When looking back through Pittsburgh Penguins’ history, there are so many moments that ended up changing the course of the franchise and of NHL history. 

Such was the case 26 years ago on Sept. 1, 1999.

Leading up to that fateful day, the Penguins were in a bad spot financially. They were more than $90 million in debt and had just filed for bankruptcy in November of 1998. It was looking more and more like the Penguins would need to be relocated outside of Pittsburgh.

Then, the man who had previously been a franchise icon on the ice stepped up to become the team’s hero off of it, too. 

Earlier in 1999, Mario Lemieux had already started a process to purchase the Penguins from then-owners Howard Baldwin and Morris Belzberg. At the time, the team owed Lemieux $32.5 million in deferred salary during what was his first retirement, which began in 1997 after a long battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

The plan? Lemieux took $20 million of that deferred salary to invest into an ownership stake in the team, as his ultimate goal was to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh under a new ownership group that included him in the mix. He took $5 million more out of that toward operating expenses, and he completely deferred the remaining $7.5 million altogether. 

The result? Lemieux got billionaire investor Ron Burkle in on the purchase as well, and he and Burkle bought the team from Baldwin and Belzberg for $107 million. The team’s debts were paid off by 2005, and Lemieux and Burkle officially saved the Penguins from relocation and kept the already-storied franchise in Pittsburgh.

Fenway, Lemieux Or Hoffmann, Penguins Are In Good ShapeOne of the most intriguing - and unexpected - NHL stories of the summer has been coming out of Pittsburgh.

Sept. 1, 1999 holds such a significant place in Pittsburgh’s history for a lot of reasons. For one, it was one of the closest times the team ever came to relocation - the issue re-emerged in 2007 when the team faced liquidation and, allegedly, got pretty close to moving to Kansas City - and Lemieux and company saved the team from the eventuality of that fate.

It also cemented the indelible tether between Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Of course, Lemieux since sold the Penguins to Fenway Sports Group (FSG) in December of 2021, and - despite rumored interest in re-purchasing the team from FSG - is now only a minority shareholder in the organization.

But his legacy is still all over it. 

Prior to owning the team, Lemieux - drafted first overall by the Penguins in 1984 - led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992 and was the face of the franchise, even beyond his first retirement. Health setbacks caused him to miss significant time, and he did make a brief NHL comeback that stretched from December 2000 to January 2006 - and he got to pass the torch and play alongside new franchise icon Sidney Crosby for a brief time before hanging up his skates for good.

Is This The Right Time For Lemieux To Buy Back Penguins?There is one name that will forever be synonymous with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He saved the franchise on multiple occasions. He’s one of the greatest players in NHL history. And he mentored and helped shape one of his fellow greatest players in NHL history in Sidney Crosby. 

Throughout his all-too-short playing career, Lemieux amassed 690 goals and 1,723 points in 915 NHL games. His on-ice performance would have been enough to cement his place as both the greatest Penguin of all time and one of the greatest - arguably, the greatest - NHL players of all time. 

But the fact that his love for Pittsburgh and the Penguins didn’t stop at his playing days speaks to how much inevitability is associated with Lemieux and the franchise. He singlehandedly took the mantle to save the team in 1999, and he did it with a little more help again in 2007. He won three more Stanley Cups as an owner in 2009, 2016, and 2017. He became a mentor, a friend, and - for a little while - a landlord to Crosby, who has followed in Lemieux’s footsteps by sticking it out with the Penguins through some tough times. 

In fact, Lemieux’s decision to purchase the Penguins in 1999 changed the entire culture of the franchise. It prioritized a winning culture and gave other all-time great players in Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang the example and the motivation to remain loyal to the team that drafted them. 

That culture was even special enough to set the stage for an eventual reunion between Jaromir Jagr - another Penguins’ and NHL all-time great - and the Penguins despite a tumultuous end to Jagr’s time in Pittsburgh as a player. 

With the 1999 purchase, Lemieux not only made the Pittsburgh Penguins his personal business. He also created a culture of family, and that is something that has gone hand-in-hand with the organization and its players, coaches, and staff ever since. 

No matter what happens in the Penguins’ future - and whether his name is listed as an owner in any capacity or not - Mario Lemieux left his mark on the Penguins’ franchise and will be forever remembered and revered for his hand in making Pittsburgh a hockey town for good.

And that doesn’t figure to change anytime soon.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins made some changes to their defense during the offseason, specifically on the left side. They let Matt Grzelcyk and P.O. Joseph go after their one-year contracts expired on July 1 and brought in Parker Wotherspoon on a two-year contract, Caleb Jones on a two-year contract, and Alexander Alexeyev on a one-year contract. 

Penguins general manager and president Kyle Dubas identified the left side of the defense as a primary concern heading into the offseason, and he began to address it, at least in part, with these signings. Wotherspoon will definitely play after having a solid season with the Boston Bruins last year, while Jones and Alexeyev will compete for spots on the left side with Ryan Graves, Ryan Shea, Owen Pickering, etc. Fans have to remember that there won't be a quick fix with the blue line, and it'll likely take multiple offseasons for Dubas to assemble the defensive group he wants. 

As for Alexeyev, he comes over from the Washington Capitals after spending the last several years with the organization. He was the 31st overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and spent time in both the AHL and NHL before the Capitals moved on from him after the season. 

He played in eight NHL regular-season games last season, compiling no goals or points, but did have some decent underlying numbers. He played a little over 123 minutes at 5v5, and when he was on the ice, the Capitals had 58% of the expected goals, 54.5% of the scoring chances, and 55.5% of the high-danger chances. Nobody knows if those numbers would hold over a full season, but they're at least intriguing. 

Alexeyev also played in all 10 of the Capitals' playoff games this past season since their blue line was a bit banged up, and he produced some mixed results. His expected goals percentage was 54% and his high-danger chance percentage was at 58%, while his scoring chance percentage was at 47.8%.

In 2023-24, he played in 39 games for the Caps, logging just over 509 minutes of 5v5 ice-time. His expected goal percentage was 49.7%, while his scoring chance percentage and high-danger percentage were at 51.2% and 51.5% respectively. The latter two numbers aren't bad, but certainly not as good as this year's numbers in his eight-game regular-season sample. 

He has played in 80 NHL games, scoring one goal and accumulating eight points, and has also appeared in 145 AHL games, tallying six goals and 52 points. He made his debut with the AHL's Hershey Bears during the 2019-20 season and compiled three goals and 21 points in 58 games. 

Alexeyev has size (6'4), which Dubas and Co. have been wanting to add to their lineup for this year. The Penguins got pushed around in front of their net quite a lot last season and want that to change for the 2025-26 season. Alexeyev can skate fairly well for someone who is 6'4 and 229 pounds, but could stand to be more physical along the boards. He also has offensive capabilities, but needs to utilize them more effectively. 

He hasn't been given a lot of runway to show what he can do at the NHL level, but that could change, especially if he can beat out the competition for a full-time spot. He's also heading into a contract year and will be a restricted free agent next year, so he'll want to show out as much as he can. 

On This Day In Penguins' History: Lemieux's Purchase Of Penguins ApprovedWhen looking back through Pittsburgh Penguins’ history, there are so many moments that ended up changing the course of the franchise and of NHL history. 

If he can't, it's no scratch off the Penguins' backs since they only signed him for one year, and he is set to make only $775,000 at the NHL level. He'd also provide solid depth at the AHL level if he doesn't make the NHL team, as Dubas and his staff aim to continue building the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the future. 

 However, with training camp coming towards the end of the month, Alexeyev's main focus will be making the squad and helping the Penguins improve. This is a Penguins team that wants to be a lot better in their own zone this year, having conceded too many scoring chances and goals last season. It was one of several reasons why they missed the playoffs for a third-straight year. 

(Data via Natural Stat Trick). 

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The Athletic ranked all 32 NHL prospect pipelines, placing the New Jersey Devils 12th overall.

The Devils trailed behind: 11. Detroit Red Wings 10. Nashville Predators 9. New York Islanders 8. Columbus Blue Jackets 7. Philadelphia Flyers 6. Seattle Kraken 5. Montreal Canadiens 4. Anaheim Ducks 3. Utah Mammoth 2. Chicago Blackhawks 1. San Jose Sharks. 

Despite that, the Devils boast a strong group of prospects, several of whom are expected to make an impact this season.

First up is Anton Silayev, the defenseman selected 10th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. He spent last season in the KHL with Torpedo, recording 12 points in 63 games.

Next is Arseniy Gritsyuk, one of the most anticipated players in training camp. After several years in the KHL, the 2019 fifth-round pick (129th overall) has come to North America and is ready to push for an NHL role. The forward is expected to be a valuable addition to the Devils.

Lenni Hämeenaho, a 20-year-old forward, is another name to watch. Drafted 58th overall in 2023, he has spent most of his career in Finland. While he will appear at training camp, the Devils are unlikely to rush him, preferring to give him more time to develop if needed.

On defense, Seamus Casey split last season between New Jersey and Utica. He logged 14 NHL games and 20 with the AHL’s Comets, and now looks to secure a more permanent spot with the team.

From Boston University come two additional prospects: Shane Lachance and Mikhail Yegorov.

Lachance, a forward, posted 30 points with the BU Terriers last season. Originally a sixth-round pick of Edmonton in 2021, he was acquired by New Jersey in a March 5, 2025, trade. He’ll aim to crack the roster alongside his college teammate.

Yegorov, a goaltender, made an immediate impact in the NCAA last season. While he’s unlikely to see NHL minutes this year, the tall netminder projects as an important part of the Devils’ future.

With a talented prospect pool in place, Devils fans should be optimistic about what lies ahead.

The St. Louis Blues had a successful 2024-25 season, as they got back into the playoffs for the first time since 2022. Dylan Holloway was a significant reason for the Blues' turnaround, as he broke out in a major way during his first season in St. Louis. 

Holloway proved that he is capable of being an impactful top-six forward in the NHL, as he posted new career highs with 26 goals, 37 assists, 63 points, 165 hits, and a plus-21 rating in 77 games. This was after he recorded nine goals and 18 points in 89 games during his two NHL season with the Edmonton Oilers. 

Clearly, the change of scenery benefited Holloway immensely. Yet, when noting that Holloway is still just 23 years old and only 166 games into his NHL career, he undoubtedly has the potential to continue to get better. In fact, with the way he scored this year, the possibility of him blossoming into a 40-goal scorer should not be ruled out. This will especially be the case if he gets the chance to play on a line with star playmaker Robert Thomas. 

If Holloway can hit a new level with his goal scoring next season while continuing to make an impact with his physicality, it would only make the Blues an even more challenging team for opponents to face off against. It will be interesting to see what kind of year Holloway has, but he should only get better as he continues to gain more experience. 

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We may never see another player quite like former Detroit Red Wings dynamic forward Pavel Datsyuk, a 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee who also recently bid goodbye to competitive hockey by hosting the “The Magic Game” in his hometown of Yekaterinburg.

The name of the event was a clear nod to the nickname affectionately given to him by Red Wings fans, the “Magic Man,” and it featured numerous past and present Russian NHL players. It concluded with a special lap by Datsyuk around the ice, waving goodbye during a roaring ovation from the crowd in attendance at UMMC Arena

FAREWELL MAGIC MAN 🙌
A final lap for Pavel Datsyuk. #TheMagicGame#LGRWpic.twitter.com/TFMdN2TERz

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) August 30, 2025

Last month, the Red Wings announced that Hall of Famer and former teammate Sergei Fedorov will be honored with his iconic No. 91 jersey being raised to the rafters at Little Caesars Arena before a January game in the upcoming 2025–26 season. 

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

Datsyuk was asked whether he thought that his No. 13 he wore for his entire career in Detroit could be next on the list to be permanently retired, and in his typical fashion, he responded with humor. 

"I think there aren’t many players in North America who want to take number 13 anyway," he said. "After all, they don’t even count the 13th floor in buildings there." 

Datsyuk’s career was defined by his dazzling stickhandling, which often left opponents looking completely outmatched.

During his time with the Red Wings, he won the Stanley Cup twice and helped lead the team to within one game of a second consecutive championship in 2009.

He also captured the Selke Trophy multiple times as the NHL’s best defensive forward and was a Hart Trophy finalist as the league’s Most Valuable Player during the 2008–09 season.

Despite his long list of accomplishments, Datsyuk admitted shortly after the announcement of Fedorov’s impending jersey retirement that he didn't think much about his own potential jersey retirement, and that he wouldn’t be bothered if another player eventually wore No. 13 for the Red Wings. 

“I’ve never really thought about it. Sometimes people ask me… Sometimes the thought crosses my mind, but nothing concrete," he said in early August. "If I went to every game and looked up at the rafters, that would be different. But what if someone takes number 13 now and plays really well? Then they’ll remember me even more often. So I’d be happy if someone played well wearing 13 in Detroit.”

It wouldn't be a surprise if Datsyuk makes an appearance at Little Caesars Arena on Jan. 12 for Fedorov’s jersey retirement ceremony, which will likely feature several of his former teammates who now work within the organization, including Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, Kris Draper, and Kirk Maltby. 

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Five years ago today, the Vancouver Canucks started goaltender Thatcher Demko in his first career playoff game — an elimination game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Demko came in for an injured Jacob Markström who had started every game in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs up until that point. By this point in time, Vancouver was down 3–1 in the series, with Demko’s playoff debut being a high-stakes elimination game. Reasonably so, many were apprehensive about starting Demko, a relatively new goalie, with the series on the line. Though, as fans soon learned, there was very little to worry about. 

Before Markström’s injury, the Golden Knights had asserted their dominance over a Canucks team that hadn’t made the postseason since 2015. They kicked the series off with a commanding 5–0 win. While Vancouver took Game 2 in a solid 5–2 effort, Vegas quickly came away with the series lead by winning 3–0 in Game 3, and 5–3 in Game 4. Golden Knights goaltender at the time, Robin Lehner, showed his stuff by registering two shutouts in the first four games of the series. However, as great as Lehner was, part of this was also due to Vancouver’s lack of quality chances. 

With their playoff hopes on the line, Vancouver’s roster shakeup in Game 5 came in the form of Demko’s start. Prior to this, Demko had only played in a total of 37 NHL games. During the 2019–20 season, he put up a 3.06 GAA and .905 SV%, as well as a record of 13–10–2 in 25 starts. In 2017–18, Demko played in five playoff games with the Utica Comets of the AHL, posting a 2.69 GAA and .972 SV%. Tension was high among the fanbase, as they weren’t exactly sure what to expect from the goaltender in his playoff debut. 

Vegas was a high shot-volume team during the 2020 Playoffs — a trend they continued during Game 5 of the Pacific Division Finals — but that didn’t stop Demko from wowing fans across the entire league. The Golden Knights piled 10 shots on Demko in the first period, 18 in the second, and 15 in the third to finish the game with 43 shots on goal. Stunningly, Demko stopped all but one. 

The lone goal to go past Demko was a wrist shot from Shea Theodore that gave Vegas a 1–0 lead with five minutes left in the second period. Though, not looking to waste such a stellar performance from Demko, the Canucks tied it up less than a minute later off a deflection from Brock Boeser. A tally from Elias Pettersson at the beginning of the third period gave Vancouver the 2–1 lead — one that would hold once the buzzer sounded at the end of the game. 

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Four years after this performance, Demko was nominated for his first Vezina Trophy and finished in second place with a 2.45 GAA and .918 SV% in the 2023–24 season. While injuries have negatively impacted his playing time within the past year, Demko entered the 2025 off-season healthy, signing a three-year contract extension that will kick in after the 2025–26 season. With at least four more years of Demko as a member of the Canucks, time will tell whether Vancouver can make the postseason in a similar fashion to 2020 — this time with Demko as their starter. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

While the 2024-25 season was a tough year for the New York Rangers, Brett Berard was a nice bright spot from it. The 22-year-old forward played in his first 35 NHL games with the Rangers in 2024-25, where he posted six goals and 10 points. He also performed well while down in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, recording nine goals and 23 points in 30 games.

Overall, Berard took a nice step in the right direction in his development this past season. More importantly, he showed clear promise when given the chance to play for the Rangers. Now, as we head into the 2025-26, he is undoubtedly a clear breakout candidate for the Blueshirts. 

Berard has the upside to become a very solid forward in the NHL, and it would be significant for the Rangers if he taps into his potential more in 2025-26. It is not a secret that the Rangers' top nine could use a boost, and Berard taking that next step would certainly help things on that front. 

It is going to be interesting to see what kind of season Berard has from here, but it is hard not to feel excited about his future with the Rangers. 

Rangers Superstar Nearing 2 Big Milestones Since his arrival in the NHL during the 2015-16 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Artemi Panarin has been a star. This remains the case today with him being 33 years old, as he recorded 37 goals and 89 points in 80 games this past season with the New York Rangers. This was after he set career highs with 49 goals and 120 points with the Blueshirts in 82 games in 2023-24.

Don LaGreca, who will become the New Jersey Devils-MSG Networks play-by-play when NHL play begins, has had a long history doing Rangers telecasts. 

Blueshirt fans have enjoyed his play-by-play work on radio and television. They'd love him to stay in New York but his new gig is a dream-come-true for this pro's pro.

Kind enough to answer questions delivered by my sidekick Solon Mihas, we offer you the first of several reminiscing questions about LaGreca's Blueshirt days and nights. For openers we asked Don what he considered the "broadcasting high" during his Rangers'  (Take it away, Don.)

"It would definitely have to be Game One of the Rangers-Kings 2014 Stanley Cup Final. Doc Emrick was supposed to do the game on NBC but his father-in-law had passed away so he couldn't do it. Kenny Albert replaced Doc and I got to replace Kenny on radio. 

"I had done a ton of playoff games before, but had never done a Cup Final. And what made it extra special was that the Rangers hadn't been in the Final up to that point for 20 years; which, for me, made it surreal.

"What still had to be determined was who the Rangers would play; because the Blackhawks and Kings were still in their Conference Final. I was rooting for Chicago because if the Hawks won it also would mean I'd also get to see the Mets at Wrigley Field. 

"I'm a big Mets fan and to see them at Wrigley Field would have been something, but the Blackhawks lost  and I wound up flying to L.A. to get ready for the Stanley Cup Final. (I had been to Cup Finals before but never to actually call a game.)

"That Game One in L.A. was an amazing experience for me, especially near the end of regulation with the game still tied. I had a great call as the Rangers were short-handed and the Kings were on the verge of scoring on a power play. 

Honoring Labor Day With Some Hardest Working RangersLabor Day was designated to honor workers. The Maven would like to honor four hard-working Rangers from yesteryear:

"Then our penalty-killer Hagelin had a breakaway but he was stopped by Quick and  we went to overtime. I felt it would be really cool to call a Cup Final winner for the Rangers but Justin Williams scored for the Kings and it was over.

"Even though the Rangers lost it still was an amazing experience and definitely the number one broadcasting highlight for me."

(TOMORROW: What it was like for LaGreca – a lifelong Devils' fan – working Rangers games for years.) 

It’s finally September, and for many of us in this city, that means it’s a) time to make our kids someone else’s problem for the next 10 months and b) time to really start concentrating on the upcoming hockey season that we pretended not to think about this summer.

With training camp fast approaching, here are a few things that are rolling through my head when it comes to the Ottawa Senators:

What exactly is Claude Giroux’s role on this team?

Giroux is going to be a benefit to have on your hockey team until the day he decides to retire. He helps out in so many facets of the game, and there are a lot of late-career Alfie similarities you can point to. You want him to be a part of this group.

The question is, where does he fit at this point?

I don’t know if there is any correlation between Steve Staios making this one of the most hardline contract negotiations in his short history here and how the team feels about Giroux’s place in the pecking order. Either way, there does not appear to be a specific line spot he’s slotted into.

Giroux’s versatility serves him well and if I were a betting man, I’d say having him start as a LW on a second line with Dylan Cozens and Drake Batherson (who are both many things, but defensive stalwarts not one of them) makes some sense. But I could also easily be convinced they go back to the safety blanket of him with Brady and Timmy, or even in a new third line checking role. Both those options seem equally as likely as him getting his car stolen again, so it’ll be a fun story to track during camp.

What about the organizational goaltending depth?

Some will focus on Leevi Meriläinen’s promotion to full-time backup, but I’m not overly concerned with how he’ll do. There’s a level somewhere between “Anton Forsberg” and “looking like the second incarnation of Dominik Hasek for a month last season” that I’m certain he’ll fall into and Sens fans will be pretty happy with.

But what if they have to dip into the minors during the season?

Coaches and GMs are very fond of saying that you need at least 10 NHL D-men to get you through the year, but no one talks about how often you have to play goalies past your two NHL options. We are not that far removed from the 2022–23 season where the Sens had to start seven different goalies. SEVEN! That’s a little ridiculous, but it makes sense to pay attention to what the Sens have below Ullmark and Meriläinen. And when your first option is Mads Søgaard—who, I am afraid, has not progressed very far past “he’s super tall” in his 6 years in the organization—then I’m going to be focused in on the newly signed Jackson Parsons and especially Hunter Shepard. Shepard has two Calder Cups on his résumé and looks like someone you could potentially count on to play some NHL games if needed.

As always, the statement “goalies are voodoo” remains evergreen, so who knows what to expect, and everyone (including teammates and coaches) just has to deal with the fact they are flaky when it comes to on-ice performance and personality. I mean, we have Linus Ullmark saying stuff like “Marshmallows are a lot like snow if you think about it and that’s why I love this city” (not a real quote), and everyone’s reaction is basically “Ah, goalies, am I right?” which would not be the same response if that quote came out of, say, Nick Jensen’s mouth.

Ottawa Senators Sign Lars Eller, Offseason NHL Additions Are Now 'Most Likely' CompleteSenators general manager Steve Staios didn't do a lot on day one of free agency, but there was something familiar about his performance. For the second year in a row, Staios went out and acquired a free agent veteran role player, who's won a Stanley Cup.

Will the Sens grant my wish and roll out an old-man 4th line?

I don’t know if a line of Nick Cousins, Lars Eller and David Perron would be the oldest line in the league, but it’s got to be up there. It would certainly be the oldest line in recent memory for the Sens. I don’t even think this is necessarily a bad thing because age is just a number, and out of the three, the only player I’d classify as having below-average NHL speed would be Perron. And as long as you aren’t “old and slow,” you can be classified as “experienced and crafty,” which is infinitely better. The Sens may choose to mix and match with different types for their 4th line, but honestly, if the forward group is entirely healthy, I like my chances of getting this trio to start the season.

How good is Jordan Spence, really?

I do not count myself as a regular viewer of LA Kings games, but in the handful that I did watch last season, I did notice Jordan Spence and he looked pretty great. If the Sens were to slot him into the role he played with the Kings (bottom-pairing D with sheltered minutes), especially with a partner like Tyler Kleven, I am fairly confident that pair would tilt the ice significantly while they were out there. Spence is a puck-retrieval machine and a great transitional player, which would complement Kleven’s best attributes (hitting guys really hard and wiring shots through the mesh in the back of the net) in a nice way.

The question many have is, can he be more than that? What’s he look like playing tougher minutes with more responsibility? I imagine we’re going to find out this season because neither Artem Zub nor Nick Jensen have shown they can play close to a full season at anything approaching good health. I really look forward to the day where we could see a Sanderson/Spence pairing because I’m not entirely sure they have developed on-ice analytic metrics that will be able to measure how high the possession numbers would be.

I’m sure as camp arrives and the ever-exciting preseason games start, we’ll have new storylines to discuss, but for now, these are the ones I’ll be following. See, Sens Nation, I made it through an entire Sens training camp piece without mentioning Carter Yakemchuk’s name once (except for this time just now), and the world continues to spin. It can be done!

By Tyler Ray
This article was first published at The Hockey News-Ottawa

More Sens Headlines at THN:
Senators Still Own Formenton's NHL Rights – What's Next?
Our One-On-One With Drake Batherson
Senators Confirm Extension For Pinto Won't Happen Until After Season Starts
Staios: 'We're Not Dismissing That Yakemchuk Makes Our Team Out of Camp'
Could Arthur Kaliyev Be The Senators' Next Adam Gaudette Story?
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Kick off September with rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics on The Wraparound.

Who Will Make The Hockey Hall Of Fame In 2026? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Adam Kierszenblat discussed in today's episode:

0:00: Does Ivan Demidov deserve to be the early favorite to win the Calder?

5:40: Which WHL team looks to be the early championship favorite this season?

9:51: Should the Chicago Blackhawks be concerned with prospect Mason West’s commitment to playing football?

15:13: Will Quinn Hughes or Cale Makar end up earning more on their next contracts?

21:54: Breaking down notable players eligible for Hockey Hall of Fame consideration in 2026

27:15: Which players signed to PTOs have the best chance of making NHL lineups?

31:20: Which NHL team will have the most intriguing goaltending battle at training camp?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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It’s an acquired skill in the NHL to be a thorn in your opponent's side as a player who can score and be incredibly annoying. 

Throughout NHL history, the game has been filled with rats and pests, those hated by the opponents and their fans but loved by their teammates and their fans. 

But it’s not such a bad thing to be considered a rat or pest in today's game, as former NHLer Drew Shore described it on The Hockey News Big Show.

“I think there’s not many of them in the NHL that are skilled and can play that hard in that kind of fashion,” said Shore. “The Sam Bennetts, the Marchands, the Tom Wilsons of the world, and I think that’s why those guys are so impactful, because there are very few of them.”

Brad Marchand, Matthew Tkachuk and Bennett, funnily enough, are all Florida Panthers and have been called rats throughout their careers.

They are responsible for starting scuffles and injuring players, resulting in a combined 14 suspensions. Marchand has been suspended eight times in his career, Tkachuk four times and Bennett twice. Dating back further, players like Sean Avery, Claude Lemieux, and Matt Cooke have had their fair share of controversy.

A pest or rat – someone like Brandon Hagel, Nazem Kadri, Wilson, Travis Konecny, Brendan Gallagher and Corey Perry – might not fight as often as an enforcer but plays physically and uses chirps and extracurricular activity to knock their opponents off their game, even if they do cross the line at times.

The NHL has seen not only players who mastered the role of being a pest, but it has also seen players show no mercy or fear in taking it to the next level, becoming what some refer to as more of a rat. History shows that both definitions can lead to personal and team success. With the current dominance of the Panthers, it wouldn’t be shocking to see more players embrace that element of their game.

Times have changed, though.

Previously, being considered a pest or rat was a negative connotation, even if it was a valued role. They played on the fourth line and weren’t considered skill guys.

The need for enforcers or goons has dwindled, but the rise of the pest has changed the game. 

“I feel like it’s shifted a lot since I was playing,” said Shore, who played 98 games in the NHL from 2013 to 2021. “I felt like when I was playing, that was kind of thought of like a fourth line guy who would run around, hit people from behind and wouldn’t really fight. Now it’s kind of evolved into this thing where these elite players who also play hard and are able to get under people’s skins are so impactful on the game.”

It’s hard to win in the NHL. Finding any advantage is needed, which is why pests will always serve a role.

We’ve seen Marchand win the 2016 World Cup and 2025 4 Nations Face-Off playing on Sidney Crosby’s wing and Wilson win a Stanley Cup playing in a top-six role with Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. We’ve also seen Tkachuk change the trajectory of an organization and Bennett win a Conn Smythe trophy playing with the Panthers.

No sport in the world may be more reliant on the team aspect of the game, with each player filling a role. The best teams and players fight for both the physical and mental edge.

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.

With the new instalment of the EA Sports NHL game coming out shortly, rankings have been released and overalls have been getting posted to social media. 

Fans are already criticizing parts of the game that have been revealed over the last month, but for most, the excitement is ramping up as the season inches even closer. 

While fans pushed back on just about every single part of the overalls that were posted, the Los Angeles Kings may have something to celebrate. 

Connor Hellebuyck is rated the best goalie in #NHL26 🧱
Should Shesterkin, Vasilevskiy or someone else be on top instead?
See more Ratings: https://t.co/1ZOOUJeVAzpic.twitter.com/D4YE8nENnp

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 27, 2025

Kings’ goaltender Darcy Kuemper was given an 87 overall, which places him 10th overall, just behind Juuse Saros and Thatcher Demko, who were given an 88 overall rating. 

Kuemper wasn’t in the top 10 last season, so for him to get that recognition is awesome, after a solid year between the pipes for the Kings. 

Early access for NHL 26 begins on September 5th, while the full release for those who didn’t purchase the early access version is September 12th.

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#12 - Adam Kleber - Defense (Minnesota-Duluth - NCAA)

Kleber was the Sabres second-round pick at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas. The Chaska, MN native played his amateur hockey in Minnesota and two years in the USHL with Lincoln before being selected 42nd overall with a pick obtained from the San Jose Sharks when Buffalo traded down from 11th to 14th overall.

The 19-year-old is big (6’6”, 214 lb.), right-handed, and defensive-minded, something that will be a good fit down the road with a Sabres blueline that is predominantly left-handed and offensive-minded. The young blueliner possesses above-average skating ability and good awareness and habits in his own zone, skills that project him to be an effective penalty killer down the line. In his freshman year at Minnesota-Duluth, Kleber had just five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 33 games, but was part of Team USA’s gold medal-winning squad at the WJC in Ottawa. He was part of Team USA’s squad at the World Junior Summer Showcase last month and it is expected that he will be part of the club in Minneapolis, MN, this December.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Is it October yet? 

Unfortunately, no, but we're here to help pass the time. From Aug. 8 to Sept. 4, The Hockey News Nashville Predators will be counting down 24 players in 24 days, profiling every current or potentially rostered player. 

Today's player profile is forward Ryan O'Reilly. 

24 Nashville Predators in 24 days series 

Adam Wilsby

Jordan Oesterle

Andreas Engulund

Cole Smith

Michael McCarron

Justin Barron

Zachary L’Heureux

Matthew Wood

Nick Blankenburg

Brady Martin

Michael Bunting

Justus Annunen

Nick Perbix

Luke Evangelista

Nic Hague

Erik Haula

Fedor Svechkov

Brady Skjei

Jonathan Marchessault

Steven Stamkos

As an NHL prospect

O'Reilly spent his two seasons of junior hockey with the Erie Otters in the OHL. In his first season, he scored 52 points in 50 games and logged 42 penalty minutes.

During the 2008-09 season, his draft year, O'Reilly scored 66 points in 66 games and five points in five playoff games. That same season, he was selected to play in the CHL's Top Prospects Game. 

O'Reilly was selected 33rd overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2009 NHL Draft. 

Professional career 

O'Reilly wasted no time making the jump to the NHL, playing 81 games with the Avalanche in his first season, scoring 26 points. O'Reilly matched that total during the 2010-11 season. 

He took a jump during his third NHL season, scoring 55 points in 81 games and logging just 12 penalty minutes. During the 2012-13 NHL lockout, O'Reilly played 12 games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the KHL, scoring 10 points.

O'Reilly returned to the Avalanche when the lockout ended, scoring 20 points in 29 games, which was an abbreviated season. He'd spend two more seasons in Colorado, scoring 119 points in 163 games over that stretch.

During the 2013-14 season, O'Reilly had 64 points in 80 games and just two penalty minutes, winning the Lady Bing Memorial Trophy. 

In the 2015 offseason, O'Reilly was traded to the Buffalo Sabres and spent three seasons there. He played 224 games with the Sabres, scoring 176 points. He continued the trend of playing a clean game as well, logging no more than 10 penalty minutes in those three seasons. 

During the 2015-16 season, he scored 60 points in 71 games, earning an NHL All-Star Game bid. Ahead of the 2016-17 season, O'Reilly played for Canada in the World Cup of Hockey, playing in six games and winning a gold medal.

O'Reilly has won five gold medals with Canada, including two at the IIHF World Championship. 

In the 2018 offseason, O'Reilly was traded to the St. Louis Blues. During the regular season, O'Reilly had a career-high 77 points in 82 games, helping the Blues clinch the third seed in the Central Division. O'Reilly also played in his second career NHL All-Star Game. 

The Blues went on a run during the playoffs, eventually defeating the Boston Bruins in seven games to win the Stanley Cup. O'Reilly had 23 points in 26 games, winning the Conn Smyth Trophy. He also won the Selke Trophy that season. 

He added another All-Star Game bid in the 2019-20 season, scoring 61 points in 71 games. 

O'Reilly spent two and a half more seasons with the Blues, scoring 131 points in 174 games and logging 40 penalty minutes. 

At the 2023 trade deadline, O'Reilly was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He'd play 13 games with the Maple Leafs, scoring 11 points. In the playoffs, he helped the Maple Leafs to their first playoff series victory in 19 years, scoring nine points in 11 games. 

As a free agent in the 2023 offseason, O'Reilly signed a four-year, $18 million contract with the Predators. That first season, O'Reilly scored 69 points in 82 games and logged 18 penalty minutes. 

This past season, O'Reilly had 53 points in 79 games and logged 24 penalty minutes, which was the highest PIM total in his professional career. 

He is currently entering the third year of his four-year contract. 

What role will he play this season? 

Last season, O'Reilly was one of the things that went right for the Predators. 

He brought up the second line and provided depth beyond the first line. Looking at how well he played last season, he could possibly move up to the first line in place of Steven Stamkos, who could make a move over to the wing. 

O'Reilly is the type of player the Predators need and should strive to emulate. He is a center that can score and isn't racking up the penalty minutes. He is big, productive and playing the game the right way.

He has developed chemistry with this team, which could be useful down the road if the Predators need to move him elsewhere in the lineup or want to mix up line combinations. 

O'Reilly is also a veteran who still has several good years left in him. His numbers declined slightly during the 2022-23 season, but he has remained consistent as a player who can produce at least 50 to 60 points per season.  

Needing depth down the middle, O'Reilly is going to lead that charge and is going to play a critical role in the offense this season.