Russian winger Mikhail Ilyin climbs into the Top 10 ahead his fourth year with the Penguins organization as PensBurgh’s annual Top 25 Under 25 countdown continues.

Catch up on the previous entries for this year:

Pensburgh Top 25 Under 25: Graduates and Departed players in 2025
Top 25 Under 25: The best of the rest
#25: Chase Pietila, D
#24: Ryan Miller
#23: Finn Harding
#22: Peyton Kettles
#21: Zam Plante
#21: Brady Peddle
#20: Melvin Fernstrom
#19: Tanner Howe
#18: Tomas Galvas
#17: Pierce Mbuyi
#16: Jake Livanavage
#15: Owen Pickering
#14: Tristan Broz
#13: Avery Hayes
#12: Ville Koivunen
#11: Hendrix Lapierre
#10: Markus Ruck

#9: Mikhail Ilyin, RW/LW

2025 Ranking: No. 14

Age: 21 (February 15, 2005)

Acquired Via: 2023 NHL Draft, 5th round, 142nd overall

Height/Weight: 6’3”, 191 pounds

Elite Prospects resume:

Ilyin is the top remaining player in Dubas’ first draft with the Penguins back in 2023 now that Brayden Yager and Emil Pieniniemi are no longer with the organization.

After seeing his ice time and production steadily increase over his three full seasons in the KHL, Ilyin got his first chance to make a major impact in North America during Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s playoff run.

Ilyin signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins last May before rejoining the Severstal Cherepovets, for which he recorded a career-high 14 goals and 44 points through 68 games in Russia’s top league.

He was reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after Severstal was eliminated from the first round of the KHL playoffs.

A backhand-wraparound in OT! Wow, Mikhail Ilyin! pic.twitter.com/ABY0Naw4mz

— KHL (@khl_eng) January 21, 2026

Ilyin contributed in his AHL debut with a secondary assist on Atley Calvert’s goal against the Bridgeport Islanders.

He recorded seven points (one goal, six assists) in his first seven Calder Cup Playoff games.

Often while playing on a line with Tristen Broz and Ville Koivunen, Ilyin went on to tie Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty for second in the team scoring race with nine points (two goals, seven assists) across 15 playoff games.

His playmaking and speed were evident while setting up some key goals for his teammates during the Baby Penguins’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Calvie sends it home!

Donzo hits 40 points with the assist, and Mikhaïl Ilyin collects his first AHL point with the secondary! pic.twitter.com/ZnIcnnAvfg

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) April 10, 2026

Ilyin’s first goal in North America is a big one!! pic.twitter.com/QbGX05kMjP

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 5, 2026

BROZER STRIKES EARLY IN THE SECOND pic.twitter.com/NornaXVXwx

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) May 15, 2026

Mikhail Ilyin gets Game 5 of #WBSvsTOR started👀@WBSPenguins | #CalderCup

📺💻📲: https://t.co/xslzIvekI0pic.twitter.com/swOR6tmxY6

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) June 6, 2026

Ilyin, who turned 21 in February, already established himself as one of the most productive young wingers in the KHL.

Ranking as one of Wilkes/Barre’s top playmakers during the team’s postseason run indicated he could be ready to make a full-time move to the AHL next season.

As McGroarty told King Jemison of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about Ilyin during Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s playoff run, “He makes plays that I don’t even see when I’m watching from the bench.”

Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza said last year the organization expected Ilyin to come to the AHL in 2026, although director of player development Tom Kostopolous noted around the same time Ilyin would need to work on his skating first.

That improvement was seemingly visible in Wilkes/Barre’s playoff run, during which Ilyin was at times one of the fastest players on the ice.

There isn’t a clear path to Ilyin making a jump to the NHL in the near future because of the Penguins’ logjam at forward.

After signing Koivunen to an eight-year deal, the Penguins currently don’t have any immediate spots available for roster hopefuls like McGroarty, Broz, Avery Hayes or Ilyin.

Whether the Penguins make any more moves this offseason will impact the likelihood any of these AHL forwards get called up to the NHL at the start of the season. Until then, Ilyin could expect to start the second campaign of his entry-level deal in Wilkes/Barre.

The start of the NHL season is now just 44 days away, and as we inch closer to puck drop, we’ll take a closer look at each of the Montreal Canadiens’ players and what’s to be expected from them this season. We’ve already covered Nick Suzuki, Kaiden Guhle, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Phillip Danault, Jayden Struble, Cole Caufield, Oliver Kapanen, and Alex Newhook, so today we’ll look at 30-year-old centerman Jake Evans.

Evan will be playing the second year of a four-year contract extension, which carries a $2.85 million cap hit per season. After putting up 36 points in 82 games in his contract year (0.44 points per game), Evans put up 24 points in 68 games last season (0.35 PPG). After playing in all 82 games in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, the right-shot pivot was forced to miss four weeks of action after sustaining a knee injury in a December 20 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins when he was the victim of a knee-on-knee collision with Justin Brazeau. Thankfully for the Canadiens, they acquired Danault from the Los Angeles Kings earlier that day.

Canadiens Dobes Makes NHL Network Top 10 Goalies List
Canadiens Players Enjoyed Some Tennis Action
Canadiens Can Forget About Hage, For Now

Evans is and has always been a good depth forward for the Habs; when he finds himself playing on the top six, you know things aren’t going according to plan. While he will tell you that he doesn’t mind playing on the top six and that the way he plays doesn’t change when he does so, it’s easy to see that he doesn’t have the offensive instinct and the finishing touch of a real top-six NHL player. He did remarkably well in the postseason, playing alongside Demidov and Newhook, gathering 10 points in 19 games, but don’t expect him to start the season in that spot.

After scoring 22 goals in his rookie season, Kapanen should be given every opportunity to pick up where he left off when he “hit a wall” in the second part of the season, as often happens with rookies. As a result, Evans is likely to land on the third or fourth line, depending on how things play out at training camp. He will be battling it out with Danault for the third-line center role, and he should logically come out on top. Evans still has another two years on his contract, while the 33-year-old Danault is entering the final year of his.

When the Canadiens are a contending team, Evans should be on the fourth line with Kapanen patrolling the third line and Michael Hage pivoting the second line. Since Hage is unlikely to join the Habs until the very end of the season, the Toronto, Ontario native should spend at least another season on the third line, given that he’s likely to still be around for another two seasons, unlike Danault.

As always, Evans will be playing a key role on the penalty kill, but Danault should still be the one tasked with the end-of-game, lead-protecting missions alongside Suzuki, just like he was in the playoffs; that’s how Martin St-Louis will be able to provide both Evans and Danault with sufficient ice time.

It’s hard to project how many points Evans will be able to put up, as his role, providing everything goes according to plan with the Canadiens, should be more of a defensive one, but anything around 30 would be satisfying if he stays in the bottom six.

Last season, he had his best year faceoff percentage-wise, winning 55.9% of his draws, and that’s one area where he’ll be expected to keep on improving or, at the very least, remain as efficient. As the young Habs progress, his role should diminish, but since Hage opted to return to the NCAA for another year, Evans has another year to play an important role.

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The NHL’s annual summer team-by-team look has now rolled around to the Islanders. I’m not linking the fantasy outlook, but here are their posts about the non-fantasy team and prospects:

• The “inside look” includes quotes from Bo Horvat like, “I think Pete [DeBeor]’s going to be very good for us structure-wise and kind of laying the foundation. The buy-in from everybody’s just got to be there.” [NHL]
• Their “three questions” bit addresses the captaincy, Semyon Varlamov’s health and DeBoer’s impact. [NHL]
• Some “EDGE” stats: Matthew Schaefer is fast and dangerous, Ilya Sorokin is good at mitigating the dangerous, and Bo Horvat and Emil Heineman have been successful shooting from areas of less danger. [NHL]
• And the Islanders’ top prospect listing now includes single Malte, of course. [NHL]
• Sooo…we’ve got a navy lighthouse and a navy arched “ISLANDERS” in the finals for the third-jersey vote. Voting begins Tuesday, Aug. 18. I think in the interest of self-promotion I’m supposed to vote for the former, but even aside from that…arched letters within a straight horizontal bar is jarring. [Isles]
• More on the semifinals vote, with a booster clip from Barzal. [Isles]
• Islanders legend and former Senator and Bruin Zdeno Chara will hold a charity farewell game back home in Slovakia, in Pavol Demitra Arena. Ziggy Palffy and Jaroslav Halak will be there. [NHL]

Elsewhere

• Brad Marchand won’t be able to play in that testimonial (shame, shame) due to offseason surgery that may delay the start of his season. [TSN]
• Brandon Bussi, the first Suffolk County-born Cup champ, brings the Cup back home. [Post]
• Five teams facing intriguing salary cap decisions in the near future. [Sportsnet]
• Zach Werenski reiterates that Columbus is where he wants to be, making him a welcome outlier. [Sportsnet | NHL]
• Drake Batherson would still like an eight-year extension to remain in Ottawa, but the CBA deadline for that length is under a month away. [TSN]

It's officially another season, another prospects ranking for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

In years past, this has been a bit easier of an exercise, as there used to be a more clear-cut line between prospects with NHL upside and longshots. However, because of the work that general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and his staff have put in during the last several years, the line is blurring a whole lot more - and there is a substantially higher volume of talent in the system. 

This time around, making a top-20 list was challenging. So, a few criteria were put into place: To make our list, prospects must be under the age of 26 and have played less than 50 NHL games. This excludes names such as Ben Kindel, Filip Hallander, Oliver Okuliar, and Alexander Alexeyev.

At No. 9, we put a spotlight on Liam Ruck, who could continue to climb this list as he moves forward in his development. At No. 8, we look at defenseman who experienced a fair amount of growth in the back half of the 2025-26 AHL season and who the Penguins still believe has a place in their future. 

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No. 8: D Owen Pickering

Owen Pickering with a steal.

Ville Koivunen with a snipe.#WBSPens win in OT and it's 7-0-0 to start 2025-26.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/1ISSWMbyv6

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) October 26, 2025

For a while, it looked like Pickering, 22, had hit a wall in his development. The 6-foot-5, 206-pound blueliner has played in 29 career NHL games (one goal, three points), with only four of them last season involving mixed results. After showing some promise as a rookie in 2024-25 at the beginning of his NHL stint that year, he, arguably, started to regress a bit in the time that followed.

But, in the second half of the 2025-26 AHL season and into the Calder Cup Playoffs for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), he seemed to turn a corner. 

Many of the inconsistencies - particularly on the defensive side of the puck - began to iron themselves out over the course of the season. The lack of quick processing that was plaguing his professional game seemed to get up to speed, his skating improved, and he was becoming more of a two-way threat. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 9: Winger's High-Upside Offensive Toolset A Worthwhile Gamble In First RoundAt No. 9 on our 2026 THN Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list is the team's 22nd overall pick this year, who owns a lethal offensive toolset and could end up being one of Pittsburgh's highest-upside prospects in their system.

The biggest difference is that these things are no longer happening few and far between, and his less-than-ideal performances are happening fewer and farther between. That consistency and reliability is the one sticking point that the Penguins' development staff wanted to see growth in for Pickering, and he managed to accomplish that. 

And if Pickering can translate that consistency and reliability to the NHL level, the Penguins will be much better for it, especially on a left side that could use some higher-upside young blueliners. 

"We're really happy with how far he came [last season]," WBS assistant general manager Amanda Kessel said during development camp. "Instead of having one good game, one bad game, he's somebody that strung a lot together. There were still moments and times, but those were fewer and far between, and that's really what we're looking for. 

"Everything in the gym, too, he came back last summer even better, and [we] thought that he had a good start. And, so, we expect the same thing for him [this season]."

• 𝘈𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵
• 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦
• 𝘖𝘸𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨
• 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘯 𝘙𝘩𝘦́𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘦

These topics and more covered by Amanda Kessel today at Penguins Development Camp 📷 🎤 pic.twitter.com/sjhEm7BAco

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) July 2, 2026

Pickering finished the AHL season with seven goals and 28 points in 68 games in addition to a goal and four points in 11 playoff games. He showed capability running the second power play unit in WBS, and he also took on heavy penalty kill minutes. An injury limited him a bit during the playoffs and caused him to miss four games, but he was very good in all three zones during the 11 games that he played in. 

Development isn't always linear for defensemen - particularly, for big defensemen, who have to grow into their frame and learn how to use it properly at NHL speed - and the Penguins know this. Dubas, like Kessel, was happy with Pickering's progression last season, and he believes that he can be a contributor for the NHL club moving forward.

"You might say, going back to his time [with the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL], the coordination, balance... all those things that are common when you have a 6-foot-5, 180, then 190, 200-pound guy, it takes some time for that to come together. 

"But we've been very happy with the way that Owen [came on] in the second half of the year. I don't think you look at it and say it was anything truly dynamic, but it was steady, solid, reliable hockey, and that's what we're looking for him to develop into."

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 10: Center Will Be Player To Watch At Training CampNext up on THN's Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list at No. 10 is a two-way center who, with some better injury luck, should see more extended

The left side is a bit of a hodge podge for the Penguins right now, as they feature Sam Girard, Declan Carlile, Trevor van Riemsdyk (right-handed but plays both sides), Caleb Jones, and Jake Livanavage as other candidates to see NHL minutes. That said, the battle for positioning there is pretty wide-open considering the lack of true high-end talent on that side. 

So, this season could say a lot about both where Pickering is in his development and how soon - or if it all - the Penguins envision him as part of their future. Given his growth in the past year, he may need a bit of time to fully develop, but there is reason to believe he may just turn into a reliable, bottom-four NHL defenseman for them in the years to come. 

The list so far:

- Honorable mentions

- No. 20: D Chase Pietila

- No. 19: C Kale Dach

- No. 18: LW/C Ryan Miller

- No. 17: C Zam Plante

- No. 16: G Joel Blomqvist

- No. 15:C Markus Ruck

- No. 14:LW Tanner Howe

- No. 13:D Finn Harding

- No. 12:RW Avery Hayes

- No. 11:D Tomas Galvas

- No. 10:C Tristan Broz

- No. 9:RW Liam Ruck

- No. 8: D Owen Pickering

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 11: Newly Drafted Defenseman Has High IntrigueNext up on THN's Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list at No. 11 is a left blueliner new to the system who has shown some pretty high offensive upside and who could fill a glaring positional need for the Penguins in the future.

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There was a whole lot that went right for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2025-26, including a good second half that secured their first playoff berth in four years. 

For most, the second half saw individual surges, too, whether in terms of production or, simply, overall growth. But, unfortunately, that wasn't the case for everyone. 

One of the players who largely struggled in the back half of the season is big winger Justin Brazeau.

Brazeau, 28, signed a two-year deal with the Penguins last summer after his first full NHL season split between the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild. He got off to a raging start in 2025-26, registering 12 of his 17 goals and 20 of his 34 points before Jan. 1 - and, at one point early on in the season, he was the league's leading goal-scorer. His production tailed off pretty significantly in the second half, which resulted in some healthy scratches that extended into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

And given the way everything panned out on the forward front for general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas this summer, things aren't about to get any easier for Brazeau.

In addition to giving youngster Ville Koivunen an eight-year, $32 million extension, Dubas and the Penguins also added forwards Nicholas Robertson, Hendrix Lapierre, and Andrei Kuzmenko this offseason, which adds some talent to an already-crowded crop of forwards. That's not to mention the fact that prospects such as Rutger McGroarty, Tristan Broz, Tanner Howe, Avery Hayes, and Bill Zonnon will all be making pretty big pushes, too. 

It will be an uphill climb for Brazeau to be able to crack the lineup on a regular basis, and perhaps even a battle for him to avoid the waiver wire at the conclusion of camp. So, can he replicate what he did in the first half last season, or was his start a career anomaly that he probably won't repeat? 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 9: Winger's High-Upside Offensive Toolset A Worthwhile Gamble In First RoundAt No. 9 on our 2026 THN Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list is the team's 22nd overall pick this year, who owns a lethal offensive toolset and could end up being one of Pittsburgh's highest-upside prospects in their system.

For starters, much of his production last season came on a line with center Evgeni Malkin and winger Anthony Mantha, and that line found a lot of success with every player being at least 6-foot-5 and using that size to overwhelm opponents. But with Mantha leaving in free agency and Malkin's days as a center likely over, that line cannot be replicated. 

Maybe Brazeau was a product of his line's overall effectiveness, maybe he wasn't. But the one encouraging thing about him is that he has a nice set of hands and is good around the net-front. The 6-foot-6, 232-pound right winger is a master at redirecting pucks, stickhandling in tight spaces, and creating havoc at the net front.

Theoretically, if he could be paired with linemates who excel at puck distribution and getting pucks to the net, he should be able to gain some traction. He is a good enough forehecker that he can be an effective complementary piece on a line with a playmaking center and a primary scoring winger.

Evgeni Malkin with the aggressive face-off win finds Justin Brazeau in front for the goal 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/XalYXtRkLH

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 8, 2025

The issue is that, when Brazeau is not showing up on the scoresheet, he offers little else. He's not a particularly standout defensive player, he doesn't have the footspeed to drive the middle of the ice effectively, and he doesn't create all that much on his own. He has the ability and awareness to make some nifty plays, but much of that can be accredited to his long reach and stickhandling. 

Basically, Brazeau is a top-nine player, and top-nine minutes are going to be very hard to come by this season. He needs to have a standout camp in order to best the likes of Kuzmenko, Robertson, Koivunen, and Elmer Soderblom, and he needs to maintain consistency throughout the season if he is to hold down an earned lineup spot. 

The more forward depth the Penguins, have, the better, and Brazeau finding his form again would be a major development for them. Regardless, this season may be make-it-or-break-it for the late-blooming undrafted forward, as training camp could end up determining his fate for the 2026-27 season and beyond. 

Penguins New Forward Could This Season's Anthony ManthaThis Penguins forward has the potential to have an Anthony Mantha-like season.

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Most of this year's top unrestricted free agents have been signed at this point of the summer. While this is the case, there are still some pretty notable UFAs left looking for new homes.

Among the top UFA forwards left at this stage of the off-season just so happens to be a former Penguins winger: Reilly Smith. 

Smith remaining unsigned comes after he posted 16 goals, 10 assists, and 26 points in 69 games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. Overall, while he scored his most goals since the 2022-23 season, his point production was noticeably lower than in recent years. This is because from 2022-23 to 2024-25, he recorded at least 40 points. 

Although Smith's offense was lower than usual this past season, it is certainly possible that he could land a contract from an NHL team before the season is here. A team could consider taking a gamble on him if they feel that he can bounce back. Yet, at a minimum, he could be a solid addition for a team needing more offense in their bottom six.

Smith spent the 2023-24 season with the Penguins, where he posted 13 goals, 27 assists, and 40 points in 76 games. This would be his only season in Pittsburgh, as he was traded to the New York Rangers during the 2024 NHL off-season. 

At some point, overlooking Scott Wedgewood stops being an oversight and starts becoming a pattern.

The NHL Network’s latest ranking of the league’s top 10 goaltenders somehow managed to leave the Colorado Avalanche netminder off the list entirely, despite Wedgewood putting together one of the best seasons of his career and finishing fifth in Vezina Trophy voting.

And honestly, what more does the man have to do?

There is a legitimate argument for leaving Mackenzie Blackwood off the list.

Blackwood was still good for Colorado during what was an up-and-down season by his standards, finishing 23-10-2 with a .904 save percentage. He remained an important part of one of the NHL’s best goaltending tandems, but if someone wants to argue that Blackwood isn’t among the league’s 10 best goaltenders, that’s defensible — for now. 

Wedgewood is different.

There is an argument about whether he should be No. 4, No. 5 or No. 8.

There is no legitimate argument that he shouldn’t be in the top 10.

And there is a very strong argument that he should be in the top five.

The Numbers Are Impossible To Ignore

Wedgewood wasn’t merely a reliable veteran who benefited from playing behind an excellent Avalanche roster.

He was one of the best goaltenders in hockey.

Wedgewood finished the regular season tops in nearly every category with a 31-6-6 record, a .921 save percentage, a 2.02 goals-against average and four shutouts.

Those are elite numbers.

More importantly, the people who actually voted on the Vezina Trophy recognized it.

Wedgewood finished fifth in the voting and received two first-place votes, three second-place votes, and two third-place votes finishing ahead of several established goaltenders who routinely receive far more recognition than he does.

So when NHL Network releases a top-10 list and Wedgewood isn’t even on it, the obvious question becomes:

What exactly are we missing here?

The Vezina Argument Doesn’t Cut It

There was a legitimate debate surrounding Wedgewood and the Vezina Trophy finalists.

He wasn’t one of the three finalists, and there was a reasonable argument that his overall workload worked against him. He didn’t play as many games as some of the other elite goaltenders in the league.

That’s fine. 

But NHL Network isn’t announcing the Vezina finalists.

It’s ranking the top 10 goaltenders in the NHL.

Those are two very different things.

If Wedgewood finishing fifth in Vezina voting doesn’t guarantee him a spot in the top five, fine.

But how does it result in him being outside the top 10?

That’s the part that doesn’t make sense.

Then There Was The Olympic Snub

Wedgewood was also left off Canada’s Olympic roster.

Again, there were reasons to understand the decision. International hockey is different, experience matters and roster construction isn’t simply about picking the three goaltenders who had the best NHL seasons.

But his Olympic omission was another reminder that Wedgewood’s performance wasn’t receiving the recognition it probably deserved.

Now NHL Network has done it again.

This time, there isn’t a tournament roster to construct. There isn’t a three-goaltender limit.

It’s simply a list of the 10 best goaltenders in the NHL.

And Wedgewood isn’t there.

What’s the excuse this time?

Disrespect

Scott Wedgewood was one of the best goaltenders in the NHL last season. And you could legitimately argue that he has been outstanding for much of his two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche.

After arriving in Colorado via trade with the Nashville Predators in exchange for Justus Annunen on Dec. 1, 2024, Wedgewood went 13-4-1 with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in 19 games.

If you’re looking at that season alone, sure, you can make the sample-size argument. Maybe we needed to see more before declaring Wedgewood an elite goaltender.

But if you’re still clinging to the sample-size argument at this point, you’re running out of excuses.

Maybe Wedgewood isn’t better than Andrei Vasilevskiy. Maybe Connor Hellebuyck, Igor Shesterkin, Ilya Sorokin and Jeremy Swayman deserve to be ranked ahead of him.

That’s a legitimate debate.

But ranking Dan Vladar and Jesper Wallstedt ahead of Wedgewood is a different story.

Wallstedt allowed 16 goals against the Avalanche in Colorado’s second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series, which ended in a five-game defeat for the Minnesota Wild.

If we’re talking about the best goaltenders in the NHL, leaving Wedgewood out of the top 10 is difficult enough to defend.

Putting him behind those names?

That’s a joke. Scott Wedgewood deserves better. 

This past Friday, DetroitFree Press reporter Carlos Monarrez reported the Detroit Red Wings actually had an agreement in place to bring winger Anthony Mantha back to Detroit, only for the deal to collapse while owner Chris Ilitch deliberated on approving it. 

According to Monarrez, interim assistant GM Shawn Horcoff had the framework of the deal ready on the very day Steve Yzerman's removal as general manager was announced. NHL Rumor Report since indicated Detroit's offer was in the range of one year at $5 million.

Instead, fresh off a 33-goal breakout season, Mantha signed with the New Jersey Devils on a two-year, $9.5 million contract carrying a $4.75 million annual cap hit. The move raised some eyebrows given the season Mantha was coming off. Playing on a prove-it deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the winger set new career highs with 33 goals and 31 assists for 64 points in 81 games.

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Mantha, originally selected 20th overall by Detroit in the 2013 NHL Draft, spent six seasons with the organization, totaling 95 goals and 99 assists for 194 points in 302 games and stringing together four straight seasons of at least 36 points before the Red Wings moved on. Detroit sent him to the Washington Capitals in April 2021 in a trade that returned a 2021 first-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick, and forwards Jakub Vrana and Richard Panik.

From there, Mantha's career took him from Washington to Vegas to Calgary before he landed in Pittsburgh last summer on a modest, incentive-laden contract. He cashed in on that bet in a big way, delivering the best offensive season of his career and helping fuel a resurgent Penguins team down the stretch.

Had the reunion gone through, Mantha could have slotted into Detroit's middle six, served as a contingency plan if Patrick Kane doesn't return, or simply added scoring depth to a top nine that could use it. 

Whether the front-office turmoil played any role in how things unfolded is unclear, but the timing stands out. Detroit announced Yzerman's transition out of the GM role the same morning Mantha's signing with New Jersey became official.

Whatever the reason behind it, for the price the Devils ultimately paid to land a forward coming off a career year and carrying a proven 40-point floor, it's a missed opportunity that could sting for the Red Wings as the season unfolds.

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On Monday, exciting news dropped ahead of the release of the newest entry in the EA Sports NHL series, with NHL 27 set to arrive in early September. 

The new game brings back several fan-favorite elements, including the return of GM Connected franchise mode, along with more detailed, customized arena presentations across all 32 NHL teams, meaning Little Caesars Arena will finally look and feel more like the true home of the Detroit Red Wings.

The bigger headline, though, is that the NHL series is borrowing a concept from other EA Sports franchises like Madden and EA FC. NHL 27 is introducing a 99 Club, reserved for the handful of players considered the very best in the sport, distinguished by a perfect 99 overall rating.

 EA announced the first member of that club on Monday with Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who becomes the first player in the history of the NHL video game series to carry a 99 overall.

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

For the first time in EA SPORTS NHL history, there is a 99 Club. 🏆

And there could only be one first member.

Welcome to the Club, @cmcdavid97

Pre-order #NHL27 Deluxe Edition to play 7 Days Early on September 4th ➡️ https://t.co/RA3sJZHGhVpic.twitter.com/oG99czDYTH

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 17, 2026

The news kicked off plenty of speculation, including who might become the first player in Red Wings history to crack the 99 Club. The most obvious candidates are two players expected to be pillars of the franchise for years to come with defenseman Moritz Seider and winger Lucas Raymond. 

Both have drawn increasing attention from fans this offseason, with Seider earning wide praise for his continued development and Raymond, still just 24, producing at a near point-per-game pace.

Seider looks like the more obvious pick of the two as he was recently ranked the ninth-best defenseman in the league by NHL Network, and if his trajectory continues, the German blueliner could eventually take over the Red Wings' captaincy and become the face of the franchise, both in Detroit and potentially as the club's first-ever 99 Club member in the game.

Detroit won't be short on honorable mentions down the line, either. Prospects like Emmitt Finnie, Trey Augustine, Nate Danielson, Max Plante and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard could all develop into future candidates as the organization builds around its next wave of talent.

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Despite the New York Rangers’ struggles over the past two seasons, Igor Shesterkin is still widely considered to be one of the premier goaltenders in the NHL.

Shesterkin ranked No. 3 on NHL Network’s top 10 goalies list heading into the 2026-27 season. 

The only two goaltenders to be ranked ahead of Shesterkin are Andrei Vasilevskiy and Connor Hellebuyck. 

The other goaltenders on this list include Ilya Sorokin, Jeremy Swayman, Logan Thompson, Jake Oettinger, Dan Vldar, Jesper Wallstedt, and Jakub Dobeš. 

This past season, the 31-year-old goaltender recorded a 25-19-6 record, a .912 save percentage, and a 2.50 goals against average. 

“I could play way better, for sure,” Shesterkin said of his 2025-26 performance. “I was a little bit shocked when I checked my numbers. I was a little bit upset about it, but still it was top-four, top-five (in save percentage). I cannot say that’s pretty good, but still.”

During the 2024-25 season, Shesterkin signed an eight-year, $92 million contract extension with the Rangers, making him the highest paid goalie in the NHL, which still stands today.

The Montreal Canadiens have many promising young players. Among them is forward Zachary Bolduc, as the 23-year-old has had a nice start to his NHL career.

Bolduc has shown promise early on during his NHL career. During the 2024-25 season with the St. Louis Blues, he recorded 19 goals, 17 assists, and 36 points in 72 games. He followed that up by posting 12 goals and 30 points in 78 games during his first season with Montreal in 2025-26. 

Overall, in his first two full NHL seasons, Bolduc has shown that he can provide solid secondary offensive production and grit. Yet, it would not be surprising if he takes another step forward this campaign.

Bolduc has the tools to emerge as a top-six winger, and the Canadiens have a spot to fight for on their second line. With that, it would be huge if the 2021 first-round pick sees an increase in offensive production this campaign.

It is going to be very interesting to see what kind of season Bolduc can have for the Habs in 2026-27. There is a lot to like about his game, and it would be great for Montreal if he breaks out and becomes a true top-six forward. 

With how controversial their drafting has been, and with how little they have added externally this offseason, the Philadelphia Flyers are relying almost solely on internal development to take the next step in their rebuild.

That, in turn, places a lot of pressure on the young players the Flyers already have. Matvei Michkov, for example, is heading into a contract year, and expectations for Tyson Foerster will be greater after signing an eight-year contract extension earlier this offseason that will carry a $7.1 million cap hit once it kicks in.

Elsewhere in the system, though, the Flyers will hope for (and need) development from their less-established prospects.

Recent trade acquisition David Jiricek is now playing for this third organization since being drafted by Columbus in 2022, and while he is the favorite to secure an NHL job with the Flyers this season, that could change with even a minor slip-up in preseason or training camp.

Kareem Elshafey of EliteProspects put together his list of 10 former first-round picks who are under the most pressure to perform next season, and Jiricek made the cut as the only defenseman of the group.

"There’s a reason why he was drafted so high – he’s a right-handed defender with size, offensive ability, and can defend in tight spaces well. However, the shortfalls in his game have been such a hindrance that it has caused those features to become irrelevant for the most part. His much-discussed skating deficiencies aren’t exaggerated and are the source of lots of issues Jiricek has," Elshafey said of Jiricek.

Flyers Have Interesting Trade Target to Consider in Former Sharks 1st-Round PickThe Philadelphia Flyers must consider trying to tempt the San Jose Sharks into parting ways with prospect Filip Bystedt.

"In space, he’s vulnerable to getting beat by opposing skaters because of the concerns regarding his acceleration, lateral quickness, and transitions in and out of pivots. It shrinks the margin of error dramatically, as one wrong step or decision isn’t something he can easily recover from. Similarly, his defensive sense and decision-making have only compounded the problems in his own zone." 

Now, Elshafey did note that Jiricek, despite being only 22 years old, can't keep bouncing around teams hoping for an opportunity based on his talent forever, but the Flyers have done well with this kind of thing before.

Ryan Poehling was a directionless former first-round pick before becoming a legitimately good bottom-six center in Philadelphia, and the Flyers were able to flip him and a draft pick for Trevor Zegras, who scored a career-high 67 points last season after becoming an outcast in Anaheim.

Jamie Drysdale was hurtling towards bust territory even after the Flyers traded for him, but steady, large gains year over year have made him one of the better two-way defenders in the NHL.

Sean Walker was a throw-in in the Ivan Provorov trade, but the Flyers turned him into a machine before eventually flipping him for a first-round pick at the 2024 NHL trade deadline.

Dan Vladar was an unproven, injury=prone backup before last year, and now he is considered a top-10 goalie in the NHL by national media. Travis Sanheim would be a St. Louis Blue if it weren't for Torey Krug. The list goes on.

Will Flyers Afford Jiricek Same Time, Patience As Drysdale?The Philadelphia Flyers have only one path to getting the most out of David Jiricek: doing the same thing they did with Jamie Drysdale.

Another Flyer on Elshafey's list is center prospect Jett Luchanko, who finds his way here under very different circumstances.

The 2024 first-round pick was widely considered a reach when he was drafted 13th overall two years ago due to his perceived lack of offensive ability and the availability of other options, namely Konsta Helenius and Zeev Buium, on the draft board.

Luchanko is likely to be a full-time NHLer at some point, but the arrow is pointing more towards bottom-six forward than top-six forward, and the young speedster is running out of time to show that this trend will shift.

"There are flashes of playmaking, and to a much lesser extent goal-scoring, but those plays are largely built on his skating, meaning there’s not a whole bunch of variety in how he creates plays or space. Though Luchanko made the Flyers roster out of camp just a few months after being selected, it was clear that he wasn’t quite ready for that. The same thing happened the following season, and since then, he’s been just fine in the OHL and in a depth role at the World Juniors," Elshafey said of Luchanko.

"It would be a surprise if Luchanko didn’t become an everyday NHLer in some role due to his skating and never-ending motor, but whether he can produce enough offence to become a top-six forward is an entirely different question. Realizing that upside hinges on how much he can expand his offensive arsenal, and he’ll have to take steps in that direction this season."

The Flyers do not expect to have Luchanko back in the NHL again unless, or until, he proves that he is one of their 12 best forwards. Meaning, he isn't going to stick on the roster as an extra who will rotate in on occasion.

The 19-year-old is turning pro this season and is more than likely going to spend the year with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Exclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyIn an interview with The Hockey News, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere discusses his top prospects, former players, free agency, and more.

In 2025, Luchanko managed three assists in nine regular season games with the Phantoms, then added six assists in seven Calder Cup playoff games.

But, between those 16 AHL games, eight NHL regular season games, and an NHL playoff game, Luchanko has yet to score a goal, and that is the de facto biggest weakness in his game right now.

If he couldn't do it against players his age or younger at the junior level, it's unlikely Luchanko will flip a switch and do it against bigger, stronger, better, and more experienced players in the NHL, but time will have the final say.

Both Jiricek and Luchanko have clear paths to making a massive impact for the Flyers in the long run, but what happens next will ultimately be decided by them.

Heading into the 2026-27 San Jose Sharks season, a number of players will be chasing various milestones. Some of those milestones will be major, career-defining ones, while others will mark an important stepping stone for future accomplishments. 

The first player we're going to spotlight for a potential milestone is veteran forward Tyler Toffoli. Toffoli, 34, has been around the NHL for a decade and a half at this stage, and he's nearing a milestone that not many players are able to hit. Assuming he stays healthy and in the lineup on a nightly basis, he should play his 1,000th career NHL game in the Sharks' 31st game of the season against the New York Rangers on December 3.

A second round pick of the Los Angeles Kings during the 2010 NHL Draft, Toffoli spent the formative years of his career with the Sharks' rival. He spent eight seasons, and 515 games, representing Los Angeles to start his career before he became somewhat of a journeyman. He's gone on to play 119 games for the Calgary Flames, 89 for the Montreal Canadiens, 61 for the New Jersey Devils, 18 for the Winnipeg Jets, 10 for the Vancouver Canucks, and he's currently at 157 games with the Sharks. 

So far, there have been just 421 players in NHL history to record 1,000 career games played. A few active NHLers, namely Ian Cole of the Chicago Blackhawks, Taylor Hall of the Carolina Hurricanes, and unrestricted free agent Reilly Smith, have the possibility of hitting the 1,000 game threshold before Toffoli does though, as they're very close to the milestone themselves.

Toffoli's role with the Sharks heading into the season is a bit up in the air. Although he'll likely be taking a bottom-six spot this time around, he should have no issues being in the lineup enough to play his 1,000th career game.

The Calgary Flames enter the 2026-27 season with plenty of uncertainty, but also plenty of opportunity. This is a young team still searching for its identity, with several players facing important seasons as the organization continues to build toward the future.

There are no shortage of storylines heading into training camp. Some are obvious, while others could ultimately shape the direction of the season. From a veteran looking to get back to his best, to young players trying to establish themselves as part of the Flames’ long-term plans, these are three questions to watch closely as the season gets underway.

Can Jonathan Huberdeau Find His Game Again?

For the Calgary Flames, few questions carry more weight heading into the season than Jonathan Huberdeau.

The 33-year-old is coming off a frustrating 2025-26 campaign that was limited to just 50 games. He began the season dealing with the effects of a concussion suffered in a preseason collision before eventually returning to the lineup. Huberdeau finished the year with 25 points (10g, 15a), but managed four points (2g, 2a) over his final five games before the Flames shut him down for season-ending hip resurfacing surgery.

It was another difficult chapter for a player whose Calgary tenure has been a far cry from the 115-point season he put together with the Florida Panthers in 2021-22.

Over his four seasons with the Flames, Huberdeau has averaged 48.5 points and 72.75 games per season. Calgary needs more from him offensively, but his impact won’t be measured solely by points.

With a young roster taking another step, Huberdeau’s leadership will also be important. If he can return healthy and rediscover some of his offensive game, it could have a significant impact on the Flames’ season.

Can Connor Zary Break Out?

Not long ago, Connor Zary’s name was at the centre of plenty of trade speculation. That noise has quieted considerably in recent weeks, and for now, there doesn’t appear to be anything imminent.

That leaves an interesting opportunity for Zary.

The 24th overall pick from the 2020 NHL Draft finished last season with 12 goals and 25 points in 74 games. The production wasn’t what the Flames would have hoped for, but his usage is an important part of the story. Zary spent much of the season in a checking, fourth-line role rather than playing the top-six minutes he’s capable of handling.

At 24, this is a big season for him.

Whether Zary remains in Calgary or ultimately becomes part of a trade, there is still plenty of offensive upside there. A strong training camp, a little more confidence and a bigger opportunity could give him the chance to show what he can really bring.

For a young Flames team looking for internal growth, Zary becoming a legitimate offensive contributor would be a significant development.

What’s the Next Step for Zayne Parekh?

There was plenty to like about Zayne Parekh’s rookie season, but there was also an obvious area that needed work.

The 20-year-old, selected ninth overall in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, occasionally looked physically overwhelmed against the pace and strength of NHL competition. That’s not necessarily surprising for a young defenceman, but it will be one of the biggest areas to watch as he enters his second season.

Parekh finished with 9 points (4g, 5a) in 37 games, and while the numbers weren’t eye-popping, his offensive game showed noticeable growth as the season progressed. He looked more confident with the puck and increasingly comfortable making plays at the NHL level.

Now comes the next challenge.

Parekh needs to find the balance between the offensive instincts that made him a ninth-overall pick and the physical strength and defensive reliability required to become a dependable NHL defenceman.

A full summer of professional-level training should help. If Parekh can make that adjustment, the Flames could have another important piece of their young core ready to take a significant step forward.

The 2026-27 season provides an intriguing opportunity for the Vancouver Canucks. Starting this year, teams can assign one 19-year-old CHL player to the AHL instead of having to send that prospect back to junior. This means that top prospects can be shuttled between the NHL and AHL all season, rather than being stuck in the CHL after being sent down until their campaign comes to a close. 

According to two sources, including PuckPedia, a player is only eligible for the new rule if they turn 19 before the season starts. Depending on the exact wording, this could mean before September 16, when the new CBA takes effect, or September 29, when the regular season begins. It also looks like the rule will be limited to first-rounders only, but that detail hasn't been confirmed yet. 

For the Canucks, only one player meets the criteria this year. That player is Braeden Cootes, who turned 19 on February 9. Cootes spent last season in the WHL, where he recorded 63 points in 45 games and helped lead the Prince Albert Raiders to the WHL Final. 

As for Adam Novotný, he is ineligible for this exemption for the 2026-27 campaign. While the 2026 first-rounder will turn 19 before the end of 2026, his birthday is November 13, meaning he misses the cut. Novotný will return to the OHL and be a candidate for the 2027-28 season if the rule stays the same. 

Overall, it will be interesting to see how Vancouver utilizes this exemption. As mentioned, if the Canucks do use the exemption on Cootes, the 2025 first-rounder could be shuttled between Vancouver and Abbotsford in order to get experience at both levels. Ultimately, the new exemption is a smart move by the NHL as it allows younger players more opportunities to get NHL games as 19-year-olds. 

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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.