Category: NHL

Macklin Celebrini's stunning second season led to another honor as he was named one of the youngest captains in NHL history.

The San Jose Sharks released a video on Friday, Sept. 25, showing Hall of Famer and former Sharks captain Joe Thornton handing Celebrini a jersey with the "C."

Celebrini replaces Logan Couture (2019-25) and becomes the 11th full-time captain in franchise history. San Jose went without a captain last season.

"Your hard work, the way you lead our group, we just watched you in training camp going double shifts there," Sharks general manager Mike Grier told Celebrini in the video. "You're pushing the group, so this is a well-deserved honor."

Celebrini's promotion at 20 years, 104 days old is a logical progression for the 2024 No. 1 overall pick who's entering his third NHL season.

From one Sharks captain to another. Joe Thornton presented Macklin Celebrini with the C. pic.twitter.com/iqPYRsN2tW

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 25, 2026

The 2024 Hobey Baker Award winner as college hockey's top men's player is noted for his maturity and has put up big numbers on the ice. Following a 63-point rookie season, he broke San Jose's franchise record for single-season scoring last season with 115 points. The Sharks improved by 34 points and missed the playoffs by four points.

Celebrini was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player, as voted by his fellow players.

He also played for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal and finishing second in scoring with 10 points in six games. He was Canada's captain at the world championships.

This summer, the Sharks demonstrated Celebrini's value to the team by making him the NHL's highest-paid player with an eight-year extension averaging $18.8 million. That number since has been passed by Cale Makar's $20.4 million.

Celebrini received a national marketing honor, too, by becoming the youngest player to be featured on the cover of EA Sports' NHL video game.

He will be the youngest captain in the NHL this season. The Chicago Blackhawks named Connor Bedard captain at age 21 this offseason as he enters his fourth season.

Youngest captains in NHL history

Celebrini is one of the youngest captains in NHL history.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid was the NHL's youngest captain at 19 years, 266 days when he was named in 2016. Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog, Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier were also named captain before they turned 20.

Chicago's Jonathan Toews was 20 years, 79 days old when he was named captain.

List of NHL captains

Celebini is the sixth NHL captain named this month, joining the Anaheim Ducks' Mikael Granlund, Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty, Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard, New York Islanders' Bo Horvat and the St. Louis Blues' Robert Thomas. Here is a list of the 27 NHL captains and the five vacancies.

• Anaheim Ducks: Mikael Granlund
• Boston Bruins: Vacant
• Buffalo Sabres: Rasmus Dahlin
• Calgary Flames: Mikael Backlund
• Carolina Hurricanes: Jordan Staal
• Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard
• Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog
• Columbus Blue Jackets: Vacant
• Dallas Stars: Jamie Benn
• Detroit Red Wings: Vacant
• Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid
• Florida Panthers: Aleksander Barkov
• Los Angeles Kings: Drew Doughty
• Minnesota Wild: Jared Spurgeon
• Montreal Canadiens: Nick Suzuki
• Nashville Predators: Roman Josi
• New Jersey Devils: Nico Hischier
• New York Islanders: Bo Horvat
• New York Rangers: J.T. Miller
• Ottawa Senators: Vacant
• Philadelphia Flyers: Sean Couturier
• Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby
• San Jose Sharks: Macklin Celebrini
• Seattle Kraken: Jordan Eberle
• St. Louis Blues: Robert Thomas
• Tampa Bay Lightning: Victor Hedman
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews
• Utah Mammoth: Clayton Keller
• Vancouver Canucks: Vacant
• Vegas Golden Knights: Mark Stone
• Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin
• Winnipeg Jets: Adam Lowry

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Macklin Celebrini, 20, named San Jose Sharks captain

ST. PAUL, Minn. — David Spacek entered Minnesota Wild training camp facing an uphill battle to earn a spot on the NHL roster.

With the Wild now down to 27 players, the 23-year-old defenseman has made that decision much more difficult than it may have appeared at the start of camp.

Carson Lambos, Roman Schmidt and Matt Kiersted were among the defensemen placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment to Iowa. Ben Dexheimer and Viking Gustafsson Nyberg were sent directly to Iowa.

Spacek, however, survived the cuts.

And based on how the 23-year-old defenseman has performed throughout training camp, it isn’t difficult to understand why.

“Spacek’s had a very good camp,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “What I see with him more now is I think he’s stronger. He plays the right way. I think his ability to break out and move the puck has been good. Defensively, he’s been solid. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s got a good stick, uses angles.

“He’s been very, very consistent throughout camp.”

Spacek entered camp on the outside looking in when it came to Minnesota’s NHL blue line.

Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber opened camp together on the top pair, while Jonas Brodin skated alongside Jared Spurgeon. Olli Määttä and Zach Bogosian comprised the third pair, with Daemon Hunt and Spacek behind them.

But Spacek has done about as much as he could to make Minnesota’s decision more difficult.

The right-shot defenseman has looked comfortable moving the puck, defended well and continued the progression he showed last season.

Spacek recorded seven goals and 36 points in 59 games for Iowa last season and also received his first taste of the NHL, appearing in two games for Minnesota.

Now he looks much closer to being capable of handling NHL minutes. The difficult part is finding them.

Wild Place First-Round pick Carson Lambos On WaiversMinnesota risks losing a former top prospect as roster cuts intensify. Other NHL teams now have a 24-hour window to claim the physical defenseman before his Iowa assignment.

Spacek is a right-shot defenseman on a team that already has Faber and Spurgeon occupying the right side of its top two defensive pairs. That leaves Bogosian, 36, as the veteran currently positioned on the right side of Minnesota’s third pair.

Bogosian brings experience, size and physicality to the Wild’s blue line, but Spacek’s performance throughout camp has at least made the situation worth watching.

Spacek provides a younger, puck-moving alternative and has shown throughout camp that he may be ready for a larger opportunity than another full season in Iowa.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Minnesota will give it to him immediately. The Wild have a big decision to make considering Spacek will need waivers to be sent down to Iowa.

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Kirill Marchenko has made some noise in the NHL rumor mill this off-season, and that hasn't changed in the lead-up to the 2026-27 season.

The Russian right winger doesn't appear to be all in on being with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and so naturally, teams are interested in acquiring his services.

To that point, several teams are reportedly in the mix, and on Friday's episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Toronto Maple Leafs are involved one way or another.

"Toronto has really tried to keep their interest secret, but it's kind of seeped out," Friedman reported.

Marchenko, 26, is entering the final year of his three-year contract. He costs just $3.85 million against the salary cap. Following this season, he will be an RFA with arbitration rights.

His cap hit is not only attractive based on the increase of the NHL's salary cap, but also the type of player he's been for Columbus since signing that deal.

How Zack MacEwen’s ‘Statement Game’ Helped Pushed Steven Lorentz Off The Maple Leafs’ RosterFresh off a goal, a fight, and a dominant preseason statement against Ottawa, Zack MacEwen has skated into the Maple Leafs’ opening-night picture while pushing Steven Lorentz to the waiver wire.

In 2024-25, Marchenko set career-highs across the board with 31 goals, 43 assists and 74 points in 79 games. Last season, his production dipped slightly, but he still had a good campaign, putting up 27 goals and 67 points for the Blue Jackets.

Marchenko is a big, 6-foot-3, 201-pound player who can play on either wing. He would immediately be a top-six player on the Maple Leafs, but of course, to make a deal happen, roster players would have to go Columbus' way if Toronto wanted ot acquire Marchenko.

How Zack MacEwen’s ‘Statement Game’ Helped Pushed Steven Lorentz Off The Maple Leafs’ RosterFresh off a goal, a fight, and a dominant preseason statement against Ottawa, Zack MacEwen has skated into the Maple Leafs’ opening-night picture while pushing Steven Lorentz to the waiver wire.

Friedman added that the Blue Jackets aren't looking for futures in exchange for Marchenko, and they want to remain a competitive team. 

He also added that there are a number of other teams linked to Marchenko. Teams that were mentioned include the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, the Winnipeg Jets were in it at one point, the Boston Bruins made an offer, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Seattle Kraken, possibly based on their recent attempts at bringing in big-name talents.

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For many, the 2026 offseason for the Anaheim Ducks was considered “disastrous” due to franchise center Leo Carlsson’s $18 million AAV offer sheet, the roster players they didn’t/couldn’t retain, and the lack of flexibility to replace them. 

However, in the months since the OS was signed, players from around the league have used Carlsson’s new deal as a template, and what was once an outlier is now the new normal. 

Takeaways from the Ducks 2-1 Preseason Loss to the Kings

Ducks Name Mikael Granlund 10th Captain in Franchise History

Though there are now question marks when it comes to how the Ducks will perform in the upcoming 2026-27 season, beyond this year, the Ducks cap situation is much more encouraging, especially considering star forward Cutter Gauthier’s six-year, $13.5 million AAV deal, signed days before the opening of training camp, can be viewed as a relative discount. 

Another piece of encouragement came in the form of a report from premier NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on Friday morning, who reported that the projected salary cap ceiling for the 2028-29 season is estimated to come in at $127.5 million. The cap is set at $104 million in 2026-27 and is projected at $113.5 million in 2027-28.

As the cap continues to increase by astronomical percentages over the next few seasons, the percentage of the cap being taken up by every player currently under contract will continue to decrease and, in theory, the Ducks’ cap structure will become increasingly flexible over time. 

The 2026-27 season will be the first year in the new contracts for core roster players like Carlsson, Gauthier, Jackson LaCombe (8 years, $9 million AAV), and Pavel Mintyukov (5 years, $7.2 million). While those four players will eat up 45.8% of the 2026-27 salary cap, that percentage is projected to drop to 37.4% by 2028-29.

The 2028-29 Ducks currently have ten players (per puckpedia.com) under contract (Carlsson, Gauthier, Troy Terry, AJ Greer, Ryan Poehling, Jeff Mallot, Tim Washe, LaCombe, Mintyukov, and Lukas Dostal) and a now-projected $54.2 million in cap space (excluding players on ELCs like Nikita Klepov and Roger McQueen). 

When the puck drops on the 2028-29 season, Ducks’ current significant veteran roster players Mikael Granlund ($7 million AAV), Alex Killorn ($6.25 million AAV), Frank Vatrano ($4.57 million AAV), and Nick Jensen ($2.2 million AAV) will have seen their current contracts expire. 

Barring substantial growth in the next two seasons from younger players like Nathan Gaucher, Sam Colangelo, Nikita Nesterenko, Ian Moore, Drew Helleson, and Tyson Hinds, the only players projected to play top roles in the lineup by the 2028-29 season who will then require significant new contracts are Beckett Sennecke and Tristan Luneau. 

Sennecke, the 2026 Calder Trophy finalist, scored 60 points (23-37=60) in 82 games during his rookie year. He’s already established himself as one of the NHL’s top young players, a point producer, a playoff performer, a difficult player to play against, and a foundational piece to the Ducks’ current build toward contention. 

If/when Sennecke continues to grow his game at his current rate, he’ll be eligible for a big-money contract starting July 1, 2027, in the realm of Carlsson, Gauthier, and other young stars throughout the league like Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini, and Adam Fantilli.

Luneau is set for his first complete NHL season in 2026-27, following two successful development years with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, where he totaled 95 points (19-76=95) in 135 games over the past three years. He’s grown tremendously in every facet and is primed to step into an everyday NHL role where he can have a 200-foot, all-three-zone impact, highlighted by his deceptive breakouts, aggressive activations, and dynamic offensive blueline navigation. Luneau’s ELC will expire following this upcoming season, and if it’s as successful as many think it can be, it could lead to a sizable second NHL contract. 

When the 2028 offseason arrives, the Ducks hope to be firmly in their cup-contending window, and their core, as a whole, will be in the early years of their primes. Now that the combined cap hit of said core will be drastically lower than projected, the front office will have some unexpected flexibility. Managing the second and third layers of the depth chart will be what ultimately makes or breaks whether they can bring a second Stanley Cup to Orange County. 

NHL Awards Odds, 2026-27 Anaheim Ducks

Takeways from the Ducks 6-2 Preseason Win over the Sharks

Ducks Sign Tim Washe to Four-Year Extension

Injuries Piling Up for Ducks in the Early Days of Training Camp

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 6 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #6. 

Let's take a look at who wore 6, and where they are now. 

Jamie Heward - 2001-2002 - Drafted by Pittsburgh in 1989. 

Heward played 97 games with Columbus and had 30 points. 69 of his games came during the inaugural season for Columbus.  

After several years in Europe, he returned to the NHL and retired with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009. Heward has been an Asst. Coach for the Henderson Silver Knights since 2020. Former Monsters captain Ryan Craig is the head coach for Henderson. 

Jamie Pushor - 2004 - Drafted by Detroit in 1991. 

Pushor played 147 games with the Jackets and had 22 points. After three different stints with the CBJ, he retired in 2007 while playing for the Syracuse Crunch. 

He is now the Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel for the Tampa Bay Lightning with former CBJ Mathieu Darche. 

Ron Hainsey - 2006-2008 - Drafted by the Montréal Canadiens in 2000.

Hainsey played 213 games with the Jackets and totaled 83 points.

After retiring in 2021, having played 1,132 games, he now works for the NHLPA as Assistant Executive Director. 

Hainsey is Actor Michael Madsen's doppelgänger. 

Anton Strålman - 2010-2011 - Drafted by Toronto in 2005. 

He played 124 games with Columbus and totaled 52 points over two seasons. He left Columbus for the New York Rangers in 2011.

After 16 seasons and 938 NHL games, he retired in 2024 and became a coach for Skultorps IF, a professional women's soccer team in Sweden. In January 2025, he returned to play for Tibro IK, a Division Three team in his hometown in Sweden. 

Nikita Nikitin - 2012-2014 - Drafted by St. Louis in 2004. 

Nikitin played in 158 games for the Jackets and had 56 points. He only played 101 more NHL games after his time with Columbus. 

He left for the KHL in 2016 and retired in 2019. He's currently an assistant coach for Omsk Krylga in Russia's VHL. 

Elite prospects said of Nikitin, "Nikitin has a terrific combination of size and mobility. He handles the puck nicely and can rush it up the ice. Can unleash a hard point shot, too. Could stand to play a more physical game, given his frame."

Adam Clendening - 2019 - Drafted by Chicago in 2011. 

Clendening played four games for the Jackets in 18-19. He has never played another NHL game and left for Europe in 2023. He also spent a couple of years playing for the Cleveland Monsters. 

He currently plays for the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL and was just named an assistant Captain. His head coach is former CBJ bench boss Gerard Gallant. 

Elite prospects said this about the former second-round pick: "A smooth-skating two-way defenseman that can read the game like a forward. Possesses slick hands, a good stick, and a sharp shot that jumps off his stick. All in all, a productive two-way defenseman who has a high offensive ceiling and is responsible defensively."

Clendening signed a PTO with the Cleveland Monsters yesterday. 

Billy Sweezey - 2023 - Undrafted out of Hanson, Massachusetts.

Sweezey played 9 games with Columbus and had a single point. He spent most of his time with Cleveland in the AHL, playing three seasons and totaling 26 points.

He signed with his hometown Boston Bruins in 2024 and will play for the Boston organization again this season. 

Egor Zamula - 2025-26 - Undrafted out of Chelyabinsk, RUS

Zamula played 20 games for Columbus last season after coming over from Philadelphia. he totaled 2 points before leaving for Russia. He will play for CSKA Moskva this season. 

There are six days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Who was your favorite #6?

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have trimmed their training camp down by four more to 28 on Friday morning, and they include a couple players that have had really strong training camps.

We wrote after Thursday night's 1-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks that defenseman Adam Jiricek, a first-round pick (No. 16) in the 2024 NHL Draft that he will make this decision on who to keep as a seventh defenseman with Tyler Tucker (tweaked right knee) currently shelved.

Well, at least for the time being, veteran Calle Rosen will be that guy.

Jiricek, along with 2023 first-round pick Otto Stenberg, Dylan Peterson and Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who also had a terrific game on Thursday, were all assigned to Springfield.

It's really not that big a surprise, despite that Jiricek, Peterson, who also had a strong training camp, Stenberg and Kaskimaki all are waiver-exempt.

All of the others, including Oskar Sundqvist, Nathan Walker, Jack Finley, Zach Dean, Dillon Dube and Rosen will require waivers to be sent down to the AHL.

For Jiricek, he can go to Springfield and play upwards of 25 minutes or more and continue to ascend and perhaps become a dominant player.

Kaskimaki displayed enough talent that he can be a sure-fire call-up should the Blues need one at any point, as can Peterson, who displayed a well-balanced mix of grit, toughness, some speed and an offensive skill set. The best thing for Stenberg is he needs to play a more refined role and play bigger minutes; his training camp produced very mixed results.

The Blues will need to trim five more players off the roster by the NHL's opening night deadline, which is 4 p.m. (CT) on Monday.

'It Was A Dream Come True To Play My First Couple Of NHL Games. ... Now it's a new season, you're starting from zero and you're here to take a spot.'Theo Lindstein's start to his NHL career has been better than advertised; the 21-year-old is guarded about things though. He understands he's only scratching the surface, there's plenty more to learn

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Patrick Kane wore the Chicago Blackhawks jersey Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues. This road game was his one opportunity to get some preseason work in before the real games begin. The Blackhawks want to save his home debut for the regular season, so he isn't expected to play Saturday night's preseason finale at the United Center.

When the season does start, Kane and the Hawks will play in the first three games on the road before returning home to play the Blues on October 6th. Kane coming back has plenty of hockey implications, but the organization also recognizes the magnitude of his cultural importance in town. 

Whenever Patrick Kane speaks now, you can hear the genuine excitement for him to be representing the Chicago Blackhawks on the ice again. 

“Nice to wear the Blackhawks sweater again and wear the jersey and be back out there as a Chicago Blackhawk again, so that was a good feeling,” Kane said with a happy face. 

On the ice, he showed glimpses of his former self. He may not be a 90-point player anymore, but his ability to create time and space for himself and others in the offensive zone is still incredibly noticeable. 

Kane played on a line with Frank Nazar and Roman Kantserov, and they each had multiple chances set up by Kane. None of them were buried, but those floodgates are sure to open soon. More than anyone, 38-year-old Patrick Kane seems to be in mid-season form already.

"I thought we had some chances, some looks," Kane said of his line. "Maybe a little sloppy with the puck at times, but I didn't think we gave up much. Maybe trying too many plays at times instead of making the simple play to keep possession. We could have capitalized on some chances." 

When Connor Bedard comes back, that may be his spot instead of Frank Nazar, but the line is going to be strong in the offensive zone all year long regardless. Patrick Kane has the hockey IQ to make those around him better, even now, and it is already showing in the chances that were created in St. Louis. 

Kane recognized that they were a bit rusty, but he also admitted that game action, albeit preseason, is much different than practice. It was good for him to get into this game. 

"When [Patrick Kane] got the opportunity to be out there, I thought he did a good job," head coach Jeff Blashill said. "He competes, he reloads hard, he's doing all the things we're asking him to do. I thought he and Roman [Kantserov] showed good chemistry again. It was a good first step."

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In Elliotte Friedman's latest episode of his podcast, 32 Thoughts, the NHL insider revealed that Dylan Larkin has expanded his trade list as he continues to pursue a move away from the Detroit Red Wings.

The list is reportedly up to seven teams, and the Minnesota Wild are still among them.

''One of the things I heard about Larkin is that there are more teams that he's willing to go to than what have been reported," said Friedman.

"I think some of the other teams there are Colorado, Washington, and I suspect, in case people didn't know them already, Dallas and Tampa.''

Larkin's reported trade list now includes the Wild, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and the Washington Capitals. 

Of those seven teams, a deal is unlikely with the Panthers and Golden Knights, as they don't have the future assets to make it work and likely don't want to part with many of their NHL veterans. 

The Stars and Avalanche are in the same boat: fairly happy with their rosters and lacking tradeable assets, but they could still find a way to make a deal work.

The Capitals and the Wild are the most interesting teams that could make it work with the Red Wings. 

Could Wild's Trade Talks Intensify With Red Wings Following Captaincy Strip Of Dylan Larkin?Trade discussions between the Minnesota Wild and Detroit Red Wings have seemingly gone silent, but following the captaincy strip of Dylan Larkin, could we expect trade talks to intensify?

So, with all of this, does Larkin expanding his trade list make configuring a deal for Larkin more difficult? The simple answer is yes, because they now have two more teams to compete with, but outside of Washington, their competition likely couldn't match what the Wild have at their disposal.

It also raises the asking price for Larkin. With more teams able to discuss trades, the Red Wings gained a bit of leverage and could demand more, or better assets, in a deal.

That's where the Wild will be most affected by the expanded list. 

It doesn't end their chances of acquiring Larkin, but it does add to the difficulty.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs made many roster moves on Thursday, now that their NHL pre-season has concluded. Ahead of their trip to Arizona for some off-ice bonding, the team sent down several players, rounding out the roster for opening night on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Among that bunch was Maple Leafs prospect and 19-year-old center Tinus Luc Koblar. Koblar was returned to the SHL and will be with Rogle for the 2026-27 season. The SHL regular season has already kicked off, with Rogle off to a 1-2-0 start after the first three outings.

Koblar being sent back to the SHL leads to some questions about how he performed at training camp, especially considering he was eligible to be assigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies for this season.

There is a rule that prevents 19-year-olds from playing in the American League unless they are a first-round pick. Koblar was selected in the second round of the 2025 draft. However, that ruling only applies to players who were drafted by major junior teams, and Koblar has only played in Europe to this point in his young hockey career.

At any rate, that decision should echo the type of training camp the youngster had in Toronto.

Updated 2026-27 Toronto Maple Leafs Roster, Spots Becoming Clearer As Club Makes More Cuts Ahead Of Opening NightThe Leafs have cut camp down to a near-opening-night group, leaving 14 forwards, eight defencemen and two goalies still in the NHL mix five days before Montreal.

In terms of the pre-season action that anyone could see him in, he played in two of the two possible games.

His first game was at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday against the Canadiens. He had a minus-one rating and played 11:29 of ice time in that contest, playing the role of the fourth-line center and getting time on the second power-play unit.

In the second game, against the Ottawa Senators, at the Canadian Tire Centre, he had a minus-one rating again and logged 15:39 of ice time. 

Four Key Takeaways The Maple Leafs' Final Pre-Season Fixture Against The SenatorsHere are four takeaways from the Toronto Maple Leafs' final pre-season fixture against the Ottawa Senators.

In other words, his performance in the pre-season wasn't anything to write home about, but nothing concerning either. But with that in mind, it's also not the full picture of NHL training camp.

What could carry more weight in the ultimate decision to send him back to Sweden is how he practised with the team, and in my eyes, there's definitely room for improvement. And that's the case with any young player, but this is what I gathered from the sessions in between the pre-season appearances.

Koblar skated with Group 2 throughout training camp. He was given an opportunity to play alongside some solid players, including Brendan Brisson and Vinni Lettieri, as well as power-play reps. The coaching staff made an effort to put him in a comfortable situation.

But from my perspective, and seeing every day of training camp, something was missing from the Norwegian. 

Maple Leafs NHL Prospect Ranking: No. 2, Tinus Luc KoblarTinus Luc Koblar solidified himself as one of the top prospects in the Toronto Maple Leafs' system when representing Norway this past season. He sits No. 2 in this Maple Leafs prospects ranking.

At times, he stuck out like a sore thumb, either because of his still-developing skating ability or because he hadn't played much hockey in North America before this training camp. Whatever it was, it was evident in certain drills.

There was one part of a drill where Koblar was supposed to skate behind the net to pick up a puck from head coach Jim Hiller, but he had gotten a little lost for a split second, enough for the coach to tell him where to go in the middle of the action. 

Once he got to the right spot behind the net, he couldn't fully control the puck, adding a few more seconds to his rep. He then grabbed whatever puck was nearby and went through the motion of the drill, finding a teammate waiting in front of the net to receive a pass from him.

It was just one niche moment of training camp and pre-season, a time to shake off the rust, but it was an awkward instance that Hiller had a premium view of.

Why Maple Leafs Announce Steven Lorentz Placed On Waivers, Nick Paul StatusThe Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Steven Lorentz on waivers on Thursday. Here are what might be a couple of reasons why the team made this decision. Also, an injury update on Nick Paul.

There was a sense of Koblar being uncomfortable or not fitting in. Make no mistake, he competed and worked hard all training camp. But that altercation - as well as being a newcomer to the group, a 19-year-old, and not having much experience playing in North America - resulted in a camp that Koblar probably believes he could've done better.

Between the uncommon moments, Koblar showed signs of growth and potential to be a great player. Though his skating isn't the final form that it needs to be, it has improved from years prior. He also has a powerful shot and does utilize his 6-foot-3 frame to his advantage, especially along the walls.

Ultimately, Koblar is still a young, developing player, and there isn't immediate pressure for him to be an automatic difference-maker in the Maple Leafs' system.

He'll almost certainly get at least a spot on the Marlies next season when he's 20, and maybe an opportunity to challenge for an NHL roster spot in 2027-28, but who knows what the organization will look like then, or if Koblar is even still a member of the Maple Leafs.

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The rising salary cap and an offer sheet have skewed the top of the NHL's salary list toward younger players.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli's signing on Thursday, Sept. 24, to a six-year, $82.5 million contract ($13.75 million average) means that three of the top five cap hits this season belong to the top three draft picks of 2023.

In the past, teams could keep down the salaries of players coming out of their entry-level deals because they lacked arbitration rights. But the Philadelphia Flyers changed that with a five-year, $90 million offer sheet ($18 million cap hit) to Leo Carlsson.

The Ducks matched, and Chicago's Connor Bedard ($15 million average), Fantilli and Anaheim's Cutter Gauthier ($13.5 million) benefitted.

So did San Jose Sharks No. 1 overall 2024 draft pick Macklin Celebrini, who will top Carlsson with an $18.8 million average, starting in 2027-28. And Colorado Avalanche veteran defenseman Cale Makar became the NHL's first $20 million player with his eight-year extension.

Washington's Ryan Leonard received an eight-year, $92 million extension after playing one full season with 45 points.

"I'll definitely be giving (Carlsson) a tap on the shins this year, maybe," Leonard told reporters. "It's fun to see the market and it's nice to see the NHL is slowly creeping up on some other sports."

Here's a look at the highest-paid NHL players by cap hit, salary and position (figures from puckpedia.com):

Highest-paid NHL players in 2026-27 by cap hit

Note: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will average $20.4 million and Sharks center Macklin Celebrini will average $18.8 million, starting in 2027-28.

▶ Top 50 plus ties

1. C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $18,000,000
2. LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $17,000,000
3. C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $15,000,000
4. C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $14,000,000
5. C Adam Fantilli, Blue Jackets, $13,750,000
6. C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $13,500,000
7. LW Cutter Gauthier, Ducks, $13,500,000
8. C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $13,250,000
9. C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,604,000
10. C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $12,500,000
11. LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000
12. RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $12,000,000
13. RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $12,000,000
14. LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $12,000000
15. C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,600,000
16. G Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, $11,567,857
17. C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $11,500,000
18. C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $11,500,000
19. D Erik Karlsson, Penguins, $11,500,000
20. RW David Pastrnak, Bruins, $11,250,000
21. D Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
22. D Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
23. LW Artemi Panarin, Kings, $11,000,000
24. LW Pavel Dorofeyev, Rangers, $11,000,000
25. C Adrian Kempe, Kings, $10,625,000
26. D Thomas Harley, Stars, $10,587,000
27. D Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $10,500,000
28. RW Alex Tuch, Capitals, $10,500,000
29. LW Jonathan Huberdeau, Flames, $10,500,000
30. C Logan Cooley, Mammoth, $10,000,000
31. C Tyler Seguin, Stars, $9,850,0000
32. C Sebastian Aho, Hurricanes, $9,750,000
33. D Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets, $9,583,334
34. D Seth Jones, Panthers, $9,500,000
35. D Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $9,500,000
36. RW Nikita Kucherov, Lightning, $9,500,000
37. C Brayden Point, Lightning, $9,500,000
38. D Adam Fox, Rangers, $9,500,000
39. RW Mark Stone, Golden Knights, $9,500,000
40. D Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, $9,500,000
41. LW Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers, $9,500,000
42. D Darnell Nurse, Sharks, $9,250,000
43. C Mathew Barzal, Islanders, $9,150,000
44. C Trevor Zegras, Flyers, $9,125,000
45. D Roman Josi, Predators, $9,059,000
46. LW Jake Guentzel, Lightning, $9,000,000
47. D Dougie Hamilton, Devils, $9,000,000
48. D Cale Makar, Avalanche, $9,000,000
49. D Jakob Chychrun, Capitals, $9,000,000
50. D Luke Hughes, Devils, $9,000,000
51. D Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000

Highest-paid players in 2026-27 by salary

▶ Top 30 plus ties

1. C Leo Carlsson, Ducks, $20,800,000
2. LW Cutter Gauthier, Ducks, $19,501,405
3. LW Kirill Kaprizov, Wild, $19,100,000
4. C Jack Eichel, Golden Knights, $17,700,000
5. C Connor Bedard, Blackhawks, $17,000,000
6. C Leon Draisaitl, Oilers, $16,500,000
7. C Adam Fantilli, Blue Jackets, $16,000,000
8. G Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, $15,850,000
9. RW Alex Tuch, Capitals, $15,700,000
10. LW Kyle Connor, Jets, $15,000,000
11. C Connor McDavid, Oilers, $14,250,000
12. C Martin Necas, Avalanche, $14,000,000
13. RW Mitch Marner, Golden Knights, $14,000,000
14. LW Pavel Dorofeyev, Rangers, $14,000,000
15. C Logan Cooley, Mammoth, $13,000,000
16. D Thomas Harley, Stars, $13,000,000
17. C/RW William Nylander, Maple Leafs, $12,500,000
18. C Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche, $12,150,000
19. D Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $12,000,000
20. D Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $12,000,000
21. C Adrian Kempe, Kings, $12,000,000
22. LW Jason Robertson, Stars, $12,000,000
23. LW Artemi Panarin, Kings, $12,000,000
24. D Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $12,000,000
25. RW David Pastrnak, Bruins, $11,250,000
26. RW Mikko Rantanen, Stars, $11,250,000
27. C Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs, $11,080,000
28. D Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
29. D Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
30. D Darren Raddysh, Maple Leafs, $11,000,000
31. C Elias Pettersson, Canucks, $11,000,000
32. D Jacob Trouba, Sharks, $11,000,000

Highest-paid defensemen in 2026-27 by cap hit

Note: Makar will average $20.4 million and Blackhawks defenseman Bowen Byram will have a $12.5 million cap hit, starting in 2027-28.

▶ Top 30 plus ties

1. Erik Karlsson, Penguins, $11,500,000
2. Drew Doughty, Kings, $11,000,000
3. Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres, $11,000,000
4. Thomas Harley, Stars, $10,587,000
5. Evan Bouchard, Oilers, $10,500,000
6. Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets, $9,583,334
7. Seth Jones, Panthers, $9,500,000
8. Charlie McAvoy, Bruins, $9,500,000
9. Adam Fox, Rangers, $9,500,000
10. Noah Dobson, Canadiens, $9,500,000
11. Darnell Nurse, Sharks, $9,250,000
12. Roman Josi, Predators, $9,059,000
13. Dougie Hamilton, Devils, $9,000,000
14. Jakob Chychrun, Capitals, $9,000,000
15. Cale Makar, Avalanche, $9,000,000
16. Jackson LaCombe, Ducks, $9,000,000
17. Luke Hughes, Devils, $9,000,000
18. Lane Hutson, Canadiens, $8,850,000
19. Moritz Seider, Red Wings, $8,550,000
20. John Carlson, Lightning, $8,500,000
21. Darren Raddysh, Maple Leafs, $8,500,000
22. Ivan Provorov, Blue Jackets, $8,500,000
23. Rasmus Andersson, Golden Knights, $8,500,000
24. Mikhail Sergachev, Mammoth, $8,500,000
25. Brock Faber, Wild, $8,500,000
26. Miro Heiskanen, Stars, $8,450,000
27. Owen Power, Sabres, $8,350,000
28. Jacob Trouba, Sharks, $8,250,000
29. Jake Sanderson, Senators, $8,050,000
30. Victor Hedman, Lightning, $8,000,000
31. Thomas Chabot, Senators, $8,000,000
32. Philip Broberg, Blues, $8,000,000

Highest-paid goaltenders in 2026-27 by cap hit

▶ Top 30

1. Igor Shesterkin, Rangers, $11,567,857
2. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning, $9,500,000
3. Thatcher Demko, Canucks, $8,500,000
4. Connor Hellebuyck, Jets, $8,500,000
5. Jake Oettinger, Stars, $8,250,000
6. Jeremy Swayman, Bruins, $8,250,000
7. Linus Ullmark, Senators, $8,250,000
8. Ilya Sorokin, Islanders, $8,250,000
9. Juuse Saros, Predators, $7,740,000
10. Dustin Wolf, Flames, $7,500,000
11. Sergei Bobrovsky, Maple Leafs, $7,000,000
12. Filip Gustavsson, Wild, $6,800,000
13. Lukas Dostal, Ducks, $6,500,000
14. John Gibson, Red Wings, $6,400,000
15. Adin Hill, Golden Knights, $6,250,000
16. Jordan Binnington, Blues, $6,000,000
17. Jacob Markstrom, Panthers, $6,000,000
18. Philipp Grubauer, Kraken, $5,900,000
19. Logan Thompson, Capitals, $5,850,000
20. Spencer Knight, Blackhawks, $5,833,333
21. Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets, $5,400,000
22. Tristan Jarry, Oilers, $5,375,000
23. MacKenzie Blackwood, Avalanche, $5,250,000
24. Darcy Kuemper, Kings, $5,250,000
25. Jet Greaves, Blue Jackets, $5,000,000
26. Joey Daccord, Kraken, $5,000,000
27. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Sabres, $4,750,000
28. Karel Vejmelka, Mammoth, $4,750,000
29. Kevin Lankinen, Canucks, $4,500,000
30. Joonas Korpisalo, Rangers, $4,000,000

How high is the NHL salary cap?

The upper limit for this season is $104 million and it will rise to $113.5 million in 2027-28. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that it is estimated to jump by $14 million in 2028-29 to $127.5 million.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who are the NHL's highest-paid players for 2026-27? Young players cash in

It was scrimmage day in Brossard, so the Montreal Canadiens once again shuffled their practice groups to keep an NHL group from playing an AHL group. For those who were hoping to see Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher paired up, it was a disappointing day, as the two blueliners were in different groups. There was worse news than that, though: Ivan Demidov was once again nowhere to be seen, making it two therapy days in a row for the Russian wonder, although since the Habs were off on Tuesday, that might have been three days without ice time for him, which doesn’t necessarily bode well. However, during the post-scrimmage presser, Chantal Machabee said there was nothing to it and that they expected Demidov to skate on Friday.

Who was taking Demidov’s spot on the second line? Kirby Dach. While the big forward has the tools to be a top-six forward on paper, he rarely displays them on the ice, and based on the training camp so far, that was a surprising choice. Perhaps it’s an attempt to get solid effort from him; one has to wonder what Alex Newhook thought of that move, as he was put in Dach’s place between Alexandre Texier and Zachary Bolduc. After all, Newhook did very well last season playing alongside Demidov and Kapanen.

Canadiens: Setting Up The Chessboard
Canadiens: The Final Four
Canadiens: Lalonde’s Big Mission

Before the scrimmage, though, they had a regular practice, and Martin St-Louis wasn’t pleased with what he saw on the ice, so he made his players skate a few laps. At 11:30, the puck dropped on the Red vs. White game. The Red Team featured the Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Chris Kreider line; the Josh Anderson, Phillip Danault, and Jake Evans line up front; and the Lane Hutson and Alexandre Carrier and Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj pairings on defense. As for the White squad, it included the other two NHL lines, meaning Dach, Oliver Kapanen, and Juraj Slafkovsky with the Zach Bolduc, Alex Newhook, and Alexandre Texier lines up front; on the back end, the Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson duo was intact, while Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher were reunited.

Jayden Struble ouvre la marque pour les Rouges!

Jayden Struble opens the scoring for Team Red!#GoHabsGo | 🔴 1-0 ⚪ pic.twitter.com/Vju8OtJWz4

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 24, 2026

In the end, the big guns didn't get on the board, though. Team Red signed a 3-0 win, thanks to a Struble breakaway goal, a Tyler Thorpe one-timer and an Aderson empty-netter. Samuel Montembeault was the only goaltender who gave up goals, surrendering the first two.

Tyler Thorpe double l'avance des Rouges

Tyler Thorpe doubles Team Red's lead#GoHabsGo | 🔴 2-0 ⚪ pic.twitter.com/CqIJYf5ghV

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 24, 2026

Speaking after the scrimmage, the coach refused to say that the die was cast when it came to his lines:

Honestly, I don’t know, and I’m not preoccupied with finding all the answers for the first game. That does not preoccupy me. We have a season to play, and we’ll be guided in a certain direction. The camp may take us down one path, and then two or three games later, we may be taken in another direction. I know I have good options, and we’ll work to solve the puzzle. That puzzle often changes.

- St-Louis on his lines

After seeing Dach on the second line, there were again quite a few questions about him and what he needed to do to stand out and grab a role in the lineup. St-Louis eventually said:

It’s just day-to-day stuff, you know: evaluate in drill, evaluate in scrimmage, evaluate in a game. I’m not looking for one specific thing. I expect him to push and find his place, like everybody else- like Flo, same thing, like Beck. Then we’re going to try to make the best decision we can when it’s all said and done. We’re trying to move along in this camp and be organized, with some purpose for each and every day. Sometimes we get the group in certain situations just so we can have good rhythm and flow, not necessarily, like, you know, demotion, promotion, whatever it is; we’re just trying to be organized. […] Production doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re playing well, you know, so we’re evaluating how they play the game, not necessarily production.

- St-Louis on what he needs to see from Dach

While what St-Louis said is understandable, generally speaking, the average fan will look for top-six players to bring lots of production and for the bottom-six players to contribute in other ways. Looking at Dach this camp, it’s hard to see how he does contribute. He’s not getting on the scoreboard, but he’s not winning battles by the boards either; he’s not making the opponent’s life harder with physicality, and he’s not quick on the forecheck; it’s almost as if he sees himself as a top-six player whose job is to provide offense and he won’t try to contribute in other ways. When asked if he believes he can play a top-six role on the team, Dach explained:

Yeah, I feel confident in whatever role the coaching staff deems fit for me. I feel like I can adapt and play in any kind of position or role up front. I think there’s urgency every year. I think as a group we’re striving to achieve a goal of winning a Stanley Cup; you win one by being urgent. You can’t win one without being urgent.

- Dach on his role

When prompted to explain how he approaches the balance he has to find between the desire to stand out and the need to take care of the little details and play his game, he answered:

I think you just kind of focus on what’s being asked of you by the coaching staff, and, like you said, the details of the game, playing the game the right way. You get rewarded down the line if you keep doing the right things away from the puck, stay responsible defensively, and have good details all over the ice.

- Dach about what he tries to do on the ice.

Dach evaluated his camp in the following words when asked:

I feel good; I feel like I’ve played well in the games. I’ve tried to make sure I’m doing the little things right, the details correctly, and what the coaching staff has asked of us, and to continue to just take a step forward each and every day.

- Dach on his camp

In Brossard on Thursday, playing on the second line with Slafkovsky and Kapanen, he didn’t get on the scoreboard, but he at least looked more combative on the ice, winning some puck battles rather than being dispossessed. Reading between the lines, though, Dach’s presence on the second line today shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a promotion; it might have been the Habs trying “to be organized.” Maybe they wanted to see how Bolduc and Texier would do without Dach and with Newhook? It might also mean Dach is now the 13th forward and becomes the odd man out when Demidov returns.  Who knows…One thing’s for certain, though: soon enough, St-Louis will need at least some temporary answers about who to ice when the Canadiens kick off their season against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.

---

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The Islanders are at home Friday night to host more of that hot preseason action, as the Rangers visit for the third of four preseason contests.

Islanders News

• Day 8 of camp had quite the mix of lines and combos. [Isles]
• Cal Ritchie feels a confidence boost and is ready to go. [Isles]
• The food provider is happy to announce different offerings of food. [Isles | Newsday]
• Our man Leboff says bet on a big season from our boy Schaefer. [Post]
• Former Roy assistant Benoit Desrosiers has landed on his feet…by getting a pro scouting role with the Isles. [THN]

Elsewhere

• This is actually a really interesting piece on why Tanner Adams and his family drew a line and forced that bit 17-picks-for-one-kid trade so he could stay in northern Ontario. [Athletic]
• Trevor Zegras received a new penalty for…tucking his jersey? Wayne must be rolling over in his walking dead grave. [Sportsnet]
• The Mike Babcock PR campaign continues. [NHL]
• Who could be traded this year? Other than a bunch of Jets and Blue Jackets, I mean. [Sportsnet]
• One is staying put though, as Adam Fantilli signs a really fat contract. [NHL]
• The NHL has announced that Ilya Kovalchuk was a Jets great after all. [Sportsnet]

Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…

The Pittsburgh Penguins played the Columbus Blue Jackets in preseason game three of four on Thursday night. Pittsburgh iced what ultimately represented a B-squad and took home a 4-0 loss to the Blue Jackets. The final preseason game is set for Saturday. [Recap]

Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko is taking a leave of absence after his father, Alexander, died following a bear attack during a fishing trip in southern Siberia, according to Russian media reports. [PensBurgh]

Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones is back on the ice after missing nearly all of last season because of injuries and a 20-game suspension. Jones, who played seven games last season, is competing for a roster spot as he works to regain his form and return to the lineup. [Trib Live]

Pittsburgh assigned 10 players to their AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, on Thursday. [Trib Live]

Forward Ben Kindel has been downgraded from day-to-day to week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered in Monday’s preseason game. [PensBurgh]

News and notes from around the NHL…

The NHL and Winnipeg Jets announced Thursday that the franchise’s official statistical history will now combine both eras of the team, including its original Winnipeg run from 1979-96, the Atlanta Thrashers era and the current Jets. The change makes Dale Hawerchuk the franchise’s career leader in goals and points, while Thomas Steen leads in assists. [Sportsnet]

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed center Adam Fantilli to a six-year, $82.5 million contract on Thursday, ending a holdout that kept the restricted free agent out of training camp. Fantilli, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, had a career-high 59 points last season. [NHL]

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has returned to Russia before the start of the NHL season after his father was killed by a bear.

Kuzmenko's father Alexander, who was an ice hockey coach in Russia, was on a fishing trip along the Krasnaya River in Southern Siberia with a group of seven others when a bear attacked from the trees.

The 62-year-old suffered severe facial injuries in the attack.

A member of the fishing party called for an ambulance but the dense forest made it difficult for emergency services to reach the area.

Kuzmenko was taken by river downstream for four hours before then being airlifted to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Penguins president Kyle Dubas said the team was "deeply saddened" by the death.

"Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander. We ask that the privacy of Andrei and the Kuzmenko family be respected at this time," the team said in a statement.

"Andrei chose to be surrounded by his team-mates and practice with the team this morning before returning to Moscow to be with his family this afternoon. Andrei and the Kuzmenko family have the full support of the Penguins organisation during this time."

The 30-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Penguins this summer and is about to compete in his fifth season in the NHL, following previous stints with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings.

The NHL season begins on 29 September.

Bruins season preview: How Hagens, Minten, Brunet could have big impact originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins have a solid core of David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman. Those three pillars are complimented by veterans such as Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, JJ Peterka, Hampus Lindholm, and several others.

But for the Bruins to make the playoffs from what should be an ultra-competitive Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference overall, they need multiple young players to play key roles in the 2026-27 NHL season.

Depth is vital, especially in the regular season. Eighty-four games is a lot of hockey.

Let’s look at three young players who could have a meaningful impact on the Bruins’ success during the upcoming campaign.

Fraser Minten

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

• Position: Center
• Age: 22
• 2025-26 stats: 17 G, 18 A in 82 GP

Minten’s first full NHL season was an impressive one. He didn’t miss a single game, he took a strong step forward offensively, he played a smart defensive game and had a meaningful role on the penalty kill.

There’s no doubt has a good two-way skill set and excels in many of the defensive aspects of the sport. In fact, the B’s had a .937 save percentage at even strength when Minten was on the ice, which led all Boston forwards. He’s also a very mature player for his age.

The real unknown is whether Minten can take another step or two offensively. Can he score 20-25 goals, or even 30, some time in the near future? If healthy, Minten should absolutely be able to surpass 20 goals this season, especially if he plays a significant amount of time with David Pastrnak. The Bruins outscored opponents 23-7 during the 306:34 of ice time that Pastrnak and Minten played together at even strength last season, per Natural Stat Trick. It was an effective duo, and certainly one worth going back to early in the upcoming season.

The Bruins are in dire need of legit top-six centers. Minten, who recently signed a seven-year, $50.4 million extension, is one of the few players on the roster that might be able to fill that role long term. But he needs to become a more prolific scorer to really become a center of that caliber.

In addition to scoring more goals, if Minten can play more minutes on special teams, improve on faceoffs (49.3 win percentage last season) and take on more difficult defensive zone assignments, he could end up being one of the team’s most valuable forwards in short order.

Minten has a high floor. It would be very surprising if he wasn’t at least a very good No. 3 center in his prime. But the Bruins probably need him to become a legit No. 2 if they’re going to be a perennial contender throughout the length of his extension.

James Hagens

• Position: Left wing/center
• Age: 19
• 2025-26 stats: 0 G, 1 A in 2 GP

Hagens has the most potential of any young player in the organization, which makes sense considering he was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft and was ranked as his class’ top prospect at one point.

His offensive talent is obvious. He has fantastic speed and his overall skating is impressive. He has high-end playmaking ability and a shot that features both accuracy and power. He has a high hockey IQ, too, and plays with more strength than his frame would suggest.

For a Bruins team desperate for more elite offensive players, Hagens has the ability to make a huge impact on the team’s scoring output for many years. If Hagens reaches his ceiling, he could be a legit No. 1 center. But the Bruins might not start him at center right away. His early experience at the NHL level has been on the wing, where his defensive responsibilities are not as important compared to center. It wouldn’t be surprising if he continues on the wing until he’s fully comfortable with the speed and physicality of the NHL.

In an ideal world, Hagens would make the Opening Night roster and be with the Bruins all season, score 20 or so goals, become a key part of the power play and be responsible enough defensively to play in most situations. Hagens also could be one of the first players selected for shootouts, which is not an insignificant role when you consider Boston was 4-3 with only six goals in seven shootouts last season. In what should be a tight Eastern Conference playoff race, one or two extra points in the standings could be pivotal.

Slim Jim for the win ✌️ pic.twitter.com/TXsjroFFnJ

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 20, 2026

Expectations are high for Hagens, but the progress he has made thus far is encouraging.

“When he came last year, I felt like he was just a little kid,” Sturm said of Hagens on Thursday before a preseason matchup versus the Philadelphia Flyers. “He’s still a kid – he looks like it in the face – but on the ice, it just feels a little bit different. Part of it is he’s more confident out there. He’s not as nervous. Now he knows us, he knows the system, he knows everything, he knows the players, he knows how we have to play. He already looks different to me than last season. He’s bigger, stronger.”

Frederic Brunet

• Position: Defenseman
• Age: 23
• 2025-26 stats: 12 G, 24 A in 65 GP (all with AHL’s Providence Bruins)

The Bruins have some tough decisions to make on their blue line with 10 waiver-eligible defensemen. There aren’t enough roster spots for everyone. But through training camp and the preseason so far, it could be pretty tough to leave Brunet off the roster.

He is a very good skater and makes smart, confident plays with the puck on his stick. He has a good shot and does an effective job getting it on net. He tallied two assists and played on both the power play and penalty kill in Tuesday’s preseason win over the Flyers.

Nice and Eyssy 👌 pic.twitter.com/JZf4yzznDe

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 22, 2026

The Bruins want and need to generate more scoring chances and goals from the blue line, and Brunet’s offensive-minded skill set make him an ideal fit for that style of play. After tallying five goals and 12 assists in 69 AHL games in 2024-25, he had a breakout 2025-26 for Providence with 12 goals and 24 assists in 65 games.

“Sometimes I think the offense was kind of the one thing, one area, it kind of got lost a little bit. I think there’s times we could have maybe joined the rush more (last season),” Sturm said at a press conference earlier this month. “We could have been more active overall as a defensive group. That’s something we’re going to touch on starting (in camp) to be more involved, I would say, in our offensive game.”

Brunet needs to be a little stronger in the defensive zone, and learning the team’s hybrid defensive system will take some time. But Brunet could definitely play a valuable role on the blue line now and well into the future. And it would be a huge boost to the Bruins if he did, because they don’t have any elite defenseman prospects in the pipeline.