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Canadiens: Shielding The Headliner

On this second day of the Prospect Showdown, the Montreal Canadiens decided to rest prized prospect Ivan Demidov, and to say the fans were disappointed would be an understatement. The mere presence of the young Russian in the building has the power to create some effervescence, and his absence on the ice for warmups was met with incredulity.

The organization had been advertising this event with Demidov as the headliner for months. Yesterday, Pascal Vincent, speaking about his first line formed with Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, and Florian Xhekaj, said it was a shame they only had two games to work on their chemistry. Given those circumstances, it’s hard not to understand the fans’ disappointment, especially since those who attended the Saturday game got to see Demidov and meet Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson.

Canadiens: An Injury And A Hot Start
Canadiens’ Demidov Steals The Show Despite Loss
Canadiens: Vincent Looking To Expand Florian Xhekaj’s Role

Pascal Vincent explained that the risk of playing him two days in a row wasn’t worth it, given how big of a summer he had training-wise, and that the decision was taken by committee.

Still, there was a game to be played, and the Toronto Maple Leafs elected to do exactly what the Habs were doing, shielding their best player, meaning Easton Cowan sat this one out as well. With the most skillful player on each side being a no-show, the game soon turned into what some would call “old-time hockey”, and within five minutes, there had already been two fights.

Toronto opened the score late in the first with a shot from the high slot that didn’t look all that threatening, but it still found its way past Jacob Fowler, who played for half the game, just like yesterday. Montreal started strong in the second frame, taking five consecutive shots on goal, but they then got into penalty trouble, and while they were able to kill Owen Protz’s minor, they couldn’t do the same when both Kapanen and Vinzenz Rohrer were in the box. Luke Haymes scored with a one-timer off the draw, giving Toronto a 2-0 lead.

Another fight followed this time between Tyler Thorpe and Sam McCue, but this one seemed to energize Montreal, and Filip Mesar scored to bring the locals back to within one. With 20 minutes to go, the Leafs had a 2-1 edge while Montreal had the lead in shots with 24 to Toronto’s 21.

The Canadiens made a valiant effort to come back in the third, firing 15 shots on net, but they were unable to find the back of the net. Meanwhile, Ryan Tverberg added a couple of goals for the visitors, including an empty net goal with a minute to go in the game. For a second time in as many days, the Canadiens lost the game, this time 4-1.

Of course, this is only a prospect tournament and results matter very little, but still, on paper, the Canadiens should have fared better this weekend. While the decision to shield Demidov is understandable, his absence was a great way to demonstrate how much of an impact he had on proceedings. Without him, the Canadiens struggle to build real threatening attacks, and they couldn’t produce as many scoring chances as they did on Saturday.

On the bright side, David Reinbacher looked better than he did yesterday. There’s a steady progression there as the rust comes off, but he’s not ready yet for the NHL; that much is clear. He will benefit greatly from a heavy workload in the AHL.

Still, in the positives, Fowler has the kind of mindset needed to play in this market. He’s calm and collected, and he doesn’t panic, no matter what happens. That’s the kind of roc you need in the Montreal net. He’s not entertaining to watch, but that’s not a negative; it just means his positioning is good and he doesn’t need to make spectacular saves, unlike Jakub Dobes, for instance. He’s not NHL-ready, but so far, his progression is on the right path.

In Demidov’s absence, Owen Beck was promoted to the top line, and he was quite noticeable on the ice. Not because he has the same kind of talent as Demidov, but because he excels at all the little things. He’s the kind of player who’s ready to do the things that “aren’t fun to do,” as Martin St-Louis often says. Vincent explained that in a single shift, he blocked a puck, recovered it in a foot race, and then landed a hit; that’s the kind of hard worker that can make the NHL because they don’t mind picking up the challenging assignment, and they’re not hung up on getting the spotlight and the highlight reels.

The rookies will enjoy a much-deserved day off tomorrow as the Canadiens will hold their traditional season-launching golf tournament, but will be back in Brossard on Tuesday to close out the rookie camp.

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Don't Overlook This Penguins' Forward Prospect

In less than a week, the Pittsburgh Penguins will begin a training camp that figures to be more competitive than any in recent memory. 

And there may be one prospect to keep a keen eye on.

Signed to a two-year AHL contract during the summer of 2024, forward Atley Calvert has generated some buzz. The 21-year-old - a product of the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL - has shown some flashes of a game that could translate to the NHL level, and he can put the puck in the back of the net.

After an excellent season with Moose Jaw in 2023-24 - when he registered 47 goals and 95 points in 68 games, in addition to eight goals and 20 points in 20 Calder Cup playoff games - the Penguins' organization took a chance on Calvert, who was undrafted. They got a pretty good look at him, too, as he was the teammate of former Penguins' prospect Brayden Yager.

And the 6-foot-1, 194-pound center didn't take long to impress Penguins' brass. In 38 ECHL games with the Wheeling Nailers in 2024-25, Calvert had 13 goals and 36 points, and in 26 AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), he recorded nine goals and 14 points.

Calvert may be somewhat known for his ability to score goals so far in his professional career, but he was heralded as more of a deceptive, playmaking forward prior to signing with the Penguins. He's an intelligent player in all three zones, which fits the mold of many of the young prospects Pittsburgh has added to their system recently.

Calvert has a goal so far at this year's Prospects Challenge in Buffalo, New York, and there may be many more in store this season for the young forward. Don't count him out as a potential standout in training camp this year.

Four Penguins Prospects To Watch At The 2025 Prospects ChallengeFour Penguins Prospects To Watch At The 2025 Prospects ChallengeThe Pittsburgh Penguins released their Prospects Challenge roster for this weekend's games in Buffalo on Wednesday.

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Full Look At The Hurricanes' Preseason Schedule

James Guillory-Imagn Images

With the start of training camp just around the corner, here's a full look at the Carolina Hurricanes' preseason schedule. 

The Hurricanes are set to play six preseason games.  

Monday: September 22: Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. Lenovo Center

Wednesday: September 24: Florida Panthers, 6 p.m. Lenovo Center

Friday: September 26 at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. Amalie Arena

Sunday: September 28 Nashville Predators, 7 p.m. Lenovo Center

Monday: September 29 at Florida Panthers, 6 p.m. Amerant Bank Arena

Saturday October 4 at Nashville Predators, 4 p.m. Bridgestone Arena

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Red Wings Collapse Late, Fall 6-5 to Stars in Chaotic Game 2 of Prospect Showcase

The Detroit Red Wings surrendered a two-goal lead late in the third period, falling 6-5 to the Dallas Stars in a chaotic Game 2 of the 2025 NHL Prospect Games, marked by multiple lead changes. 

The Detroit Red Wings fall 6-5 to the Dallas Stars in the second game of the 2025 NHL Prospect Showcase. The game was eventful with multiple lead changes and some prospects stood out with impact performances in a high-scoring affair. 

Detroit's offense was coming off a stellar 6-2 win over the Stars in the first game of the showcase, highlighted by goals from some of the Red Wings top prospects in Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Shai Buium, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Amadeus Lombardi. Game two of the showcase saw more standout performances for Buium and Lombardi as Buium scored once again and Lombardi contributed three key assists on the Red Wings first and fifth goals scored by Buium and Becher respectively. 

Red Wings Scoring Stats: 

Amadeus Lombardi - 3A

Carson Bantle - 1G, 1A

Nate Danielson - 1G

Shai Buium - 1G

Liam Kilfoil - 1G

Ondrej Becher - 1G

Alexandre Doucet - 1A

Justice Christensen - 1A

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard - 1A

Axel Sandin-Pellikka - 1A

Vincent Collard - 1A

Will Murphy - 1A

Exclusive: Red Wings Prospect Emmitt Finnie Talks NHL Aspirations, Bond with Nate DanielsonExclusive: Red Wings Prospect Emmitt Finnie Talks NHL Aspirations, Bond with Nate DanielsonRed Wings breakout prospect Emmitt Finnie breaks down off-season plans, future goals and growing up with fellow prospect Nate Danielson in an exclusive interview with The Hockey News.

The ice was tilted from the start for Dallas as in the first 36 seconds, the Stars jumped on a turnover by Brandsegg-Nygard and converted it into a quick early goal.

The Stars maintained pressure for the start of the first period and capitalized on another costly error. Detroit 2024 third round pick Ondrej Becher dished the puck into the middle of the Red Wings end to an unprepared Wyatt Kennedy, a free agent invitee, who turns the puck over as the Stars rush in and score another quick goal. 

Detroit needed their established players to start making an impact and it started with Lombardi. The Red Wings 2022 fourth round pick passed the puck into the slot, with the help of a couple lucky bounces, to Griffins forward Carson Bantle, who makes a heads up play and moves the puck behind to a wide open Buium, who fires off a one-timer for Detroit's first goal of the game. 

Bantle showcased his talents as a steady netfront presence on the Red Wings second goal as he used his large 6-foot-5 frame in front of the Stars goaltender and was in the perfect spot when a blueline shot from Lombardi hits the post and bounces right to him for an easy goal. 

The game was tied but with several free agent invites looking to make their mark, Liam Kilfoil made his after entering the Stars zone on a fastbreak one-on-two opportunity. He speeds his way past the Stars defender and provides himself enough space for a backhand shot that goes off the crossbar and in for a highlight reel goal.  

One of the player every Red Wings fan was looking out for 2023 ninth overall pick Nate Danielson. The 20-year-old center added to the Red Wings scoring frenzy by showing off his high-end shooting ability as he entered the Stars end by cutting through a Stars winger and defender before firing off a top shelf shot from the high slot. 

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

The Red Wings felt in control but the game started to slip when entering the third period with the Stars on the man advantage. Detroit got the penalty late in the second and allowed Dallas to go into the intermission with a play in mind and it led to a quick goal to start the third. The Stars battled to keep the puck in the Red Wings end and turned away a breakout attempt while turning it into a quick two-on-one in the Detroit end. A quick cross zone pass into a one-timer helped Dallas cut the lead to one. 

Danielson helped extended the lead back to two by making a smart play in the Dallas end by drawing a Stars defender low into the zone before turning and dishing the puck to Becher, who makes up for his mistake on the first Dallas goal by putting the Red Wings up 5-3 in the middle of the third. 

Things got worrisome when minutes later, the Stars quickly responded by crashing the net. Recent 2025 third round pick goaltender Michal Pradel had the crease for Detroit and couldn't find the puck as a Stars winger corralled the loose puck in the chaos to cut the lead back to one. 

The Red Wings were on the heels and it showed in the middle of the third. The offense was caught deep in the Dallas zone, and the Stars quickly capitalized by scooping up an errant puck near the blue line, sparking a fast-break opportunity. With no Detroit forward in sight, Dallas enters the Red Wings zone on a four-on-two with a few quick passes and a quick shot from the face off dot leading to the Stars game-tying goal at 5-5 with time still left in the period. 

Detroit was running out of steam due to the sustained pressure from Dallas towards the end of the period with the Stars finishing the group in the final minutes. A Stars forward worked the puck low with two Red Wings on his tail. He quickly fires a puck into the slot where an uncovered Stars winger grabs the puck with three Red Wings watching as he fires a quick one-timer for the go-ahead goal. 

The game highlighted issues with both teams' young prospects, particularly their struggles to maintain offensive pressure and effectively break down sustained momentum from the opposition. Both sides had trouble executing clean breakouts, often failing to shake off the opposing forecheck. This prevented them from getting fresh legs on the ice and forcing the other team to reset from their own end, instead allowing rushes to restart from the neutral zone or even deep in the offensive zone.

For the Red Wings, several prospects particularly struggled with their breakout ability in the final stretch. They were unable to relieve the relentless pressure from the Stars, which ultimately proved costly. After holding a two-goal lead heading into the third period, Detroit’s young roster couldn’t withstand the momentum shift, leading to a come-from-behind win for Dallas.

The two-game Prospect Showcase offered fans a sneak peek at some of the rising talent in the Red Wings system, just ahead of Training Camp kicking off this Thursday in Traverse City. The event gave supporters a chance to get familiar with young players, who will be competing for roster spots in the upcoming season.

Could 2026 Be the Year the Red Wings Bring a Superstar Home?Could 2026 Be the Year the Red Wings Bring a Superstar Home?Few things weigh more on the minds of Detroit Red Wings fans when reflecting on the final years of former general manager Ken Holland’s tenure (along with director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright) than the decision to draft Filip Zadina sixth overall in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft. 

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Avery Hayes, Tristan Broz Shine In Penguins Prospects OT Loss

The Pittsburgh Penguins' prospects erased a 2-0 deficit against the Columbus Blue Jackets' prospects on Sunday but ultimately fell 5-4 in overtime. The Penguins had a 4-3 lead late in the third period before the Blue Jackets tied it and then won the game two minutes into the 3-on-3 overtime. 

There was a lot of emotion on both sides, including three fights and plenty of other skirmishes. Penguins defenseman Quinn Beauchesne was involved in his second fight in two days and isn't afraid to get chippy when the situation calls for it. 

Despite the loss, there were some players who had some strong individual performances and are trying to ride that momentum into training camp, which starts on September 18. Let's examine some of those performances and what they could mean. 

Avery Hayes

Hayes has been the star of the Prospects Challenge once again this year. He scored two goals in the 5-4 loss to the Blue Jackets and now has three goals in two games. He's been everywhere in the offensive zone and is getting chances on an every shift basis. 

He looks like he's too good for this tournament, which is a good sign for the Penguins since Hayes was one of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's best players in the AHL last season, finishing with 23 goals and 42 points in 60 games. It was his best season in the AHL, and if he has a good camp, he could be a strong call-up option during the regular season. 

Tristan Broz

Outside of Hayes, Broz was the most noticeable player on the ice. He scored a goal and added two assists in this contest, and looks like he has his confidence back. Broz faced a lot of adversity last season with the WBS Penguins since he battled mononucleosis for several weeks.

It took him some time to find his game again, but he eventually did, ending the season with two goals and nine points in his final 10 games before finishing the playoffs with one goal and three points in two games. 

He's been one of the best prospects for the Penguins at this tournament and is gunning for an NHL roster spot at training camp. 

Gabriel D'Aigle

D'Aigle was a standout in the first game against the Boston Bruins and rode that momentum into Sunday's game. He played the entire game, and despite giving up five goals, he made a lot of big saves, especially in the third period. 

There was a sequence with a little over eight minutes left where he made a flurry of saves and showcased his mobility in the crease. He made the saves near the left post before allowing the game-tying and game-winning goal. 

Since he played the whole game on Sunday, it's likely that Sergei Murashov will get the entire game on Monday. 

Speaking of Monday's game, the Penguins will play the Buffalo Sabres' prospects at Noon ET. Fans will be able to stream the game on the Penguins' website. 

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Blackhawks Lose Final Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase Game To Wild

Ahead of the game, the Blackhawks confirmed that Sam Rinzel, Oliver Moore, and Artyom Levshunov would miss the final game in an effort to prepare for NHL training camp. 

Ryan Greene and Ryan Gagnier scored goals for the Blackhawks, and they were tied 2-2 toward the end of regulation. With 1:01 remaining in the third period, however, Wild prospect Rasmus Kumpalainen scored to make it 3-2 Wild. They hung on for the win. 

With the loss, the Blackhawks ended the event 1-1-0. The Wild went 1-1-1 and the Blues went 1-0-1. It turned out to be the year of parity at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. 

Now that they’re done with the showcase, these prospects will return to their respective camps. Some of them will be at NHL camps, some will be headed to the AHL, and then others will find their way to Major Junior. 

There were a handful of players who stood out above the rest. Nick Lardis, Marek Vanacker, and Taige Harding, amongst others, all had standout performances. If some of these guys can carry that momentum into their camps, they could play prominent roles on whatever teams they play for.

AJ Spellacy, who has been an incredibly standout player all camp long, has been a bull during games. For precautionary reasons, however, he was held out of the third period in this loss to the Wild. We will see how this impacts his next camp, if at all. 

All in all, this is a great experience for everyone involved. All of these prospects had their chance to get ahead in rookie camp, play competitive games, and be ready for the next stage of the season. 

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Flyers Trade Ivan Fedotov: Top Takeaways and Observations from Surprise Deal

(Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers are officially done with the Ivan Fedotov experiment, but Sunday's trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets comes with pros and cons.

For now, the Flyers are $3.275 million lighter on the salary cap, which, for all intents and purposes, was the main draw of the trade for Philadelphia.

Now, the Flyers won't have to concern themselves with balancing the salary cap when needing to call up injured players if necessary, which was prudent for Tyson Foerster and his situation earlier this summer, for example.

By extension, it's now a two-man net in Philadelphia.

The writing was on the wall for Fedotov once the Flyers brought in Dan Vladar from Calgary on July 1, thought it was unclear at the time if the hulking Russian was AHL-bound or a trade candidate because of his salary.

Clearly, based on Sunday's trade with the Blue Jackets, the Flyers weren't willing to risk losing Fedotov to waivers, and the Blue Jackets were willing to pay a minor cost to jump the line.

Flyers GM Danny Briere said previously that, over a full season, teams often need more than just their two goalies, and adding competition at the position was paramount in acting on that philosophy.

Report: Carter Hart Will Choose New NHL Team Soon, Flyers Reunion UnlikelyReport: Carter Hart Will Choose New NHL Team Soon, Flyers Reunion UnlikelyAccording to a report, former Flyers goalie Carter Hart is nearing a return to the NHL, but that return isn't expected to be in Philadelphia.

That competition now really only applies to incumbent starter Sam Ersson, who is going to have to fend off Vladar for starts all season long.

As for the AHL, the Flyers have only two serious options in Aleksei Kolosov, whom Keith Jones warned the public not to write off, and Carson Bjarnason - two top-100 picks who are the Flyers' homegrown talents at the position.

It should be telling that Kolosov is already in Philadelphia and participating in informal skates with his teammates.

As long as Kolosov and Bjarnason remain healthy, the Flyers are all-in on developing their youth in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season, which starts with the goalies and extends out to other prospects like Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey.

That's a philosophical shift even from just a year ago, when the Flyers had Eetu Makiniemi (a free agent addition) and Cal Petersen under contract with Kolosov and Fedotov in the fold.

Speaking of Bjarnason and the Phantoms, I didn't think Bjarnason had a bad rookie camp, but he wasn't great, either.

Fedotov was part of the Flyers up until Sunday, so it was plausible that Bjarnason could have been sent to the ECHL Reading Royals to play consistently while Fedotov and Kolosov platooned for the Phantoms.

Flyers Prospects Shine in Rookie Camp Day 1, Challenged to 'Make an Impression'Flyers Prospects Shine in Rookie Camp Day 1, Challenged to 'Make an Impression'The Philadelphia Flyers prospects took the ice Thursday to kick off rookie camp, with the top dogs gaining a big head-start and leading the way.

Obviously, the Flyers didn't view that as something was necessary, and jettisoning Fedotov allows them to get Bjarnason in right away while benefitting the NHL roster at the same time.

I would still expect Kolosov to get the lion's share of starts in Allentown, but Bjarnason needs to and will play his portion of games, too.

All in all, the Fedotov deal was a rather clear slam dunk for the Flyers, who cleared a mammoth cap hit off their books and still got a positive asset in return.

Fedotov, of course, went through a lot to make his dream come true in the NHL with the Flyers, and I wish him all the best in Columbus going forward.

He's a talented player with a big personality that matches his size, and he's a nice guy by all accounts.

Now, he and the Flyers will move onto new chapters.

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Could Sabres Have Interest In Former Devils Forward?

The Buffalo Sabres open training camp later this week, with only a few changes to the roster that finished second-last in the Eastern Conference and a dozen points out of the final wildcard spot. The club will have a healthy Josh Norris centering one of the top two lines, and added depth forwards Josh Doan, Justin Danforth, defensemen Michael Kesselring, Conor Timmins, and goalie Alex Lyon,  but have unanswered questions about an injury to goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and no certain of who will replace the offense of departed winger JJ Peterka.

GM Kevyn Adams seems to be relying on the internal improvement of youngsters Zach Benson, Jack Quinn, and Jiri Kulich to pick up the slack for Peterka’s 68-point output, and as they have done the last few season, the club enters the season with a sizable chunk of unused salary cap room. This could once again be the Sabres operating under their own budget, or it could be that they are holding space in reserve to add players during the season before the March 6th trade deadline if they are in the playoff mix.   

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Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

One bit of news that might be a factor in Adams making a move sooner is last week’s determination from the NHL that the five Hockey Canada players (Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote) who were suspended indefinitely pending the results of their trial. The players are now eligible to sign an NHL contract on October 15 and play NHL games by December 1.

With the Sabres having six goaltenders on NHL contracts, it is unlikely that they would have interest in Hart or be a destination that the former Flyer would choose to go to, but Buffalo could have interest in either Dube and McLeod. The former Flames forward had consecutive 18-goal seasons in 2022 and 2023 before struggling prior to being suspended. McLeod (the older brother of the Sabres Ryan) played for Lindy Ruff his entire four-year stint in New Jersey and was enjoying his best offensive season (10 goals in 45 games) prior to be suspended by the league.

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Young Up-And-Comer-Kulich Has Golden Chance To Assert Himself As Rising Star For Sabres

Jiri Kulich (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres are facing a massive amount of pressure as they try to end the team's 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought. And every Sabres player will have to contribute something positive to the cause, or the lack of playoff games in Buffalo could continue. 

In that regard, this is the latest file for THN.com's Sabres site's series projecting the expectations for each Buffalo player in 2025-26. In this file, we're focusing on second-year NHL center Jiri Kulich. The 21-year-old showed promise in his first year as a Sabre last year, but more will be expected of Kulich as he begins the year on Buffalo's third line.

But we're here to ask you -- what do you think expectations for Kulich should look like in '25-26? You can let us know with a comment below. And while you're doing that, you can always feel free to register as a Sabres community member on THN.com and heighten your connection to Buffalo with news and views on the Sabres every day. Your voice counts, and we want to hear it.

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Takeaways From Maple Leafs' Win Over Canadiens At Prospect Showdown

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospects had a better result after losing their first game of the Prospect Showdown in Montreal to the Ottawa Senators.

Toronto opted for an 11-forward and seven defensemen lineup for Sunday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. Easton Cowan was among the players not in the lineup for game two as he prepares for Maple Leafs training camp beginning next week.

Ryan Kirwan and Luke Haymes each found the back of the net for Toronto. Both had a goal in their first game against the Senators on Saturday. Ryan Tverberg scored the Maple Leafs’ third goal, off a pass from Jacob Quillan. Tverberg added an empty-netter, giving Toronto the 4-1 win.

Vyacheslav Peksa stopped 36 of 37 shots, giving the prospects something to be happy about as they head home. 

Despite the split weekend, there were a bunch of players who stood out. Here are a few of my takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ second game of the Prospect Showdown:

Landon Sim brings the bang

The AHL-signed forward was quite engaged in Toronto’s first game against Ottawa, and upped the energy against Montreal. 

Sim fought twice during the pair of games this weekend and was a part of a couple of extended shifts in Montreal’s zone. I didn’t have many expectations for the forward coming into the tournament as a Marlies-signed player, but he caught my eye a lot.

He had a shift in the offensive zone midway through the second period, where he worked tirelessly for the puck. Sim threw his body around, too, which will obviously bode well for how his teammates see him ahead of his first pro season.

After 12 goals and 15 points in 17 games with the OHL’s London Knights during the playoffs in the spring, Sim appears to be an intriguing project for the Maple Leafs’ development staff entering the 2025-26 season.

Luke Haymes’ consistency

Haymes added more points to his total before heading back to Toronto for Maple Leafs training camp next week.

The 22-year-old tallied another two points (a goal, as mentioned) and an assist on Kirwan’s first-period goal. After he won the faceoff, Maple Leafs 2025 fifth-round pick Harry Nansi fed Kirwan the puck, and he wired a shot into the back of the net.

It feels as though Haymes’ play rose along with the competition. He did it in the AHL — scoring two goals and six points in his first nine games of pro — and he’s done it again at the prospect tournament.

Haymes finished with two goals and two assists, making him one of the top-producing Maple Leafs prospects, alongside Kirwan, at the Prospect Showdown this weekend.

Vyacheslav Peksa's great first game back

After struggling in his first season of North American hockey in 2023-24 with the Newfoundland Growlers, Peksa appeared to find his footing with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones this past season.

The 23-year-old Russian-born goaltender had 12 wins and a .904 save percentage through 32 games with Cincinnati. He also had a cup of coffee in the AHL with the Marlies, registering an .878 save percentage in two AHL games.

There was excitement when the goaltender first came to Canada, following a career season with Bars Kazan of the VHL (Russia’s version of the AHL). A strong showing against the Canadiens’ prospects on Sunday, which included several great stops, should set him up to be confident heading into Maple Leafs training camp before likely heading back to the ECHL for his third season.

The other takeaways

- Harry Nansi utilized his size and playmaking ability in what was his only game of the Prospect Showdown. He, of course, had an assist on Kirwan’s goal, but also found Tyler Hopkins later in the game for a scoring chance. He appears to be a more confident player since watching him at development camp earlier this summer.

- Miroslav Holinka had another strong showing in game two. The forward was on the top line with Quillan and Tverberg, and had plenty of opportunity to showcase his hands and puck protection. He began the play on Quillan’s goal, keeping the puck away from Adam Engstrom, before dishing it up to the point. Holinka is a fascinating project for Toronto, and could be someone who sees the NHL in the future.

- Quillan and Kirwan had strong games again. Quillan, of course, had a strong back half of the year with the Marlies, which likely gave him confidence coming into prospect camp. The confidence definitely went up a notch after these two games, just in time for him to try and impress Toronto’s coaching staff at training camp. Kirwan, similar to a few of the other prospects mentioned, could be an interesting prospect to keep an eye on.

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Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Exciting Young Center Kulich Has Good Chance To Be Special NHLer For Buffalo

Jiri Kulich (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

We’re about to kick off the NHL’s 2025-26 season, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re moving through our player-by-player series in which we analyze every Buffalo players’ expectations this coming season.

We began this series by looking at the Sabres’ goalies and defensemen, and their third line – including today’s focus: center Jiri Kulich – looks like a bit of a dog’s breakfast of up-and-coming talent (Kulich and left winger Jack Quinn) and gritty, low-scoring right winger Jordan Greenway. So the expectations on Kulich should be reasonable as to what he can accomplish. But here’s our best guess as to what is reasonable for Kulich in ‘25-26:

Player Name: Jiri Kulich

Position: Center

Age: 21

2024-25 Key Statistics: 62 games, 15 goals, 24 points, 14:48 average time on ice

2025-26 Salary:$886,666

2025-26 Expectations: Kulich is entering his sophomore NHL season, and while his first year wasn’t worthy of the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie-of-the-year, the 21-year-old Czechia native did get to the 15-goal mark – with all the goals coming at even-strength – in very limited minutes in only 62 games. That’s something to build on this coming season, but Kulich is going to be starting the year centering Buffalo’s third line.

We can see Kulich and Quinn having success on offense. Greenway – a tougher player who doesn’t contribute many goals or assists – is another story. So it’s going to be on Quinn and Kulich to generate offense for the Sabres and start to challenge upper-tier Sabres players for playing time on the line above them in Buffalo.

That said, Kulich has only dipped his toe in hockey’s top league. He’s nowhere close to his prime, but a season in which Kulich produced, say, 20-25 goals and 30-40-point next season would be considered an enormous success. 

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Young Winger Quinn Must Make Most Of His OpportunitiesSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Young Winger Quinn Must Make Most Of His OpportunitiesThe NHL’s 2025-26 season has just about arrived, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re continuing our player-by-player series in which we break down the expectations for each Buffalo player in the coming season.

So long as he’s able to get near those areas, Kulich’s status as a Sabre isn’t going to be challenged no matter how Buffalo does in the standings. He’s young, he’s not making very much money (less than $867,000 per year), and he’s under team financial control for this year, next year and his RFA years after that. 

Thus, Kulich will likely survive any change in Sabres coaching or administration. He needs to put forth at least as many points as he did last year, but he also needs to make Buffalo’s third line a legitimate danger. That’s what the Sabres are going to need to be a playoff team.

Unfortunately, making the third line an above-average group has been a tall task for many Sabres players before him, but Kulich can’t be properly judged until there’s a decent sample size to judge him by. And that means he deserves the benefit of the doubt entering his sophomore season. But make no mistake – there’s pressure there for Kulich to take a step forward in ‘25-26. If he reacts positively to it, the pressure on Buffalo’s top two lines will diminish, and it will take some of the heat off their defense as well.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Staying Healthy A Key Concern For Rugged Winger GreenwaySabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Staying Healthy A Key Concern For Rugged Winger GreenwayThe Buffalo Sabres need all hands on deck if they're to end their `14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought. And that means everyone on the roster is going to have to pull their weight. What will expectations for every Sabres player look like? That's the focus of THN.com's Sabres site series.

Kulich could be a big-time member of a Sabres renaissance. By the end of last season, he was centering a line with Buffalo’s top scorer, star winger Tage Thompson. But Kulich’s two-way game is what’s most encouraging about his game, and if he’s effective at both ends of the ice, the Sabres are going to have a good shot at ending their playoff drought and giving Buffalonians a team to take pride in again. 

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Former Stars Coach DeBoer Backtracks, Defends Goalie Oettinger After Public Criticism

The Dallas Stars have been one of the NHL’s better teams in the past three regular seasons, finishing either first or second in the highly competitive Central Division. But ultimate playoff success has eluded the Stars in the past three years, as they’ve lost in the Stanley Cup playoffs’ Western Conference final for three years running.

Still, it was a notable shock the way veteran Dallas coach Peter DeBoer handled his public relations with the media, as he made particular criticism of Stars No. 1 goalie Jake Oettinger after he pulled Oettinger in the deciding game of the Western final in favor of backup Casey DeSmith. DeBoer’s criticism of Oettinger may have accelerated DeBoer’s eventual parting of ways with the Stars by a handful of weeks, because the bottom line is that DeBoer’s teams haven’t been able to get over the competitive hump. So, unless DeBoer got to the Stanley Cup, his job security in Dallas could’ve been and probably was going to be jeopardized.

DeBoer did damage control Sunday in an NHL.com interview in which he took accountability for the way he went after Oettinger. And he defended his relationship with Oettinger in his first public comments since the Stars fired him just one week after his Game 5 comments.

“I know the stories immediately came out that I’m hard on goalies,” DeBoer told Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com. “But the fact is, I only pulled (Oettinger) once in 57 games in the regular season. That’s a fact.

“The first 30 seconds of that (Game 5) timeout was me blasting our team and, if I could have, I would have blasted myself and our coaches too. I mean, you're mad and disappointed in that moment, at everything, at the team, at the start, at the goalie, at yourself, at everybody. Why are we in this spot? You know, we have this opportunity and we're in this spot. So, it's a scattergun of anger, of bitterness.

“And it was made out to be about Jake Oettinger. But that wasn't the case. I love Jake Oettinger, and Jake and I met after the season ended. He knows how much respect I have for him as a goalie and even more as a person and a family man. And you know, I've said repeatedly throughout our playoff run, we would have never even gotten that far without Jake.”

DeBoer’s words aside, it’s his reputation as a solid coach with a lot of regular-season success that is going to make him a frontrunner option for teams that fire their bench boss either during the 2025-26 season, or next summer. The coaching wheel spins faster than ever, and teams will look at DeBoer’s 1,261 games of NHL coaching experience – and the 662 wins and 814 games in which he got the game to overtime and beyond – and see a viable choice to hire him for what would be his sixth NHL team.

DeBoer does still have hockey responsibilities, as he’s an assistant coach for Team Canada’s team at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. Not having an NHL job leaves DeBoer more time to focus on those responsibilities, but it won’t be long before DeBoer is a candidate for an NHL job opening. And when he does get hired again, the only test he has left is to find a way to win a conference final and earn his first Cup.

Peter DeBoer (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

If he can’t do that, DeBoer is likely to bounce around between jobs again. But as the 2025-26 season looms large on the horizon, DeBoer has time to reset his focus and find a team that will give him a good shot at making it to the Cup final and winning it all once they get there. You never know when your next shot may be your last shot, but DeBoer is almost certain to get another shot sooner or later, and he’s got to make the most of the opportunity or face future job insecurity with his next gig.

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.

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Could 2026 Be the Year the Red Wings Bring a Superstar Home?

Few things weigh more on the minds of Detroit Red Wings fans when reflecting on the final years of former general manager Ken Holland’s tenure (along with director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright) than the decision to draft Filip Zadina sixth overall in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft. 

Immediately after Zadina was drafted, the Vancouver Canucks selected Quinn Hughes - a local product who starred at the University of Michigan just 40 minutes from downtown Detroit - with the very next pick. Hughes has since become the Canucks’ captain and a Norris Trophy–winning defenseman. 

Zadina never lived up to the hype. He appeared in 190 games for the Red Wings, totaling 28 goals and 40 assists. In July 2023, Zadina and Detroit mutually parted ways with the termination of the remainder of his contract, after which he signed with the San Jose Sharks. 

After scoring 13 goals in 72 games in his first and only season with the Sharks, Zadina departed the NHL and signed with HC Davos of the Swiss National League, effectively signaling an end to his NHL career. 

Meanwhile, at just 25 years old, Hughes has already become the Canucks’ franchise leader in assists by a defenseman, and his 405 career points are tied for the most by a blue liner in team history. 

Could there soon be a chance to correct that clear mistake from the 2018 Draft? 

According to recent comments from NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast, Hughes and the Canucks may be approaching a crossroads in their relationship.

"It is very clear the way that Quinn sets this out, and that is that he wants to see improvement on this hockey team," Friedman said. "He wants to win. And two years ago, I don't even think this would be a debate, as Vancouver was taking Edmonton to Game 7 of the second round." 

"But because of the year that they had last year, we're now in the uncertainty zone," Friedman continued. "This is an enormous season in Vancouver. And I think that Quinn, a lot of what he's going to do is going to be determined by how this year goes." 

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The podcast, which was hosted at US NHL Media Tour in Las Vegas, then featured an appearance from Hughes himself. 

When asked about what the future could hold for him in Vancouver, with whom he still has two seasons left on his current contract, his response was telling.

“I mean, I’ll answer that with my actions next summer," he said. 

The Red Wings boast numerous trading chips in terms of prospects and draft selections. General manager Steve Yzerman confirmed that while there was consideration of using the 13th overall pick in the 2025 Draft as trade bait to land a bigger fish, he decided against it. 

An acquisition of Hughes by Yzerman next offseason would go a long way toward elevating the Red Wings into the upper echelon of the highly competitive Atlantic Division.

While the opportunity to play alongside his brothers Jack and Luke with the New Jersey Devils will be a major factor in Quinn’s decision, the chance to play in Michigan, where his parents still live and where he attended college, could be an equally strong draw.

Ben Chiarot, who carries a $4.75 million cap hit and has often been paired with Moritz Seider, is entering the final year of his contract and is unlikely to receive an extension from the Red Wings. The same can be said about Justin Holl, who is also entering the final year of his deal. 

Erik Gustafsson, signed last offseason to a two-year deal, also isn’t expected to be brought back once his contract expires. The future of Jacob Bernard-Docker, signed in July to a one-year deal, remains up in the air beyond this season. 

Hughes has two years remaining on his contract ($7.85 million cap hit), which means that if the Red Wings were to acquire him, he would soon be in need of a new deal. 

Additionally, Simon Edvinsson is going to need a new deal as he'll be eligible for restricted free agency. Prospect Axel-Sandin Pellikka could also be ready by next offseason to make the jump into the NHL. 

Imagine a top defensive pairing of Seider and Hughes, along with a second pairing of Edvinsson and Sandin-Pellikka. That alone would be enough to make Red Wings fans salivate. 

Yzerman didn't make a major splash this offseason - but could next summer be the time? 

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Capitals Assistant Coach Mitch Love Placed On Team-Imposed Leave Amid Pending NHL Investigation

As reported by Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love has been placed on a team-imposed leave, amid pending results of an investigation by the NHL.

The reason for the league’s investigation has not been provided. Additionally, the Capitals’ organization will not comment on the matter until the NHL concludes its investigation, they announced on Sunday.

Love is coming off his second season as an NHL coach and has been an assistant for the Capitals for two years. With Love’s assistance, alongside head coach Spencer Carbery, the team made back-to-back runs to the post-season. Furthermore, the Caps clinched the Eastern Conference last season. 

Before his days in the NHL, Love was a head coach in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers and the Stockton Heat (before they became Wranglers). In 2022-23, he led the Wranglers to the Pacific Division final, and the year before that, he took the Heat to the Western Conference final, one round shy of the Calder Cup final.

Love has also experienced the World Junior Championship from behind the bench. In 2019-20 and 2020-21, Love was one of the assistant coaches for Team Canada, who finished with a gold and silver medal, respectively.

The 41-year-old has also spent several years in the WHL, as an assistant with the Everett Silvertips for seven seasons, before becoming the head coach of the Saskatoon Blades for three seasons following his Silvertips tenure.

Earlier in the off-season, Love was considered a top candidate for several head coaching jobs, including for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins.

Mitch Love (Candice Ward - Calgary Wranglers)

Love also played five seasons in the AHL for the Lowell Lock Monsters, Albany River Rats, Lake Erie Monsters, Houston Aeros and the Peoria Rivermen during the mid-to-late 2000s. He recorded 808 penalty minutes in 278 minor league appearances.

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.