Category: NHL

Former Senators head coach D.J. Smith has found his next NHL opportunity, and it will be alongside one of hockey's most polarizing figures.

The Edmonton Oilers officially announced Tuesday that Mike Babcock is their new head coach and that Smith will be his associate coach. The hirings reunite the pair more than a decade after they first worked together with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

For Senators fans, the hiring is notable, not only because he worked in Ottawa, but because he'll now be working alongside Babcock, who's been the talk of the league. 

Whether it was Anaheim, Detroit, Toronto, or Columbus, there seemed to be no end to the negative stories about Babcock's past treatment of his players and coaching methods. When the news broke about Edmonton's interest, all the stories have been retold over the past couple of weeks.

His brief return to the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 ended before he ever coached a game amid controversy surrounding reports that he had asked players to show him photos from their personal phones.

As Smith rejoins Babcock, he does so with eyes wide open.

Their relationship dates back to 2015 when Babcock hired Smith as an assistant coach with the Leafs. At the time, Smith was one of the hottest young coaches in hockey after leading the Oshawa Generals to a Memorial Cup title.

Smith spent four seasons on Toronto's bench, helping oversee the early stages of the Maple Leafs' rebuild before being hired by Ottawa as head coach in 2019 to help guide their rebuild.

Although the Sens never made the playoffs under Smith, he was good with the media and a popular coach with the players, but probably could have dropped the hammer a little more often. When mistakes were made, sometimes glaring ones, player ice times and power play deployments were rarely affected.

Over four and a half seasons behind the Ottawa bench, Smith posted a record of 131-154-32 in 317 games, which ranks second in franchise history in coaching wins behind only Jacques Martin, the man who replaced him on an interim basis during the 2023-24 season.

After leaving Ottawa, and try and stay with me here, Smith quickly resurfaced with the Los Angeles Kings under Jim Hiller, who had worked with Smith under Babcock in Toronto. Initially hired as an assistant coach, Smith was elevated to interim head coach in March after the Kings fired Hiller. LA responded with an 11-6-6 record down the stretch under Smith's guidance, but it wasn't enough. The Kings hired Peter Laviolette as their new head coach, so Smith was out. Hiller then resurfaced as Toronto's new head coach.

Tracking the flow chart of the NHL coach recycling program can sometimes be exhausting.

For next season, Smith was able to lean on an old connection and thus, won himself an exciting new opportunity in Edmonton. Though based on the state of Babcock's reputation, it's fair to wonder if there was really that much competition for the job.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This story was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more at the links below:

San Jose GM Describes Why He Traded William Eklund To Ottawa
Shark Bait: Did The Senators Get Enough For Their Ninth Overall Pick?
Should Canadian NHL Teams Have Concerns About American Players?
Brady Tkachuk Had a Chance to Write His Own Story. He Chose Matthew's

Officially, Garnet Hathaway has played his last game as a Philadelphia Flyers player.

On Thursday morning, the Flyers traded Hathaway to the Florida Panthers, ending a three-year tenure in Philadelphia for the veteran tough guy.

By moving on from Hathaway, the Flyers moved up one round in the 2026 NHL Draft.

In exchange for Hathaway, 50% retention of his $2.4 million cap hit, and a 2026 sixth-round pick, the Flyers received a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

After adding Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa, the Panthers continue to add experienced, physical players who can help them win now.

As for the Flyers, they clear a roster spot, a contract spot, and $1.2 million in cap space while adding even more draft capital.

They do, however, lose an important leader who played some hard minutes for head coaches John Tortorella and Rick Tocchet.

The Hathaway trade clearly indicates that the Flyers feel their young players are ready to step into greater leadership roles, and this gives a veteran who accepted a reduced role a chance to win a Stanley Cup elsewhere.

Just months ago, the Flyers did the same with tough guy Nick Deslauriers, trading him away for free, and he won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes and was subsequently rewarded with a two-year extension.

Hathaway, 34, stumbled to just one goal and two assists in 66 games for the Flyers last season, but finishes his career in Philadelphia with 18 goals, 23 assists, and 41 points in 215 games, the second-most he's played with any team in his 11-year NHL career.

As Montreal Canadiens fans get ready to experience the next season without Brendan Gallagher wearing the Sainte-Flanelle, the mayor of Montreal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, has named the alternate captain an Honorary Citizen.

By definition, an Honorary Citizen is someone with a lasting impact on the well-being of Montrealers through their actions, art and commitment. According to the city’s website, the distinction was first granted in 2002, and no other Canadiens players have ever received it.

Canadiens’ Caufield Cares About Montreal And Its People
The Pressure Just Went Up For Canadiens GM Hughes
Could The Canadiens Land A Big Bounce-Back Candidate?

The honor was last bestowed in 2023 on Roger Thibault and Theo Wouters, the first same sex couple to be civilly united in Canada. Before them, Commandant Robert Piché had received it in 2022, after Lucien Bouchard, Louise Harel, and Louise Forrestier had received it, amongst others, in 2021. The ceremony will be held on Thursday at 3:00 PM.

While some may question how a hockey player can make a lasting impact on Montrealers’ well-being, it’s easy to understand when you think back to the mood in the City when the Canadiens make a deep playoff run, something they experienced for the first time in five years last spring. Furthermore, over the years, Gallagher has been involved in numerous fundraising efforts and has made a lasting impact both on and off the ice.

In 14 seasons with the team, Gallagher has skated in 911 games, picking up 487 points, including 246 goals, and has become a fan favourite thanks to his rugged style of play, grit, determination, and dedication to the team. At 34 years old, the veteran has become surplus to requirements in the Canadiens’ lineup and, on dressing-room clear-out day, announced that he would be moving on.

There have been rumblings about his being traded to the Vancouver Canucks ever since, but no deal has been made. Should the Canadiens be unable to move him and his $6.5 million cap hit, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them buy him out to allow him to start afresh and sign a less onerous contract with another team, since he has made it clear that he has no interest in sticking around if he's not going to play.

Since announcing his upcoming departure, the winger has received an outpouring of love from the fans and was also named the Sports Personality of the Year by the Cummings Center Foundation. This weekend, he will also take part in a signing session at Memorable Authentic in Mascouche, giving fans what is likely their last opportunity to meet him.

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

The Chicago Blackhawks made a big trade on Tuesday that involved sending the 4th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Buffalo Sabres, with defenseman Bowen Byram coming the other way.

On Wednesday, the Blackhawks made Kyle Davidson available to the media, and he went over a variety of topics. Of course, he started by addressing the trade that had taken place the day prior. 

"This was a value that we put on a really, really good young player in Bo," Davidson said. "He fits the style of play we want to play."

There is a lot of value to adding a defenseman like Byram to this group. For one, he's a great offensive defenseman who continues to work on his game in his own end. He is also a Stanley Cup champion with a pedigree of winning in the NHL with two different organizations. It will be helpful for the younger guys to have him around. 

"Our young players like Sam Rinzel and Arty Levshunov are going to sit behind Bo and learn from him," Davidson said. "It's immediate help. [He] makes us a better team." 

The Blackhawks have already drafted several defensemen over Kyle Davidson's tenure. They are all working their way to being good in the NHL, but it takes time, especially with that position. Byram was no exception to that rule earlier in his career. Now, he's at a point where he is ready to be a number one ahead of their youth. 

There was some backlash against this move for Chicago. They gave up a lot to get Bowen Byram, including their number one trade chip in the number four overall pick. Davidson said that Byram doesn't have to do anything specific to make it a positive return on investment because his natural progression is going to be the value.

"I think we look at a young defenseman who's not only accomplished, but one that is not done getting better or growing his own game and own profile," Davidson said. "We feel that over the next couple of weeks, we can find [a contract] where we can make sure he's here for a long time. He's already one of the top 5-on-5 play drivers in the league before he even gets on the first power play unit. We're going to provide the opportunity to become one of the top defenseman around the league."

The draft picks weren't the only pieces given up for Byram. Chicago also sent Louis Crevier, who had a great year going from the team's 7th defenseman to the top pair in 2025-26, to Buffalo. 

"You've got to give to get. [Crevier] was part of the give," Davidson said on sending Crevier away. "In our estimation, we had to provide something of value, and obviously Buffalo felt that too." 

Kyle Davidson was asked about Connor Bedard as well. He made it clear that they are going to keep any conversations about his pending contract situation private. He won't reveal anything until a deal is complete.

When it comes to finding a legit NHL linemate for Bedard, it sounds like Davidson is confident in what they have currently, while also acknowledging that they are always looking. 

Davidson highlighted Roman Kantserov during this discussion, who is coming over after leading the KHL in goals last year. He said that if they signed him as a free agent rather than drafting and signing him, people would be more confident in him as Bedard's potential winger. 

It is curious to assume that a rookie coming from overseas is going to step into the NHL and be a capable winger for one of the game's best young centers, but that is the direction that they are choosing to go. 

Speaking of free agency, Davidson was asked about Ilya Mikheyev's situation, and he confirmed that it is likely that he tests the open market on July 1st. Davidson didn't completely rule out Mikheyev's return, but the player is going to go shopping. 

Going back to Bowen Byram later in the presser, Davidson didn't hesitate to use the word elite. Byram being elite, according to Davidson, will go into their commitment to paying him good money for a long time. 

"We believe in this guy," said Davidson. "We believe he's a very good player, and one that can be elite. We need to respect that and honor that. That's something we have to reckon with in the negotiations. We're ok paying great players."

It wouldn't be very surprising if Byram extends right away on July 1st. With the way he spoke about Chicago and the way Davidson spoke about him, it seems like a mutual interest. 

"We all want to improve. We all want to take meaningful steps. That's the motivation." 

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

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 on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

A blockbuster trade completed between the Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks could have major ramifications on the New York Rangers’ fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday night. 

The Blackhawks acquired defenseman Bowen Byram from the Sabres in a trade that included the fourth overall pick. 

With Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Caleb Malhotra projected to be selected with the first three picks in the draft, it was widely speculated that the Blackhawks were looking to draft Chase Reid. 

That would have left the Rangers with their pick of the other top defensemen, including Alberts Šmits, Carson Carels, and Keaton Verhoeff. 

However, the Sabres, unlike the Blackhawks, are loaded with top-end defensemen, but could certainly use reinforcements at the forward position. 

That’s why, instead of selecting Reid, the Sabres may look to target the projected second-best center, Viggo Björck. 

According to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, Björck could find his way into the top five of the draft now that the Sabres hold the No. 4 pick. 

This would clear the pathway for the Rangers to go ahead and pick Reid, as there’s now more of a possibility he’s available at their pick with this Byram trade in place.

The title a nod to song from a certain movie, anyways it’s difficult to draft NHL players. NHL teams are tasked with scouting players mostly when they are 16 and 17 years old and have to try and rank what they will be as fully formed adults. Needless to say, it’s not an exact science and a process that ends up with more misses than hits. Our results of making picks alongside the Penguins at their spot in the draft has gone about the same way. Here’s the last decade of fake vs real drafting.

Well, on the plus side at least four out of the five mock picks prior to 2025 that we made played in the NHL last season. That’s better than the Pens ended up with in reality. A player like Hoglander has spun his wheels professionally in recent years (really, he might just need to get out of Vancouver ASAP to benefit his career) and might not be looking to be as proud of a pick as it might have seemed a couple years ago when he produced a 24-goal season. Hoglander’s recent career plateau aside, he worked out a lot better than the actual pick of Sam Poulin did.

The real Pittsburgh 2020 first round pick got traded in the last minute to Toronto for Kasperi Kapanen. The Maple Leafs ended up using that pick to select forward Rodion Amirov, who sadly passed away in 2023 after battling brain cancer. The Penguins ended up getting 162 games and 82 points (29 goals + 53 assists) out of Kapanen before waiving him in 2023 and seeing him go to St. Louis. Zary, for his part, has 86 points (and some good defensive metrics) in 191 games with Calgary. So I guess there’s a case to be made that the Pens would have been better off in the long run for holding onto their pick depending on what they did with it, but then again they wanted a NHL forward for 2020-22 to help their late-stage contention windows and it ended up not panning out since Kapanen didn’t help push the team that far forward while he was on it, and then was jettisoned as a bad contract to allow more cap space via dropping him for nothing.

2022 isn’t looking to great either for our pick, or for the Penguins after draft+4. Ivan Miroshnichenko has only played 52 career NHL games, mostly as a spare part forward. He has become an excellent AHL player but needs to make a big move soon if he’s going to establish himself. Owen Pickering, well we’ve all spent a lot of time on his case. We remain convinced former Penguins GM Ron Hextall thought/hoped he had found Travis Sanheim 2.0 when he drafted Pickering – unfortunately though, at this point there’s enough evidence to say that he got Temu Sanheim instead. Pickering might go on to play NHL games in a modest role, it looks like he will fall short of his draft day ceiling of a matchup defender that could have played up the lineup.

We have plans for a victory lap in 2023, Matthew Wood scored 17 goals and put up 30 points in the NHL in his draft+3 season with Nashville. That’s the dream development curve from a mid-first round pick these days, gotta see some flashes and pay off fairly early on to indicate a potential real factor/difference-maker. Yager didn’t do much in the AHL, but was called up for a few meaningless games once Winnipeg was eliminated last season. Who knows what that means for the future, some predictive models aren’t too high on Yager’s chances at all right now. That doesn’t truly matter to the Pens now, of course, since they flipped Yager for Rutger McGroarty, who hasn’t yet established himself either.

Victory lap plans might be canceled after seeing the Pens pull Ben Kindel from deep in the weeds. That’s why the pros are pros! However, for his part Eklund had a great 2025-26 in the top Swedish league and a great WJC tournament. He also popped over to the AHL and scored 10 points in nine regular season games, and recorded an assist in one NHL game late last year. Eklund had a very encouraging draft+1 to suggest there’s a real player in there.

The Pens could have had Eklund at 12, but instead opted to trade down and ended up coming out of the first round with Bill Zonnon and Will Horcoff when the dust settled. It’s not hard to see why Pittsburgh with a lack of talent would want more quantity – it also makes sense that they wouldn’t be interested in drafting two forwards with similarly small frames like Kindel+Eklund and diversify the profile of player they got by adding larger forwards to their prospect portfolio. That reasoning aside, this area of how Zonnon+Horcoff vs. Eklund works out will be worth watching for developments in the way Yager/McGroarty has been a very deep-in-the-weeds type of minor storyline over the past few years.

—

For this year’s draft, I’m going to use scouchsim.com on 25% random to predict who was selected in the first 21 picks. This process is inexact for the real world events on Friday night, and obviously can’t predict if Pittsburgh will trade up or down in reality, but is about as good as it’s going to get for a reasonable way to set the stage of what players could be out there at the time of the selection. In our side quest, we’ll simply stick with the 22nd pick and not get too creative.

After running the sim, here were the top ranked players available:

To an extent, I considered all of these names at least momentarily. The trouble with picking in the area of 22nd is that you know there will be a good future NHLer or two available crowded around a handful that won’t amount to much at the top level. Sorting through and deciding what will end up 4+ years from now is the guess work of today, both for us and for teams picking towards the end of the first round.

NHLe helps as a guide for previous production as projection of how the future unfolds. It loves Tommy Bleyl (12% chance of star outcome of being in the top 15% of WAR/82, and a 64% chance of becoming an NHLer to play in 200 games) as one of the top profiles in the whole draft by this metric. Hurlbert (7% chance of star and 64% becoming an NHL player) ranks highest among the available selections as well, presenting what becomes the two finalists to spell out the thought process. For Bleyl, the question becomes is he going to develop into more of a Axel Sandin-Pellikka or a Calen Addison type of future. It’s a worthy rhetoric to wrestle with. For Hurlbert, it’s more about future position as a center or wing – with a default consensus coming into the draft that he will likely play on the wing as a pro.

In the end, we’ll make Bleyl the official Pensburgh choice, not meant to be predictive of what Pittsburgh will do (we’ll take a stab at that in a full first round mock draft tomorrow). You can check out more on Bleyl from what we wrote earlier in the week. Bleyl’s offensive upside, skating, right shot make him a prospect worth rolling the dice on at this point of the draft. Our fictional prospect pool could use that style of player, as could virtually any real NHL organization that always has a hunger and emphasis on right shot defenders with skill.

BUFFALO, NY -- The New York Islanders will look to bolster their prospect pool when they select at No. 13, No. 109, No. 141, No. 173, and No. 205.

Since Sunday, FOUR first-round picks in the 2026 #NHLDraft have been dealt in FIVE different trades (No. 4, No. 9, No. 16, & No. 25)! 😳

Here's an updated look at the order of selection for Friday's first round!

Watch Round 1 of the 2026 Upper Deck #NHLDraft on June 26 at 7p… pic.twitter.com/AFodVTj0lB

— NHL (@NHL) June 24, 2026

The Islanders' prospect pool has taken tremendous strides over the last few years, so let's take a look at the pipeline, which includes players 25 and under, even if they are pending restricted free agents at the moment and have yet to play a full NHL season.

It does not include players who have signed AHL deals or players who are Group 6 UFAs. 

C: Danny Nelson, Kamil Bednarik, Luca Romano, Gleb Veremyev

LW: Maxim Shababov, Cole Eiserman, Quinn Finley, Victor Eklund, Daylan Kuefler, Tomas Poletin, Alex Jefferies

RW: Daniil Prokhorov, Matthew Maggio, Jacob Kvasnicka, Joey Larson

LD: Isaiah George, Kashawn Aitcheson, Marshall Warren, Jesse Pulkkinen, Calle Odelius, Xavier Veilleux, Dennis Good Bogg, Zach Schultz, Sam Laurila

RD: Tomas Machu

G: Dmitry Gamzin, Henrik Tikkanen,  Joshua Kotai, Burke Hood

As you can see, there's a heavy need for the Islanders to add to the right side of their blueline pipeline. 

According to BPM Sports and RG’s Marco D’Amico, Matthew Knies’ name is making the rounds in the NHL ahead of the draft. The Toronto Maple Leafs winger was heavily rumored to be the mysterious acquisition that fell through for the Montreal Canadiens on trade deadline day.

Word of discussions with Buffalo and the 4th overall pick.

San Jose also said to be of interest here as well.

Montreal remains interested, but hard to compete with the above teams. https://t.co/OAwk8WMzg1

— Marco D'Amico (@mndamico) June 24, 2026

D’Amico reports that the Leafs are not sure if they’ll move him, but they are certainly testing the waters to see what he could land them. He adds that the Buffalo Sabres, who now own the fourth overall pick in the first-round of the upcoming draft on Friday, are interested just like the San Jose Sharks and the Canadiens. However, given that Buffalo does have the fourth overall pick to offer, it will be tough for Montreal to compete.

Canadiens’ Caufield Cares About Montreal And Its People
The Pressure Just Went Up For Canadiens GM Hughes
Could The Canadiens Land A Big Bounce-Back Candidate?

It’s worth remembering that the Leafs already have the first overall pick and that, after missing the playoffs and firing both their coach and general manager, they are looking for a quick reset rather than a full rebuild. However, there have been reports of Morgan Rielly giving them a list of teams he’d be willing to be traded to. If that were to happen, chances are Toronto would actually need some roster players to fill the void and not just futures. That could be the Canadiens’ in.

The 32-year-old left-shot defenseman has been a huge part of Toronto’s defense for years, and the Canadiens do have a lot of options on that side of defense. Furthermore, as evidenced by the Bowen Byram trade which took place between the Sabres and the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this week, defensemen can land you a sizeable return.

At this stage, one can wonder if it wouldn’t be wise for the Canadiens to dangle the name of an established defenseman in front of their divisional rival, such as Kaiden Guhle. While he wouldn’t land them Knies on his own, he may be a good starting point for the conversation, especially if the Canadiens are willing to add a top prospect such as Alexander Zharovsky to the package. The skillful winger is held in high regard in the league, and most agree that he should have been a first-round selection at the last draft. 

Michael Hage’s name has also been rumoured to be of interest around the league, but it’s hard to see how the Canadiens could even entertain moving him if the return doesn’t include an established second-line center.

While Knies isn’t a pivot, he would fill a sizeable need for the Canadiens. The 6-foot-3 and 232-pound forward has 160 points in 240 career games with the Leafs, including 66 points in 79 games last season. Furthermore, he landed 152 hits playing on Toronto’s top six. If he were to join Ivan Demidov on the Canadiens’ second line, he could be the big winger who’s tasked with puck retrieval along the boards, much like Juraj Slafkovsky does with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

His physicality would be a great addition for the Habs, especially around playoff time. The former second-round pick from the 2021 draft has really paid off for the Leafs and is signed for another five years with a $7.75 million cap hit, which would fit in very nicely with the Canadiens’ salary structure. 

---

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

Subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. 

The main event for the 2026 NHL draft across the league and for the Toronto Maple Leafs will be the first overall pick and who they'll take with that grand opportunity.

While they're sure to get a talented youngster with the No. 1 pick of Friday's draft, they have an important pick in the second round of the draft, the 60th overall pick, which will come on Saturday.

There are a handful of enticing prospects to take with that selection, and history says that the Maple Leafs will make a great pick with No. 60. In fact, Toronto has been fairly solid picking players around the 50 to 65 range.

Here's a quick look at how the Leafs have fared with second-round picks in recent memory.

Tinus Luc Koblar, 64th Overall (2025)

Though he hasn't made an impression in the NHL yet, Tinus Luc Koblar has proven to be a promising prospect for the Maple Leafs, after the team drafted him 64th overall in the 2025 NHL draft.

What makes Koblar particularly impressive is his campaign at the 2026 IIHF World Championship for Norway. The 18-year-old center scored six goals and nine points in 10 appearances for his country, leading the team in scoring and to their first-ever bronze medal at the competition.

He recently signed his entry-level contract with the Leafs.

'My Game Got More Professional': Maple Leafs Prospect Tinus Luc Koblar Speaks On NHL Future, Personal DevelopmentToronto Maple Leafs prospect, Tinus Luc Koblar, impressed the hockey world with his performance at the 2026 World Championship for Norway. In a recent interview, he shared his thoughts on his personal development, how that tournament went for him, and his NHL future.

Fraser Minten, 38th Overall (2022)

Fraser Minten is a much earlier pick than the other names on the list. Nonetheless, he was a second-round selection by the Maple Leafs in 2022, and he's been a solid player in the NHL since.

Minten has played 107 regular-season games, along with six playoff contests in his short NHL career. He played his first full season in the league last year for the Boston Bruins, featuring in all 82 games and putting up 17 goals and 35 points.

Matthew Knies, 57th Overall (2021)

Matthew Knies is easily the best draft pick the Maple Leafs have made in recent years. Now, at 23-years-old and three full seasons in the league to this point, Knies has cemented himself as a star in Toronto.

Knies registered his second straight 20-goal season and set new personal bests in the assists and points departments, recording a total of 23 goals and 43 assists for 66 points.

In the 2025 off-season, he earned himself a contract extension worth $7.75 million per season across six years and has been labelled as one of the Leafs' most valuable assets.

'We're Going To Evaluate Everything' Maple Leafs' John Chayka Speaks On Matthew Knies Trade RumorsWith conversations regarding Matthew Knies and the possibility of him being traded, Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka spoke to those rumors on Friday.

Nick Robertson, 53rd Overall (2019)

Even if it feels like he's always needing to prove himself, Nick Robertson has blossomed into a legit regular NHL player over the past couple of years.

Robertson, 24, is coming off a career-high season, marking 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 78 appearances for the Leafs, and that's while averaging 12:40 of ice time.

The 5-foot-9 left winger has struggled to earn top-six minutes in Toronto, but whether he climbs into that realm next season or with another team eventually, he can certainly be a steady 20-goal scorer.

Sean Durzi, 52nd Overall (2018)

Sean Durzi has never made an appearance with the Maple Leafs, as he was a part of the trade that saw Toronto acquire Jake Muzzin in January 2019. However, there's no denying that he has been a solid NHL blueliner since entering the league in 2021-22.

Arguably, Durzi has been a top-four defenseman with the Los Angeles Kings and now the Utah Mammoth.

His best campaign came in 2023-24 when he was with the Arizona Coyotes. The Mississauga, Ont., native provided 41 points and averaged 22:43 of ice time in 76 contests. In his five-year career, Durzi has featured in 302 regular-season games and averaged 20:28 of ice time on the back end.

Maple Leafs Full Order Of Selection For The 2026 NHL Draft Officially RevealedThe Maple Leafs have eight draft picks in the 2026 NHL Draft, including the No. 1 overall pick.

Some other notable names that the Maple Leafs have drafted in the second round include Carl Grundstrom, Travis Dermott, Jimmy Hayes, Nikolay Kulemin and Matt Stajan.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

---

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 or creating your own post in our community forum.

The Hockey News recently inquired about the Colorado Avalanche targeting Mason Marchment in free agency this summer. General manager Joe Sakic, however, went a step further by acquiring a younger, more physical version of him.

Zachary L’Heureux was acquired from the Nashville Predators as part of the Jack Drury trade on Wednesday. Colorado also sent prospect Chase Bradley and a third-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft to Nashville in a deal that also brought Fedor Svechkov to the Avalanche organization. On paper, it’s a multi-layered swap that addresses both immediate depth and long-term upside.

Over the past two seasons, the Avalanche have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in part because more physical, gritty teams have been able to wear them down in key moments. It’s not just about talent matching anymore — it’s about the ability to handle contact over a long series and still execute at pace. That gap has shown up when games tighten and space disappears.

The Dallas Stars eliminated Colorado in seven games in the 2025 postseason, a series in which the Avalanche were repeatedly on the receiving end of heavy contact and retaliation sequences. Roope Hintz high-sticked Nathan MacKinnon in the face and back of the head, while Jamie Benn cross-checked Valeri Nichushkin in front of the net and along the boards. The response from Colorado’s side was inconsistent, and the power play was largely ineffective, which ultimately became a deciding factor in the series.

This season, the frustration only deepened as expectations rose even higher. The Avalanche finished with 121 points, a franchise record and one of the highest totals in NHL history, while also leading the league in both goals scored and fewest goals allowed. That combination usually translates into a deep playoff run, especially for a team that also secured the most points before the Christmas break since the stat began being tracked in 1972, opening the year 27-2-7.

After sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and defeating the Minnesota Wild in five games, it looked as though Colorado was finally set for a true Stanley Cup push. The roster was rolling, the structure was intact, and the depth scoring was showing up at the right time. Instead, the Vegas Golden Knights swept the Presidents’ Trophy winners out of the playoffs in a series that turned quickly and decisively.

And one of the reasons Vegas won that series was their clear edge in physical play from the opening puck drop. The Golden Knights didn’t just match Colorado’s pace — they forced them into a different kind of game entirely, where every entry became contested and every loose puck came with contact. Over time, that pressure built into something Colorado couldn’t solve.

The turning point came in Game 3, when Colorado built a 3-0 lead before giving up five unanswered goals in a collapse that shifted the entire series. From that point forward, Vegas leaned into a tighter, heavier structure that eliminated clean looks in the offensive zone. The Avalanche were pushed to the perimeter and forced into low-percentage chances far more often than they were used to.

The physical gap showed up every night in the numbers and in the eye test. Ivan Barbashev finished the playoffs with 110 hits, setting the tone for a Vegas group that included Colton Sissons, Keegan Kolesar, Brett Howden, and Cole Smith. Each shift carried weight, and Colorado’s puck carriers rarely had time to settle.

In fact, six of the top 10 hitters in the playoffs were Golden Knights. And if you guessed how many Avalanche players finished in the top 10 — zero, you’re right. Zero. No Avs in the top 25 either, which only reinforced how one-sided the physical category became over the course of the series. 

That trend has become part of a larger conversation around Colorado’s postseason identity. It’s not that the Avalanche lack skill — they clearly don’t — but the way games are called and played in late May often strips away space, and that’s where physical teams gain control. Vegas understood that better than anyone in the series.

Now the Avalanche are finally acknowledging—perhaps reluctantly—that the years-long strategy of chasing immediate help and spending future assets under Chris MacFarland didn't fully solve the roster's underlying issue. The organization spent years prioritizing skill and short-term upgrades, but the lack of physical edge eventually caught up to Colorado when it mattered most. The roster was built to dominate the regular season, yet it lacked the pushback necessary to withstand the grind of the postseason.

The addition of L’Heureux is the latest attempt to change that equation. He brings an edge Colorado has been missing — not just in terms of physicality, but in the way he can disrupt rhythm and tilt a shift. He’s expected to slide into a flexible fourth-line role under Jared Bednar alongside Fedor Svechkov and Parker Kelly, giving the Avalanche a heavier, more disruptive look at the bottom of the lineup.

He’s also shown he can produce when given opportunity. In 30 games with the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville’s AHL affiliate, he posted 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points, along with four points in limited NHL action. Svechkov brings a two-way foundation, while Kelly adds speed and a career-high 21-goal season, giving that line a more balanced identity than Colorado’s depth has had in recent years.

The Avalanche now sit with just under $5 million in cap space, which leaves room for flexibility but not major swings without corresponding moves. If they explore moving Valeri Nichushkin for draft capital and relief, it could open the door to additional changes that further reshape the bottom of the roster.

If nothing else, this feels like a shift in tone more than a finished product. Not a full identity change yet, but a clearer understanding that what works in the regular season doesn’t always survive the grind of May and June.

The Carolina Hurricanes announced Wednesday evening the re-signing of Chicago defenseman, Juuso Valimaki. His new contract will pay him $900,00 next season, whether he plays in the NHL or AHL.

Valimaki has plenty of NHL experience and is a previous first round draft pick by Calgary, (16th overall in 2017). He will probably be battling Charles Alexis Legault and Joel Nystrom for the seventh spot on the Carolina blueline, (as things are now).

The official press release is below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 24, 2026

‘CANES SIGN JUUSO VALIMAKI TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT

Defenseman has registered 72 points (11g, 61a) in 271 career NHL games

RALEIGH, NC – Eric Tulsky, General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed defenseman Juuso Valimaki to a one-year contract. The deal will pay Valimaki $900,000 for the 2026-27 season.  

Valimaki, 27, was acquired by the Hurricanes on Jan. 5 in exchange for future considerations. The Tampere, Finland native split the 2025-26 season between Tucson and Chicago in the American Hockey League (AHL), totaling 23 points (7g, 16a) in 27 regular-season games, and adding 14 points (5g, 9a) in 21 playoff games to help the Chicago Wolves reach the Calder Cup Final. Originally selected by the Calgary Flames in the first round, 16^th overall at the 2017 NHL Draft, Valimaki has appeared in 271 career NHL games with Calgary, Arizona and Utah, totaling 72 points (11g, 61a). He has registered 55 points (13g, 42a) in 83 career AHL games with Stockton, Tucson and Chicago. Prior to turning professional, Valimaki spent three seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with Tri-City, tallying 138 points (40g, 98a) and 92 penalty minutes in 159 games. He was named to the WHL West Second All-Star Team in 2017 and 2018.

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

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here

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

Looking The Part—Dec 1, 2023 - VOL. 77, Issue. 07 - Carol Schram

SARTORIALLY, TANNER Molendyk should breeze through the adjustment from the WHL to the NHL.

Both his Saskatoon Blades and the Nashville Predators, who drafted him 24th overall in June, share a color scheme of blue, gold and white on their uniforms. So don’t blink, lest you mistake an image or video of him shutting down elite scorers as a leader on one of the WHL’s best bluelines with the footage of him accepting his first pro jersey in June or making his NHL pre-season debut less than three months later.

It was a split-squad day for the Predators and Florida Panthers on Sept. 25. Molendyk found himself in Sunrise with the assignment of defending a star-studded group of Stanley Cup finalists, including Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett. “I walked in the room, and I didn’t know what to expect,” Molendyk said. “I had no idea who they’re going to play. I looked at the lineup sheet, and I saw those names. I started shaking a little bit.”

Once the initial shock wore off, the 18-year-old embraced the moment and put his skills to the test – with positive results. “I thought I did good,” he said. “I thought I played my game. I kept guys to the outside, and I was up in the rush a bunch.”

Molendyk’s toolbox includes sublime skating, impressive edgework and natural athleticism, all traits that helped him rank high in multiple tests at the scouting combine. He feels his game is unique, but he also readily shares his admiration for Shea Theodore’s play. “I like the way he can break pucks out, and he’s evasive,” he said. “And he can move, too.”

Back in bantam, Molendyk picked up a valuable tip from coach Erin Thornton at Yale Hockey Academy – but he’s not telling. “I’m not going to spit it out, but that has always helped me,” Molendyk said. “I find, taking on anyone, there’s no real way to beat me. I think it’s just being more aware of what’s going on and your surroundings, not just focusing on one guy.”

In April, when NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2023 draft class – which some expect to eventually go down as one of the best – Molendyk had climbed to No. 28 among North American skaters. It didn’t hurt that the rankings came out just after the Blades overcame a 2-0 series deficit to take out Connor Bedard’s Regina Pats in seven games in the first round of the WHL playoffs. They then lost the first three games of their second-round series with Red Deer before stunning the Rebels in another seven-gamer.

On draft day, Molendyk rose even further. At No. 24, the kid from McBride, B.C., a village of less than a thousand people located on the Yellowhead Highway not far from Jasper, Alta., was welcomed to the stage at Bridgestone Arena in front of a partisan hometown crowd by Predators franchise legends Roman Josi and Pekka Rinne.

Three days later, the Preds’ development camp kicked off. Molendyk settled in with a familiar crew that included WHL defense prospects Luke Prokop and Graham Sward, spring and summer hockey buddy Matthew Wood from Vancouver Island, and a pair of teammates from the victorious Team White at the 2023 Top Prospects Game: Red Deer rival Kalan Lind and Dylan MacKinnon from the Halifax Mooseheads.

On the ice, the Predators instructed Molendyk to focus on taking his offensive game to the next level after he put up nine goals and 37 points for Saskatoon in his draft year. This season, with 2023 WHL coach of the year Brennan Sonne at the helm, Molendyk has been a key contributor at both ends of the ice as the Blades established themselves among the top contenders in the WHL’s Eastern Conference.

On the final day of Nashville’s development camp, just eight days after he was drafted, Molendyk put pen to paper on his entry-level contract – a perfect coda to wrap up an unforgettable first visit to Music City, which included an Independence Day celebration. “I don’t even have words, still, how electric that city is,” Molendyk said. “Walking down there during development camp when it was July 4 was nuts. It was crazy. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Soon enough, he could be seeing much more.

While the majority of the San Jose Sharks' attention is likely focused on the first day of the 2026 NHL Draft, as they now hold three first-round draft picks, they have five picks on the second day as well.

The second pick the Sharks currently hold on Saturday's portion of the draft will be a fourth-rounder that originally belonged to the Boston Bruins, the 120th overall selection. 

A number of productive players have been drafted with the 120th overall pick, one of which played over 1,000 games in the NHL. Steve Larmer was a mainstay on the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1980's and early 1990's before he finished his career with the New York Rangers. He played 1006 career games, scoring 441 goals and just narrowly finishing above a point-per-game pace with 1012 career points in the process. 

Mike Krushelnyski, mostly remembered for being a part of the Wayne Gretzky trade to the Los Angeles Kings in the modern age, was also drafted with the 120th overall selection and had a very respectable career. He finished his career with 897 games played, 241 goals and a total of 569 points.

Jaccob Slavin, Ben Chiarot, and current Sharks forward Philipp Kurashev are among the active players drafted with the 120th overall selection as well.