The NHL’s 2025-26 season has just about arrived, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re continuing our player-by-player series in which we break down the expectations for each Buffalo player in the coming season.

We’ve made our way in this series through the Sabres’ goalies, defensemen and the first two lines of forwards. And in today’s file, we’re analyzing Buffalo winger Jack Quinn, who is kicking off Year 1 of a two-year contract extension that is a significant bump in pay over what Quinn had been making.

But let’s focus right now on the current expectations for Quinn in ‘25-26, and whether he’s likely to meet or exceed them.

Player Name: Jack Quinn

Position: Left Wing

Age: 23

2024-25 Key Statistics: 74 games, 15 goals, 39 points, 14:52 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary:$3.375 million

2025-26 Expectations: In three NHL seasons, Quinn has hinted at being an above-average player, posting 15 goals and 39 points in 74 games last season – slightly better than his full-first-year numbers of 14 goals and 37 points in 75 games in 2022-23 – and he’s been given a bridge deal of sorts by Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to build himself into a long-term core component for the organization.

Quinn’s rather limited time-on-ice last season could be pointed to by some with the idea that if he gets more minutes, his point totals are going to rise significantly. Sabres coaching and management members may agree with that notion. But when the season begins, it’s likely that Quinn is going to be on Buffalo’s third line, with center Jiri Kulich and right winger Jordan Greenway, the latter of who isn’t known as a big-time point producer. 

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Staying Healthy A Key Concern For Rugged Winger GreenwayThe Buffalo Sabres need all hands on deck if they're to end their `14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought. And that means everyone on the roster is going to have to pull their weight. What will expectations for every Sabres player look like? That's the focus of THN.com's Sabres site series.

All of which is to say that Quinn may need to be more of a play-finisher than a playmaker this year. But his significant raise (from $863,334 last season to $3.375-million for this year and next year) carries with it increased expectations. And given that injuries limited Quinn to only 27 games in 2023-24 – with two serious injuries in the same season – he can’t afford another injury. That’s true for all players, but some more than others are under particular pressure to stay healthy, and Quinn is one of them.

As the eighth-overall draft pick in 2020, the 23-year-old Quinn needs to live up to the hype in a way that hasn’t happened yet. He’ll begin the season in limited minutes once again, but it would be to management’s delight if he did enough damage on offense to warrant a bump up the depth chart and more playing opportunities. It’s entirely up to Quinn to dictate what his future is going to look like, so nothing short of a new set of career-highs on offense has to be something he’s capable of if he’s going to remain a Sabre over the long haul.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Veteran Winger Zucker Looked To For Cluch OffenseThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is nearly upon us, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we're continuing our player-by-player series in which we break down expectations for each Sabres player this season. We've looked at Buffalo's goalies and defensemen, and in this latest column, we're turning our attention to veteran winger Jason Zucker.

If he isn’t, Quinn is going to languish on the third line, and at his new price tag, there may not be many teams stepping up to acquire him when they can wait a year and sign him to a more production-appropriate salary beginning in 2027. But if he does step up and the Sabres get back into the playoffs, Quinn’s salary could be seen as a first-rate bargain. 

Time will tell what the road forward will look like for Quinn, but he enters 2025-26 with a decent number of opportunities from Sabres coach Lindy Ruff. The way he responds to them will help shape his destiny as an NHLer.

By virtually all accounts, the Chicago Blackhawks are still a number of assets away from being a bona fide Stanley Cup playoff contender, let alone a legitimate Cup frontrunner. However, on Saturday, the Blackhawks firmed up their goaltending picture for the foreseeable future with a contract extension for No. 1 netminder Spencer Knight. 

Beginning next season, the 24-year-old Knight will get a raise of approximately $1.33 million, from his 2025-26 salary of $4.5 million to $5.83 million in 2026-27. At first glance, that may seem like a dangerous investment in a goalie who has only 95 games of NHL experience to his credit, and who has never played more than 37 games in a single season. But making projections on young players by giving them high-end money isn’t a new exercise for NHL GMs. Indeed, they do that all the time, and Knight’s case is no different.

The 24-year-old Knight, who was acquired from the Florida Panthers last season, didn’t have the best season from an individual statistics perspective. In 15 appearances for Chicago after the trade, Knight posted a .896 save percentage and 3.18 goals-against average. But on a true elite team like the Panthers, Knight’s 2025-26 numbers – including a .907 SP and 2.40 GAA – were significantly better. That’s what Hawks GM Kyle Davidson had in mind when he traded for Knight, and now, in giving Knight contract security through the 2028-29 campaign, he’s locked up a potential difference-maker between the pipes.

With Knight now secure in the knowledge that he’s going to be ‘The Man’ in net for the Blackhawks, Davidson can continue on with his roster-building for the future. But unfortunately for long-suffering Chicago fans, there’s still a very long way to go before the Hawks can have a realistic shot at making the post-season. 

Chicago has some key pieces of the puzzle, including forwards Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, and defensemen Alex Vlasic, Kevin Korchinski, Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov. The problem is, they don’t have nearly enough depth to run with first-rate Central Division teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars. Especially up front, the drop-off in talent in Chicago is severe, and although the Blackhawks currently have $18.6-million in salary cap space, you don’t see NHL free agents climbing over one another to sign a contract with the Blackhawks.

So while there may come a day when Knight’s numbers look like the ones he posted in Florida before the trade last season, the Hawks are going to go through more growing pains this coming year and more than likely, a year or two after that. Once you’re out of the playoff picture in the salary-cap era, it’s extremely difficult to claw and climb your way back into the playoff mix. And even with new coach Jeff Blashill giving every Blackhawks player a clean slate, Chicago is going to have a very difficult time being anything other than cannon fodder.

The Hawks haven’t made the playoffs for the past five seasons, and the 2025-26 season is likely to look very similar for them. Knight has a commitment for the next four seasons, and that’s a good thing for Chicago. The problem is the rest of the roster has multiple holes to fill, and they won’t be filled (a) easily or (b) soon.

It’s probably hard to hear if you’re a Blackhawks fan accustomed to the glory years of the modern era for the franchise, but the truth is, Chicago isn’t anywhere close to being a playoff team at the moment. And while Knight may be good enough to eventually backstop them to a playoff spot, that day isn’t likely to come this coming year, or anytime rapidly after that.

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.

Over the course of his 10-year NHL career, star center Jack Eichel had his share of highs and lows. The highs included a Stanley Cup championship with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23, and a 66-assist, 94-point performance for Vegas last season. The lows included what now feels like many wasted years as a member of the Buffalo Sabres, and a near-constant battle to stay healthy, averaging only 61.6 games-played per-season since he broke into hockey’s top league in 2015-16.

But as he enters Year 11 of his NHL career, the 28-year-old Eichel is poised to have his biggest season yet. He’s entering the final year of a contract paying him $10-million per season, and he’s likely to benefit from being a linemate of new Golden Knights star right winger Mitch Marner. Are we about to see a new level from Eichel that we haven’t seen before?

Now, does Eichel have anything to prove to anyone? No. After winning a Cup, he’s achieved the most lofty goal any NHLer can hope to achieve. But there is a nagging sense out there that we’ve yet to see the best of Eichel. He's only been in the top 10 in scoring twice in his career, and aside from one 23rd-place finish, he's been outside of the top 50 players in the league, either due to injuries or to being a rookie/sophomore. 

In his defense, Eichel has been excellent in the playoffs in the past three years, posting 33 assists and 43 points in 40 career post-season games. But the Golden Knights are famous for moving on from players who don’t fit into their long-term picture – and while we’re not here to tell you Eichel is at that stage in his time with Vegas, there’s absolutely going to be pressure on him to at least maintain the standard he set in last season in particular.

Some of those expectations will be heightened because Marner will make his new Golden Knights teammates better. But Marner is regarded as more playmaker than play-finisher, so unless Eichel is able to get to the 30-goal plateau – something that’s happened only two times in his NHL career – Eichel is going to have to help Marner score more often and elevate his assist numbers to the 70-assist level or better.

The Golden Knights are projected to have approximately $29-million in salary cap space accounted for in 2026-27 (when you take into account defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s health issues and likely-permanent place on Injured Reserve), so Vegas does have more than enough space to keep Eichel in the fold beyond this season. However, the expectations on the Golden Knights have increased exponentially with the addition of Marner. So if you think Eichel isn’t going to be dealing with significant pressure to ratchet up his game this season, you’re fooling yourself.

All things considered, there’s a very good chance Eichel can make a push to new heights this coming year. He’s still in his prime and will be there for the foreseeable future. But there’s no question the Golden Knights are going to need more out of him than ever in 2025-26. Vegas has every intention of a deep playoff run, but they’re going to need all hands on deck to do so, and if Eichel isn’t going to play in every game and be just as effective as he was last season, the Knights’ chances of being legitimate Cup frontrunners will drop notably. 

Eichel may not be a top-10 player in the league, and he may never get there, but so long as he’s contributing above-average numbers and the Golden Knights are doing great things as a team, Eichel will almost assuredly be in Vegas for most of the rest of his career, if not all of it. Eichel doesn’t have to be ‘The Man’ for the Knights to do great things, but he does have to pull his weight – and if that doesn’t happen, Vegas’ chances of winning its second Cup will drop considerably.

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.

NHL teams are increasingly betting on young players with limited experience, trying to lock in future stars at bargain rates before the salary cap skyrockets. Hit the mark, and you save millions, but miss it, and you’re stuck with an expensive contract that doesn’t deliver.

We saw two such deals recently when the Chicago Blackhawkssigned forward Frank Nazar to a controversial $46-million extension after just 56 NHL games. We saw another deal this week, as the Calgary Flames signed Calder Finalist Dustin Wolf to a seven-year, $7.5-million per season contract.

Who else might fall under this high-risk, high-reward category?

Lane Hutson, D, Montreal Canadiens

With 84 NHL games under his belt, Lane Hutson has shown elite skill and tremendous upside as one of the NHL’s great future defensemen. The Montreal Canadiens know he will eventually cost them a bundle to extend, but the question is, when do they do it?

Is GM Kent Hughes willing to gamble on Hutson’s upside now? He could secure a long-term deal before the cap makes him unaffordable, but his rookie season might have been a benchmark he has trouble repeating in his sophomore campaign. 

The risk Montreal runs is that Hutson not only matches last season’s totals but also becomes even more impactful offensively while adding elements to his two-way and defensive play. 

Cutter Gauthier, LW, Anaheim Ducks

Cutter Gauthier, with just 45 points in 83 NHL games, is another forward attracting attention. He appeared to break out for the Ducks in 2024-25, scoring 44 points in 82 games, but it’s not clear how much more he has to give as he gets more used to NHL games. 

There is a lot to like about his game, and the Ducks are in a position to gamble on his contract. They have loads of cap space over the next several seasons, including $56-million starting next season. 

Early extensions here are risky, but if he hits his ceiling, the payoff could be huge. 

Other Notable Options

Brandt Clarke and Simon Edvinsson, each with 103 games, have recently established themselves as NHL regulars. 

There were trade rumors surrounding Clarke this summer, so it’s unclear how loyal the Los Angeles Kings are to the defenseman. His upside, however, is incredible.  

Edvinsson, a 6-foot-6 defenseman, is part of the young core the Detroit Red Wings are trying to develop. He took a giant step forward, and he has the potential to be a No. 1 defenseman.

Locking them in now could allow teams to save big if they blossom into top-pair defensemen.

Less Risky Bets

Macklin Celebrini (70 games), Will Smith (74) and Matvei Michkov (80) are still in Year 2 of their contracts, but it’s a bit clearer about what they are. All still have untapped potential, but these are three players their respective teams understand to be future franchise commodities. 

Teams may pursue short-term “bridge” deals this season, giving flexibility while evaluating long-term potential. So too, the players themselves might prefer gambling on their potential and what could be massive pay raises in the next three to four seasons.

Lessons From Nazar And Wolf

Nazar and Wolf signed huge contracts with minimal NHL experience, showing the potential upside of early investments. Both sound like good bets on the surface, and perhaps the two teams would rather be wrong and have to slightly overpay than be right and have missed the opportunity to sign both. A skyrocketing salary cap makes it so that teams have to take these kinds of calculated risks and work the math. 

The Canadiens, Ducks, Kings and Red Wings may feel the same way. If Hutson, Gauthier, Clarke or Edvinsson follow similar trajectories, these contracts could be steal deals in the coming salary cap boom.

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.

Despite the Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospects falling to the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 at the Prospect Showdown in Montreal, there were some positives as the players became more comfortable in their first game since the summer break.

Toronto went down 3–0 early before getting two straight goals from Luke Haymes and Jacob Quillan. Ottawa would get one back later in the third period to make it 4-2 before Ryan Kirwan scored on the power play to make it a one-goal game again.

The Maple Leafs pushed for an equalizer, however, they couldn’t find one as Ottawa’s Jackson Parsons stole the show. Here are a couple of the bright spots among the Maple Leafs’ prospects in their first game in Montreal.

Ben Danford’s smoothness

Entering this mini tournament (or whatever you’d like to call it), Danford was one of the prospects I was most keen on watching. He didn’t get a rookie showcase last September after suffering a concussion, so with this being his first game in a Maple Leafs jersey, there was a lot to look for.

The defenseman is a big, strong body, and it showed on Saturday afternoon. Whenever it seemed like Danford was under pressure, he found a way to move the puck. But even without the puck on his stick, he was able to smother several chances before gaining possession and quickly moving the puck south.

Ben Danford with a nice hit before finding Easton Cowan up-ice to set up Miroslav Holinka for a scoring chance. pic.twitter.com/WjFHdcl1IA

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) September 13, 2025

Danford calms everything down, which is a positive trait to have, especially at an event like this, where each prospect is attempting to showcase themselves.

Luke Haymes continues production after strong AHL stint

Luke Haymes entered the organization last spring following three seasons at Dartmouth College. Almost immediately, the 22-year-old started producing with the Toronto Marlies, tallying two goals and six points in his first nine games.

Haymes centered Toronto’s second line on Saturday with Matthew Barbolini and Braeden Kressler on his wings, and continued his production. He scored the Maple Leafs’ first goal of the game in the second period, spinning and firing the puck past Parsons.

Luke Haymes spins, fires, and scores. Maple Leafs trail Ottawa 3-1 late in the second period. pic.twitter.com/8P4iM6dWW6

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) September 13, 2025

The Ottawa, Ontario product then added an assist on Kirwan’s power play goal in the third period to cut the Senators’ lead to one goal. As we approach Maple Leafs training camp, it’ll be fascinating to watch how Haymes handles the pace and physicality of Toronto’s top players before likely returning to the Marlies for his first pro season.

Easton Cowan continuing to get comfortable

There’ll be a lot of eyes on Easton Cowan in this tournament and for good reason. Cowan had a big summer — gaining nine pounds of muscle — following his massive Memorial Cup win with the London Knights earlier this year. 

His goal is to make the Maple Leafs out of training camp, and this game was likely the beginning of his audition. There’s a lot to like about Cowan, from the way he works to his hockey sense on the ice. However, you can still see moments where the young forward is timid going up against bigger competition.

Easton Cowan with some patience and puck protection on the Maple Leafs' power play. pic.twitter.com/CaCfFAbozo

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) September 13, 2025

Six of Ottawa’s eight defensemen at the Prospect Showdown were over six-foot-three, and they definitely didn’t make it easy on any of Toronto’s players. I thought that as the game progressed, Cowan became more comfortable, showcasing his skill, speed, and playmaking ability.

Cowan had an assist on Quillan's goal in the third period to make it a one-goal game.

Easton Cowan gets it to Ryan Kirwan, who finds Jacob Quillan in front to score. Maple Leafs cut Ottawa's lead to one goal in the third period. pic.twitter.com/WAwn3du5d4

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) September 13, 2025

How he’ll fare on Sunday against the Montreal Canadiens, who are pretty loaded with prospects, will likely dictate how he enters Maple Leafs training camp next week. I'd expect a strong game, especially against a team like the Canadiens, with the Bell Centre likely packed to the brim.

Other positive notes from Game 1

• Quillan’s goal should give him confidence going into Game 2 of the Prospect Showdown. He looked fairly confident, and so he should, following a full year of pro and a taste of the NHL last season. Quillan might not make the Maple Leafs out of training camp. But he’ll be someone to watch for a call-up as the season runs on.

Jacob Quillan keeps the puck in and it eventually comes back to him for the goal. https://t.co/fTbK1hnrF8pic.twitter.com/BZR3OeZ8Ll

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) September 13, 2025

• Miroslav Holinka had a strong game with plenty of chances to find the back of the net. There were countless moments where he was found on the left side of the ice for a one-timer, but couldn’t beat Parsons. He’ll look to have a strong game against Montreal.

• Tyler Hopkins caught my eye a fair bit. He, like Holinka, had a couple of great scoring chances but couldn’t bury them. It’ll be interesting to watch him on Sunday vs. a smaller Canadiens d-core.

Tyler Hopkins creates a chance for himself in the Senators' zone. pic.twitter.com/QKhAgns1yX

— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) September 13, 2025

Latest stories:

New And Old Look: Maple Leafs Prospects Ditch Practice Jerseys For 2025 Rookie Showcase Games

'My Work Is To Stop The Puck': Maple Leafs Prospect Artur Akhtyamov Eager To Follow In The Footsteps Of Dennis Hildeby Last Season

'My Dad Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World': Tyler Hopkins Excited To Play First Game With Maple Leafs At Prospect Showdown

The Buffalo Sabres face the challenge of snapping a NHL-record 14-year playoff drought this season and after a summer in which the club traded away their second-leading scorer in JJ Peterka in exchange for winger Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesselring and made only depth additions in Justin Danforth, Conor Timmins, and Alex Lyon, the onus will be on internal development and their core players playing up to expectations. 

In the Athletic’s tiered rankings of the Top 150 NHL players, the Sabres have just two players in defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and forward Tage Thompson listed. 

The 2018 top pick and team captain was listed in the “franchise player” tier after a 68-point season and an impressive performance at the 2025 NHL Four Nations Face-Off, describing him as an all-situations, everything player”, but the critique of Dahlin had little to do with his talent or performance, but his situation with the Sabres, and that he would be more appreciated in the league if he was not on in Buffalo.  

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Thompson was listed in the “all-star player” tier after bouncing back from an injury-plagued 2023-24 with a 44-goal performance last season. The main critique of the big forward is at the defensive end of the ice, which is less of a liability when playing the wing. 

Notable omissions from the Sabres on the list were winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Owen Power. Tuch, who is entering the final year of his contract, tied a career-high with 36 goals and was invited to the US Olympic Development Camp last month. Power, the top pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, achieved career-highs in goals (7), assists (33) and points (40), but the reason for that is likely the 6’6”, 226 lb. blueliner’s lack of physicality.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

Welcome to part two of The Hockey News’ three-part series of the pre-season fan vote. In part one, the first set of results was revealed, including fans' favorite teams and players, predictions for the Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup, and much more.

This second part will reveal fans’ perspectives on NHL rules, and whether some should be removed or changed, including the shootout, overtime and fighting.

Which Rule Should Be Removed/Changed?

Don't see the chart? Click here.

There was a clear top two in the results for this question – delay of game and the trapezoid rule. 

Many fans would like to remove the delay-of-game penalty when a player flips the puck over the glass in their own zone. Some said that it should be treated more like an icing, where a faceoff occurs in the offending team’s zone, and they aren’t allowed to line change. Others would like the option to carefully review the play, to see if it deserves a penalty or not.

The trapezoid rule prevents goaltenders from fishing for pucks in the corners, below the goal line. This allows a better flow of offense, and limits the goalie’s ability to enter open ice with the skaters. However, fans want to see the netminders explore beyond their crease a little more.

Other goaltender regulations were mentioned, including the red line rule that prevents goalies from passing the halfway mark, and goaltender interference – whether that means removing it entirely or changing the way coaches challenge it.

A handful of fans also voted to change the point system, including the removal of the overtime-loser point.

Remove Or Keep The Shootout?

Don't see the chart? Click here.

If the tie isn’t broken in overtime, teams are forced to go to a best-of-three shootout. Hockey fans are split on whether to keep the shootout or remove it.

This survey tells us that the debate between fans for the shootout is as close as it can be. About 50.5 percent of fans voted to remove the shootout, versus the 49.5 percent who want to keep it. 

If the shootout were to be removed, fans made suggestions on how to replace it. The most popular answer was to extend overtime. Even Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark voiced his opinion during the NHL/NHLPA player media tour.

“We should add five more minutes of overtime, like at the 4 Nations. Because it comes down more to play.”

A handful of fans suggested the return of a tie. The NHL hasn’t had games decided in a tie since the 2003-04 season. In fact, the last tie game in the NHL was on April 4, 2004, between the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers.

Should Referees Have Post-Game Press Conferences?

Don't see the chart? Click here.

Just like the shootout riddle, the split between fans who think NHL officials should or shouldn’t attend post-game press conferences was close. While this vote wasn’t decided by 0.5 percent, 55 percent of fans would like to see the referees face the mic, versus 45 percent who don’t see a need for it.

Since it’s rare for a referee to face the media, it’s unclear how that process would work out. However, the purpose of this would likely be to address controversial calls that were made during the game, or for officials to explain their thinking and reasoning. 

Former referee Dave Jackson, who officiated over 1,500 NHL games, has been incorporated into ESPN’s broadcasts. He explains or discusses the reasoning behind a call made by a referee, controversial or not. In a way, Jackson provides the thought process of NHL referees, adding context in real time.

Should The NHL Alter Fighting Penalties?

Don't see the chart? Click here.

For the final question related to rule changes, the survey asked fans if the severity of fighting penalties should change. In the NHL, every fight results in a five-minute major penalty, unless otherwise specified. However, other leagues, such as the QMJHL, have banned fighting.

The majority of fans voted to keep fighting penalties the same. They also had the option to vote for lighter or heavier penalties. Lighter penalties could mean shorter time in the penalty box, or even no penalty at all.

Meanwhile, heavier penalties could mean longer time in the box, such as 10 minutes, or even ejection. Along with the QMJHL, fighting in the NCAA and some European leagues results in expulsion. Nonetheless, nearly 80 percent of fans are happy with the way things are.

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.

When he attended the NHL media day, Montreal Canadiens’ captain Nick Suzuki was asked what he thought about his team’s new additions this offseason, and he made his feelings quite clear.

If the captain had asked GM Kent Hughes not to make any moves at the trade deadline, he made no such request this offseason, and with Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak’s contracts coming off the books, the GM knew precisely how he wanted to use the cap space.

Canadiens: What Suzuki Did During The 4 Nations Face-Off Break
Canadiens: Pair Of Rookies Ready To Fill The Void In Montreal
Canadiens: Rookies Getting Ready For Their Big Day

Hughes first went out and traded his two first-round picks and Emil Heineman to the New York Islanders to fill a considerable organizational need, a prominent right-shot defenseman in Noah Dobson. With David Savard retiring, the Canadiens desperately needed some help in the right-shot blueliner department, and they didn’t just replace Savard; they got an upgrade.

With Dobson filling what could have eventually been Logan Mailloux’s spot, the GM went out and traded the blueliner to the St. Louis Blues in return for Trois-Rivieres native Zachary Bolduc. The right winger was coming off a great rookie season with the Missouri outfit, putting up 36 points in 72 games on top of sporting a plus-20 rating and seeing some action on the power play, picking up seven goals on the man-advantage.

What did the captain have to say about the moves? Here you go:

I think they’re going to fit in perfectly. They both play the style that we like, and I think they’re going to love the way we play. […] It’s pretty impressive that we managed to get those two young guys in trades this summer.

- Suzuki on Dobson and Bolduc

In other words, you can add Suzuki’s name to the list of Hughes’ fans in Montreal. Those acquisitions weren’t for players who had underperformed, and the organization hoped could find their groove in Montreal, like Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, but rather for two players who have already shown what they can do at the highest level and can help address some issues in the Canadiens’ lineup.

---

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

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

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

Former Florida Panthers first-round pick and goaltender Spencer Knight has signed a three-year extension with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

Knight's new contract will carry a $5.83 million cap hit, which will kick in next season. Knight has played just 15 games with the Blackhawks, but the franchise believed his performance in the short stint was more than enough to warrant an extension.

In those 15 games, the 24-year-old recorded an .896 save percentage and a 3.18 GAA.

“After joining the team in March, Spencer quickly cemented himself as a crucial piece of our future,” said Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson. “A talented, young goaltender, he brings athleticism, sound positioning and a calm demeanor to his game, and we’re excited to watch Spencer continue to flourish in Chicago over the next four seasons.”

Knight's time as a Panther came to an end after just 80 games, due to a mix of injuries, the need to enter the NHLPA's player assistance program and the simple fact that Sergei Bobrovsky has been playing too well. As well as Knight played during his Panthers tenure, Bobrovsky left little to no space for Knight to grow, and it was time for Knight to become a No.1 goaltender. 

With those factors playing into the situation, Knight was dealt to the Blackhawks as part of the deal that sent Seth Jones to Florida. 

The former 13th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft now has an excellent opportunity to help a young Blackhawks team work their way back to the playoffs. 

The Panthers and Blackhawks will meet for the season opener this year when the Panthers raise their 2024-25 Stanley Cup banner.

The Philadelphia Flyers rookies stormed back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the New York Rangers 4-3 in overtime Friday night, but no two prospects had an equal performance.

This group of Flyers prospects has one more game to play Saturday night, which will feature some lineup rotation, but we can already glean some takeaways from the early goings of camp.

The Flyers fell down 2-0 to the Rangers early thanks to two non-descript goals from Rangers forwards Brennan Othmann and Dylan Roobroeck, and while there was little structure in this game, those goals weren't great ones.

Stock down: Carson Bjarnason

Carson Bjarnason is still a promising goalie prospect, and his status amongst his peers shouldn't change, but the first two goals he allowed are ones he undoubtedly wants back.

Othmann was left uncovered near the blue paint, but he managed to score with a punchy turnaround shot rather than off a crafty tap-in or snipe.

As for Roobroeck, his goal was more of a delayed catch-and-shoot effort from the right circle, but the weak wrister managed to get through Bjarnason's right arm at the far post.

Flyers Prospects Shine in Rookie Camp Day 1, Challenged to 'Make an Impression'The Philadelphia Flyers prospects took the ice Thursday to kick off rookie camp, with the top dogs gaining a big head-start and leading the way.

We can chalk it up to bad luck and be fair, but those goals have consequences in real games. Fortunately, the Flyers were able to come from behind and win, and Bjarnason settled in nicely afterwards, standing tall against Gabe Perreault on a breakaway amongst other saves.

I think Bjarnason is most likely to start the season in the ECHL with the Reading Royals, assuming that Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov split AHL duties with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Stock up: Denver Barkey

Phantoms head coach John Snowden said that Denver Barkey plays like he's 6-foot-4 after Friday night's game, and for good reason.

The 20-year-old was all over the ice and constantly involved in the play, both offensively and defensively.

There was a moment where Barkey held on to an incredible Spencer Gill setup too long and over-passed where he should've shot, but his patience with the puck was remarkable and generated a ton of offense for the Flyers on the evening.

Barkey's already decent foot speed should improve as he gets bigger and his legs get stronger, and it's clear his standout junior performances with the OHL London Knights were no fluke.

Barkey's playmaking really flashed against the Rangers, and I'm bullish on my Brad Marchand comparison.

It's only one rookie game, but Flyers fans should feel really good about where this former third-round pick is headed.

Stock up: Samu Tuomaala and Jack Nesbitt

The line of Samu Tuomaala, Jack Nesbitt, and Alex Bump was phenomenal against the Rangers and basically never played defense due to their domination of puck possession.

3 Flyers Prospects with the Most to Prove at 2025 Training CampIf the Philadelphia Flyers are to make any noise in the 2025-26 season, some up-and-coming prospects will need to steal the spotlight and show some progress.

Bump is already earmarked for an NHL role and is really only needing to maintain his current trajectory at this point, so I've opted for Tuomaala and Nesbitt.

Playing as a weak-side left winger, Tuomaala used his legs effectively and was able to pressure Rangers puck-carriers all night long.

Offensively, the 22-year-old always got to the right spots to receive chances and was consistently aggressive and menacing with the puck on his stick.

Tuomaala isn't likely to have a long-term role with the Flyers as a scorer; Matvei Michkov, Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, and perhaps Bobby Brink are all ahead of him at this time.

He'll need to continue to adopt good defensive practices and further round out his game, like he's shown already, to establish himself.

This was just a rookie game where he was one of the most experienced professional players on the ice, but Tuomaala is off to a great start to camp. Good for him.

As for Nesbitt, he's a lot like Sean Couturier where he lumbers around the ice, but the IQ allows him to get to where he needs to go anyway.

I think Nesbitt has more offensive skills, and he didn't look out of place against the Rangers at all. As a bonus, the 2025 first-round pick was mixing it up physically as well.

If the legs can become even average, Nesbitt could be a second-line center at the NHL level and a power play contributor in some capacity.

Stock down: Ty Murchison and Andre Mondoux

No Flyers defenseman really excelled against the Rangers aside from Ethan Samson and Gill, though the latter was paired with Ty Murchison for most of the night.

Murchison wasn't bad, necessarily, but there wasn't much there in terms of making a big hit or creating offensively. The Arizona State product did block some shots and disrupted plays with his stick, but was otherwise just there.

Flyers' Jett Luchanko No Longer Guelph Storm Captain; OHL Trade Coming?In an interesting new twist, top Philadelphia Flyers center prospect Jett Luchanko is no longer the captain of his junior team, the OHL Guelph Storm.

His performance could have been greater, but he'll get another opportunity Saturday.

The same is true of camp invite Mondoux, who looked overmatched and struggled with his passing and pace of the game.

This is not a great surprise given he played only six OHL games last season, but it is a big opportunity potentially going to waste with Austin Moline and Oliver Bonk likely drawing in for Saturday's game.

For Mondoux to truly get on an NHL team's radar, a full OHL season should help him achieve that; he's simply playing from behind compared to the other players on the ice.

Stock up: Nikita Grebenkin

The Flyers are going to have a hard time leaving Nikita Grebenkin off their opening night roster if this continues.

The overtime hero scored his goal off the bench, receiving a drop pass from Karsen Dorwart, driving at the net, and using a defender as a screen to beat Hugo Ollas from the high slot.

Aside from the shot, though, Grebenkin was always in the right position to support his teammates on the cycle, and his puck protection is top notch. You almost think of Michkov sometimes.

The 22-year-old Russian isn't the most agile at 6-foot-2, but he did say that he dropped around 4 kilos (from 220-215 pounds to 210-205 pounds) this summer.

Grebenkin is moving smoother than I remember, and he played an all-around great game against the Rangers.

If Nick Deslauriers isn't going to be an every-night player for the Flyers this season, the LW4 position is Grebenkin's to lose as I currently see it.

The Buffalo Sabres opened up their 2025 Prospects Challenge on Friday with a 4-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils prospects at LECOM HarborCenter, but for those who attended to get their first look at 2025 first-rounder Radim Mrtka, the big 18-year-old defenseman put on an impressive performance. The Czech blueliner scored the Sabres opening goal in the first period and throttled a Devils player to the ice with a hard check in the third period.   

"He was great, I'll have to watch the game back, but you could argue that he was the best player out there." Amerks head coach Michael Leone said after the game.  "He plays really hard. I probably didn't realize how good he can move. His lateral movement at the blue line is really good. He just makes good decisions with the puck."

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Topias Leinonen started and went all the way for Buffalo, allowing four New Jersey goals on 27 shots, including a pair in the third period to snap a 2-2 tie. 

“I thought he was good. If you look at the the first (goal), it was a broken play in front of the net, really good play. Then you give up an odd man rush,' Leone said. "The other one was a turnover and an odd man rush, but those are 50/50, the one-on-ones. But I thought he did a really good job. He looked quick and it's I thought he gave us a chance."

Center Noah Ostlund missed the end of the game after taking a shot to the knee area. Leone indicated that he was hit in the area where there was a gap in the padding and that he thought the 2022 first-rounder would be alright, but that he did not return out of an abundance of caution. 

The Sabres take on the Columbus BLue Jackets prospects on Saturday at 7 pm. Scott Ratzlaff is expected to get the start in goal.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram  @MikeInBuffalo

The Winnipeg Jets face off against the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators in the 2025 Prospects Showcase on Saturday and Sunday.

The Winnipeg Jets officially kick off the 2025–26 season with a pair of prospect showcase games, beginning Saturday, September 13, at the Bell Centre against the Montreal Canadiens. Winnipeg will wrap up the weekend with a matchup against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. 

Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) on XHOCKEY! HOCKEY! HOCKEY! 📺: https://t.co/rSDnSZLePm

This will be the first time the Jets are ever participating in a prospects showcase and will feature a lineup that is a mix of the organization’s top prospects, along with several free agent signees and players attending on professional tryouts. 

Some of the notable names playing for the Jets will be 2023 NHL Draft first-round picks Colby Barlow and Brayden Yager, as well as three picks from the 2025 draft class in Owen Martin (third round), Edison Engle (sixth round), and Jacob Cloutier (seventh round). 

Interesting names to look out for on the opposing side of the showcase is high-end prospects in Ivan Demidov, Jacob Fowler, and David Reinbacher for the Canadiens and Carter Yakemchuk, Tyler Boucher, Blake Vanek, 2025 third round pick and the son of former NHLer Thomas Vanek for the Senators. 

The showcase kicks off Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. CT with a matchup against the Habs, followed by another 6:00 p.m. game on Sunday against the Senators. The games can be streamed on winnipegjets.com with Manitoba Moose play-by-play announcer Daniel Fink and colour commentator Jamie Thomas on the call. 

Winnipeg's Newest Top Prospect Eying Redemption After Devastating NCAA FinalsWinnipeg's 2025 first round pick Sascha Boumedienne eyes another shot at a national title following loss in last season's final. 

Winnipeg Jets Prospect Showcase Roster: 

Jets Saturday Lineup vs Habs:

Wagner-Yager-Chibrikov

He-Zhilkin-Barlow

K.Walton-Julien-Cloutier

Yoder-Martin-Newman

-

Zloty-Salomonsson

Engle-Fryer

Hamilton-Hartmann

-

DiVincentiis

Worthington

Exclusive: Jets Goalie Prospect Domenic DiVincentiis Eyes NHL Debut in 2025Winnipeg Jets prospect Domenic DiVincentiis talks season goals with AHL All-Star Game, Calder Cup and NHL Debut in new exclusive interview with The Hockey News. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs are signaling a new era by dropping their unique tradition of wearing practice jerseys during prospects games. As the club's rookies hit the ice at Bell Centre in Montreal this past weekend, they did so in their official NHL game jerseys

While this might seem like a small detail, it marks a significant departure from a policy implemented during the previous management's tenure.

Easton Cowan Headlines Maple Leafs Roster For Prospects Showdown in Montreal, Schedule Of GamesThe Toronto Maple Leafs rookie roster is set to take on the rookies of the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators at the 2025 Prospect Showdown this weekend at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Under former General Manager Kyle Dubas the team adopted the tradition of wearing practice threads for prospects games, a policy he continued after becoming the President and General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023. According to sources, the reasoning behind the switch to practice jerseys was to ensure that every prospect understood they had to earn the right to wear the traditional game jersey. While the logic made sense, the on-ice look often appeared mismatched, as other teams participating in the tournaments clearly do not share that same view.

First year post Shanahan era and the #Leafs have done away with wearing just the practice jerseys at these games like they have in previous years. I like it. https://t.co/RZa2kbdjKs

— David Alter (@dalter) September 13, 2025

Now, with Dubas having departed and Brad Treliving at the helm as the new general manager, the policy has been reversed, although it took a couple of years. This change, which comes as the team prepares to open training camp next week is one of many expected with Treliving reporting directly to MLSE president Keith Pelley and Brendan Shanahan no longer serving as team president. 

With Shanahan out of the picture, Treliving's influence on the day-to-day of things has increased and this is just one example of it.

Latest stories:

'My Work Is To Stop The Puck': Maple Leafs Prospect Artur Akhtyamov Eager To Follow In The Footsteps Of Dennis Hildeby Last Season

'My Dad Wouldn't Have Missed It For The World': Tyler Hopkins Excited To Play First Game With Maple Leafs At Prospect Showdown

Projected Maple Leafs Rookie Game Lines Revealed Ahead Of Weekend Matchups

The Chicago Blackhawks announced they have signed goaltender Spencer Knight to a three-year, $5.83-million per season contract extension

Knight’s contract will kick in at the start of the 2026-27 campaign. He is entering the final year of his three-year, $4.5-million deal that he signed with the Florida Panthers in September 2022.

The Darien, Conn. native is coming off his first season with the Blackhawks. He was traded to Chicago from Florida on March 1 as part of the deal that saw defenseman Seth Jones move to the Panthers.

Since joining his new team, Knight has made 15 starts, registering a 5-8-2 record. With that, he’s put up a 3.18 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. 

The below-average numbers don’t tell the whole story, as he had six games where he recorded at least a .915 SP. That includes his impressive Hawks debut, a 41-save victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

“After joining the team in March, Spencer quickly cemented himself as a crucial piece of our future,” Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson said. 

“A talented, young goaltender, he brings athleticism, sound positioning and a calm demeanor to his game, and we’re excited to watch Spencer continue to flourish in Chicago over the next four seasons.”

Last year was Knight’s first season back in the NHL after he voluntarily entered the NHL and NHLPA’s player assistance program to seek help and combat a case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Since joining the program in late February 2023, he transitioned back into professional hockey with one season with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. He played 45 games in that 2023-24 campaign, recording a 2.41 GAA and a .905 SP.

Despite all the obstacles he had to face in his personal life that ultimately affected his hockey career, he’s set to be the starter for Chicago and to cement himself as one of the better young goalies in the NHL.

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.

CHICAGO - Rookie camp is in the books for the Chicago Blackhawks. A full roster of prospects came to Chicago to prepare ahead of the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. This event features the Chicago Blackhawks alongside the hosting Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. 

Before traveling to Minnesota, the Blackhawks prospects had one final practice on Saturday morning for any fine-tuning ahead of the showcase. 

Throughout the week, there were a lot of noteworthy moments from players on the roster looking to get noticed by the decision makers at the top of the organization. Of every player on the prospect roster, these five stood out above the rest: 

AJ Spellacy

There wasn't a more noticeable player during the rookie camp than AJ Spellacy. He had a mediocre year in terms of production last year in the OHL, but he has the tools to be an impactful NHL player, whether he is scoring or not. 

Spellacy was not afraid to mix it up during camp, even though he was going against players who were on the same team as him. When he is competing, he is giving it his all, no matter what. 

"I think you need to have high intensity and stuff like this. It just brings everyone together. Even when you're battling against a guy, you get off the ice and you're best buddies."

Spellacy was noticeable during the preseason last year before being shipped back to the OHL, and now he is looking to take his game to the pro level one way or another. 

Sam Rinzel

It would be fair to leave off anyone who played in the NHL last season, which would apply to guys like Artyom Levshunov, Ryan Greene, Oliver Moore, and Sam Rinzel. However, Rinzel was too noticeable during camp to ignore.

He is a step above his peers around his age. Whether they are working on the power play units, even strength play, or killing penalties, he is an impact player.

This is a highly drafted, incredibly gifted player who still believes that he has to earn a spot on the team. After the way he ended last year and is starting camp, he feels like a lock to make the NHL roster. The fact that he feels he still needs to earn it tells you that the compete-level is there for him to be better than great. 

Rinzel's impact during camp suggests that he will make a difference during the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase, which will prepare him even further for training camp and the regular season ahead. 

Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis scored 71 goals in the OHL last season. Then he showed up to rookie camp this week and looked like one of the top snipers in the organization. As he prepared for the showcase in Minnesota, Lardis was a standout player. 

It is expected that Lardis will play with Marek Vanacker and Oliver Moore, which is the team's number one forward line. Vanacker and Moore are former first-round picks with great playmaking ability, and Lardis earned the right to play with them as the primary sniper on the line. 

"It's good. We built some chemistry over the past couple of days. It's a fast line. Those two guys are really fast. We just have to use our speed to our advantage. Our skill and playmaking will take over." 

Of every line that the Blackhawks are going to run out there, this one will be the highest octane with the most speed and skill. Expect them to follow up a big week of practice with big performances in the games, led by Nick Lardis. 

Nathan Behm

The Chicago Blackhawks selected Nathan Behm with their third-round (66th overall) pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. So far, he has made that look like a sensational pick. He was one of their most noticeable players throughout the week, and now he will be a big part of their lineup in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. 

Behm is a big player who used his size to bring physicality and skill to the group. While playing on a line with Spellacy and Martin Misiak, he scored goals during scrimmages, set up his linemates, and was hard to play against from a physical standpoint. 

You don't see big players who are as skilled or as fast as Behm come through as often. He believed that he had a good camp, based on his comments to the media following practices, and that confidence could be what he needed to continue improving his game going into 2025-26. 

Marek Vanacker

Marek Vanacker was already mentioned when talking about Nick Lardis, because they will be linemates alongside Oliver Moore. 

Vanacker, who wasn't able to participate in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase last year because of an injury, showed up in a big way this time around. There were multiple instances where he drove play on that speedy line. 

The former first-round pick is going to be a net-front presence/down low forward on the power play as well, so his impact should be felt in the games as much as it was during practice. The former first-round pick has a ton of talent and is expected to be a difference-maker going forward. 

The Blackhawks will begin the showcase on Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues at 6 PM. On Sunday, they will take on the Minnesota Wild at 3 PM. 

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