Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

Here we go:

A little pre-training camp team-bonding today for the #NJDevils, and looks like everyone is in town well in advance of the Sept. 16 opening of main camp.

Looks like the team got together today for a round of golf at Echo Lake Country Club.

📸 : echolakecc / IG pic.twitter.com/FXpmJghgE3

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) September 9, 2026

“It’s a day that ends with the letter ‘y’ and you know what that means: it’s time to spread the good word of Luke Evangelista. Let’s dig into five things you should know about the newest member of the New Jersey Devils heading into the first of many seasons with the team.” [Infernal Access ($)]

“Markstrom is gone. The $6 million that was about to kick in is Florida’s problem. What is left in Newark is Allen, Nico Daws, and David Rittich at a combined $3.9 million and a public plan Sunny Mehta has already described as crease-by-committee. Allen said in July he can live with three goalies if the communication is clean. He also said he did not like it the last time he was in one. Both things can be true. Camp has to make them usable for the Devils.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]

Hockey Links

“The Wild have remained confident they will sign Hughes to an extension before the start of this season, which is only three weeks away. They’ve insisted these kinds of deals take time and have insinuated they’ve been given no indication that he doesn’t intend to sign. But until Hughes actually signs, there’s going to be a cloud of doubt over the potentially franchise-altering negotiations, just like with Kirill Kaprizov a year ago.” [The Athletic]

Chris Johnston on TSN today, when asked how the Quinn Hughes situation will play out: pic.twitter.com/xgcQoMoVzp

— JP Gambatese (@jp_gambatese) September 8, 2026

Fraser Minten gets a seven-year deal:

Fraser Minten has signed a 7 year $7.2M AAV extension with the Bruins 🤑

The 22 year old was in the Brandon Carlo trade at the 2025 deadline and then put up 35P as a rookie 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ef0p2cz7yq

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 8, 2026

NHL Draft news:

The NHL draft, which is being held June 25-26, will once again be with the de-centralized format for a third year in a row, the league confirms.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 8, 2026

Another negotiation situation to watch:

#CBJ Adam Fantilli, who remains an unsigned restricted free agent just eight days from the start of training camp, did not take part in the Blue Jackets’ annual pre-camp golf outing today at club owner John P. McConnell’s exclusive golf club, Double Eagle .

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) September 8, 2026

“Sidney Crosby said Tuesday that extension talks are underway with the Pittsburgh Penguins, though finding a term is a difficult proposition as he weighs his future. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer is entering his 22nd NHL season with the Penguins and last of a two-year, $8.7 million extension signed in 2024.” [TSN]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

The NHL’s North America media tour has begun (the Europe one was late last month), so expect a trickle of quotes and headlines to come as teams get ready for training camps beginning in one week.

Islanders News

• Matthew Schaefer is part of that media show. Here are photos of him…in a car or something, and sitting politely at a table. [Isles] Look for quotes and such in the days ahead.
• The top 26 prospects to watch this season; Victor Eklund gets a mention at 16. [NHL]
• Not Islanders-specific, but relevant: What the NHL and NHLPA will be monitoring with the changes under the new CBA (shorter camps, 84-game season, full-time EBUGs, no more grueling fitness tests). [Athletic]

Elsewhere

• Stan Fischler on the Devils going with three goalies. Chico Resch approves. [NHL]
• Connor McDavid observes that free agents are commanding “a lot of money.” He also is put in the odd position of needing to insist that American players do want to play in Canada. [Sportsnet]
• It’s time for a new washer already? The Flyers and 76ers are getting a new arena again. But it’s apparently privately funded, and the design harkens back to the Spectrum, which is cool. [ESPN]
• Ilya Samsonov is back in the NHL (maybe) with San Jose. [Sportsnet]
• Brady Tkachuk says it was a “really, really hard decision” to bail on Ottawa to go play with his brother. [Sportsnet]
• Adam Lowry says they can’t be distracted by Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request. Good luck with that. [Sportsnet]
• Despite all the turmoil in Detroit, Michigan native Alex DeBrincat’s intention is to stay. [Sportsnet]
• Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are talking his next contract. He wants to play forever but Father Time is undefeated. [NHL]

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With only eight days remaining until the Detroit Red Wings gather for Training Camp, the club continues to face more questions than answers, particularly surrounding its vacant general manager position and Dylan Larkin’s trade request.

The trade request of Larkin, a Metro Detroit native who was named captain in 2021, stunned fans when it became public in early June. Almost equally shocking was Steve Yzerman vacating his role as general manager just over a month later, in mid-July.

Forward Alex DeBrincat, who has been Larkin’s teammate since joining the Red Wings via trade in 2023, represented Detroit at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour in Las Vegas. He said that while Larkin’s trade request “sucks,” he and the rest of the team still view Larkin as a great player, and, for DeBrincat, a friend.

"It sucks," DeBrincat said via Hockey News managing editor Michael Traikos. "But it doesn’t really change what we think of him. He’s still a great player, he’s been a great friend and a great teammate. We obviously love him here. It's up to him to answer what's next. But we're happy to see him at the rink."

And while there may be plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Red Wings right now, DeBrincat has no plans to jump ship.

“When a new GM (is announced), I’m sure there’s going to be some conversations, but you know, as of right now, my opinion hasn’t changed,” DeBrincat said via NHL.com columnist Nick Cotsonika. “I love playing for the Red Wings. I love wearing that jersey and battling with those guys out there. My intention is obviously to stay in Detroit. We’ll see what happens, I guess.”

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While the jury is still out on Larkin, one of DeBrincat’s teammates and friends has already chosen to move on from Detroit. Patrick Kane, who joined the Red Wings as a free agent in December 2023 thanks in large part to DeBrincat’s recruitment, is back with the Chicago Blackhawks after signing a two-year, $18 million contract.

Kane returns to the club that selected him first overall in the 2007 NHL Draft and helped lead to three Stanley Cup championships. 

For DeBrincat, who played alongside Kane in both Chicago and Detroit, it’s a disappointing loss - not only because of their friendship and on-ice chemistry, but also because of the leadership he brought. 

“It (stinks) for me and for our team,” DeBrincat said. “He was a big part of our team, obviously skill-wise but also leadership-wise. For me, he’s one of my best friends. He’s a guy I hang out with. Our kids are great friends. In that aspect of it, it (stinks). But if he’s going to go anywhere, I’m happy he went to Chicago. I feel like him going back home is probably the story that needed to be written.”

Last season, DeBrincat became the first Red Wings player since Marian Hossa in 2008-09 to reach 40 goals scored. His current contract pays him just under $8 million annually, a number that will easily increase on his next contract. 

But while the Red Wings are facing multiple uncertainties, one thing hasn't changed for DeBrincat - he's proud to represent his hometown club. 

"I know everyone in that room has immense pride in putting on that jersey and playing for the Detroit Red Wings,” he said. “From the outside looking in, I could see how you think it’s maybe doom and gloom, but in the locker room, everyone’s excited to go and ready to play and ready to show people what we’re made of."

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Training camp is fast-approaching for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and that means positional battles are, too. 

And, no, these won't be the positional battles of training camps past for the Penguins. This time around, the organization has prospects who are legitimately on the verge of full-time NHL minutes, and they also have a collection of players who, even if they were on an NHL roster last season, are not guaranteed a spot this season. 

We have reached our final positional battle, and that is the one between the pipes. After the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, the Penguins let veteran Stuart Skinner walk to free agency and re-signed Artūrs Šilovs, who had a stellar performance in the playoffs. They also have a few legitimate, promising goaltending prospects who will make a serious case to be the starter on Sept. 30. 

So, how will the goaltending battle resolve at the end of camp? Here are the guarantees, the maybes, and the longshots.

The guarantees

Artūrs Šilovs

Perhaps some folks disagree, but the only sure bet to make the NHL roster out of all the goaltenders at camp will be the 25-year-old Šilovs.

Šilovs's .939 save percentage and 1.52 goals-against average in Round 1 versus the Phildelphia Flyers in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs was enough to earn him a spot on next year's roster. He is also eligible for waivers - while the others are not - making him the most likely candidate to stick around. 

It's easy to forget that Šilovs was only a rookie last season, and although there were inconsistencies throughout the season, he proved - once again - that he shows up big-time when it matters most. That is worth an extended look. 

It is a risk going into the season with mostly unproven goaltenders, but that's the juncture the Penguins are at right now. Šilovs will surely have some competition nipping right at his heels. 

Penguins' Positional Battle Tiers: CenterEven if there is not much mystery surrounding some centers that will be on the Pittsburgh Penguins' NHL roster next season, there could still be room for a few players to surprise.

The maybes

Sergei Murashov 

Contrary to popular belief, there is no actual, legitimate guarantee that Murashov is the other guy to start the season in the NHL. Understandably, it's presumed to be as such, especially because of his performance in the Calder Cup Playoffs across all 15 games that included a .931 save percentage and 2.11 goals-against average.

However, the reality is that Joel Blomqvist exists, too, and there is always the possibility that Blomqvist outperforms Murashov in training camp. Murashov was the starting goaltender for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) last year and posted a .919 save percentage during the regular season, and he also saw five NHL games. 

But it's a new season, and he's hardly the only goaltending prospect vying for an NHL job out of camp. Chances are that he is the other guy next to Šilovs, but a chance is a chance is a chance. 

That said, it would probably take a truly horrific camp for Murashov to get cut.

Joel Blomqvist

As mentioned, Blomqvist is not a longshot by any means. The 24-year-old put up a respectable .914 save percentage in WBS last season, which wasn't far behind Murashov. And that was after dealing with an injury to begin the season.

Since Blomqvist's 2024-25 15-game sample at the NHL level, the young goaltender has been searching for consistency and confidence, and he seemed to have found it last season in the AHL. The Penguins still believe he is going to be a valuable piece of their future, and that door is still very much open. 

If he has a stellar camp, he could make decisions pretty hard for Dubas and the staff. He may not be No. 1 on the prospect goaltending depth chart nowadays, but don't count him out. 

Penguins' Positional Battle Tiers: Right WingThe forward battles during training camp will be intriguing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the organization certainly has depth at right wing.

The longshots

Taylor Gauthier  

Unfortunately for the 25-year-old Gauthier, his last two training camps were pretty much nonexistent due to injury, and it really is a shame. He has put up dominant numbers in the ECHL for the last three seasons with the Wheeling Nailers - former affiliate of the Penguins - and he was simply blocked from the AHL by three guys named Blomqvist, Murashov, and Filip Larsson. 

His latest campaign included a .929 save percentage through 36 regular season games and a .922 save percentage during 17 Kelly Cup Playoff games. Undrafted, Gauthier has quietly put together a pretty nice professional career for the Penguins' organization so far, and he just signed a two-way contract this summer after signing an entry-level NHL contract to finish the 2025-26 season. 

He should finally get his chance to see pretty regular AHL minutes this season, and his tandem partner is still up in the air. But, unless something drastic happens in terms of performance or injury, there is very little real chance that Gauthier makes the NHL squad out of camp.

Gabriel D'Aigle

D'Aigle might be several years away from NHL action, but don't overlook this guy. The 19-year-old put together a nice season for the lowly Victoriaville Tigres despite - for the second season in a row - getting peppered on a nightly basis.

His .908 save percentage might not jump out, but it's impressive considering the pure volume of shots he faced last season. And when you combine his quickness and athleticism with his 6-foot-4, 211-pound frame, it's not difficult to see the intrigue. 

That said, the NHL roster is a huge, huge longshot. This guy is a pretty promising goaltending prospect and may just continue to climb, but for now, he's far too raw to be anywhere near NHL-ready. The chance isn't zero, but it's much closer to that than to 100.

Penguins' Positional Battles: Left WingThe forward battles during training camp will be intriguing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the left wing is no exception.

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The Athletic is one of several major NHL publications that remain unconvinced by the Calgary Flames' rebuild. Whether ranking the club near the bottom of its power rankings or limiting the club's representation in league-wide evaluations, the publication has shown little confidence in the organization's current roster.

A few days ago, The Athletic released one of its most anticipated features of the year: its annual NHL player tiers. Unsurprisingly, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid once again topped the rankings.

This year's list is divided into five categories: MVP, Franchise, All-Star, Star, and Support. The MVP tier features the league's elite players, while the Franchise tier includes 23 skaters who can serve as the cornerstone of any organization. The All-Star and Star tiers make up the bulk of the rankings, recognizing established impact players from around the NHL.

For the Flames, however, their inclusion on the list was brief. Goaltender Dustin Wolf was Calgary's only representative, earning a spot in the Support tier.

One Bad Season Tanked Wolf's Reputation

In the comments under Wolf's ranking, they praise the 25-year-old for his breakout performance in 2024-25, but discuss how his sophomore slump tarnished his budding reputation. One NHL executive quoted by The Athletic believes that the young netminder, entering his third season, may never recapture his rookie form. As insulting as that is, many forget that Wolf is a two-time AHL Goalie of the Year and a former league MVP. 

In the NHL, he's backstopping the NHL's lowest-scoring team, so even if he gives up one or two goals, too many of those games still end in losses because the Flames struggle to score.

Since most of the team's core is Wolf's age or younger, growing pains are bound to come for an organization preparing to move into a new arena. The hope is that, with a modernized facility and all the amenities the Saddledome has lacked over the years, Calgary could recruit more elite talent. Until then, the Flames have committed fully to their rebuild, relying on prospects rather than outside additions. The reinforcements are not coming from other teams; they are coming from within the system.

Wolf's placement in the Support tier is surprising. He's not a supporting player; he's the team MVP. Yes, he's not at the same level as Andrei Vasilevskiy or Igor Shesterkin, both Vezina Trophy winners. Still, those clubs wouldn't be as successful with a mediocre goalie between the pipes. Can anyone imagine how bad the Flames would have been last season without their No. 1 goalie posting a 23-29-3 record? Yikes. 

Overall, most NHL fans who don't stay up late to watch Calgary games rarely see how impactful Wolf is in every game he plays. Casual fans may look at the rankings and conclude the Flames are simply rebuilding. However, the Calgary faithful will see these rankings and wonder why Wolf couldn't move up a tier, and ask why players like Matt Coronato and Zayne Parekh were left off entirely.

Calgary's rebuild won't be measured until the latter part of the decade, when the organization expects to be back in the playoff picture. Until then, rankings like these are likely to become the norm.

The Buffalo Sabres’ 2025-26 season was largely a major success, as the Sabres finished first in the Atlantic Division, then beat the Boston Bruins in their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series. However, the Sabres lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the second round. Still, Buffalo ended their decade-and-a-half playoff drought, and that was a huge relief for long-suffering Sabres fans. 

Meanwhile, for the second straight year here at TheHockeyNews.com, we're analyzing the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents in an online series titled “Know Your Enemy”. And in this particular file in the series, we’re breaking down that Canadiens team. 

The Habs didn’t make many moves this summer, but they’ve been expertly-constructed by GM Kent Hughes, and if the Sabres are to improve in 2026-27, they’ll need to go through the Canadiens.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. MONTREAL CANADIENS

NEW CANADIENS PLAYERS: Brett Berard (LW), Sasha Pastujov (LW)

2025-26 SERIES: Sabres 2-2-0, Canadiens 2-2-0

2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: October 13, at Montreal; October 17 at Montreal; December 18 at Buffalo; January 18 at Buffalo

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Sabres will take on the Canadiens in Montreal in Buffalo’s seventh game of the regular-season – and in a quirk of the schedule, the Sabres will play the Habs four days later, again in Montreal. That should get the two teams plenty-accustomed to one another, and from that point, Buffalo will host the Canadiens twice in a one-month period that ends in mid-January.

The Sabres and Canadiens split their series last season, with both teams winning twice in regulation. And if we’re being honest, we can see that same type of result taking place in 2026-27. Montreal hasn’t made any material changes to their roster, but Hughes has done a masterful job of putting the Habs together, and the Sabres will have to be at their best to even have a chance of beating the Canadiens this coming year.

The Canadiens sent Buffalo home for the summer this past spring, and to avoid that fate in ‘26-27, the Sabres will need to be better than Montreal in the goaltending department, and there’s obviously no guarantee that will take place. But Buffalo has lost key pieces Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram, and unless the Sabres get internal improvement from their young players, beating the Habs will require a huge step forward for Buffalo.

Can the Sabres turn the tables on Montreal this year? Yes, there’s definitely a chance they can do so. However, if the Canadiens wind up dumping Buffalo for the second straight season, you have to think Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen will be much more active on the trade and free-agency fronts next summer.

There’s lots to like about both Buffalo and the Habs, but one of those teams will be seriously disappointed by an early exit in the 2027 playoffs.

And unless the Sabres can avoid doing so, getting eliminated by Montreal for the second straight season will almost assuredly lead to Buffalo’s roster being thoroughly overhauled for the 2027-28 campaign.

Simply put, the San Jose Sharks have had a lot of goaltenders join their organization this summer.

At the NHL level, they signed veterans Eric Comrie, Kyle Keyser, and now Ilya Samsonov to contracts, even though they're likely to report to the San Jose Barracuda. The Barracuda then signed a player of their own, Connor Hasley, to an American Hockey League contract while Matt Davis is also under contract with the Barracuda. The Wichita Thunder currently don't have a goaltender on their roster, which seems to be the key to the puzzle.

It's all but confirmed that Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic will be the Sharks' goaltending tandem at the NHL level. As a result, the questions start with the Barracuda. With Comrie, Keyser, and Samsonov all on NHL contracts, it's unlikely that any of them are sent to the ECHL which means we'll likely see a three-goalie rotation in either the NHL or AHL, with the latter being the most logical.

Comrie and Samsonov would be the logical tandem to start the season, while Keyser can fill in when there's a need. If one of the Sharks' goaltenders suffers an injury, Comrie is expected to be the first recall and Samsonov would take over the starting job with Keyser as a backup, If there's an injury to one of the AHL netminders, Keyser simply fills in as needed.

With the Thunder have a goaltender-sized hole in their roster, Davis and Hasley will likely be the players tasked with holding down the fort in Wichita. If needed, Davis seems capable at the AHL level and could be recalled in the event of an injury-related disaster at the top two levels. Whenever the signing of Yaroslav Korostelyov becomes official, we'll probably see him assigned to the Thunder as well to round out their goaltending trio. 

While the addition of Samsonov does seem like it's slightly overkill for goaltending depth, it appears to be the final piece to the organization's puzzle between the pipes. 

The St. Louis Blues revealed their training camp roster early Tuesday morning.

The roster includes every Blues player projected to be in the opening-night lineup, AHL players signed to NHL contracts, and prospects playing in the CHL. Among those not on the training camp roster are NCAA prospects like Tynan Lawrence and prospects playing in Europe, like Love Harenstam, Dmitry Buchelnikov, and Milton Gastrin. 

With that said, here are three intriguing storylines to follow during training camp and the shortened four-game pre-season.

How Does The Middle Six Shape Up?

With the top line expected to be Dylan Holloway, Robert Thomas, and Jimmy Snuggerud, that leaves six spots between the second and third lines. The competition for those spots isn't necessarily about who earns the role, but rather where.

The two centers are expected to be Mason McTavish and Dalibor Dvorsky. The wingers will be Jake Neighbours, Pavel Buchnevich, Connor McMichael, and Jonatan Berggren. The only two players who could realistically compete for any of those spots are Pius Suter and Otto Stenberg, and the only player really eligible to fall out of the middle six is Berggren. 

So, in all likelihood, those six players will be looking to find chemistry with one another. Neighbours and Buchnevich have plenty of history playing together, so we could likely see them together, leaving McMichael and Berggren together. McTavish is a more established NHL center than Dvorsky is, so it's fair to assume he lands on the second line.

Nonetheless, anything can happen, and the internal battles will be worth following.

St. Louis Blues To Open Training Camp Sept. 17All practice sessions free and open to public at Centene Community Ice Center; Blues prospects to face Chicago Blackhawks prospects two nights Sept. 14-15

Tyler Tucker vs. Theo Lindstein

The Blues' defense corps is nearly set. Philip Broberg and Logan Mailloux will be the top pairing, followed by the next three veterans: Colton Parayko, Cam Fowler, and Brandon Carlo, but the final spot will likely come down to Theo Lindstein and Tyler Tucker.

Tucker is the more experienced of the two, but Lindstein is held in high regard within the organization as a 2023 first-round pick. In 17 games to end the 2025-26 season, Lindstein looked solid alongside Parayko. Tucker has 159 NHL games, including 69 last year.

Whoever stands out for better reasons in pre-season will likely land the job, while the other sits in the press box as the seventh defenseman. 

New Role, New Expectations; Can Blues' Joel Hofer Overcome Challenges In An Important Personal NHL Season?Joel Hofer enters the 2026-27 NHL season with aspirations of locking down the No. 1 goaltender role for the St. Louis Blues, but the 26-year-old faces several challenges, some he can control and others he can't.

Do The Prospects Stand Out?

The Blues will bring several prospects to training camp, including Justin Carbonneau, Adam Jiricek, and Maddox Dagenais. Dagenais is the farthest from being NHL-ready, but Jiricek and Carbonneau enter camp with aspirations of putting themselves on the map.

Carbonneau was among the final cuts last season, and Jiricek had a breakout campaign that has really excited the Blues. Both are very much on the outside looking in, but a strong camp could accelerate their timeline. 

Outside of the recent first-round picks, players like Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Zach Dean, Juraj Pekarcik, Dylan Peterson, and many others are looking to show they are ready for call-ups.

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Florida Panthers fans will be able to watch all four of the teams preseason games for free, courtesy of the Cats themselves.

On Tuesday, the Panthers announced that they would be offering a free broadcast for each of the four games on Panthers+.

All fans need to do is log onto PanthersPlus.TV and register for a free account.

Additionally, when visiting the Panthers+ page, there was also an option to register for an exclusive stream of Panthers Training Camp set for Thursday, Sept. 17 at noon.

Florida’s four preseason games are as follows:

Sunday, Sept. 20 vs. Carolina

Tuesday, Sept. 22 at Carolina

Thursday, Sept. 24 at Tampa Bay

Saturday, Sept. 26 vs. Tampa Bay

Last year, Florida's preseason games, particularly the ones against Tampa, had plenty of fireworks in terms of physicality. 

We'll see if this season continues that glove-dropping tradition. 

The Panthers are expected to begin their training camp next week, with players already participating in informal workouts at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.

The regular season begins for Florida on Sept. 29 at Lenovo Center against the Carolina Hurricanes, who will be raising their Stanley Cup banner prior to puck drop.

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Photo caption: Oct 2, 2025; Tampa,Florida, USA; linesman Jonathan Deschamps (80) drops the puck for a face-off betweenFloridaPantherscenter Sam Bennett (9) and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Mitchell Chaffee (41) in the second period at Benchmark International Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

After one season back in his native Russia, goaltender Ilya Samsonov is coming back to North America to launch a potential NHL comeback. On Tuesday, it was announced that the San Jose Sharks had signed the 29-year-old netminder to a one-year, two-contract for the 2026-27 season. 

According to PuckPedia, Samsonov's deal carries a salary of $850,000 at the NHL level and $225,000 in the minor leagues.

Samsonov, unless something drastically changes in training camp, is expected to be assigned to the American Hockey League for the first time since the 2020-21 season where he'll play with the San Jose Barracuda.

While the Sharks won't have to pay Samsonov a full NHL salary at the AHL level due to the two-way contract, he is still waiver-eligible which could present a problem if a team is very desperate for goaltending at the conclusion of preseason. More than likely, they shouldn't have any issues getting him sent to the AHL though.

Samsonov is now the fourth goaltender in the Sharks organization with NHL experience along with Yaroslav Askarov, Alex Nedeljkovic, and Eric Comrie. The Magnitogorsk native previously had stints with the Washington Capitals (who selected him in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft), the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Last season, Samsonov made his return to the Kontinental Hockey League with HK Sochi. In 14 games, he registered a 3.27 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.

The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues will face off in a new version of the Prospects Challenge. This edition will feature only these two teams and will be played at Blackhawks Ice Center. 

There will be practices on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with head-to-head matchups on Monday and Tuesday. On August 31st, the Blackhawks revealed which players will be participating in this event. 

Blackhawks Announce 2026 Prospect Showcase RosterThe Chicago Blackhawks announced their roster for the 2026 Prospect Showcase against the St. Louis Blues.

The Blackhawks have one of the best farm systems in the NHL. Plenty of their high-end prospects will be on display at the Prospect Challenge. Multiple players participating in this will play in 2026-27 regular-season NHL games. 

5 Must Watch Blackhawks At 2026 Prospect ShowcaseThe Chicago Blackhawks have an incredible farm system. Some of them will be on display at the 2026 Prospect Challenge.

9 days after the Blackhawks released their roster for the Prospect Challenge, the Blues released theirs. St. Louis hasn't been a bottom 5 NHL team like the Blackhawks over the last half-decade, meaning their draft picks haven't been as good and they haven't been acquiring an abundance of selections, but they are coming in with some firepower as well. 

There are 3 St. Louis Blues first-round picks coming to Chicago for this. Maddox Dagenais (2026), Justin Carbonneau (2025), and Adam Jiricek (2024) are all former top selections, and they now have another opportunity to show why picking them was a good idea. 

The rest of the prospects that St. Louis is bringing can be found here or seen below: 

#stlblues prospect roster that will face #blackhawks prospects Sept. 14-15 ... pic.twitter.com/Zj3TP9X1UP

— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) September 8, 2026

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The Vegas Golden Knights didn’t hand Rasmus Andersson a seven-year, $59.5 million contract expecting him to simply fit in.

They brought him to Vegas expecting him to make a difference.

The 29-year-old Andersson arrived in January after the Golden Knights acquired him from the Calgary Flames in a blockbuster deal that sent defensemen Zach Whitecloud and Abram Wiebe, along with a conditional 2027 first-round pick and a conditional 2028 second-round pick, to Calgary.

But his first postseason with Vegas left plenty to be desired.

Andersson managed just six points in 22 playoff games as the Golden Knights fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games in the Stanley Cup Final. For comparison, the last time Andersson appeared in the playoffs with Calgary during the 2021-22 season, he produced the same six points in just 12 games.

So when Vegas handed him a seven-year, $59.5 million extension carrying an $8.5 million annual average value, it was only natural for fans to wonder whether more was coming.

Andersson, however, seems more than happy with where he landed.

“Ever since I got traded here, I’ve loved it. Couldn’t be happier. We really fell in love with the city, as well,” Andersson said via Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

This is a good sign. 

And while the Golden Knights need Andersson to eventually live up to his contract, it is probably too early to write him off based on a 22-game sample with a new organization.

Joining a new team in the middle of a season is difficult enough. Learning a new system, adjusting to new teammates and finding your place within a different locker room takes time. Andersson didn’t have the benefit of a full training camp or preseason to settle into life in Vegas before being thrown into the pressure cooker of a playoff run.

There is also something to be said for the fact that Andersson genuinely wanted to be there.

The Swedish Olympian had spent years playing in Calgary and finally got the opportunity to join a team with legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations. Would Vegas rather have acquired a player who was reluctant to be there, or one who is excited about the city, the organization and the opportunity—even if he needs some time to fully find his footing?

The Colorado Avalanche faced a similar situation with Brock Nelson. There were plenty of questions when Nelson arrived, but he responded by putting together one of his best seasons in years before helping Team USA win Olympic gold.

Sometimes, patience pays off.

Andersson has had time to settle in now. He knows his teammates, understands the expectations and has a full offseason to prepare for his first complete season in Vegas.

The Golden Knights need more from their new defenseman.

But there is no reason to believe he can’t give it to them.

Andersson should arrive at training camp motivated, comfortable and determined to prove that Vegas made the right investment—and perhaps help deliver the franchise its second Stanley Cup.

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, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.  

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 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 82 NHL games. 

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3. Noah Ostlund - F (Rochester - AHL, Buffalo - NHL

Ostlund was the Sabres second first-round pick (16th overall) at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal after scoring 42 points for the Djurgardens junior-level club, 10 points for Sweden at the Under-18s, and a brief stint in the SHL. The following season, he had 26 points (8 goals, 18 assists) in 37 regular season games in the second-level pro league Allsvenskan and four points (1 goal, 3 assists) for Team Sweden at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships. 

He travelled to North America after his season in Sweden and joined the Rochester Americans for their Calder Cup Playoff run, but did not play. The Stockholm native chose not to come over and play for the Amerks in 2023 and instead returned to Sweden to play for Vaxjo and play again for his country at the 2024 World Junior in Gothenburg. 

After thriving at the WJC, (3 goals, 7 assists in seven games) and earning a silver medal, Ostlund followed that up being a solid contributor for Vaxjo, with 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in 38 games. He joined Rochester at the end of the AHL season, earning an assist in two regular season games and one goal in three playoff games.

In his first full season in North America, Ostlund missed nearly two months with a hand injury, but returned just before Christmas and went goalless in his first 10 games, but finished the season with 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists) in 45 games and earned a late-season NHL call up.

Last season, after averaging over a point per game with the Amerks was called up by the Sabres, and became a regular, shifting between center and wing, playing solid two-way hockey, and scoring 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 60 games. With the departure of Alex Tuch, Buffalo appears to be relying on the 22-year-old to show more progress at the offensive end of the ice, likely in a third line role, but possibly graduating into the top six if he has success.  

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The San Jose Sharks have signed former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a one-year, two-way contract, the Pacific Division team announced on Tuesday.

His NHL salary will be $850,000 against the cap, according to PuckPedia.

Samsonov is returning to play hockey in North America after spending the 2025-26 season in the KHL with Sochi. He didn't end up playing as many games as he might've thought he would in Russia, making 14 appearances. He posted a .903 save percentage and a 3.27 goals-against average in that stint.

The 2024-25 campaign marked the last time Samsonov featured in the NHL. He featured for the Vegas Golden Knights that year, making 29 appearances. The Russian netminder posted a .891 SP in those 29 games, earning a 16-9-four record.

Samsonov also played two seasons with the Maple Leafs, one year much better than the other. He joined Toronto in free agency ahead of the 2022-23 season, signing a one-year deal at $1.8 million.

In that first season with the Leafs, Samsonov was great, sharing the net with Matt Murray for the most part. He wound up playing in 42 games and registered an excellent .919 SP and a 2.33 GAA with a 27-10-5 record.

Former Maple Leafs Forward Fraser Minten Signs Huge $50.4-Million ContractFormer Toronto Maple Leafs center Fraser Minten has inked a long-term contract extension with the Boston Bruins.

The next year wasn't so great for the 6-foot-3 goaltender. He signed a new contract, which was another one-year agreement, but at a $3.55-million cap hit. In 40 games, he posted a .890 SP and a 3.13 GAA. 

For the Sharks this upcoming season on a two-way deal, Samsonov likely ranks behind Yaroslav Askarov, Alex Nedeljkovic and Eric Comrie on the goaltending depth chart. Therefore, the AHL's San Jose Barracuda is where the 29-year-old will likely spend most of his time in 2026-27.

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