It was an eventful handful of months for new Montreal Canadiens forward Joe Veleno.

At the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Detroit Red Wings traded Veleno to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith. He was then traded by the Blackhawks in June to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for Andre Burakovsky. Yet, just one week later, the Kraken bought out Veleno, making him an unrestricted free agent (UFA). From there, he signed a one-year deal with the Canadiens. 

Now, being on his fourth team in a calendar year, Veleno will be looking to put together a bounce-back season with the Canadiens in 2025-26. If he does, it could help his chances of landing another contract with the Habs after this one. 

Recent Canadiens News 

Canadiens’ Demidov Steals The Show Despite Loss

Canadiens: Suzuki On New Arrivals

Canadiens: Pair Of Rookies Ready To Fill The Void In Montreal

During the 2024-25 season with the Red Wings and then Blackhawks, Veleno recorded eight goals, nine assists, and 139 hits in 74 games. Overall, it was a bit of a down year for the 2018 first-round pick, but there is reason to believe that he can make more of an impact for the Habs this upcoming campaign.

Just back during the 2023-24 season with the Red Wings, Veleno set career highs with 12 goals, 16 assists, 28 points, and 108 hits in 80 games. If he can get his offense back up to these totals while being solid defensively, he could end up being a strong pickup for the Canadiens' bottom six. 

It will now be interesting to see what kind of season Veleno can put together for the Canadiens. There is very little risk in the Canadiens giving him this great opportunity. 

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2025 Off-Season Winners & Losers - Sept. 5 2025 - Vol. 79 Issue 2 - Ryan Kennedy

WHILE JULY 1 IS always a holiday north of the border, it has become a dual celebration over the past two decades or so thanks to NHL free agency, which happens to fall on Canada Day. It’s a whirlwind of activity if you happen to work in the industry, but when the dust settled on that first day of action, it became quite apparent that the ground really hadn’t shifted that much around the NHL landscape. There was definitely a feeling of “Did anything really happen today?”

Sure, there were signings, but a lot of them were re-signings, with teams choosing to extend the talent they already knew instead of venturing out into the unknown. There was a blockbuster trade in the lead-up to July 1, when the Toronto Maple Leafs sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade – but that was all done before free agency officially opened.

The obvious answer for this development is the salary cap. The NHL had announced in January that the cap was going up by $7.5 million – to $95.5 million – and would continue to go up in the coming years, giving teams more room to keep their own assets. And if you were a pending free agent, the pull of big dollars elsewhere was now mitigated by the fact you could get a fat cheque from the team you already played for, thus staying in a city you’re familiar with in a dressing room you’re already comfortable in.

This made the free-agency board a lot less star-powered than first thought. Obviously, Marner was off the market, while Brock Boeser followed when he re-signed in Vancouver. Nikolaj Ehlers was the biggest name to change addresses, going from Winnipeg to Carolina, but he didn’t have a lot of company behind him. Heck, the Stanley Cup champions didn’t even get raided. No one thought the Panthers could keep Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, yet Florida GM Bill Zito got it done. Success and sunshine will do that.

Even so, some teams did better than others. We’ve already mentioned Florida, but who were some of the other winners of the off-season? We picked four teams that understood their assignments and put themselves in positive positions. On the other hand, we also had to pick on four franchises that didn’t do enough (or did the wrong things) and could be in for painful campaigns. Here’s a look at our annual summer winners and losers.

NIKOLAJ EHLERS

CAROLINA

HURRICANES (+825 to Win Stanley Cup, +400 to Win East, +120 to Win Division)

THE HURRICANES WERE REPORTEDLY IN THE hunt for Mitch Marner, but they still ended up with the second-biggest name available, so, of course, they land in the win column. The Hurricanes were already one of the best teams in the East, and now they’ve added some more scoring punch in erstwhile Jets left winger Nikolaj Ehlers. While not every player can adjust to Carolina’s systems under coach Rod Brind’Amour, Ehlers has the advantage of coming from another systems team in Winnipeg, so he will have a leg up. Elsewhere, the Canes replaced defenseman Brent Burns (who signed in Colorado) with K’Andre Miller – acquired via trade with the Rangers. Miller is substantially younger than Burns, and while they’re not the same type of blueliner, Miller is a fine replacement at this point in his career.

While we’re focused on the short term here, it’s important to note how GM Eric Tulsky has set Carolina up for the future as well. Thanks to several recent contract extensions (including an eight-year pact with Jackson Blake), the entire Canes core is locked up through 2026-27, with no one making more than Sebastian Aho’s $9.7 million per year.

COLE CAUFIELD & NOAH DOBSON

MONTREAL

CANADIENS (+2200 to Win East, O/U 90.5 Regular Season Pts)

BY PARLAYING A SIZZLING SECOND HALF into a playoff spot, the Canadiens pushed their timeline forward, and GM Kent Hughes rewarded his charges by swinging a blockbuster deal at the draft, acquiring a top-pair defenseman from the Islanders in Noah Dobson. Though the price was two first-rounders, Montreal is in no need of youth. The Habs’ pipeline is already full and has borne significant fruit in the form of Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov, to name just a couple of the burgeoning stars. Speaking of Hutson, he’ll get a boost from the presence of Dobson, who can also move the puck with aplomb, providing cover for the youngster as he continues to acclimate in his second NHL season.

Hughes also strengthened his forward corps with the acquisition of Zack Bolduc from St. Louis, who took a big step as a two-way threat with the Blues last season. The price for the 22-year-old was Logan Mailloux – well worth it given the glut of defensemen already in Montreal.

While Montreal’s underlying numbers were poor last season, Nick Suzuki’s post-4 Nations Face-Off revenge tour and Sam Montembeault’s solid goaltending helped propel the team into the post-season. Now, they’ll look to build on that success – with an even better lineup.

MITCH MARNER

VEGAS

GOLDEN KNIGHTS (+800 to Win Stanley Cup, +375 to Win West)

BIG-GAME HUNTING IS WHAT THEY DO IN VEGAS, and GM Kelly McCrimmon bagged another buck with the sign-and-trade for Mitch Marner. Marner, a 100-point two-way threat who kills penalties, comes over from Toronto, where a lack of playoff success had fans at full boil. But in Vegas, Marner joins a cast that already has many champions on the roster. Sure, there will be pressure to live up to his new $12-million cap hit, but with Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Tomas Hertl also on the roster, Marner doesn’t have to be everything all at once for the Golden Knights.

The Knights bolstered the bottom six, too, with versatile center Colton Sissons, who came over with shot-blocking defenseman Jeremy Lauzon in a trade with Nashville that sent blueliner Nic Hague the other way.

The bad news for Vegas is that star 35-year-old D-man Alex Pietrangelo is pegged to miss the entire campaign due to injury, which is a significant blow to the back end. But with all the great two-way forwards Vegas employs – particularly with Marner now in the fold – there’s no reason to discount the Golden Knights as one of the NHL’s best teams and a Stanley Cup threat.

MAMMOTH ADDITION

Peterka brings another element to a Utah attack that looks less wooly and more bully.

UTAH

MAMMOTH (O/U 92.5 Regular Season Pts, Mammoth Make Playoffs -117)

HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR KEY INJURIES on the blueline last year (Sean Durzi and John Marino being the most prominent), perhaps Utah would have made the playoffs in its first year in Salt Lake City. Now officially known as the Mammoth, Utah’s team is in a better position to make that post-season charge. In acquiring right winger JJ Peterka from Buffalo, the Mammoth added a young weapon just entering his prime. Peterka had 68 points for the Sabres last year, a total that would have ranked him second on Utah behind only captain Clayton Keller. With Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley making big offensive leaps, the Mammoth’s attack is looking a lot more potent. The addition of Brandon Tanev up front will also help defensively. Simply put, the forward corps has a lot more definition now.

And bringing in Nate Schmidt and Vitek Vanecek from Florida adds two more Stanley Cup winners to the lineup while strengthening the back end and goalie depth.

MICHAEL KESSELRING

BUFFALO

SABRES (O/U 84.5 Regular Season Pts, Sabres Miss Playoffs -370)

WE TAKE NO PLEASURE IN THIS, BUT IT LOOKS like it will be another rough season for Sabres fans. Buffalo was one of the worst teams in the East last year and did not improve over the summer. Trading right winger JJ Peterka to Utah leaves a hole in the top six that young Josh Doan (who came over in the deal from the Mammoth) cannot be expected to fill right away. Big defenseman Michael Kesselring, the other part of the Peterka deal, will help the blueline, but will that be enough to help a franchise that finished bottom three in goals against last season? The Sabres signed Alex Lyon as their second goaltender to complement Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, but, again, is that enough to move the dial?

The problem for the Sabres is that they can’t just be as good or even a little better than they were last season. They need to be a lot better in order to snag a playoff spot for the first time in more than a decade. And with Detroit and Montreal improving, Buffalo’s chances in the Atlantic are daunting. Jeff Skinner’s buyout number would make him the sixth-highest-paid forward on the team right now, and that number goes up next season.

STILL WORK TO DO

Bedard’s Hawks are an underpowered bunch among the Central Division’s elite squads.

CHICAGO

BLACKHAWKS (Worst Record +200)

IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE CONNOR Bedard era in Chicago, GM Kyle Davidson had busy off-seasons, bringing in veterans to help his phenom get used to the NHL. It didn’t particularly work either time, though Nick Foligno is the captain and a great voice to have in the room. This summer, Davidson was quiet – and despite the change in strategy, it still feels like a loss. Chicago is nowhere near as strong as most of its Central Division rivals, and the only hope for a shock is internal growth from the likes of Bedard, Frank Nazar, Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel.

Chicago traded Seth Jones to Florida at the deadline, so the Hawks enter the season weaker on the blueline than last year – a stunning and scary proposition. And while Jonathan Toews’ return is one of the best stories in years, it has to hurt a little that he chose his hometown Winnipeg Jets (which totally makes sense, given that connection and the fact the Jets are Stanley Cup contenders) over the only NHL team he had ever suited up for. Imagine what kind of role model he would have been for Bedard.

STEVEN STAMKOS

NASHVILLE

PREDATORS (O/U 86.5 Regular Season Pts, Predators Make Playoffs +200)

THE PREDATORS ARE IN A SIMILAR situation as Chicago, lagging behind in the buzzsaw that is the Central Division. This time last year, we thought Nashville was a winner thanks to the splashy additions of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. Unfortunately, GM Barry Trotz had his gambit fail, as the Preds cratered in the standings and, shockingly, couldn’t score to save their lives. Nashville finished second last in the league in offense, besting only the Sharks. Stamkos and Marchessault both went from 40-plus goals with their previous teams to settling in the 20s with the Predators.

This off-season brought a lot less change, with the major headline being the trade that sent center Colton Sissons and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to Vegas in exchange for towering blueliner Nic Hague. Does the 2-for-1 swap make Nashville better? It’s hard to find an argument that it does, unless the conditional draft pick (a third-rounder that could become a second) in 2027 that Nashville also procured in the swap turns out to be a home run. But that doesn’t help this year’s edition of the Preds, does it?

IS KANE ABLE?

Kane could bring secondary scoring to the Canucks, but there are big red flags.

VANCOUVER

CANUCKS (O/U 90.5 Regular Season Pts, Canucks Make Playoffs +115)

ON THE SURFACE, THE CANUCKS TOOK CARE OF business during the free-agent season. They re-signed Conor Garland and Brock Boeser – which was a little surprising given the organization’s sometimes rocky relationship with the scoring winger – while also inking starting netminder Thatcher Demko to a contract extension that runs until the summer of 2029. But they also lost key penalty-killer Pius Suter on the open market, not to mention bang-and-crasher Dakota Joshua and goalie Arturs Silovs to trades. Silovs was expendable thanks to the presence of Demko and Kevin Lankinen, but the loss of those two forwards will hurt Vancouver’s overall effectiveness.

The biggest wild card is Evander Kane, the hometown kid acquired from Edmonton for a fourth-round pick. Kane has those desirable power-forward traits, but he found himself on the wrong side of the line too often in the Stanley Cup final. If things go right, Kane will give the Canucks a much-needed scoring threat besides Boeser. But if they go wrong, he could also prove to be a distraction in a city that has seen a lot of drama lately.

Even if we regard Vancouver’s summer moves as neutral, keep in mind this was not a playoff team last season. And with other teams in the West improving, the Canucks will have to hope Kane is a net positive over Suter and Joshua combined.

All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly. 

Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM. 

Apr 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators celebrate the win against the Dallas Stars during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

As the 2025-26 season approaches, we’re previewing each of the Nashville Predators’ Central Division opponents.

This series will feature each team in chronological order and not their predicted order of finish in the division.

Today’s preview focuses on the Dallas Stars.

2024-25 Season By The Numbers

RECORD

50-26-6 (.646)

OVERTIME

7-4

SHOOTOUT

2-2

OVERALL

5th

OFFENSE

3.35 GPG (3rd)

DEFENSE

2.71 GAA (6th)

POWER PLAY

22.0% (17th)

PENALTY KILL

82.0% (4th)

EXPECTED GF/60

2.68 (5th)

EXPECTED GA/60

2.67 (26th)

Season Analysis

Despite a third straight trip to the Western Conference Finals, the results ended up the same for the Dallas Stars: no trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

Things unraveled for Dallas in the WCF, losing to the Edmonton Oilers in five games despite looking like the best team on paper heading into the playoffs.

Acquiring Mikko Rantanen and Mikael Granlund before the trade deadline still didn’t bring a Stanley Cup to Big D, and the Stars replaced Peter DeBoer with Glen Gulutzan behind the bench for his second stint as Stars’ head man.

General manager Jim Nill obviously saw something in Gulutzan that wasn’t present 12 years earlier, when Nill fired him in one of his first moves as GM. With captain Jamie Benn coming back on a one-year contract, Rantanen beginning his first full season in Dallas, and Jake Oettinger the obvious No. 1 netminder despite a shaky Game 5 against the Oilers, hopes are still high in Dallas.

The Stars know how to get to the post-season; they’ve treaditionally had one of the top records in the NHL during the regular season and finished fifth overall in 2024-25 with a 50-26-6 record.

It’s finishing in the playoffs that’s been the team’s Achilles heel. They simply ran out of gas against Connor McDavid and the Oilers the past two seasons.

Offense

Rantanen is clearly the top dog for the Stars when it comes to scoring. He was on fire during the playoffs, notching 22 points (9-13-22) in 18 post-season contests.

But shuttling between the Avalanche, Hurricanes and Stars clearly had an effect on his scoring last season. His 88 regular-season points were 16 less than his output the year before.

Perhaps the eight-year deal he signed with the Stars will give him the peace of mind he didn’t have in 2024-25.

Dallas lost some of their scoring punch during the off-season with the departures of Granlund, Mason Marchment and Evgenii Dadonov.

This will put more pressure on former 109-point producer Jason Robertson, who had 80 points last season and is entering his contract year. Matt Duchene (82 points) will also be counted on to keep the scoring machine running. The biggest question offensively is can the Stars keep that machine from glitching deep into the post-season.

Defense

The Stars decided not to make any big splashes defensively. While Cody Ceci left in free agency, Nils Lundkvist hopes to be back following a late-season injury.

Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley and Esa Lindell are the clear top three on Dallas’s back end, but there are question marks beyond them.

Ilya Lyubushkin, Alexander Petrovic and Lian Bichsel are younger, but need to provide some relief to the top three.

Goaltending

One position that will not be a heated competition in training camp is in net. Oettinger will be the clear No. 1 for the foreseeable future. ‘Otter’ went 36-18-4 in 2024-25 with a 2.59 goals-against average and .909 save percentage.

However, his post-season was up and down (9-8-0, 2.82 GAA and .905 SP.

Like the Stars’ offense, Oettinger needs to have some gas left in the tank for a deep playoff run. Casey DeSmith is a solid backup who is entering the second year of a three-year contract.

Special Teams

As power-play coach for the Oilers prior to his arrival in Dallas, Gulutzan had one of the NHL’s best teams with the man advantage. Neil Graham, who coached the Stars’ AHL affiliate Texas Stars, was hired to head the power-play unit in Dallas, but Gulutzan will certainly have input in that department. Dallas finished 17th on the power play last season.

Alain Nasreddine is the only assistant holdover from the DeBoer regime, and with good reason. He ran a penalty-kill unit that ranked fourth in the NHL last season.

Last Season’s Series

The Predators didn’t have much to cheer about in 2024-25, but they ended the season on a positive note with a convincing 5-1 win over Dallas in the final game.

Otherwise, the season series with the Stars was split 2-2-0. Only one of the four games was close, a 4-3 Dallas victory on Oct. 10.

2025-26 Season Series

The two clubs will first meet at Bridgestone Arena Oct. 26, followed by another in Nashville on Nov. 8. The final game will take place in Dallas Feb. 28.

The Bottom Line

Dallas may have a new coaching staff, but much of the team’s core is still intact. Therefore, the pressure of lifting Lord Stanley’s Cup for the second time in team history will remain.

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Arniel, Winnipeg A Good Match - Dec. 28 2004 - Vol. 58 Issue 18 - Jon Waldman

While the lockout continues to keep team employees out of NHL arenas, several are taking the opportunity to explore other shinny venues. One such person is Buffalo Sabres assistant coach Scott Arniel.

Arniel has been taking time during the lockout to sit in the pressbox at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre and check out American League talent. While one might expect the Kingston, Ont., native to be around the Sabres’ AHL affiliate, he has instead positioned himself where he can check out more of the players he has yet to see.

“(In the Sabres’) situation - with Rochester being an hour away-1 don’t really need to be there because we have so many staff there right now,” said Arniel, selected 22nd overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1981 NHL entry draft. “We have guys there at almost every practice, we have guys down there for all the games.

“So I’ve been coming to the Moose games, 2% watching some of the teams I haven’t seen in a while, getting familiar with some of the players I’ve never seen—or maybe some of the ones I’ve seen in years past and I check on their growth.”

Exclusive: Jets Goalie Prospect Domenic DiVincentiis Eyes NHL Debut in 2025Winnipeg Jets prospect Domenic DiVincentiis talks season goals with AHL All-Star Game, Calder Cup and NHL Debut in new exclusive interview with The Hockey News. 

GLORY-FILLED JUNIOR CAREER

Arniel’s junior career was glorious, as he won two Memorial Cups with the Ontario League’s Cornwall Royals and was part of Team Canada’s World Junior Championship-winning team in 1982. He started his NHL career with the Jets in 1981-82, but was dealt to the Sabres four years later. After four seasons in Buffalo, where his two-way skills helped the Sabres become one of the league’s premier defensive teams, Arniel was traded back to Winnipeg before the 1990-91 season.

Arniel’s second go-around with the Jets was shorter than his first, as he lasted only one season before being shipped to the Boston Bruins in 1991. He split the next season between Boston and the AHL, then finished off his playing career with a seven-season stint in the International League. While in the IHL, he suited up for San Diego, Houston, Utah - and finally, the Manitoba Moose, who had relocated from Minnesota a few seasons before Arniel’s retirement in 1999.

One year after he hung up his skates for good, Arniel returned to the Moose as an assistant, coach for the 2000-campaign, staying for two seasons before joining the Sabres in 200203 in the same role.

Throughout his time with the Jets and Moose, Arniel liked to call the Winnipeg Arena his office.

When the building closed last ber, Arniel was among several Winnipeg alumni who came to say goodbye to the old barn. He enjoyed the opportunity to come back and see both the Arena and some old friends from his playing days.

“I think they did a good job of going out in style,” said Arniel of the closing celebrations. “For all the players that were there, it was a great thrill for us to be back for the last game, rehash some old stories and hear some stories you haven’t thought of in a few years.”

Jets Prospect Showcase: Key Players, Lineups, Viewing Info & Preview for Matchups vs. Senators, Canadiens This WeekendThe Winnipeg Jets face off against the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators in the 2025 Prospects Showcase on Saturday and Sunday.

NEW WINNIPEG RINK

While the Winnipeg Arena was dear to the hearts of Winnipeggers, the new MTS Centre has impressed many - Arniel included. The new multipurpose facility, which Arniel feels should have been built years ago, has consistently attracted sellout crowds for the Moose since it opened.

Arniel sees the new complex as a big attraction for Winnipeg.

“I love it,” he said. “I think it’s 15 years too late, but they’ve done a tremendous job here and I think that it has really put a buzz on around the city. I think everybody is excited about the rink…(the ownership) group went all-out and they made sure they did this first-class.

“It was sad to see (the Winnipeg Arena) go, but when you come into a building like this, you sort of forget it pretty quick.”

Moose Defenseman Dawson Barteaux Eyes Full-Time Role With Hometown Team in 2025Manitoba Moose Defenseman Dawson Barteaux aims for a full-time role in third season with his hometown team. 

EAST MEADOW, NY -- Former Montreal Canadiens forward and current New York Islanders forward Emil Heineman spoke with us for the first time at Anders Lee's Jam Kancer in the Kan event on Saturday. 

The 23-year-old is coming off his rookie NHL season, a tale of two halves after a car accident in Seattle put a damper on a productive start to his NHL career. 

Heineman had 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points in 37 games before just one assist over the final 25 games -- he added one goal in their five-game playoff series against the Washington Capitals. 

Emil Heineman Profile & ProjectionMathieu Darche’s first major move as GM of the New York Islanders was trading defenseman Noah Dobson, with the package centered around two first-round picks.

The Swede is really excited to be on Long Island. Here's our interview with one of the newest Islanders:

Q: What was your reaction when you found out you were traded?

Emil Heineman: "My agent called around five o’clock Swedish time, because there had been some rumors going around. He just wanted to give me a heads up. I was like, 'Alright.' I actually went to a soccer game back home, and during that time, I started checking out New York a little bit—where everything is. But then I had to remind myself, 'Hey, it hasn’t happened yet,' so I calmed down. When they finally called, I was like, 'Alright, here we go.' I saw it on Twitter too, so I kind of knew it was coming. But once it happened, I was really excited. It’s a new adventure for me and my girlfriend, so we’re both looking forward to it."

Q: Mathieu Darche said you had to be included in the deal. What does it mean to know he wanted you?

Heineman: "Obviously, it means a lot to me to have that kind of confidence shown in me. It makes me even more excited to be here. Like I said, I’m really looking forward to it."

Q: Looking back, how do you reflect on last season?

Heineman: "Last year, honestly, I didn’t think or even know if I would make the team. I just came into camp, gave it everything, and saw where it would take me. After a while, you start to feel more comfortable in the league. It was tough when I had that break in the middle, but overall, I’m proud of what I brought last year. I really learned how to play in the NHL, and more importantly, how to stay in the league—how to show up every day and be consistent. For this year, I’m excited to take the next step. It’s a new team and a new system, but I want to bring my 200-foot game, help the team in any way I can, and be as useful as possible.

Q: Did you know anyone on the team before coming to New York, and how has the transition been so far?

Heineman: "All the guys have been unreal. It’s been so easy to get into the group. I’ve only been here about a week, but the transition has been smooth. The only guy I’d played with before was Simon—we played World Juniors together. Having him here made things easier, just to ask for help with little things like the apartment. Other than that, Adam Boqvist is from a place really close to me, so I’ve had that connection too."

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We’re now four days into rookie camp, and much has been written already about Florian Xhekaj putting on 15 pounds of muscle during the offseason. On Saturday night, for the first time, we were able to see if he could carry that bigger frame in games, and the answer is a resounding yes.

Some players struggle to cope when they get heavier, but not Xhekaj. He has the strength to carry that weight, he didn’t lose any speed, and he’s an even more imposing presence. At one stage in the Montreal Canadiens’ first game of the Prospect Showdown, one of the Winnipeg Jets’ players was skating towards him, clearly looking to land a hit, but he ended up turning away, almost as if he realized who he was about to hit, and I expect it’s not the last time we’re going to see it this season.

Canadiens’ Demidov Steals The Show Despite Loss
Canadiens: Suzuki On New Arrivals
Canadiens: Pair Of Rookies Ready To Fill The Void In Montreal

Even if it was only a rookie tournament game, it was a big test for Xhekaj to find himself on that top line with the two players who are arguably the most NHL-ready on the team. Pascal Vincent explained his decision to put him there in these terms:

We played him at center all year last year, and he had a lot of success. He scored 24 goals without ever really getting power-play time, and we want to expand his use and put him in different situations. With Kapanen and Demidov, we wanted a physical presence. We also wanted someone who could address the issue if someone looked at Demidov sideways. He didn’t need to do any of that, but he’s aware of that. We don’t need to talk about it, but to be able to play with those two and contribute offensively and defensively, rather than just being a physical force, taking faceoffs as he’s a righty. Kapanen’s a lefty; it was great to see those three together. If we had more time, we could develop something exciting, but we only have two games.

- Vincent on putting Xhekaj on the first line

If Xhekaj doesn’t make the Canadiens, there’s no doubt that he’ll be getting a more significant role with the Laval Rocket. That’s what last night was about: checking what he could do when put in a more offensive setting, and he showed that he has plenty of potential. He didn’t look like he was just Demidov’s bodyguard; he didn’t look out of place either. He looked like a hockey player who could compete alongside someone as talented as Demidov, and that’s huge for this organization.

It will be essential to ensure that he manages his expectations, though, after coming off such a great first professional season, he must not fall into the same trap that Owen Beck did, and set his sights too high, putting too much pressure on himself. The truth of the matter is that, in all likelihood, when he makes the NHL (it’s not accidental that I didn’t use the word if here), he won’t be playing on the top six, but he will be ideally suited to an energy line that’s also able to contribute to all aspects of the game.

The days in which a player could make a career out of being a goon are long gone, but that’s not a problem for Xhekaj because he’s so much more than a threatening physical presence. In a way, it’s funny to see the Canadiens have such a player in their ranks after being hurt so much by Tom Wilson in their series against the Washington Capitals last spring. Could Xhekaj end up being the Canadiens’ own Wilson? At this stage, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities, but there’s still plenty of work to be done if he wants to get there.

Pascal Vincent is very aware of the diamond in the rough he has in his hands, though, and you can see just how enthusiastic he is about working with the youngster. At this stage, it would be a big surprise to see Xhekaj crack the lineup in Montreal, but it doesn’t matter; he still has things to work on, and nobody’s ever been too prepared for the NHL.

---

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Top 50 - Detroit Red Wings - Sept. 25 2017 - Collector's Edition Issue - Ken Campbell

CONSIDER THIS. Only four players in NHL history have played more than 1,500 games, while doing so all for the same franchise. And three of them – Alex Delvecchio, Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom – did it with the Detroit Red Wings. (Shane Doan is the other.) The Wings have had some of the game’s greatest individual talents and they stuck around for a very long time. Detroit has won the majority of its 11 Stanley Cups in three clusters, two in the 1930s, the dynasty of the 1950s and the one that came along more than 40 years later. It should come as no surprise the players on those teams dominate the list of top players.

Red Wings’ Alleged Interest in Former Norris Trophy Winner Refuses to Go AwayWhile the Detroit Red Wings were among the more active teams in free agency this summer, none of their acquisitions can realistically be considered a major addition. 

1 GORDIE HOWE

POS | RW YEARS | 1946-71 GP | 1,687 G | 786 A | 1,023 P | 1,809

WHEN YOU’RE THIS great, they call you Mister. And Howe, who was just as well known as ‘Mr. Hockey,’ earned every bit of the enormous respect he received, both from the fans whom he treated like royalty and opponents whom he treated like an annoyance.

No player in the history of the game better combined the artistry and brute physicality of hockey better than Howe. The rare feat of a goal, assist and a fight in the same game is named after him. But so are numerous schools and a $48-million bridge that will link Canada to the United States at the Windsor-Detroit border. You don’t garner that kind of respect unless you’re one of the most durable and consistently brilliant athletes in the annals of professional sports. Howe scored at least 20 goals for 22 straight years in the NHL. He scored more points in the NHL after he turned 30 than he did before. When he was 41, he scored three more goals than years he had spent on Earth. There has never been anyone better in Detroit, and there very likely never will.

2 NICKLAS LIDSTROM

POS | D YEARS | 1991-2012 GP | 1,564 G | 264 A | 878 P | 1,142

IF GORDIE HOWE is the epitome of enduring excellence for the Red Wings at forward, Lidstrom is his equal on the blueline. And like Howe, Lidstrom was more dominant in his 30s than he was in his 20s. It’s hard to believe he didn’t win his first Norris Trophy until he was 31 – after three straight runner-up finishes – but it’s easy to believe he was good enough to win six more after that.

There have been better defensemen in NHL history – not many, mind you – but there were none who played with the steadiness and poise Lidstrom did for as long as he did. The Red Wings won their Cups largely on the strength of their uber-talented forwards, but it was Lidstrom who started many of the plays by getting the puck out of danger and up to those forwards.

3 STEVE YZERMAN

POS | C YEARS | 1983-2006 GP | 1,514 G | 692 A | 1,063 P | 1,755

MARK MESSIER IS regarded as the greatest leader the game has ever seen, but not far behind him on that list is Yzerman. Like Howe and Lidstrom, Yzerman enjoyed a long career that was defined by a sustained level of superior play and the respect he garnered from teammates and opponents. It’s a testament to Yzerman that the No. 19 has evolved into one of the most revered numbers in the game.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Yzerman’s career was how he seamlessly made the transition from one of the league’s most brilliant offensive talents to one of the greatest two-way players. And as dominant as Howe was, it bears mentioning Yzerman finished only 54 points behind Howe in Detroit, despite playing 173 fewer games.

4 TERRY SAWCHUK

POS | G YEARS | 1950-55, 1957-64, 1968-69 RECORD | 351-243-132 GAA | 2.44 SP | n/a

Regarded by many as the greatest goalie ever, Sawchuk is also one of the game’s most prominent tragic figures. At the top of most Detroit goaltending categories, he backstopped the Wings to three Stanley Cups in the 1950s.

5 TED LINDSAY

POS | LW YEARS | 1944-57, 1964-65 GP | 862 G | 335 A | 393 P | 728

Again with the respect. The NHLPA changed the name of the trophy it gives to the player-voted MVP from that of a prime minister to Lindsay. ‘Terrible’ Ted Lindsay to opponents, he was anything but for the Red Wings.

6 RED KELLY

POS | D YEARS | 1947-60 GP | 846 G | 162 A | 310 P | 472

Before becoming one of the greatest two-way centers in history in Toronto, Kelly was an alltime great on the blueline in Detroit. A huge factor in their four-Cup ’50s dynasty, Kelly inspired and won the first-ever Norris Trophy in 1954.

7 SERGEI FEDOROV

POS | C YEARS | 1990-2003 GP | 908 G | 400 A | 554 P | 954

He was as outstanding offensively as he was in his own end. Won three Cups, a Hart, a Pearson and two Selkes.

8 ALEX DELVECCHIO

POS | C YEARS | 1951-74 GP | 1,549 G | 456 A | 825 P | 1,281

Known for durability and gentlemanly play, he never seemed to mind being stuck in Howe’s shadow.

9 SID ABEL

POS | C YEARS | 1938-52 GP | 570 G | 184 A | 279 P | 463

‘The Production Line’ pivot won the Hart in 1948-49. ‘Old Bootnose’ is one of seven Wings with retired numbers.

10 PAVEL DATSYUK

POS | C YEARS | 2001-16 GP | 953 G | 314 A | 604 P | 918

‘The Magic Man’ was a highlight reel whose attention to detail and defense kept him from putting up huge stats.

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11 MARCEL PRONOVOST

POS | D YEARS | 1950-65 GP | 983 G | 80 A | 217 P | 297

A blueline stalwart on the Wings’ 1950s dynasty, he was compared to Eddie Shore. Played in Cup final eight times.

12 EBBIE GOODFELLOW

POS | C YEARS | 1929-43 GP | 557 G | 134 A | 190 P | 324

Equally adept at forward and defense, he led Detroit to three Cups and was the first Wing to win the Hart Trophy.

13 HENRIK ZETTERBERG

POS | LW YEARS | 2002-PRESENT GP | 1,000 G | 326 A | 578 P | 904

The last active link to their most recent dynasty. Yet another player who always excelled at both ends of the ice.

14 NORM ULLMAN

POS | C YEARS | 1955-68 GP | 875 G | 324 A | 434 P | 758

An adept stickhandler and forechecker. Led the Wings in goals three times in the 1960s, with Howe in the lineup.

15 JACK STEWART

POS | D YEARS | 1938-50 GP | 502 G | 30 A | 79 P | 109

Earned nickname ‘Black Jack’ for his penchant for hitting hard and clean. Two Cups, three-time first-team all-star.

16 SYD HOWE

POS | LW YEARS | 1935-46 GP | 513 G | 188 A | 247 P | 435

No relation to Gordie, but he also made his mark as an offensive player and won three Stanley Cups in Detroit.

17 BRENDAN SHANAHAN

POS | LW YEARS | 1996-2006 GP | 716 G | 309 A | 324 P | 633

Nine years in Detroit, scored 30-plus goals seven times and recorded 100 or more PIMs eight times.

18 BILL QUACKENBUSH

POS | D YEARS | 1942-49 GP | 313 G | 40 A | 89 P | 129

One of the cleanest players of all-time, he was the first defenseman in NHL history to win the Lady Byng Trophy.

19 HERBIE LEWIS

POS | LW YEARS | 1928-39 GP | 483 G | 148 A | 161 P | 309

One of the fastest skaters in the early era, he also played for Detroit under the Cougars and Falcons monikers.

20 LARRY AURIE

POS | RW YEARS | 1927-39 GP | 489 G | 147 A | 129 P | 276

A heart-and-soul player with talent, he was a huge factor in franchise’s first two Stanley Cup titles in 1936 and ’37.

21 CHRIS OSGOOD

POS | G YEARS | 1993-2001, 2005-11 RECORD | 317-149-75 GAA | 2.49 SP | .905

Sits second only to Sawchuk in games played, minutes, wins and shutouts. Was No. 1 man on two Cup winners.

22 KRIS DRAPER

POS | C YEARS | 1993-2011 GP | 1,137 G | 158 A | 203 P | 361

Unheralded contributor to the Wings’ most recent Cup dynasty, he won the Selke and centered ‘The Grind Line.’

23 SLAVA KOZLOV

POS | LW YEARS | 1991-2001 GP | 607 G | 202 A | 213 P | 415

A key but lesser-known member of ‘The Russian Five,’ he won two Cups with solid play and production.

24 GARY BERGMAN

POS | D YEARS | 1964-73, 1974-75 GP | 706 G | 60 A | 243 P | 303

Never won a Cup in Detroit but was a steady blueline presence on teams that struggled after the 1950s dynasty.

25 ROGER CROZIER

POS | G YEARS | 1963-70 RECORD | 131-121-41 GAA | 2.93 SP | .903

First goalie to win Conn Smythe Trophy and first player to do so on a losing team. He also won the Calder Trophy.

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26 TOMAS HOLMSTROM

LW, 1996-2012; 1,026-243-287-530

One of six with 4 Cups and 1,000 GP as Wing

27 MARTY PAVELICH

LW, 1947-57; 634-93-159-252

Rocket Richard’s shadow retired in his prime

28 HARRY LUMLEY

G, 1943-50; 163-105-56, 2.75

Debuted as Wing at 17, led NHL in wins twice

29 CHRIS CHELIOS

D, 1999-2009; 578-21-131-152

Became Wing at 37, first-team all-star at 40

30 REED LARSON

D, 1977-86; 708-188-382-570

Six 20-goal years, top 10 in shots six times

31 VLADIMIR KONSTANTINOV

D, 1991-97; 446-47-128-175

Fearless hitter was plus-185 in six seasons

32 JOHN OGRODNICK

LW, 1980-87, ’92-93; 558-265-281-546

First-team star had 176 goals in 4-year span

33 NIKLAS KRONWALL

D, 2003-present; 795-76-302-378

Big banger NHL-best plus-16 in ’08 Cup run

34 NORMIE SMITH

G, 1934-45; 76-71-31, 2.26

Retro 1936 playoff MVP had 92-save shutout

35 MICKEY REDMOND

RW, 1971-76; 317-177-133-310

Third ever with back-to-back 50-goal years

36 NICK LIBETT

LW, 1968-79; 861-217-250-467

Two-way ironman scored 20-plus six times

37 IGOR LARIONOV

C, 1995-2000, ’00-03; 539-89-308-397

Was oldest player to score in Cup final at 41

38 MARCEL DIONNE

C, 1971-75; 309-139-227-366

Detroit’s career leader in points per game

39 GERARD GALLANT

LW, 1985-93; 563-207-260-467

30-plus goals, 200-plus PIMs 4 years in row

40 BRUCE MACGREGOR

C, 1961-71; 673-151-184-335

Speedster fourth in NHL goals in 1966-67

41 JIMMY HOWARD

G, 2006-present; 199-124-54, 2.43, .915

Calder runner-up top 10 in wins, SP 4 times

42 WARREN GODFREY

D, 1955-62, ’63-68; 528-23-77-100

Steady blueliner wore 8 numbers in Detroit

43 JOHAN FRANZEN

LW, 2005-present; 602-187-183-370

GWG beast led NHL in playoff goals in ’08

44 BOB PROBERT

LW, 1985-94; 474-114-145-259

29 goals, sixth-highest PIMs ever in 1987-88

45 KIRK MALTBY

RW, 1996-2010; 908-107-115-222

‘Grind Line’ pillar 5th in playoff GP for Wings

46 STEVE CHIASSON

D, 1986-94; 461-67-200-267

QB’d power play and battled in the alleys

47 MIKE VERNON

G, 1994-97; 53-24-14, 2.40, .898

Won Smythe and 30 of 42 playoff games

48 PAUL COFFEY

D, 1993-96; 231-46-193-239

Norris winner 5th in Wings’ points per game

49 MUD BRUNETEAU

RW, 1935-46; 411-139-138-277

Three-time champ ended longest NHL game

50 DARREN MCCARTY

RW, 1993-2004, ’08-09; 659-120-155-275

One of 3 Wings with 4 rings and 1,000 PIMs

Red Wings Blue-Chip Prospect Enters Make or Break Season For ELCFormer Red Wings second round pick Dylan James enters crucial last season with University of North Dakota. 

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If the Bell Centre was pretty tame for the first game of the Prospect Showdown with a low attendance for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators game, it was absolutely electric for the evening game featuring the Montreal Canadiens and the Winnipeg Jets. Straight from the moment the starting lineup was announced, it felt like a regular-season night in the Mecca of hockey.

While the Canadiens had a talented roster on the ice, the players still came out ready for a physical game, throwing hits whenever they had the opportunity. Even Ivan Demidov joined in; he leaned into a hit he saw coming and stayed up after impact. The hit of the night, however, belonged to Owen Protz, who ran Kieron Walton over like a train would have.

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Much like in Brossard, Demidov’s talent was once again apparent; his stickhandling is second to none, and he was the source of the first goal of the game when he brought the puck to the net, and Florian Xhekaj reaped the reward of his hard work. Oliver Kapanen also had an assist on the play.

PROTZ 🚂#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/7dPYnlmXoc

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 13, 2025

Like any player of that caliber, though, Demidov must be careful not to try to do too much. On the Canadiens’ first power play, he tried to be too cute, attempting to fool two Jets and losing possession; that wasn’t a regular occurrence, however.

The first power play unit featuring the top line of Xhekaj, Kapanen, and Demidov, joined by Owen Beck and David Reinbacher, had fantastic puck movement, moving the Winnipeg penalty killers from side to side, and twice they nearly realized a perfect play. Still, it ended up being a tic-tac-stop with Domenic Divincentiis denying them. After 20 minutes, it was 1-0 Montreal, and shots were 14-7 for Pascal Vincent’s men.

The Jets’ goaltender was powerless when Montreal got back on the power play in the second frame, and Kapanen completed the tic-tac-toe started by Demidov and Reinbacher with a powerful one-timer. The Austrian played a solid game and didn’t pass on a single opportunity to join the attack.

While the Canadiens’ defensemen struggled to get out of their zone at times, it wasn’t when the Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom pairing was on the ice. The former fifth-overall pick had a great game offensively, although at times defensively, he did look a bit rusty, but that’s to be expected from someone who missed so many games last season.

After Vincent sent Mikus Vecvanags in goal in relief of Jacob Fowler, who had not given up a single goal, the Jets quickly struck twice through Danny Zhilkin on the power play and then Chase Yoder on a breakaway to tie up the score at 2-2 even though the Canadiens had a 22-12 edge in shots at the time.

The second frame ended in a 2-2 tie, and Tyler Thorpe tried to start something up with a rival after the whistle, but he only managed to buy himself a front row seat to the first two minutes of the third frame.

Winnipeg seemed to have more energy in the third frame and battled hard to take a 3-2 lead with less than four minutes left in the game, but Demidov was not about to let his team lose in that manner. In his next shift, he got a nice feed from Oliver Kapanen and took off on a breakaway. Even with the kind of night Divincentiis was having, he was powerless against the Russian’s silky hands, and the Bell Centre erupted in a deafening cheer when he tied it up at 3-3.

IVAN DEMIDOV EST BEL ET BIEN RÉVEILLÉ

CAN CONFIRM IVAN DEMIDOV IS AWAKE

WPG 3, MTL 3#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/dvVt44FIs6

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 14, 2025

The Jets weren’t done, though, and Zhilkin found a way to score his second of the game to steal the win despite the Canadiens dominating 41-25 in shots. In the end, the result matters very little at this stage, but what does matter is just how dominant Demidov was. After the game, Vincent raved about him:

The goal he scored, as well as his overall offensive contributions on the ice…I've seen it in practice for two days, but to see what he can do on the ice at such high speed is truly impressive. But I spoke about it earlier, it’s his passion, his desire to be the difference maker. […] Every time you send him on the ice, you have the feeling something’s going to happen, and it does. We had a lot of scoring chances tonight, and he’s part of that in the vast majority. What he can do on the ice isn’t luck; it’s a guy who has worked on his game. He’s still very young, and he’ll get even better, but you get an idea of the kind of difference maker you can have on each of his shifts. For a coach, it’s fun to have.

- Vincent on Demidov

The Bell Centre crowd also shone brightly tonight, on September 13, for a meaningless game in a prospect tournament, the building was absolutely rocking. In the last period, the wave went around the arena many times, and it got so loud that it actually reminded me of the atmosphere from last year’s playoffs race, which is quite something given the circumstances. Asked to comment on that, Vincent explained:

It's amazing, it’s hard to describe…I’m 53 years old, I’m an older man, and I feel the energy from those people, and I can only imagine, and I’ve been in the NHL for years, in the playoffs. I feel, and for some guys, unfortunately, it’s the only time they’re going to wear an NHL jersey, just to experience that is a story you’re going to tell your kids and grandkids. At the same time, for us, I feel like we can evaluate players on how they react when they are on the big stage. So there are a lot of components to it.

- Vincent on the Bell Centre atmosphere

The Canadiens’ prospects will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they’ll take on the Maple Leafs at 3:00 PM and if the game is as spectacular as tonight’s the fans will be going home happy.

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Flyers trade Fedotov to Blue Jackets for draft pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

With a crowded goalie picture, the Flyers traded Ivan Fedotov to the Blue Jackets on Sunday for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.

The Flyers have Samuel Ersson and Dan Vladar as their goaltending tandem, with 2021 third-rounder Aleksei Kolosov and 2023 second-rounder Carson Bjarnason projected to compete at AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.

Fedotov, who turns 29 years old in November, was in the final year of a two-year, $6.5 million contract, so the Flyers cleared around $3.25 million in cap space.

The 6-foot-7 Russian struggled last season in his first full NHL campaign. He battled some early bumps and also went about a month without playing when he was relegated to No. 3 on the depth chart.

He finished the season 6-13-4 with a 3.15 goals-against average and an .880 save percentage. Ersson, Fedotov and Kolosov combined for an .872 save percentage, the worst mark in the NHL, which prompted general manager Danny Briere to add Vladar this offseason on a two-year deal.

“He has a chance to become our No. 1, depending on how he plays, how our other guys play,” Briere said in July. “And one thing at the end of the year, when I met with our group of goalies, I told them, ‘You have to be ready at training camp.’ I said, ‘This wasn’t good enough last season, we’re probably going to go out and bring in some reinforcements, and you’re going to be in a battle, all of you guys.’ So it was really clear right from the get-go.”

Fedotov had to take a long and remarkable journey to the Flyers after being selected in the seventh round of the 2015 draft. He arrived suddenly in March 2024 and ended up playing parts of two seasons for the club.

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization. 

Ville Koivunen easily could have taken this spot, and it was even further evidenced by his toying with everyone else during the Penguins' first exhibition game at the 2025 Prospects Challenge. Rutger McGroarty could have slotted here, too, and that would have been a pretty safe choice considering his common place at the top of most Penguins' prospects lists.

Maybe this is too bold, maybe it isn't. But Harrison Brunicke has done nothing but impress so far in his short tenure as part of the Penguins' organization to the point that it seems like I'm running out of things to say. 

So, without further ado, here he is at the top of my list as the Penguins' No. 1 prospect.

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#1: D Harrison Brunicke

There are so many things to like about how Brunicke plays the game.

Selected in the second round (44th overall) by the Penguins in 2024, Brunicke, 19, was the final return piece of the blockbuster deal that sent Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes prior to the 2024 NHL trade deadline. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound blueliner - coming into the draft - was known for his ability to shut down the opposition, and his two-way upside was intriguing. 

Then, there was training camp in 2024. Barely anyone prior to training camp gave Brunicke a second thought after the draft, and he quickly began to get people's attention. Only 18 at the time - and a few months removed from the draft - Brunicke put on such an impressive training camp that the Penguins kept him through to the end, as he nearly made the team out of camp and earned at least a nine-game trial.

And one year later, drafting Brunicke in round two - which, the pick used on him was originally a conditional first - is looking like a steal. 

When looking at the raw numbers, nothing jumps out like crazy. Brunicke had five goals and 31 points in 40 games last season for the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL - he missed a huge chunk of the season due to a broken wrist - and he got the call to the AHL after his junior season and put up two points in 10 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). 

Bruno with an absolute SNIPEEE pic.twitter.com/IxuZ3gHR81

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) April 26, 2025

But a lot of it is about the process for Brunicke. Even if the points aren't piling up yet, his skating is top-notch, his ability to evade defenders is elite, he is great in his own zone and on the penalty kill, he defends well one-on-one, he excels in transition, he plays with some edge, and he dominates the offensive blue line like clockwork. Brunicke's a very cerebral player, too, as his reads are excellent in all three zones and he knows how to find the open man with a first pass.

What is most impressive about the blueliner from South Africa, though, is the way he skates with the puck. Brunicke explodes in transition and glides effortlessly as he takes the puck end-to-end, blowing by opponents and creating scoring chances off the rush. It's easy to see how his skating is miles above pretty much everyone around him, and it's the best quality of his game.

The Penguins' organization is wildly impressed by Brunicke, and when asked about his growth this past year, there has been no hesitation from anyone to speak glowingly about him. In fact, when I asked WBS head coach Kirk MacDonald about Brunicke's growth from the beginning of his AHL stint to the end of it - when he recorded a goal and two points in two playoff games and played in the top-four for WBS over some guys who had spent the entire season there - he started his response before I could even finish my question.

“Huge,” MacDonald said. “Honestly, it was. Credit to him, he figured it out quick. Came in initially, and - you know, he had junior habits where you can just skate by people and hold on to the puck for a long time - I thought he did a really good job with the last couple of regular season games and the playoff stint. He was moving pucks quick, jumping into the rush… that goal he scored in the playoffs was outstanding. The less he does in certain areas, the more he accomplishes just by making a really good first pass, activating and jumping in the rush."

Penguins' Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos also didn't hesitate to praise Brunicke's growth and ability to apply constructive feedback immediately. 

"I think he took the constructive criticism and was able to apply it right away,” Kostopoulos said. “If you watched his games in Wilkes-Barre, there was growth, but it took off. It was impressive how he grew into the games in the playoffs. He looked very confident for a young kid. 

“So, we’re really excited about his potential that he’s got to be a really good two-way defender with offensive upside.”

The NHL and NHLPA is still pushing for the CBA's new CHL-AHL rule this season, which would allow one 19-year-old CHL player per season to play in the AHL on loan. If the rule gets pushed through this year, there is no doubt that Brunicke would - more than likely - be the beneficiary, as he's clearly outgrown junior hockey and is ready for the AHL.

For One Penguins' Top Prospect, New AHL-CHL Rule Could Prove CrucialOn Tuesday, the NHL released its transition schedule for the new rules under the Collective Bargaining Agreement that is set to take full effect during the 2026-27 season. 

But if it doesn't take effect - and Brunicke manages to have an even more impressive training camp than he did last season - the Penguins will have some tough decisions to make. They already have Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Matt Dumba, and Connor Clifton on the right side, and it would certainly take a lot for Brunicke to assert himself into a starting NHL role. But, if he wouldn't crack the NHL roster, he would need to be sent back to Kamloops, where he'll have to remain until the end of his junior season - and which risks stunting his development and opening the door for him to lean on bad, high-risk habits. 

Brunicke has made it clear that his goal is to stay in the NHL this time around. The Penguins desperately need top-end talent on the blue line in their system, and Brunicke is the one with the most promise. If he develops to his potential, he could be a top-pairing defenseman, should be a top-four defenseman, and might see a floor as an effective bottom-pair blueliner. 

Regardless, Brunicke has certainly proven himself in his short time with the Penguins and fills a dire positional need for the team - and he only figures to get better. His upside, intrigue, and sharp growth over the last year is what earned him the No. 1 spot on our Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025 list. 

Now, let's see if he can earn a spot on the NHL roster come training camp.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Biggest Piece In Guentzel Trade Proving HimselfHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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The complete Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025 list:

- No. 1: D Harrison Brunicke
- No. 2: F Ville Koivunen
- No. 3: F Rutger McGroarty
- No. 4: F Ben Kindel
- No. 5: G Sergei Murashov
- No. 6: D Owen Pickering
- No. 7: F Tanner Howe
- No. 8: G Arturs Silovs
- No. 9: G Joel Blomqvist
- No. 10: F Tristan Broz
- No. 11: F Will Horcoff
- No. 12: F Mikhail Ilyin
- No. 13 F Filip Hallander
- No. 14: F Bill Zonnon
- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

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Bob Goodenow, the former leader of the NHL Players' Association, has died at 72 years old.

The NHLPA announced Goodenow's sudden passing Saturday evening. No cause of death was given.

Goodenow led NHL players during the 1994-95 and 2004-05 lockouts, when they opposed the implementation of a salary cap.

"The modern NHLPA, and the work it has done to improve the quality of life for thousands of players past and present, is a direct result of the foundation that Bob Goodenow built," the association said in a statement. "His impact on the game of hockey is lasting and profound."

The NHLPA is deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of former NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow.

Full statement: https://t.co/TNQFtPyDSEpic.twitter.com/zjyDpuUutG

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) September 13, 2025

Goodenow joined the NHLPA in 1990 as its deputy executive director. Before that, he captained Harvard's hockey team and later played professionally for the Flint Generals in the now-defunct IHL. He then graduated from the University of Detroit Law School and became a player agent.

He became the NHLPA's second-ever executive director in 1992 after Alan Eagleson, who held the role since 1967, resigned due to allegations of fraud. Goodenow held the position for 13 years.

Goodenow tirelessly worked to educate the players and build trust in the NHLPA's work, the association said.

"During his tenure, Bob was relentless in the fight for players’ rights," the NHLPA said. "He negotiated landmark gains in salary, free agency, pension and health benefits, and he led the players in taking control of their name, image and likeness rights in 1992.

"He also helped to establish pioneering programs, such as player salary disclosure, the second medical opinion program for players, the agent certification program, and he worked with the NHL to implement the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program for players and their families."

Goodenow also grew the staff of the NHLPA from three to more than 50 employees, built licensing and sponsorship programs, co-founded NHLPA Goals & Dreams where players donate complete sets of new hockey equipment and resources to grassroots programs and, with the NHL, launched the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 and brought NHL players to the Olympics for the first times in 1998 and 2002.

In October 1994, Goodenow led the players union in the beginning of a lockout as the NHL and team owners wanted a luxury tax on salaries that exceeded the average.

The lockout lasted until Jan. 11, 1995, for a total of 103 days. A rookie salary cap was introduced, but there was no luxury tax or overall salary cap. The 1994-95 regular season was shortened to 48 games as a result of the lockout.

When that collective bargaining agreement ended in 2004, the NHL wanted a salary cap, while the NHLPA offered a luxury tax, a five percent rollback in salaries and revenue sharing, among other proposals.

With no agreement in time, another lockout began in 2004 and ended up wiping out the full season, meaning the Stanley Cup wouldn't be awarded for the first year since 1919.

In July 2005, the 10-month lockout ended, with some key additions being the salary cap, NHL team revenue sharing, a 24 percent player salary rollback and a gradual decrease to the age a player needed to be to become a UFA from 31 to 27.

"Bob was a skilled attorney and tenacious advocate for the players he represented as an agent and as the head of the Players' Association," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Wendy, their three children, Joe, Katharine and Kerry, and his many friends and admirers throughout hockey.

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Fedorov Captures Magic - July 1, 1994 - Volume 47, Issue 38 - Michael Ulmer 

Wayne Gretzky found out when he stopped in at his Toronto restaurant. A reporter told Martin Brodeur the night before.Anticlimax was the theme of the NHL Awards June 17 in Toronto.

The process garnered as much attention as the winners. On June 16, the Quatre Saisons television network in Quebec announced a list of winners that corresponded exactly to the roster of awards unveiled the following night.

The league promised to investigate the leak.

“It’s disappointing,” said Bernadette Mansur, NHL vice-president, corporate communications. “It doesn’t diminish the achievements, but it does take a bit of the magic away.”

Much of the magic that remained be-longed to double winner Sergei Fedorov, who became the first non-North American to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

He also won the Frank Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward. Fedorov, who had 56 goals and 120 points in 82 games for the Detroit Red Wings finished on top of the Hart Trophy voting ahead of two goalies, Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres and John Vanbiesbrouck of the Florida Panthers.

Hasek did receive the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalie and shared the Jennings Trophy with teammate Grant Fuhr for the league’s best combined goals-against average.

Boston Bruins’ defenseman Ray Bourque won his fifth Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman after a two-year absence.

“I wanted to prove I was still here,” Bourque said, “still kicking and still playing at a high level.”

Los Angeles Kings’ superstar Gretzky, meanwhile, hit the quarter-century mark for major NHL awards with his Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top scorer and Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship.

They go along with his nine Art Ross Trophies, nine Harts, three Lady Byngs and two Conn Smythes.

The New Jersey Devils took home their first two major awards in franchise history when Brodeur was awarded the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie and Jacques Lemaire the Jack Adams Award as top coach.

In other awards, Boston Bruins’ right winger Cam Neely won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication and Adam Graves of the New York Rangers won the King Clancy Trophy for leadership on and off the ice.

Fedorov also won the Lester B. Pearson Award for league MVP as voted by members of the NHL Players’ Association. Devils’ defenseman Scott Stevens took the Alka-Seltzer Plus Award for his plus-58 ranking and Rangers’ defenseman Brian Leetch took the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

After a week of rookie camp, the Chicago Blackhawks prospects finally got to play in a game. The Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase features the Blackhawks in addition to the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild. 

This event is taking place in St. Paul, Minnesota. The participating roster traveled there on Saturday afternoon after having a practice in Chicago during the morning hours. 

After going down 1-0 and having a sluggish start to the game for Chicago, they started to get their legs under them.

The Blackhawks got on the board in the second period when Taige Harding scored, thanks to a great chance created for him by Sam Rinzel. The captain for the night, Rinzel, danced around the zone before making a brilliant pass to Harding, who didn't miss. 

Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) on XSam Rinzel sets up Taige Harding for a Blackhawks' goal.

Towards the end of the middle frame, the Blackhawks took a 2-1 lead on a goal scored by Ryan Mast. Before the game was over, the Blues did find a way to tie it and force overtime. 

Not long into the extra frame, Oliver Moore made a power move using his speed and slid the puck into the net for the game-winner. This was an impressive display of the skills, tenacity, and skating that he brings to the table. 

CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) on XOliver Moore burns the defender and buries the OT winner for the Blackhawks !

Whether it was the impressive plays that led to goals by Oliver Moore or Sam Rinzel, amongst others, or big-time scoring chances created by the impressive Nick Lardis, the Blackhawks have a lot of exciting pieces who are just getting going. 

Maybe the most impressive performance for the Blackhawks came in the net. Stan Berezhnoy made 31 saves on 33 shots in the win. A fair amount of them came on grade-A chances. The Rockford IceHogs could see him in the mix during the 2025-26 season. 

Chicago's prospects are going to be back at it again on Sunday when they take on the Minnesota Wild prospects at 3 PM central to close out the Tom Kurvers Prospect Challenge. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

No need to overreact with Bump, Grebenkin shows bite and more as Flyers lose originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Flyers’ prospects weren’t the comeback kids this time.

They fell to the Rangers, 5-2, Saturday night at PPL Center in the second of two rookie games.

The teams split the weekend series. Game 2 was chippy and sloppy.

“I felt like there were a ton of whistles tonight,” AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley head coach John Snowden said. “I didn’t think there was a whole lot of flow in general in the game.”

Ethan Samson and Alexis Gendron provided the Flyers’ goals. Gendron finished with two in the series.

The Flyers rallied to win Game 1 in overtime, 4-3. Nikita Grebenkin, who scored the winner for the Flyers, had two assists in Game 2.

• Alex Bump, arguably the most NHL-ready prospect in rookie camp, went scoreless over the weekend.

That may be seen as a disappoint to some fans who have heard so many good things about him. But it’s important to remember that a pair of rookie games won’t decide a prospect’s fate for main camp.

Two years ago, Tyson Foerster was the rookie camp headliner. He went scoreless in the two games against the Rangers. The Flyers, though, weren’t too worried about it. Foerster went on to make the big club’s roster and had a 20-goal rookie season.

Bump could be one of those complementary guys who gets better around NHL players. And it’s not like the 21-year-old winger looked bad offensively in the rookie series. He showed some of his strengths.

In the first period Saturday, he put a pass through two Rangers and right to Matthew Gard at the doorstep. But Gard was unable to get his stick on it as he streaked to the net.

Alex Bump had a really good pass here but looks like Matthew Gard just missed it. pic.twitter.com/24PFjQpieW

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 13, 2025

• Grebenkin impressed in both games.

Not only can he make plays with quick hands and good vision, but he also competes through contact. You can see why the 22-year-old winger played seven games for the Maple Leafs last season before coming to the Flyers in the Scott Laughton trade.

“He plays with a ton of bite,” Snowden, who runs rookie camp, said. “He’s a highly skilled player, but he is not easy to play against at all. He’s going to whack you when you come off the bench, he’s going to crosscheck you, he’s going to stick his nose in there. He wants to take contact and create his space.”

This chance all starts with Nikita Grebenkin creating contact and winning a puck battle.

John Snowden said Grebenkin is skilled, but he plays with bite.

Grebenkin had a goal and two assists over the two rookie games. pic.twitter.com/waHcC0BggP

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 14, 2025

• Coming off a 20-goal year for the Phantoms last season, Gendron knows he has good offensive tools. But he also knows he needs to continue to round out his overall game if he wants to climb to the Flyers.

“Last year, I thought my game grew up a little bit,” the 21-year-old winger said. “I had a chance to play on the PK yesterday and today, so that’s pretty big for me. I’m trying to be more of a complete player — PK, power play, 5-on-5.

“I’m just trying to prove that I can be an NHLer; not just an AHL guy.”

• Samson had another strong game. His second-period goal came on a missile from the circle.

“One of his greatest strengths is his shot,” Snowden said. … “He can score when he gets his opportunities.”

The 22-year-old defenseman could be a call-up option at some point this season. He has steadily improved in two seasons with Lehigh Valley.

“That’s everyone’s goal at the end of the day, to make that jump,” Samson said. “I’ve just got to keep playing my game and doing what they tell me do, and hopefully I can get to the next step.”

• Carson Bjarnason started in net and played a little over half the game, giving up three goals on 17 shots.

The 2023 second-rounder really wasn’t to blame for any of them.

He allowed a first-period power play goal to Scott Morrow, who played 14 games for the Hurricanes last season.

New York struck again in the opening minute of the middle stanza when the Flyers gave up a 3-on-1 rush. Later in the period, the Flyers surrendered a 5-on-3 power play goal.

Camp invite Joey Costanzo finished the game and stopped 12 of 13 shots.

The Rangers’ final goal was an empty-netter.

• Oliver Bonk ended up missing the second rookie game, as well. The 2023 first-round defenseman was out Friday because of maintenance.

“Just getting him ready for main camp,” Snowden said after Saturday’s loss.

One would think the Flyers didn’t feel there was any need to rush Bonk back, but we’ll see how his status trends over the course of early next week.

Denver Barkey had the night off after an excellent game Friday.

• The Flyers are scheduled to have two more days of rookie camp in Voorhees, New Jersey.

The Los Angeles Kings received unfortunate news when veteran forward Corey Perry, signed to a one-year contract after spending the past season and a half with the Edmonton Oilers, was injured during a training session.

He has since undergone surgery and is expected to miss several weeks. Even at 40, Perry has proven he can still contribute, scoring 19 goals and 11 assists in 81 regular-season games for the Oilers, then adding 10 more goals in the postseason before Edmonton once again fell to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.

It’s a cruel twist of irony for Perry, who has now been on the losing side in the Stanley Cup Final in five of the last six seasons with four different teams (Dallas in 2020, Montreal in 2021, Tampa Bay in 2022, and Edmonton in 2024 and 2025).

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

Detroit Red Wings fans are all too familiar with Perry from his many years with the Anaheim Ducks. He and the Ducks faced Detroit three times in the postseason (2007, 2009, 2013), with the Red Wings winning each of the last two series in seven games.

While Perry has never backed down from dropping the gloves, he likely never would have imagined himself getting handled in a bout against Pavel Datsyuk, a multi-year winner of the Lady Byng Trophy as the NHL's most gentlemanly player. 

The Red Wings hosted Perry and the Ducks in their 2010–11 season opener at Joe Louis Arena, a 4–0 Detroit victory. With the game already well in hand in the third period, Perry’s frustration boiled over as he confronted Pavel Datsyuk along the half-wall.

After landing a few punches, Perry found himself on the receiving end, as Datsyuk fired back and eventually wrestled him to the ice as the sellout crowd roared in approval. 

“I’m not a very big guy to talk about what happened,” Datsyuk explained years later. "What happened, happened. It’s part of hockey, part of the show.

“When you watch a fight from the side, you see how people grab each other and try to protect themselves. So, I was trying to defend myself.” 

Datsyuk, who had already scored a goal with adding an assist, picked up his first and only Gordie Howe Hat Trick of his NHL career with the fight.

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