at the NHL level before making a decision. 

Once Schaefer plays in NHL game No. 10, he will burn a year off his ELC, and that's not ideal, hence the nine-game sample size we see often around the league.

Regardless of how this all plays out, signing his ELC is a huge moment for Schaefer and the franchise. 

PHOTO: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Ducks have trimmed their unsigned RFAs list down to one. Mason McTavish is the lone RFA left for the Ducks to sign after they signed forwards Sam Colangelo and Tim Washe to two-year deals on Monday. Both deals are two-way contracts in 2025-26 and will convert into one-way contracts for the 2026-27 season.

Colangelo split time between the NHL and AHL with the Ducks and San Diego Gulls during the 2024-25 season. He scored 22 goals in 40 games with the Gulls during his first full season as a pro and was named to the AHL All-Star Game. In 32 games with the Ducks, he scored 10 goals, with five of those coming during a four-game goalscoring streak at the beginning of March.

"I think I've grown a lot this year," Colangelo said. "I think the biggest thing I've probably gotten better at is my defensive play. Still a work in progress, especially playing against the best players in the world. It's hard to defend them, but just playing through bodies and using my size to my advantage, finishing checks. I think I've grown a lot, but I still think I have a long way to go."

Primarily used in the bottom-6 at the NHL level after occupying a top line role in the AHL, Colangelo is likely to have a similar role for the Ducks this upcoming season. Despite the departure of Trevor Zegras via trade, the additions of Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlund will fill out the top-6, pushing the likes of Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano down the lineup. Colangelo's best bet at a regular lineup spot may be on the fourth line, perhaps playing alongside another new addition in Ryan Poehling and fellow youngster Nikita Nesterenko.

At 6-foot-2 and weighing over 210 pounds, Colangelo can use his size and strength to help create what would be a much more complete fourth line than any that the Ducks have had in seasons past. With Granlund taking No. 64, Colangelo has switched to No. 12, which he wore during his senior collegiate season with Western Michigan.

Washe has just two NHL games under his belt, joining the Ducks as an undrafted free agent in April after helping lead Western Michigan to an NCAA championship. A sturdy center who excels on faceoffs, Washe said that he signed with the Ducks because of their young core and their need for another center.

"I'm just trying my best to make that fit and help the team," Washe said. "Just try to help any way I can. At the end of the day, you control what you can control. Effort, attitude, all that stuff. Just focus on that and getting better each day."

With a strong set of players down the middle in Leo Carlsson, McTavish, Strome and Poehling, Washe will likely start the season in the AHL to get more seasoning, barring an impressive training camp performance. The Gulls' center depth is quite strong as well, led by AHL veteran Ryan Carpenter and supplemented by Nathan Gaucher and Jan Myšák, who had a breakout AHL season in 2024-25.

All attention now turns to McTavish, who will likely see a large pay bump on his next contract. With a little over a month until training camp, there has been plenty of speculation on McTavish's future from external media outlets. Reaching an agreement before training camp would prevent a scenario similar to the one that played out with Zegras and Jamie Drysdale in 2023, where the pair of players signed mid-way through camp but then got injured.

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Featured image caption: Nov 27, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Sam Colangelo (64) shoots the puck during the second period against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Welcome back to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s Coaches as Players series. Last time, we looked at Canucks icon and player development coach Henrik Sedin’s playing career. Today, we’ll be taking a look at skills and skating coach Jason Krog’s NHL career with the New York Islanders, Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, New York Rangers, and Canucks. 

Krog, an undrafted forward, specialized in faceoffs during his time in the NHL. Originally from Fernie, BC, he played with the Creston Valley Thunder and Chilliwack Chiefs from 1992 to 1995 before embarking on a four-year NCAA journey with the University of New Hampshire. He enjoyed back-to-back 66-point seasons, the latter of which he scored 33 goals during, and finished his time there with a total of 94 goals and 144 assists in 152 games. Krog was named captain in his final year and scored an NCAA career-high of 34 goals and 51 assists in 41 games. 

The 1999–2000 season was Krog’s first in the NHL, during which he played with the Islanders. He made his NHL debut on December 4, 1999, in a 4–3 loss to the Thrashers. Krog’s first NHL point came on February 10, 2000 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, after tallying an assist on the game’s opening goal scored by Mariusz Czerkawski. The game after, he had his first multi-point game with two assists against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The game after that, he scored his first NHL goal against the Rangers. Krog finished his first NHL season with two goals and four assists in 17 games played. During this season, he also spent time with the Lowell Lock Monsters and Providence Bruins of the AHL. 

Krog spent most of the season after, 2000–01, in the AHL. While he did slot into the Islanders’ lineup for nine games, tallying three assists in this span of time, he split most of his season with the Lock Monsters and Springfield Falcons. He tallied 11 goals and 16 assists with Lowell and seven goals and 23 assists with the Falcons, adding up to 57 points in 60 AHL games. 

In 2001–02, Krog played in 64 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 26 goals and 36 assists. He only played in two games for the Islanders, but had the chance to join Bridgeport in their quest for the 2002 Calder Cup. Despite a 10-goal, 13-assist effort in 20 playoff games, Krog and the Tigers lost 4–1 to the Chicago Wolves in the Calder Cup Final. Even so, this was only the beginning of Krog’s experience with Calder Cup Finals action. 

2002–03 marked the start of a different journey for Krog. Newly acquired by the Ducks organization, Krog spent 67 games with Anaheim in his first season with the club. It only took him two games to get his first point as a Duck and five to get his first goal. He had his first two-goal game on January 9, 2003 against the Colorado Avalanche, and recorded three assists against the Phoenix Coyotes on February 7. He finished the season with 10 goals and 15 assists. 

The 2003–04 season was Krog’s first full season spent in the NHL, as he played in 80 of the Ducks’ games. However, he saw a decline in his overall point production, scoring six goals and 12 assists — seven points less than what he had the season prior. During the lockout the year after, Krog played for Villacher SV of the EBEL, posting 27 goals and 33 assists in 48 games. While the NHL returned to play the year afterm Krog remained in Europe, spending the season with Genève-Servette HC of the NLA and Frölunda HC in Elitserien. 

Krog made his return to the NHL in 2006–07, joining the Thrashers for only 14 games. He potted a goal and three assists before ending up with the Rangers. With New York, Krog found his way to the Wolves — the team that had beaten him in the Calder Cup Final only five years prior. In 44 games with the Wolves, he scored an impressive 26 goals and 54 assists. In the postseason, he posted five goals and 14 assists in Chicago’s 15-game run. 

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In 2007–08, Krog stuck solely with the Wolves in the AHL. This seemed to have paid off, however, as he finished the season with 39 goals and 73 assists in 80 games played, making this his first 100-point season in any league. This effort earned him the Les Cunningham Award, which is given to the most valuable player in the AHL. Krog was a beast in the postseason as well, scoring 12 goals and 26 assists in 24 games and being named MVP of the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs. Six seasons after losing to the Wolves in the Calder Cup Final, Krog hoisted the Calder Cup as a member of the very team that defeated him back then. 

After the success of his 2007–08 season with Chicago, Krog ended up signing a deal with none other than the Canucks. Despite only playing in four games and scoring a goal for Vancouver, Krog had yet another offensively-prolific season in the AHL — this time with the Manitoba Moose. He put together his second consecutive 30-goal season and added 56 assists to this, also stringing together an eight-goal, 15-assist performance in the postseason. While Krog had come out victorious in the 2008 Calder Cup Final, he and the Moose were on the opposite side in 2009, losing in six games to the Hershey Bears. 

Krog’s four games with the Canucks were the final games of his NHL career, as after this, he played in the AHL and a variety of European leagues before hanging up the skates in 2016–17. Before departing for Europe, he spent two more seasons with the Wolves, both as captain, and put together back-to-back 75-point seasons. 

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 from The Hockey News. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan, but the opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed earlier this month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. 

The name of Calgary winger Joel Farabee has been linked to the Sabres in the past, going back to his days with the Philadelphia Flyers. Farabee was a 2018 first round pick out of the US National Development Program and turned pro after one NCAA season at Boston University. After playing briefly in the AHL, he played 52 games as a 19-year-old rookie with the Flyers, and as a sophomore posted 20 goals in the post-COVID 56-game 2020-21 season. 

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Philadelphia was proactive and signed the winger to a six-year, $30 million extension, but the next few seasons saw a regression in his game due to injuries and a lack of confidence brought about by Flyers head coach John Tortorella. After a career-high 22 goals in 2023.24, the Syracuse native was dealt to the Flames mostly to clear the final three years of his contract off their books. 

Calgary is looking to challenge for a playoff spot, but there continues to be chatter that players like veteran center Nazem Kadri and defenseman Rasmus Andersson (who is entering the final year of his contract) could be dealt if the Flames show signs of not being in the mix.

What Would It Cost?

The Sabres could see an opportunity to bring in a Western New York native at a favorable number and cost certainty the next three seasons for a reasonable return. If the Flames shop Farabee, they could have interest in younger forwards who they would give more of an opportunity to. An almost perfect fit might be Calgary native Peyton Krebs, who was rumored to be a target of Philadelphia and could pique the interest of Flames GM Craig Conroy.  

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The Buffalo Sabres want nothing more than to qualify for the 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoffs. Ending Buffalo's 14-year drought without any playoff games is a gigantic stain on the organization, but there's no assurace the Sabres will be able to vault over many solid teams and grab a playoff berth.

Indeed, with all but a few Eastern Conference teams having legitimate designs on being in the next post-season, Buffalo has almost zero room for error this coming season. If they don't start strong coming out of the gate, it could be impossible for them to dig out of the crater they leave and knock off a top-level Atlantic Division rival like the Toronto Maple Leafs or Tampa Bay Lightning. The Atlantic standings could feature five teams getting into the playoffs next year, but that would have to come at the expense of the Metropolitan Division's slew of teams that will be vying for a post-season spot. So the Sabres need to play well against the Metro's teams.

To that end, we've been going team-by-team through the Metro and the Eastern Conference in general to examine all the rivalries the Sabres will be immersed in next year. In today's file, we're finishing up the East with a look at the best team in the conference this past season -- the Washington Capitals, who finished first in the Metro last season.

The difference between making and missing the playoffs could come down to a few points, so the Sabres need to win more series than they lose -- and that will be difficult against a Capitals team that was dominant last season. But let's break things down in our usual format, and figure out if Buffalo really has a legitimate shot at winning their series against the Caps.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. WASHINGTON CAPITALS

NEW CAPITALS PLAYERS: Justin Sourdif, RW; Declan Chisholm, D 

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 2-1-0, Capitals 1-1-1

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  November 1 at Buffalo; March 12 at Buffalo; April 4 at Washington 

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Sabres actually did fairly well against the Capitals last year, winning a 4-3 shootout game, then smacking Washington 8-5 in their final game of the season. That said, the Caps did win their first game against the Sabres, and they were on cruise control for a good portion of the latter part of the regular season, so Buffalo shouldn't be cocky that they can win two of three games against Washington this coming season.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Should Buffalo Dominate Showdowns Against Lowly Penguins Next Year?The Buffalo Sabres know their schedule for the 2025-26 campaign, and if Buffalo hopes to end their Stanley Cup playoff drought after 14 years, they're going to need to make the most of every rivalry they have in the league. And that includes the Pittsburgh Penguins -- the team that is the latest Metropolitan Division rival for the Sabres in THN.com's Sabres site rankings of all Buffalo's Eastern Conference's rivals.

The Capitals made very few changes to their roster this summer, adding only fringe players Sourdif and Chisholm. If either of those players sees significant time, it will mean one of two things: either the Caps find a way to play so well, they can affort to rest their regulars, or Buffalo has so many injuries and/or underwhelming performances from their veterans, Capitals coach Spencer Carbery has no choice but to play the two players.

We don't expect the Capitals will get to that point, though. And while Buffalo can point to their two wins over Washington last season as a building point for future showdowns against the Capitals, the truth is that the Caps didn't need to make many moves this summer, and that they match up very well against the Sabres on paper.

To wit: Washington's defense corps performed very well last season, and while Buffalo may have more high-end depth on 'D' than the Capitals, the Sabres' overall play in their defensive end was a major stumbling block to their success, in a way that obviously wasn't what we saw from the Caps. And the Caps have many skilled, experienced players to help them be not only a playoff team, but a top team in their division and conference, and the league in general. 

 

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Metropolitan Edition: Do Young Flyers Pose A Threat To Buffalo Next Year?The Buffalo Sabres desperately need to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs next season. And while the Philadelphia Flyers aren't quite as desperate as the Sabres are to do so, Philadelphia GM Daniel Briere wouldn't object at all if the Flyers surprised people and got into the post-season this coming year.

Buffalo has two of its three games against Washington at home this coming year, and as we saw last season, the Sabres were a much better home team than they were on the road. And again, the NHL's playoff race could come down to one or two standings points. So having that second home game against the Capitals could be the difference between Buffalo making and missing the post-season next year.

So, to answer the above question -- can the Sabres beat this Capitals team? -- the answer is "Yes, they absolutely can". And if Buffalo does lose out on playoff hockey for a 15th consecutive season, and they lose the season series against Washington, their play against the Caps will underscore significant problems with the Sabres, problems that will be addressed next summer with many roster changes.

But if Buffalo wins their series against the Capitals, and they do get into the playoffs, the Sabres will be able to point to their play against Washington as one of the reasons they got into the post-season. There's no more excuses for Buffalo, and their performance against the Caps needs to prove to skeptics that this Sabres team is at long last ready to take the next competitive step.

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the best deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

#39 - Gustav Karlsson – Center (Falu IF -  HockeyEttan - SWE)

Karlsson was the second of the Sabres sixth-round picks at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, where Buffalo chose three Swedish prospects with their last three picks. The 6’1”, 165 lb. center was selected as a 19-year-old overager out of the Orebro HK juniors after scoring 31 goals in 41 games, but the following season his goal totals dropped to 14.

 

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The 21-year-old has earned a couple of stints totaling 11 games at the SHL level,  but has not shown he is ready to play at the top level yet. After another season in juniors, Karlsson was assigned to the third-level pro league (HockeyEttan) and posted five goals for Vimmerby. Last season, he played at the same level for Falu IF, and only showed marginal improvement. According to Elite Prospects, he is slated to play for a third different club in as many years. 

Hockey Prospect’s Black Book said in his draft year that Karlsson “doesn’t engage in puck battles hard enough and often goes in with the intent of letting someone else bring the physicality.” His inability to generate offense even at a lower level does not speak well of his future prospect of earning an NHL deal.

  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Predicting what NHL teams might do at the NHL Draft every year is a tricky bit of business, and you can go at it from one of two angles. You can try and rank things based on where you believe players will be selected in the draft.  Or you can also rank things based on the level of impact you believe the player will one day have in the NHL. 

There's definitely some degree of overlap in the two projection styles, but it's unbelievably difficult to know for sure if a player who thrives at the pace and competition of the amateur level will be able to do the same against the bigger, stronger, faster pace of the NHL.

As we look back on The Hockey News' 2020 NHL Draft Preview Issue, published right before the greatest draft in Sens history, it sheds some light on just how hard these predictions are.

For example, everybody's number one that year was Alexis Lafreniere, but five years later, no one would rank him in that spot again in a re-draft. THN's 100 projections that year included six future Senators and one that didn't make the top 100 but was still drafted early in the second round.

• Tim Stutzle prediction: 3rd overall (picked 3rd overall) Correct

• Jake Sanderson prediction: 11th overall (picked 5th overall) 6 picks earlier

• Tyler Kleven prediction: 33rd overall (picked 44th overall) 11 picks earlier

• Ridly Greig prediction: 45th overall (picked 28th overall) 17 picks earlier

• Egor Sokolov prediction: 71st overall (picked 61st overall) 10 picks earlier
• Roby Jarventie prediction: Not in top 100 (picked 33rd overall)

• Donovan Sebrango prediction: 87th overall (picked 63rd overall - DET) 24 picks later

The die isn't fully cast on the 2020 Draft class, but it's getting there, and it's always interesting to look back at how people felt about certain players. Some players proved everyone right, while others proved everyone wrong.

---

The Hockey News Archive
May 11, 2020/vol. 73, issue 06

Prospect Rankings

Games were cancelled, but the show must go on. So we look ahead to a draft featuring elite-level talent and depth. Oh, and watch out for the Germans!

WHILE THE SEASON didn't end the way anyone predicted, scouts and GMs will still have to select their future – and by all accounts, it’s a great draft class.

Alexis Lafreniere went post-to-post as the No. 1-rated prospect, and the Rimouski Oceanic phenom only strengthened his grip on the top spot as the campaign went on. Quinton Byfield is a good bet to go No. 2 thanks to his incredible upside, but what happens next will be fascinating.

Tim Stutzle could become the highest-drafted German since Leon Draisaitl went third in 2014, but don’t count out Lucas Raymond or even Jamie Drysdale. No matter what happens, it’s going to be a celebratory draft for German hockey. Stutzle, J.J. Peterka and Lukas Reichel make up the nation’s best class ever.

In the following pages, you will find our ranking of the top 100 players in the 2020 draft class. The top 62 prospects get full reports, written by senior writers Ryan Kennedy and Ken Campbell, featuring quotes from NHL scouts, while we provide snapshot descriptions of the remaining hopefuls. From Alexis Lafreniere to Alex Laferriere, we’ve got you covered.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: 

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We’re in the thick of The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash series – our rankings of the off-seasons of each NHL team, moving in reverse from the 32nd-place Buffalo Sabres to the No. 1 spot. And today’s team is No. 14 in the series – the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Looking at every team’s lineup additions, departures, and hirings and firings where applicable, we’ve come up with a consensus on where teams are in the moves they’ve made this summer. Some teams have clearly improved, some teams have made a slight improvement or have been radio silent when it comes to trades and signings. And some teams have regressed. 

The Penguins are a good example of a team that’s made some extensive changes – particularly, regarding their defense and goaltending – and we’ve judged Pittsburgh to be slightly better than they were at the end of another disappointing season. As we’ll explore below, they’re a team that’s gotten slightly better, but that doesn’t mean you should start planning to see the Pens in the playoffs next year. They changed things up with trades and signings, but we’re not sure they’re even going to be in the mix for post-season hockey.

Additions

Arturs Silvovs (G), Anthony Mantha, LW; Justin Brazeau, RW; Matt Dumba, D; Connor Clifton, D; Parker Wotherspoon, D; Alexander Alexeyev, D

The Breakdown: When you’re fortunate enough to employ superstar Sidney Crosby, star forward Evgeni Malkin, and defensemen Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, you have fewer needs than many teams. Thus, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas went out and made seven additions to bolster his team, but we don’t expect all six of the above players to be needle-movers for Pittsburgh. 

The one big question mark that could propel the Pens into the playoffs is new goalie and former Vancouver Canuck Silovs. The Penguins desperately need better goaltending than they had last year, and if Silovs can provide it, that will be a huge advantage for Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, Mantha is a reclamation project who has hit the 20-goal mark just once since 2018-19. Brazeau is known for his physical play, but he’s not going to body-check the Penguins into the victory column. Dumba was a salary dump by the Dallas Stars, and Clifton and Wotherspoon were acquired to fill out the last defense pairing. 

All of this is to say that, weighed against the players they parted ways with, the Bruins have indeed slightly improved. But there’s still a long road ahead for some of these players, and Pittsburgh’s defense corps in particular was the focus of Dubas & Co. as he worked his way through the off-season. In sum, we’d say this is a “nothing to write home about, but technically speaking, they did improve” team.

Departures

Alex Nedeljkovic (G), Matt Grzelcyk, (D), Conor Timmins, (D), P.O. Joseph (D), Matt Nieto (LW)

The Breakdown: In some ways, this category is a plus for the Penguins. They didn’t move heaven and earth to trade Karlsson – but that may still happen – and after getting rid of five fringe players, they didn’t take too big a hit. The most visible loss is Nedeljkovic, who had some stretches of good play last season, but he didn’t do it consistently.

So, the primary loss for Pittsburgh is Grzelcyk – a decent-enough blueliner who somehow still is without a contract as of early August – and after that, you’re talking about a regular healthy scratch in Timmins, and two players (Joseph and Nieto) who combined to produce six points last year. Six. These players may be strong positive influences in the dressing room, but if we’re talking purely about how they slot in on paper, you can see why the Penguins weren’t notably better, but they still had a better off-season than half of the league.

Indeed, the focus of the Pens should be about the future, and sometimes, doing that means you have to strip things down. Dubas hasn’t bought into that concept at this point, but if the Penguins stall and start to spiral, there will be a strong push to trade veterans Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell. And it’s getting close to high time that Dubas makes more substantial moves than he’s done this off-season.

The Bottom Line

The Penguins have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the past three seasons, and they haven’t won a playoff round in seven years. And that’s with some of the top talent in the world on their team. That’s a stunning reality that should sober up Pens management and get them advocating a push to be out of the Mushy Middle of the league – not good enough for playoff action, and not bad enough to land a top prospect at the beginning of the draft.

So, when we have them relatively in the middle of the pack this summer in these ratings, don’t take it to mean we see the Penguins storming out and securing a playoff berth. They should be viewed with skepticism until they prove themselves worthy of fan and management confidence. And if things go sideways and they’re near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference standings, you better believe there will be a PR nightmare until Dubas shows he’s going ahead fully focused on the future and starts making blockbuster moves.

Otherwise, it all feels like the Penguins are running to stand still. They’ve got too many third-and-fourth-line talent and too many question marks on defense and in net. They were active this summer, but the bottom line is that we don’t see their additions/departures column as having moved them much at all in our summer splash rankings. Yes, they didn’t regress, but a slight progress isn’t much to write home about. And time will tell whether these moves were precursors to blockbuster deals during the year.

Summer Splash Rankings

14. Pittsburgh Penguins

15. Colorado Avalanche

16. Ottawa Senators

17. Boston Bruins

18. Edmonton Oilers

19. Minnesota Wild

20. Seattle Kraken

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

22. Washington Capitals

23. Nashville Predators

24. New York Islanders

25. Tampa Bay Lightning

26. Toronto Maple Leafs

27. Dallas Stars

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Matthew Tkachuk of the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers has been announced as the cover athlete for the standard edition of NHL 26. 

The NHL 26 revel trailer will go live on EA SPORTS NHL's YouTube channel at 12pm EST Aug. 6.

This marks a return to a one-man cover star after the Hughes brothers graced the cover of NHL 25. 

Tkachuk finished tied for the team lead in scoring in both the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He has 88 goals and 254 points in 211 regular season games and 69 points in 67 playoff games in three seasons with the Panthers. 

Florida have made the Stanley Cup Finals all three years Tkachuk has been on the team. 

He is the first Florida Panther to be on the cover since John Vanbiesbrouck in NHL 97. Olli Jokinen appeared on several editions of NHL 2005 is Europe.  

He’s loud. He’s relentless. He’s a problem. Now he’s the face of the game.
See the full #NHL26 reveal August 6th: https://t.co/dXmeA7gpdwpic.twitter.com/2s2cneeJMs

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 4, 2025

Given Tkachuk's recent success, his personality, and popularity in the sport this is a good choice for the cover. 

NHL 26 is expected to release in early September. 

Photo Credit: EA SPORTS NHL 

Florida Panthers superstar forward Matthew Tkachuk has been revealed as EA Sports’ NHL 26 cover athlete, becoming the first Panther to grace the cover since John Vanbiesbrouck on NHL 97.

Tkachuk is as popular a hockey player as you’ll find nowadays. The two-time Stanley Cup winner totals 258,000 Instagram followers and 71,900 followers on X, but that’s just the start of his popularity.

While dealing with an injury following the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tkachuk appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, The Pat McAfee Show and the Up and Adams Show, highlighting his personality and natural charisma in front of the camera. 

EA Sports' selection of the 27-year-old to be the cover athlete of NHL 26 seems to be a no-brainer, as his play on the ice backs up his media attention. 

Thank you to the ones who believed, and the ones who didn't.

The full #NHL26 reveal hits August 6th:https://t.co/Iq8zn3ltK5pic.twitter.com/07c0GGxUqH

— Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_) August 4, 2025

Tkachuk dealt with a major injury this season, forcing him to dress in just 52 games. He returned for the start of the post-season but was still nursing the injury. Despite the injury hampering his abilities, Tkachuk poured in eight goals and 23 points in 23 games. Unfortunately for the former sixth overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, the injury issues will carry into the 2025-26 season, as he’s expected to miss several months while rehabbing from corrective surgery after suffering an adductor injury and a hernia.

Tkachuk joins a list consisting of the Hughes brothers, Cale Makar, Trevor Zegras, Sarah Nurse, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Alex Ovechkin and former Panthers teammate Vladimir Tarasenko as recent players to appear on the cover.

A full preview for the game is set to come out on Wednesday, and the game itself is reportedly set for a Sept. 13 release.

 Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here

Also, go to thn.com/free to subscribe.

Former Teammates, New Rivals: Marner vs. Matthews Prop Bet Heats Up DebateSportsbooks reveal head-to-head prop bet between former teammates in Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

Hockey Betting Is Growing Rapidly - Nov. 2 1990 - Vol. 44, Issue 07 - Stan Fischler

Though the NHL may officially object, hockey betting continues to grow. Evidence is abundant in the continent’s betting capital, Las Vegas, where casinos now regularly post NHL odds. And the second annual, 250-page book, Betting Hockey 90-91, has been published by the city’s foremost ice oddsmaker, Bobby Bryde. Bryde lists the Flames as 3-1 favorites to win the Stanley Cup, followed by Boston and Edmonton at 5-1. Quebec is the longshot at 100-1. Kirk Brooks, director of Vegas’ Imperial Palace sports book, also lists the Flames at 3-1 and Edmonton at 5-1. But Brooks places Boston and Buffalo in a tie for the next spot at 7-1 and Quebec at 200-1…Flyers’ leader Rick Tocchet is one of many NHLers who are concerned about a walkout next season. “We don’t want a strike,” says Tocchet. “Nobody wants a strike but we have to use the word ‘prepare.’ 

Right now we have things we’re looking at but this much is certain; it’s going to be an interesting summer for (NHLPA director) Bob Goodenow.”…The Flyers are understandably worried about Ron Hextall suffering yet another groin injury and the effect it may have on his future. “I felt good coming into camp this year,” the goalie insists. “I worked out all summer with Pat Croce (Flyers’ physical therapist) and didn’t even consider injuries-.”…Washington’s substantial early game attendance at home indicates that the blemish of last spring’s ‘sexpose’ has been effectively neutralized. Insiders say a summer-long advertising campaign by marketing head Lew Strudler saved the club from an image disaster.

RISKY BUSINESS

The latest issue of Financial World magazine describes the NHL’s 1990s expansion plans as “a risky strategy that could backfire on president John Ziegler.” FW asserts that what makes “the NHL’s scheme truly agamble”, is the $50 million franchise price. “How do you justify investing $50 million, when each club’s media revenues are so small,” asks Mike Megna of Minneapolis-based American Appraisals. “It’s unrealistic. Hockey isn’t like other sports that have a network TV contract. It is primarily a local market revenue generator. 

Ranger fans will be shocked on Nov. 7 when arch-foe Denis Potvin strides to center ice before the Sabres game for a Rangers’ presentation. The hook is that Potvin has become frontman for the Alka-Seltzer plus-minus award (formerly the Emery Edge) and gives the prizes in arenas across the league. Crowd control that night might be a problem, but Madison Square Garden’ has embarked on a program to curb the negative behavior of rowdy fans. During the summer, MSG enforced its policy by cancelling the subscriptions of 25 Ranger season ticket-holders. “We’re drawing the line in the use of language that is no longer acceptable,” says MSG’s communications director Bobby Goldwater. But based on early games this season, there has been no significant change for the better.

NHL Division Odds Breakdown: Panthers, Hurricanes, and Golden Knights Lead the PackSportsbooks release betting odds for NHL divisional races for 2025-26 season. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The feeling among many Penguins is that Mario Lemieux will not be available until the New Year, at the earliest. The sombre air in the Penguins’ organization is echoed by teammates who say, all we can do now is hope and pray. Speculation is Pittsburgh management is looking to the future without Mario in its plans…One of the better comeback stories belongs to Brennan Maley, who signed a one-year contract with Tom McVie’s AHL club (Utica) after being out of competitive hockey for four years. 

Kid brother of New Jersey’s David Maley, Brennan spent four years at Omaha’s Creighton University where he pitched for the varsity baseball team and tied a record for most appearances with 24. “I feel like I have a new lease on life,” says Brennan. “I know I’m a longshot but I always wondered if I could play hockey at this level…Scouting for the Edmonton Oilers, Hall of Fame defenseman Harry Howell says the difference between contemporary back-liners and his ilk is that “today’s defensemen feel they have to be offensive. In my day it was defense first. Goals were a bonus. But that all changed with the advent of Bobby Orr of the Bruins.” So, who are 1990-91’s best defensive defensemen in Howell’s mind? “Kevin Lowe, Rod Langway, Mike Ramsey, Brad Marsh and Scott Stevens. Ramsey is the best of them all. Marsh isn’t pretty but he’s very effective and knows how to get in the way.”

ON THE MOVE?

North Stars’ defenseman Peter Taglianetti is one Minnesotan who’s not anxious to move to San Jose next season. “I thought I was secure in Winnipeg,” says Taglianetti. “But I moved to Bloomington and got settled. Maybe the weather is nicer in California but I wonder about the hockey atmosphere. Most of the players on the North Stars feel the club was mismanaged before and they’re wondering if it’s going to happen again.” 

Teammate Dave Gagner says he’s not concerned about moving to California. “What’s more on our mind is the low turnout of fans in Minnesota,” says Gagner. “It’s very disappointing but I don’t know one guy on the team who doesn’t like being in the Twin Cities. When I played for the Rangers, everyone left New York for the summer. In Minnesota, the players all stay.”

…Mats Sundin has been winning raves since becoming a Nordique, but the best statement comes from Whalers’ defenseman Ulf Samuelsson who says, “He reminds me a lot of Lemieux.”

Isaac Howard Offers Serious Value in NHL Rookie Props on Loaded Oilers LineRookie winger Isaac Howard could be the value play bettors are searching for if he sticks on Edmonton’s top line with Connor McDavid.