Category: NHL

The Senators launched a new season of Breakaway on their YouTube channel on Wednesday, and the first episode of Season 7 offered an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the team's war room during the first round of this year's NHL Draft.

The episode's most intriguing material came from a mic'd-up Steve Staios, who revealed several details about Ottawa's draft-night thinking.

One of the biggest revelations was that their 25th overall pick, Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, was ranked nine picks higher (16th overall) on the Sens' internal draft board.

So they had to be thrilled he was still available when their pick came around.

That being said, it sounds like Staios could have gone either way when it came to choosing between Lagerberg Hoen and Jaxon Cover, the London Knights forward Ottawa eventually selected 32nd overall.

"Okay, I was thinking [we pick] Cover first and then Lagerberg Hoen?" Staios wondered aloud to his scouting staff. "Or [do we think Lagerberg Hoen] won't be there?"

The Senators settled on the skilled Swede at No. 25, and a couple of factors appeared to push them in that direction.

One was obviously their internal ranking and the concern that he wouldn't last to 32. The other was some interesting intel gathered during the pre-draft interview process.

"We talked to some of the top-end Swedish guys in the interview process," Staios told head coach Travis Green. "Stuff like, 'If you can bring a player with you, who would it be?' And this guy's name came up a lot."

That apparently helped reinforce what Ottawa's scouts already thought about Lagerberg Hoen.

Staios was also busy on the phone leading up to the 25th pick, listening to potential trade offers.

At one point, as viewers got to eavesdrop on one of his phone calls, Staios said he was being offered the 33rd and 41st picks for Ottawa's 25th and 72nd selections.

It doesn't take much detective work to figure out that the offer came from new Vancouver Canucks GM Ryan Johnson, whose club owned picks 33 and 41.

Had Staios accepted, the Senators would have held picks 32, 33 and 41 instead of 25, 32 and 72.

He opted to stay put, almost certainly because Ottawa didn't believe Lagerberg Hoen would still be there at No. 32. Considering the Senators had him ranked 16th overall, it's easy to understand why they weren't willing to take that chance.

There was another interesting option involving the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Staios revealed that Pittsburgh had called to offer a deal that included a Penguins roster player, although the min-doc didn't reveal the player's identity.

That leaves plenty of room for speculation on who that might be.

One name that would make some sense is Justin Brazeau. The 6-foot-6, 232-pound winger scored 17 goals and 17 assists last season and has been mentioned in trade speculation. 

With the Sens having recently lost the physical presence Brady Tkachuk provided, it's not difficult to imagine the Penguins offering a player like Brazeau. Naturally, the Pens' 39th overall pick or something else would have to be included in such a deal.

Or if there were no picks changing hands, the unnamed roster player might need to be someone like Rickard Rakell or Bryan Rust.

But Staios resisted the various offers and plowed forward with his top picks in the order they were given.

They landed a player they had ranked 16th at No. 25, then still managed to get Cover seven selections later at No. 32.

For fans who enjoy the off-camera mechanics of draft night, it's a fun episode.

It's one thing to hear Gary Bettman announce names at the podium. It's another to hear how close the Senators came to doing something completely different.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the Sens headlines below:

2025 Senators First-Rounder Shares 'Gnarly' Details Of His Long Road Back
Drake Batherson Wins His Club Championship, Taking Trophy From His Dad
Senators Newcomer Recognized For NHL's Best Goal Of The Year
Career Year, New Deal Fuel Former Senator's NHL Comeback Bid
Jordan Spence On Tkachuk's Exit: 'I Think That It's Going To Make Us Better'

Last July, in a courthouse in London, Ontario, five former members of Canada's 2018 World Junior hockey team were cleared of sexual assault charges.

The judge in the case said the complainant's allegations lacked the credibility and reliability needed to justify convictions. As a result, all five players were eventually allowed to resume their NHL careers.

But Hockey Canada found them in breach of their code of conduct and announced on Wednesday that suspensions will remain in place in four of the five cases.

The one exception is former Senator Alex Formenton, who they've reinstated immediately.

Formenton, Carter Hart, Cal Foote, Dillon Dubé and Michael McLeod were all acquitted last July following an eight-week trial.

But the criminal proceedings were separate from Hockey Canada's investigation. That investigation began in 2018 and eventually resulted in a November 2023 report from an independent panel. The five players were formally suspended from all Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs while an appeal of that decision was underway.

That appeal process has now concluded, and the panel confirmed that all five players breached the organization's code of conduct.

But the panel's recommended suspensions vary dramatically.

While Formenton was reinstated, Foote remains suspended until November 2026, Hart until November 2027, Dubé until November 2028, and McLeod has over four years left before reinstatement in November 2030.

In a nutshell, the panel ruled that Formenton breached the Hockey Canada code of conduct, but apparently not to the extent the others did.

Formenton was selected by the Senators in the second round, 47th overall, in the 2017 NHL Draft and developed into one of the fastest players in the organization, if not the league.

His best NHL season came in 2021-22, when he scored 18 goals and 32 points in 79 games at age 22.

But that turned out to be his final season in Ottawa.

Formenton became a restricted free agent in the summer of 2022 and went unsigned by the Senators. He eventually continued his career with HC Ambrì-Piotta in Switzerland before returning home to face charges.

Formenton spent this past season with his Swiss team again, putting up 23 points in 42 games. He's officially an NHL UFA after the Senators officially cut ties with him two months ago.

Wednesday's ruling doesn't mean the NHL or Team Canada will ever come calling again, but the comparative lenience being shown to Formenton does send a message and may fuel some discussions.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the Sens headlines below:

2025 Senators First-Rounder Shares 'Gnarly' Details Of His Long Road Back
Drake Batherson Wins His Club Championship, Taking Trophy From His Dad
Senators Newcomer Recognized For NHL's Best Goal Of The Year
Career Year, New Deal Fuel Former Senator's NHL Comeback Bid
Jordan Spence On Tkachuk's Exit: 'I Think That It's Going To Make Us Better'

The Ottawa Senators produced a behind the scenes bit of content for the 2026 draft. The part around their decision with the 25th overall pick involved the Penguins. Per Ottawa’s GM Steve Staois, the Penguins had called and offered an unidentified roster player in order to get the Sens’ pick.

Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios says the Penguins made an offer for what appears to have been the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft:

“No pick offers are good enough just yet, but Pittsburgh's interesting with the roster player.” pic.twitter.com/nITr1CryDp

— Pens System (@PensSystem) August 12, 2026

The clip shows Staios fielding an offer from Vancouver, who were attempting to send the 33rd and 41st overall picks to move up to 25 and get pick 72 back from Ottawa. Staios soon dismissed that among his Sens compadres saying, “no pick offers are good enough yet. But Pittsburgh is interesting with the roster player”.

By the time the ultimate decision had to be made, Ottawa elected to hold tight and draft the 16th best prospect on their board at 25th overall, Swedish winger Jonas Lagerberg-Hoen.

The tidbit about the Pens will lead to intrigue. Staios didn’t mention if Pittsburgh included a pick (like 39th or 54th overall) to bolster their offer or if that unidentified roster player stood as the only piece involved.

The Penguins haven’t been in a huge hurry to trade players away. The didn’t end up moving any roster players on draft night and since that point they’ve only traded away Jack St. Ivany and Parker Wotherspoon, neither of which would be remotely close in value to making a team like Ottawa think long and hard about dealing the 25th pick.

It’s a bit easier to see what Pittsburgh’s end game was. The Pens had just drafted Liam Ruck at 22nd overall and it wasn’t exactly a state secret that the team was eager to add his twin brother Markus to the organization. They ended up not needing a trade, getting Markus at their next pick early in the second round at 39th overall. For their part, the Pens picked a partner in Ottawa who held another pick (32nd overall) in the first round as a potential target that might have been interested in adding a current NHL player with their extra pick early on.

Who exactly the Pens offered is intriguing. One would think that a standalone for Bryan Rust or Rickard Rakell would have been enough for Ottawa to move a late first rounder, especially considering that the Pens’ reported price on both veterans is higher than one late first. By the same token, it makes sense to rule out Egor Chinakhov and Ben Kindel value-wise as nothing that Pittsburgh would offer. Same with trade clauses for obviously Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang. Plenty of others on the roster offered up wouldn’t have Ottawa even considering the move.

That leaves a few candidates in the sweet spot as being available but carrying some value, like possibly Tommy Novak or Justin Brazeau as the mystery offer. Possibly even down to near-ready prospects like Harrison Brunicke, Ville Koivunen or Rutger McGroarty, though considering players who finished in the AHL as ‘roster players’ may or may not have been in the cards. Some of those names make more sense than others but seem like the more realistic range of potential offerings.

In the end, the general public will never likely know exactly who the Pens offered up. GM Kyle Dubas runs a tight ship and almost zero details leak out from his side, especially about trades that didn’t end up getting made. General managers float tons of ideas to their counterparts all the time and most the talk amounts to nothing. A Pittsburgh/Ottawa trade for the 25th pick fits in that category of fizzling out before getting across the finish line. The only difference from most talks was that Ottawa used the conversation as part of their multimedia to give a little peak into what went on in their draft room. As a result, they gave a little bit of news to consider what could have been if Staios decided to move forward with the offer from the Pens and just how the team might have been different if he did.

A Montreal Canadiens young star has received some praise.

TheHockeyNews.com has named Ivan Demidov as the NHL's top forward breakout candidate to watch for the 2026-27 season

When looking at what Demidov did during his rookie season with the Canadiens, it is certainly hard not to be excited to see what he can do for the Habs now that he has a full year of experience.

In 82 games last season with the Canadiens, Demidov posted 19 goals, 43 assists, and 62 points. These were very impressive numbers from the Habs rookie, but the 2024 fifth-overall pick should only get better as he continues to gain more experience. 

If Demidov can take another step forward, it would only make the Canadiens a more difficult team for opponents to go up against. He has all the tools to become a superstar in the NHL, and it will be interesting to see if he takes another big step to becoming that in 2026-27 from here. 

The possibility of Demidov being an 80-point player this upcoming campaign for the Canadiens should not be ruled out. He has the offensive potential to do so. 

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

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

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

Defenseman Finn Harding came in at No. 13, as his rapid progression after being a seventh-round pick is impressive and a developmental success story. We shift back to the forward front for No. 12 to shed more light on a guy who plays with an edge, a skillset, and a contagious energy that may just allow him to keep elevating his ceiling at the NHL level. 

---

No. 12: RW Avery Hayes

Fist career shot, first career goal for Avery Hayes. Incredible moment for him 🏒 pic.twitter.com/iR9jSS62IN

— Austin Bechtold (@AustinRBechtold) February 6, 2026

There are very few prospects in the Penguins' organization as well-liked and well-respected as Avery Hayes, and it's certainly for good reason. 

The undrafted 23-year-old forward certainly made a big impression on the big club when he made his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 5, scoring two goals, with the first coming from an earned opportunity on his first NHL shot. Hayes played in 16 NHL games during the team's most important stretch of the season between late-February and early April, putting up five goals and showing signs of being an effective bottom-six player with offensive upside.

And that's not even accounting for the fabulous AHL season he had, putting up 24 goals and 39 points in 42 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). He went a bit quiet during the Calder Cup Playoffs with just three goals and six points through 15 games, but his presence was still noticeable. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 13: Defenseman's Growth A Revelation For PittsburghNext up on THN's Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list is a defenseman who continues to raise his own stock despite his late draft selection - and who is beginning to look more and more like an NHL-wired blueliner.

Hayes exudes a certain level of energy and confidence that seems to be contagious among his peers. He plays with an edge and sticks up for teammates, he works his tail off shift after shift, and he doesn't shy away from playing with the puck on his stick.  

He's also as good as anyone in the system at creating something out of nothing.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound right wing excels at "stickhandling in a phone booth," if you will, possessing the ability to make plays in tight spaces and force plays that don't even look like they're there. He's quick, he's agile, he's an excellent forechecker, he's able to create separation with his speed, he's good around the net, he is effective on the PK and the PP, and he has a pretty nice shot to go along with all of that.

GOAL. Avery Hayes makes it 3-0 #WBSPens late in the 2nd period.

Harrison Brunicke to Rutger McGroarty and across to Hayes for #85's team-leading 3rd of the playoffs on more brilliant puck movement on the power play.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/TMV4DVnUp5

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 15, 2026

The chemistry that Rutger McGroarty and Avery Hayes have was on FULL DISPLAY on their last shift. My goodness.

Unreal how well those two play together & find each other on the ice.@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/rE64ZmXYlP

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) May 20, 2026

Hayes's journey to the NHL was certainly an unconventional one, as he went straight from playing with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL in 2022-23 to an AHL PTO then a contract with WBS. His biggest and best attribute is his work ethic, which is on display every single night in various different manners, whether that's beating opponents to loose pucks, forcing his will around the net-front, or playing with some snarl to get under his opponent's skin and rally his team.

In some ways, Hayes is a bit remniscent of veteran forward Bryan Rust, who - even if drafted, unlike Hayes - started out the first seasons of his NHL career as a fourth-liner but worked his way up the lineup through persistance and the high-energy, forecheck-heavy speed game he plays.

So, looking at it that way, it kind of makes sense why he's garnered the respect and attention of the Penguins' development staff, as his path and his work ethic set an example for others to follow. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 14: Feisty Forward Showing Why He Belongs In ProsNext up at No. 14 on THN's Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list is a tenacious, relentless, skilled forward with a mean streak who could work his way onto the NHL roster sooner rather than later.

"Avery Hayes is an incredible kid. I could talk all day about him," Penguins' director of player development Tom Kostopoulos said. "The way our organization is set up to find these players, work with them, develop them, coach them, give them opportunity, Avery Hayes is a fantastic example. 

"Everyone in our organization was super happy to see [him] jump into the lineup in Buffalo and score two goals. From the way his career started and what he's done with it so far, there's a lot more for him ahead."

Hayes figures to be a candidate to make the opening night NHL roster, even with an uphill climb ahead due to the crowded forward pool expected at training camp. His game is one that should translate pretty well to the NHL level, and his ceiling once he establishes himself as an NHL player is a bit of an exciting unknown. That "unknown" is both what has him just outside the top-10 on this list and what makes him such an intriguing upside prospect.

Given his history, he may just keep raising that ceiling. If any prospect in the organization is going to take a Rust-like path and quite literally get better and more productive at the NHL level with every passing year, it's Hayes. He has the tools, the fight, and the mindset to do it, so it will be interesting to see how soon he can establish himself as a permanent fixture in the Penguins' lineup. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2026, No. 15: Newly Drafted Center Has High Offensive UpsideNext up at No. 15 on THN's Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list is a cerebral, tactical center who led WHL scoring last season and has even more untapped offensive potential.

The list so far:

- Honorable mentions

- No. 20: D Chase Pietila

- No. 19: C Kale Dach

- No. 18: LW/C Ryan Miller

- No. 17: C Zam Plante

- No. 16: G Joel Blomqvist

- No. 15:C Markus Ruck

- No. 14:LW Tanner Howe

- No. 13:D Finn Harding

- No. 12: RW Avery Hayes

5 Penguins' Prospects Most Likely To Make NHL Roster Out Of Training CampThe Pittsburgh Penguins should have some interesting decisions to make in terms of their NHL roster next season - and their top prospects will be a big part of that.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!   

The Montreal Canadiens should be on the hunt for some forward help before the start of the 2026-27 season.

One specific area that the Canadiens should look to improve is at the center position. When looking at trade candidates around the NHL, Calgary Flames center Morgan Frost stands out as a very intriguing potential option for the Habs to consider.

With the Flames being in the middle of a rebuild, questions about Frost's future in Calgary have come up this off-season. The fact that he is entering the final season of his contract in 2026-27 and is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) has also played a role in him being the rumor mill. 

Although Frost would not be the biggest of additions for the Canadiens, he could provide them with some help down the middle. The 27-year-old center is coming off a solid 2025-26 season with the Flames, as he scored a career-high 22 goals and posted 43 points. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to be a strong pickup for the Canadiens' middle six if acquired. 

Ultimately, with the Canadiens needing some forward help, it could make sense for them take a chance on a player like Frost. There is always the chance that the 2017 first-round pick could improve his offense a bit in Montreal, too, as he would have more support around him than he does in Calgary. 

With the oncoming start of a new NHL season comes the beginning of milestone countdowns for the Vancouver Canucks. As it stands, seven players currently on Vancouver’s roster have the chance to hit personal and franchise goal-scoring milestones during the 2026–27 season. 

Elias Pettersson & Brock Boeser Continue Their Race Up The Canucks’ Ranks 

Elias Pettersson ended the 2025–26 season with only one more goal needed to tie former Canucks captain Bo Horvat for the ninth-most goals scored in franchise history. Currently sitting at 200 goals, Pettersson is only two goals away from passing Horvat’s current total of 201 goals as a member of the Canucks. 

Depending on how the season goes, Pettersson could also hit the benchmark for the eighth-most goals scored in Canucks history. That spot currently belongs to Brock Boeser, who has 226 total tallies for the team. Boeser, however, has a couple of goal-scoring milestones of his own to reach, as he’s currently only 14 goals away from tying Henrik Sedin (240) for seventh in franchise history. Within range of that is also Tony Tanti, who currently sits at sixth in club records with 250 goals. 

While Boeser is likely to slide into seventh during the 2026–27 season, Tanti’s record at sixth may be a little harder to achieve. Boeser would have to score 25 goals to pass Tanti — which isn’t outlandish given the forward’s goal-scoring averages on a full season-by-season basis — but given that the Canucks aren’t expected to stun offensively in the upcoming season, this may be a harder mark to reach. 

200 Goals Await Jake DeBrusk In 2026–27 

Only 11 goals stand in the way of Jake DeBrusk and the 200-career NHL goal mark, which he could realistically hit before the end of the calendar year. The winger hit the 100-goal mark back in 2022 as a member of the Boston Bruins, though the increase in his goal-scoring pace per season as of late has helped accelerate his steps towards the next milestone. 

Three Defencemen And One Forward Could All Hit 50 Career-Goals In 2026–27 

Four Canucks — three veteran defencemen and one depth forward — are all within striking distance of 50-career NHL goals. 

The closest to the 50-goal milestone currently is Filip Hronek, who is sitting at 48 goals throughout his NHL career. He’s scored at least five goals in all but one of his eight seasons in the NHL, with the lone expectation being the shortened 2020–21 season. 

The next player closest to scoring their 50th-career NHL goal is newcomer Paul Cotter, who is currently at 47 throughout his career. The depth forward scored nine goals in 79 games for the New Jersey Devils in 2025–26, but has previously tallied as many as 16 in a season (2024–25). 

From there, Jamie Oleksiak and Luke Schenn are both tied with 45 career NHL goals. Oleksiak scored exactly five goals for the Seattle Kraken in 2025–26, though he’s only hit that mark four times total throughout his career. Schenn, who last scored five goals in a single season as a member of the Canucks in 2021–22, will likely see a larger role with Vancouver in 2026–27 compared to his more recent stints, making this milestone a little more achievable. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Vancouver Canucks 2026–27 Player Preview: Jamie Oleksiak

Canucks AHL-Affiliate Signs Former Penguins Draft Pick To One-Year Contract

Canucks Sign 2026 First-Round Pick Novotný To Entry-Level Contract

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Three of the five players acquitted of sexual assault in the high-profile 2018 Canada world junior case have had their international play suspensions get extended for at least another year, with only one set for immediate reinstatement.

Hockey Canada on Wednesday extended Michael McLeod’s ban from representing the country until Nov. 10, 2030, Dillon Dube through the same date in 2028 and Carter Hart through that date in 2027. Cal Foote’s suspension will end this November, while Alex Formenton has been reinstated.

The decisions were announced after an independent appeal board ruled that the players breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct.

Last year, the NHL allowed the players to sign contracts beginning in October and to play in December. Hart signed with Vegas in the fall, returned to the NHL on Dec. 2 and backstopped the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup, while Dube in July became the second of the five players to sign an NHL contract when he joined St. Louis.

A team in Sweden terminated an agreement with Foote late last month after objections from fans about it. Formenton has been playing in Switzerland, while McLeod is under contract in the KHL for two more seasons.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

An appeals panel ruled that five players from Hockey Canada's 2018 world junior championships team breached the organization's code of conduct in a case that led to a sexual assault trial in which all were acquitted.

The panel continued suspensions for four of the five players, and announced the dates when they will again be eligible to represent Canada in international play.

Alex Formenton is eligible to return immediately. Here are the return dates for the other four players:

• Cal Foote: suspended until Nov. 10, 2026
• Carter Hart: suspended until Nov. 10, 2027
• Dillon Dubé: suspended until Nov. 10, 2028
• Michael McLeod: suspended until Nov. 10, 2030

Each player was charged in 2024 with one count of sexual assault stemming from an alleged incident that police said happened in a London, Ontario, hotel room while the team was in town in June 2018 for a Hockey Canada gala celebrating the team's gold medal. McLeod also was charged with being a party to the offense.

After their 2025 trial, Justice Maria Carroccia ruled she couldn't rely on the evidence of the female accuser and that prosecutors hadn't proved their case. She found all of the players not guilty.

The NHL eventually ruled that the players were eligible to return to the league. Hart signed with the Vegas Golden Knights for two years and led them to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.

Dube signed with the St. Louis Blues this offseason after playing for their American Hockey League affiliate last season..

Foote, who played in the AHL last season, signed this summer with a Swedish team, which rescinded the contract several days later after backlash.

Formenton and McLeod are playing overseas.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Suspensions extended for four players acquitted in Hockey Canada trial

As is customary, the Philadelphia Flyers find themselves connected to the latest offseason news, but rather than a trade target or a free agent, we're talking international suspension.

On Wednesday, Hockey Canada, via an independent appeal board, has made a decision regarding a breach of conduct for the five acquitted players involved in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault case.

Forward Alex Formenton, who has been out of the NHL since 2022, has been reinstated by Hockey Canada effective immediately, but the other four players, including former Flyers goalie Carter Hart, will remain suspended.

According to the press release, Cal Foote will remain suspended until Nov. 10, Hart be suspended until Nov. 10, 2027, Dillon Dube will be suspended until Nov. 10, 2028, and Michael McLeod will be suspended until Nov. 10, 2030.

"The players had been formally suspended from Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs, pending the completion of the appeal process," the release said.

Ex-Flyers Goalie Carter Hart Acquitted in Hockey Canada TrialFormer <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> goalie Carter Hart has been found not guilty of sexual assault after being acquitted by Justice Maria Carroccia on Thursday afternoon.

"As the independent investigation did not conclude that any other player on the 2018 National Junior Team breached Hockey Canada’s code of conduct, those players are eligible for consideration to participate in any Hockey Canada-sanctioned program, effective immediately.

However, any player under consideration to play on a national team will be subject to Hockey Canada’s enhanced screening process, which will continue to include a third-party review of the findings regarding the 2018 National Junior Team before being eligible to represent Canada internationally."

Hart, 27, is the only one of the five acquitted players to resume their NHL careers, having spent the last season with the Vegas Golden Knights after last playing for the Flyers in Jan. 2024.

In 18 regular season games, Hart went 13-3-3, eventually reuniting with his former Flyers head coach, John Tortorella, going on a fairytale run to the Stanley Cup Final before getting handily dealt with by the champion Carolina Hurricanes.

Despite a hot start, Hart ultimately finished his postseason run with a 14-8 record, a 2.56 GAA, and .909 save percentage, going ice-cold in the Final.

The Flyers' former second-round pick last represented Canada internationally at the 2019 IIHF Men's World Championships, where Canada lost to Finland in the final.

Hart was 3-0 for Canada in that tournament, and led all goalies who had played in at least three games with his .964 save percentage.

A taste of pro hockey adds to ‘high expectations' for Flyers' prospect originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

From a young age, Cole Knuble was taught about max effort.

As the son of Mike Knuble, a hard-working former Flyer who played over 1,000 NHL games, competing was a must growing up.

“He used to say, ‘If you have 12 eggs in your pockets, they should all be broken,'” Knuble said of his dad’s influence. “That’s what he would always tell me.

“You’re a hockey player, that’s just how it is — you battle. He preached that more than anything; it wasn’t about points, ever.”

Well, Knuble has heeded his father’s advice. He has competed and developed, putting himself in the Flyers’ pro picture. If he keeps it up, an NHL debut could be in his future.

Knuble was selected by the Flyers in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. Last season, after signing his entry-level contract in March, he played seven games for AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, recording a goal, two assists and 15 shots. He also scored a shootout goal.

“I thought he was one of our higher-end players and was not taking a backward step to anybody at that professional level,” Patrick Sharp, a special advisor to the Flyers’ hockey operations department, said in July. “That’s kind of impressive coming from college. We’ve got high expectations for him. The best part about Cole is he’s a great kid, comes from a great family, loves the game, he’s a good leader, he fits in well with his teammates. We can’t have enough of those guys around.”

This summer, the 22-year-old forward was one of the better players at Flyers development camp. He looked like a prospect with three years of seasoning at Notre Dame. Knuble moved well, saw the ice and was a constant threat to score.

“He’s a player, I can remember three years ago, right away, that had excellent hockey sense,” Sharp said. “He has certainly rounded out his game over the years and looks like he has improved every time we get eyes on him.”

When Knuble was drafted, his skating was a knock. He even went undrafted the year before because of it.

“I think you can really see his maturity from when he first got here,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said in July. “We talked in the past about his skating, his skating is why he went through the draft. He was always a good player, but I don’t see his skating as an issue at all anymore. It’s actually a strength.”

Cole Knuble with some patience and vision here to set up Alex Bump.

Knuble will be a pro this season and there’s potential for him at center. pic.twitter.com/9kVoqNO8v2

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 2, 2026

If Knuble can prove to be effective at center, his odds with the Flyers would only increase. He can play on the wing and down the middle. Center is a premium position and the Flyers have needed more talent there.

“You have that versatility, you just give yourself a better chance,” Knuble said. “I played center in college for probably most of it.”

The Phantoms gave Knuble some looks at center. We’ll see if he can stick there this season as he enters his first full year with Lehigh Valley.

“That was definitely an adjustment, especially faceoffs,” Knuble said. “I was playing wing at the end of my season in college, so I was kind of thrown into a new league and a different position. But I’ve always been a guy that can play both and I want to have that in my toolbox.”

The Edmonton Oilers have added to an already crowded crease situation in Bakersfield, signing goaltender Eemil Vinni to a one-year, two-way American Hockey League contract for the 2026-27 season.

The @Condors have signed goaltender Eemil Vinni to a one-year, two-way American Hockey League contract for the 2026-27 season. https://t.co/7UHGvkIIIK

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) August 12, 2026

Vinni was selected 64th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 NHL Draft after being ranked the top European goalie by NHL Central Scouting. The 6-foot-3 netminder missed much of 2024-25 with an injury but returned last season, splitting time between JoKP and Ketterä in Finland’s Mestis league. He posted an 8-5-4 record with a .884 save percentage for JoKP before being loaned to Ketterä, where he excelled with a .951 save percentage and 1.23 GAA in four regular-season games. He also went 4-2 with a .943 save percentage and 1.52 GAA in six playoff appearances.

The question now becomes, what happens with the rest of the netminders in Bakersfield? 

The Oilers already have Matt Tomkins, Connor Ungar, Samuel Jonsson, Nathaniel Day in their system. Tomkins and Ungar were likely the next in line to get an NHL shot. 

Like they intend to do at the NHL level this season, the Oilers farm team must be planning on three goalies. Alternatively, the organization might be thinking about including one of the goalies in a future trade. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

 As the National Hockey League enters the second month of free agency, a number of former Buffalo Sabres still remain unsigned. At this point of the offseason, players who have not latched on with an NHL club might consider playing in Europe, or taking a short-term deal or professional tryout to earn a one-year deal. 

It appeared at the beginning of last season that Reimer’s long career had come to an end. He was brought in late in the preseason by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the club that drafted him in 2006, as a possible stop-gap backup to Anthony Stolarz with Joseph Woll on a leave of absence from the club. That possibility lasted one period in the exhibition finale against Detroit, after which he was let go. 

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

The 38-year-old has played for eight NHL clubs (Toronto, San Jose twice, Florida, Detroit, Carolina, Anaheim, Ottawa, and Buffalo). He was signed by the Sabres in 2024 as a third goalie behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi, but when the Sabres tried to sneak him down to the AHL, he was claimed by the Ducks to fill in while John Gibson was injured. 

Buffalo reclaimed Reimer when Gibson returned and sent Levi to Rochester. He was dependable as a backup to UPL, playing 22 games for the Sabres, most of his work at the end of the season when Lindy Ruff was not pleased with Luukkonen’s consistency. Last season, he was signed by the Sens in January to backup Linus Ullmark with youngster Leevi Merilainen struggling. 

The Sens went 7-4-2 in his 13 starts, which helped Ottawa get into the playoffs.    

Outlook: Reimer has not announced his retirement, and like last season, he may be waiting until training camps open to get signed to a PTO in hopes of latching on for one more campaign. There are enough clubs out there looking for an adequate #2 or #3 between the pipes, so there is a chance that we could see Reimer again. 

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

A former Pittsburgh Penguins prospect is heading to the KHL.

The Shanghai Dragons have signed former Penguins prospect defenseman Calen Addison to a one-year contract.

Addison was selected by the Penguins in the second round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, 53rd overall. He was once considered one of the Penguins' top prospects, but he never ended up playing a game for Pittsburgh. This is because the Penguins traded Addison to the Minnesota Wild in February 2020 as part of the the trade that brought forward Jason Zucker to Pittsburgh. 

Addison played in three games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2018-19, however, where he posted two assists. 

After being traded by the Penguins, Addison played four NHL seasons from 2020-21 to 2023-24. In 152 career NHL games over that span, he posted six goals, 44 assists, 50 points, and 96 penalty minutes. His best season in the NHL was in 2022-23, as he set career highs with three goals, 26 assists, and 29 points in 62 games. 

Before signing this new deal with Shanghai, Addison spent each of the last two seasons exclusively at the AHL level. In 65 games last season with the Utica Comets, he recorded six goals and 31 points.

The Coachella Firebirds, the American Hockey League (AHL) Seattle Kraken affiliate, announced on July 29th that the team had signed defenseman Gustav Olofsson. ​

Olofsson appeared in 48 games last season for the Firebirds, recording four goals and 28 assists.

​The defenseman was drafted 46th overall in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild. he has appeared in 63 NHL Games with three teams: the Minnesota Wild, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Seattle Kraken.

​Firebirds General Manager Troy Bodie spoke about the signing. ​

“Gustav has been a part of this organization since day one, and that says a lot about the person and player he is,” said Bodie. “His leadership, professionalism, and consistency have helped establish the culture we’ve built in Coachella Valley. Gustav brings valuable NHL experience and continues to set an outstanding example for our younger players. We’re excited to have him back for another season.” ​

Olofsson joined the Firebirds in the 2022-23 season and is entering his fifth season with the team. ​He has appeared in 414 AHL regular-season games and 69 Calder Cup Playoff games.

​The Firebirds signed Olofsson to a one-year AHL contract. The 2026-27 season will kick off on October 2.  

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

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.