Category: NHL

After months of waiting, Vancouver Canucks hockey is back. Over at the Rogers Forum in Abbotsford, Vancouver will battle the Seattle Kraken in a two-game Prospects Showcase. With the first game scheduled for September 12 at 4:00 pm PT, here is a look at three Canucks to watch.

Ilya Safonov

One of the more intriguing players on Vancouver's roster is Russian forward Ilya Safonov. The 25-year-old signed with the Canucks this off-season after spending his entire career in the KHL. Based on line rushes at practice, Safonov is set to play on a line with Braeden Cootes and Bennett Schimek. 

Safonov enters the campaign as a candidate for the 13th forward spot in the NHL. He is signed to a two-way contract, which means he could be a player shuttled between the NHL and the AHL. Ultimately, it will be interesting to see how Safonov's game adjusts to North America. 

Sawyer Mynio

Sawyer Mynio is coming off an impressive rookie year with the Abbotsford Canucks. The 21-year-old proved he could be a top-four defenceman as he recorded 21 points in 58 games. Now in his fourth year with the organization, Mynio is projected to get heavy minutes for Abbotsford this season. 

The big question with Mynio is whether he'll get the chance to play an NHL game this year. He has built a level of trust with Manny Malhotra and is a prospect the organization rates highly. If injuries or trades occur this season, Mynio could find his way up to Vancouver. 

Vilmer Alriksson

Vilmer Alriksson stands out wherever he goes. The 21-year-old is listed at 6'6", 214 lbs, and can knock the opposition off the puck with ease. The Canucks appear to be making a jumbo line, as Alriksson was in a trio with Brooks Rogowski (6'7", 235 lbs) and Austin Brimmer (6'4", 223 lbs) at practice. 

While Alriksson played 43 games during his rookie AHL season, he struggled to produce offensively. The Swedish winger recorded nine points while posting 56 penalty minutes. Now that Alriksson has a year of pro hockey under his belt, he should feel more comfortable heading into the campaign. 

Game Information:

Where: Rogers Forum

When: 4:00 pm PT

Streaming: Canucks.com

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The Chicago Blackhawks prospects took the ice for day two of Prospect Camp on Saturday. There were tons of skill and skating drills that took place as they prepared for two matches against the St. Louis Blues.

Some video from Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp: pic.twitter.com/jENdtGr7Qf

— Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) September 12, 2026

Part of the practice revealed some potential lines for the games, as they did a drill that emulated game situations. The lines looked like this: 

Roobroeck - Boisvert - Spellacy

Vanacker - Felcman - Misiak

Joughlin - Ludwinski - Aboflan

Henderson - DaFoe - Holmes

Young

Harding - Furlong

Henry - Hislop

Cumby - Getz

Batch

Gajan

Schaubel

The top line with Ryan Roobroeck, Sacha Boisvert, and AJ Spellacy has a little bit of everything when evaluating a skill line. They bring speed, toughness, and size, along with a tremendous amount of skill. 

Roobroeck will be back in major junior this year, but Sacha Boisvert and AJ Spellacy on a line to start the year in the AHL could be a big boost for the Rockford IceHogs. We'll see if they stay together through the rest of camp, including the games. 

At one point during practice, during a game-like simulation, Boisvert scored a goal in which he took a shot in the slot through a screen. If he exhibits that kind of shot with confidence in games that count, he will eventually find his way into the NHL for good. 

Another player worth mentioning is Marek Vanacker. The former first-round pick has the tools to become an NHL player as well, but his nice hands stood out during this practice. Even when he's in tight quarters in front of the net, he can make a move to find the twine. 

The Blackhawks did a shootout drill towards the end of practice, and Vanacker was one of the players who scored. He made a move on Schaubel to sneak it in between the pads and the goalpost. That wasn't the only goal he scored either, as he went 2/3 on his attempts. 

The Blackhawks prospects will practice one more time, Sunday morning, before their two gamedays on Monday and Tuesday (which will also feature morning skates). 

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

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Based on the chatter from NHL insiders last week, the Winnipeg Jets are hoping to get an offer for goalie Connor Hellebuyck to their liking before the beginning of the regular season. If not, they are prepared to start the regular season with the Vezina and Hart Trophy winner on the roster.

According to both Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Florida Panthers pursued the 33-year-old during the offseason, but traded assets that were offered in the proposed trade for winger Brady Tkachuk and goalie Jacob Markstrom. Both also indicate that three clubs; the Sabres, Utah Mammoth, and Carolina Hurricanes are in the mix for Hellebuyck, who has five years left on his contract at $8.5 million per season. 

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Both indicated in their reporting on Hellebuyck that Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is looking for a hockey trade instead of just future assets in the deal. In looking at the competition for the Olympic gold medal winner earlier this summer, the Mammoth may be in the best position to make a trade, with Karel Vejmelka under contract (who has a 10-team no-trade clause), 23-year-old Sebastian Cossa (obtained from Detroit in June) and young prospects (2024 first rounder Tij Iginla or 2025 top pick Caleb Desnoyers) that would tantalize Cheveldayoff in a deal.

Carolina lost veteran Frederik Andersen in free agency to Edmonton, leaving the Hurricanes with Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov as their tandem. The Jets reportedly are looking for help up the middle, but the most enticing piece coming back could be big Russian blueliner Alexander Nikishin, who is currently an unsigned RFA. along with someone like highly regarded prospect Ivan Ryabkin, who played in the AHL and QMJHL as an 18-year-old. 

To best either club’s offers, Buffalo may have to further subtract from their NHL roster, in the form of winger Jack Quinn or center Ryan McLeod, but might have to include one of their promising young forwards (Konsta Helenius, Noah Ostlund, Jiri Kulich) and/or defensive prospects Daxon Rudolph or Radim Mrtka in the deal. 

It will be interesting if Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen is willing to pay such a high price for Hellebuyck, or will be willing to go into next season with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis in goal.  

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

Mark Stone has already given the Vegas Golden Knights just about everything a franchise could ask of its captain.

He helped turn an expansion team into a Stanley Cup contender, became the first captain in franchise history and eventually lifted the Cup in Vegas. But the Golden Knights clearly aren't ready to find out what life without him looks like.

Vegas signed Stone to a two-year, $18 million contract Saturday, keeping its captain under contract through the 2027-28 season. The deal comes after another remarkable season from the 34-year-old, who scored a career-high 73 points in only 60 games despite missing time with injuries.

Stone's production was a major reason Vegas made another run at the Cup, reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in nine seasons. He finished the regular season with 28 goals and 45 assists before adding 12 points in 17 playoff games.

For all the questions that have followed Stone's health in recent years, there has never been much debate about what he means to the Golden Knights when he is healthy. His fingerprints are all over the most important moments in the franchise's history, and his 84 playoff points remain the most any Golden Knights player has recorded.

Now, Vegas has decided that history shall continue. 

The extension also comes just two days after the Golden Knights gave Braeden Bowman a six-year, $20.4 million contract of his own. One deal keeps a veteran captain who helped build the franchise's identity in place; the other gives Vegas a long-term piece it hopes will help carry that identity forward.

For the Golden Knights, Saturday wasn't simply about keeping Stone around.

It was about making sure the player who has been at the center of so much of their success gets another chance to finish the job.

Buffalo Sabres prospects practiced for the first time at LECOM Harborcenter on Friday in advance of the two-game Prospect Showcase against the Boston Bruins youngsters on Sunday night and Monday morning. The highest-regarded of the Sabres prospects playing this weekend is 2025 first-rounder Radim Mrtka.

The 19-year-old played the beginning of the AHL season with Rochester, but was sent back to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds in October. The big blueliner played for Czechia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, and after finishing the WHL season, he returned to the Amerks to finish out the regular season and play in the Calder Cup Playoffs against Toronto.  

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I think that (getting bigger and stronger) was a huge emphasis in the offseason to spend a lot of time (on)." Amerks head coach Michael Leone said. “(Mrtka) looks really good as far as his physicality.....He went to Prague in the summer and was training with a really good group there." 

Rochester is undergoing a transition in all areas, with last year’s starting goalie Devon Levi being dealt to Edmonton, their top scoring defenseman Zac Jones signing with Utah, and most of their top forwards either graduating to the NHL Sabres or are playing elsewhere, so youngsters like Mrtka will be depended on to step in and take on more responsibilities. 

"I learned a lot(in Rochester). There's probably not a single thing I could tell you right now, but I just took so many things from those games. So I'm really happy and glad that I could play there." Mrtka said.  

With the selection of righty Daxon Rudolph at the 2026 Draft this past June, Mrtka could have competition making the Sabres roster later in the season, and with the club possibly in talks with Winnipeg to acquire Connor Hellebuyck, it is not out of the question that the young blueliner’s future could lie elsewhere. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.  

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games. 

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Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

 2. Daxon Rudolph - D (Prince Albert - WHL)

The Sabres were expecting to select in the bottom third of the first round after their first playoff appearance in 15 years, but after being informed that defenseman Bowen Byram would not sign an extension, Kekalainen sprung into action, dealing the Cup winner to the Chicago Blackhawks for the fourth overall pick in the 2026 Draft, a second rounder (used to acquire Olen Zellweger from Anaheim) and blueliner Louis Crevier. 

With a number of well regarded defensive prospects available at #4, the Sabres did not take select the higher projected Chase Reid, Keaton Verhoeff, or Carson Carels, and selected Prince Albert Raiders blueliner Daxon Rudolph. The 18-year-old righty was the first overall pick in the 2023 WHL Draft, and after scoring 41 points in 2024-25 as a rookie, Rudolph posted an impressive 78 points (28 goals, 50 assists) in 68 WHL games in his second season. 

Elite Prospects describes Rudolph as “both a high-end shooter and playmaker, who has the offensive tools to shred the opposition. He’s a scoring threat from range and uses his feel for scoring windows to jump off the point into the perfect spot to catch and fire.”

The youngster chose to shift to the NCAA and will play this season at the University of Denver under three-time NCAA champion David Carle, but indicated at Sabres Development Camp in July that he hopes to make the jump to the NHL after one or perhaps two years, Rudolph was also was invited by Team Canada to the World Junior Summer Showcase, and is likely to be on their roster for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championships in Alberta this December. 

 

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The New York Islanders entered the 2026 NHL Draft holding just five draft picks, including only one pick inside the top 100.

In that type of scenario, it's crucial the Islanders do their best and take solid, potentially high-upside late-round dart throws in the NHL. That's always the case, sure. But that feeling only gets heightened in a year of scarce picks.

Everyone knew the Islanders could be targeting right-shot defenseman, the most obvious bare spot in their prospect pool at the time. 

Enter Vladimir Dravecky.

The Islanders drafted Dravecky, 18, in the fifth-round of the 2026 NHL Draft with the 141st overall pick.

Playing with an elite Brantford Bulldogs team last year, Dravecky posted nine goals and 28 points in 58 games, as well as three assists in 11 playoff games.

Dravecky also notched five assists in 11 games with the Czechia U20 team in international competition, but was held scoreless at the 2026 World Junior Championship.

At the time of the draft, people felt the Islanders landed incredible value with his work ethic and potential upside.

Put Hamilton Hammers Head Coach Jay McKee in that camp.

"With Vlad being a late pick, for me, it was one of the steals of the draft for sure at that pick," McKee said following Day One of Rookie Camp.

McKee continued with effusive praise for the right-shot defenseman.

"Vlad is a very highly skilled, offensive-minded defenseman. Just saying, he's one of the best practice players I've ever coached or even played with," McKee said. "He's intense. He does everything with a purpose. Snaps his passes. He's got an active stick. He's a very, very talented player. You know, like all of them [the prospects]. There's areas of improvement, but his potential and his upside is very high."

Praise doesn't come that strongly at a rookie camp for a fifth-round draft pick just days into working with the player, but that's what Dravecky's earned, both through rookie camp and McKee coaching against him in the OHL.

What should also stick out is the praise surrounding his drive and his practice effort. While it doesn't always work out, that's a telltale sign for a player hellbent on proving his worth and turning themselves into an NHLer over time.

While it was only one day of camp, the impression Dravecky left was followed by the effusive praise of McKee, which should only excite Islanders fans about Dravecky's potential.

After rookie & training camp, Dravecky is expected to report to the OHL's Guelph Storm, who made a major trade with the Bulldogs in June.

Ahead of the weekend’s prospect challenge, Montreal Canadiens rookies took to the ice on Friday, and a few players then met with the media. Among them was Tyler Thorpe, the fifth-round pick in the 2024 draft and one of the bigger names at camp, who has a very realistic outlook on his career.

For him, the key to succeeding in professional hockey is knowing who you are and what your game is. Thorpe knows what his game is and what his role can be on a team. He knows that if he makes the NHL, it will be as an energy guy; he won’t be a top-six forward; he’ll be a fourth-line player whose job is to hit players and be annoying on the forecheck. Asked when he came to that realization, he explained that it was in his first year in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants. Recalling the meeting where his coach told him that, he said he left with a big smile on his face.

Canadiens Rookie Camp Gets Underway
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Former Canadiens Player Stopped Trying To Understand

When asked which players he likes to see in the NHL, he mentioned Josh Anderson and Tom Wilson, saying he loves their style of play. He’s met Anderson in Brossard a few times.

Even though he’s already in the second year of his ELC, he knows that doesn’t mean he’ll make it in the NHL. It gives him a good opportunity, but he clearly doesn’t feel like he’s made it yet, which is the right approach to have.

At 6-foot-4 and 231 pounds, Thorpe should stand out amongst the prospects this weekend, and if things get physical over the weekend against the Winnipeg Jets and the Ottawa Senators prospects, he’ll no doubt be happy to oblige.

Another player who’ll relish that kind of play is Owen Protz, the 20-year-old blueliner who explained to the media that his love for physical play comes from his competitiveness. From a very young age, his goal was always to beat his older brother at whatever they were playing, and that made him love competing, which carried over to his hockey career. At 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, the blueliner, who’s starting the first year of his ELC, will be another player to watch this weekend.

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10. Vladislav Gavrikov, New York Rangers. A lot went wrong for the Rangers last season but their big pickup wasn’t among it. Gavrikov shattered his career high in goals (14) and put up a personal best season of 35 points. Known for his stopping ability and positional play above puck skills, Gavrikov is a perfect stay-at-home type of partner for a top pair.

9. Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils. Hamilton has had his ups and downs but continues to make a positive impact in games with his offensive abilities and special teams performances.

8. Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals. In the last two seasons, among NHL defensemen only Cale Makar (50) has more goals than Chychrun (46). His shooting ability and aggressiveness in the offensive zone makes him virtually a fourth forward that needs to be accounted for at all times.

7. Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers. Sanheim is a workhorse with game averages of 24+ minutes last season. He’s a bedrock player valued enough to make a Team Canada as a big guy who can do just about everything very well and very consistently.

6. K’Andre Miller, Carolina Hurricanes. Miller emerged in his first season with Carolina as a tremendous player. His PK impacts are some of the best in the league. He’s effective with his 6’5” frame and has the hands to move the puck pretty well.

5. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes. Slavin is arguably the top all-around/defensive defenseman in the game right now. Entering the zone against him when he gaps up is almost impossible. His positioning and stick is always on point and he defends the best players in the league with so much success. Slavin isn’t as much of an offensive weapon as some of the options above him, but he’s no less of a player.

4. Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins. Karlsson played as good as any defenseman in the league in the second half of last season. Though a little long in the tooth, his effectiveness and mastery of the puck looks about as strong as ever.

3. Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders. Schaefer burst onto the scene with 23 goals and 59 points last season as an 18-year old while playing almost 25 minutes per game, almost unheard of numbers for that age in the modern era. The sky is the limit for him given his immense talents and tremendous skating ability.

2. Adam Fox, New York Rangers. Last year was frustrating for Fox, but he still managed to put up 53 points in 55 games. Fox finished top-5 in Norris voting from 2020-24 and will be looking to re-establish himself in that rare air this season. Given the revamped NYR blueline, there’s a good chance he gets there.

1. Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets. The reigning Norris trophy winner takes first place here. Werenski is the total package, he can do it all. 81 points last year. Played 26:37 per game. Dangerous on the power play. Strong enough in his own end, then lethal once his team has possession.

Ahead of Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp, there is understandably a fair amount of buzz surrounding the usual suspects in contention for NHL spots on the blue line.

As always, top prospect Harrison Brunicke is garnering a lot of attention, as the 20-year-old showed out well in this first two camps, made the NHL squad out of training camp last season, and looks more ready than ever. Owen Pickering, 22, gained substanital momentum in the back half of his AHL season last year, and he is developing more consistency and steadiness in his own zone while still providing some upside the other way. 

But there is another name that fans should be on the lookout for in the weeks leading up to final NHL roster decisions. And that's 20-year-old defenseman Tomas Galvas. 

Galvas was selected 54th overall by the Penguins in this year's draft, and it was his third attempt at the draft. Undersized at 5-foot-11, 168 pounds, many teams were worried about the blueliner's size and lack of dimension prior to the 2025-26 season. 

He proved many wrong last season, though, registering eight goals and 24 points in 32 games for Bili Tygri Liberec of the Czech League. Pitted up against grown men, Galvas showed extraordinary poise and transitional ability, and he also manned the first power play unit to some success.

All of a sudden, it's not just Brunicke and Pickering that Penguins' fans - and the organization - are touting as a legitimate higher-upside prospect on the blue line. Galvas has entered that conversation, as his mobility, speed, distribution skills, and ability on breakouts are things that define his game. He also has the ability to evade the opposition with ease, which is something that may or may not get more difficult for him as he progresses through professional hockey. 

Penguins Announce Roster For 2026 Prospect Tournament The Pittsburgh Penguins have released their roster for the 2026 Prospect Tournament, and it features some can't-miss names.

His defensive game, though, is what saw the most growth over the last year and added more dimension to his game. If he can continue to add some size, he could establish himself as a top-four upside option for Pittsburgh on the left side, which is something that they could definitely use. 

So, does Galvas have a chance to break camp? 

Honestly, it might not be that much of a stretch.

For one, the battle on the left side for the Penguins is going to be a legitimate one. With the departure of top-pair left defenseman Parker Wotherspoon this summer, there are many questions about how the Penguins will choose to fill out the left.

Penguins Positional Battles: Left SideThere will be many intriguing positional battles for the Pittsburgh Penguins during training camp this season, and one of the most interesting ones will involve the left side on defense.

They added veteran Trevor van Riemsdyk - a righty who primarily plays the left side - and Declan Carlile to help offset that loss, and as far as returning cast, Sam Girard and Ilya Solovyov are still around. Beyond that, Pickering and Jake Livanavage should be making a push, and if Brunicke wows in camp on the right side, it very well could force either Kris Letang or Kaedan Korczak to the left.

There may be a handful of defensemen competing for a few spots on the left side, but there are no givens. No one is a true No. 1 defenseman like Erik Karlsson is on the right side, so quite literally anyone could secure that left side spot on the top pairing, and quite literally anyone could secure one of the other two spots. 

With a standout camp, Galvas may just have a shot at cracking the roster. Stranger things have certainly happened, so don't count him out when final NHL roster cuts are announced prior to the season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sept. 30. 

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

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Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp began on Friday. There are a lot of well-known players participating in this event, including AJ Spellacy, Sacha Boisvert, and Marek Vanacker. There are also players who are less well-known but have interesting stories as they try to reach their dream of making it to the NHL. 

One of those players is defenseman Ty Henry. Last camp, Henry sustained a scary leg injury that caused him to miss his entire season with the Erie Otters of the OHL. It was a tough break for him and his development, but he managed to work his way back. 

#Blackhawks defenseman prospect Ty Henry takes a hard spill into the boards and leaves the ice with assistance from the training staff. Looks like he couldn’t put much weight on his leg. pic.twitter.com/tFIy66c9nt

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) September 11, 2025

During last season, while injured, Henry committed to the University of St. Thomas to play NCAA hockey. However, things have changed. Instead, he will head back to Erie this fall to continue playing in the OHL. Henry confirmed this news following the first prospect practice on Friday. 

The Blackhawks selected Henry in the 6th round (163rd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft. He may have lost a year of his pre-pro career, but that adversity is his reality, which he must overcome if he's going to find himself playing hockey at the highest level. 

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

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If the Philadelphia Flyers have a wealth of talent anywhere in their prospect pool, it's on defense, and soon enough, everyone will get to see that.

The rookie camp roster already features the likes of Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, and Porter Martone up front, and while they're still young, they're also established pros at this point.

The trio of wingers will put their time in ahead of the start of main training camp next week, but for all intents and purposes, they've graduated from the prospect pipeline and can now be considered NHL players.

On defense, a slightly different picture has been painted.

Second-year pro Ty Murchison joins the group after his first full professional season, looking to recover from a season-ending injury suffered in the middle of the year.

Jackson Edward has some pro experience, but Spencer Gill, Brek Liske, Luke Vlooswyk, and Riley Steen do not.

Newcomer Maksim Sokolovskii, the Flyers' 2025 first-round pick doesn't either, but that hasn't stopped Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden from putting him with  a more seasoned partner.

Flyers unite London Knights defenders

Oliver Bonk, a 2023 first-round pick who made his NHL debut and Stanley Cup playoff debut at the end of last season, was paired up with the brolic Sokolovskii on Friday evening as Snowden matched up London Knights defenders of past and present.

Bonk, 21, starred for London for three full seasons, capturing the Memorial Cup and finishing as an OHL champion twice.

Sokolovskii, 18, will play for London for one more season before making the jump to the NCAA's University of Maine next year.

But through the Knights, the two talented young defenders are familiar with each other.

"We haven't really decided what the lineup's going to look like tomorrow, so we kind of just put some pairs together of what it would look like. I think Bonk's an incredibly intelligent guy, got a year under his belt playing the pro game. Soko, he's a young guy coming in. He's massively huge and raw. Bonk's really good at talking and helping guys through it," Snowden said of the duo.

Why Flyers Drafted Maksim Sokolovskii With 27th PickThe Philadelphia Flyers explained their rationale for the surprising but exciting selection of Maksim Sokolovskii in the 2026 NHL Draft.

"They have a little bit of a connection, obviously, they played in London. They understand where they came from. I don't think there was a whole lot of thought process in going behind it, but it was, here's Sokolovskii, let's put Bonk with him, let's help him through this first day and then we'll see what we're going to play with tomorrow."

At the same time, Gill is just one year younger than Bonk and impressed at training camp last year, so he's got some experience, too.

Snowden and the Flyers ultimately went with Bonk and Sokolovskii, whose skillsets could end up complementing each other quite well.

In highlights, we've seen Sokolovskii's ability and willingness to transport the puck with his legs and pull off dekes against defenders, while Bonk's hockey IQ keeps him prepared for any situation at either end of the ice, where he can contribute equally.

Like Snowden said, it's still unclear if this pair is here to stick, but the potential for the Flyers, now and in the future, is tantalizing to say the least.

Former San Jose Sharks defenseman John Klingberg has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey after 700 NHL games.

Klingberg, who rose to prominence as a member of the Dallas Stars in the mid-2010s, was one of the league's top offensive defensemen during his prime, which was unfortunately shortened by injuries. 

“Bottom line is my body doesn’t allow me to do it anymore, and I’ve been trying everything to get it to a point where I can be the best version of myself, but I haven’t seen any positive feedback of my body wanting me to do it anymore," Klingberg told The Athletic's Eric Stephens. “When I had my last surgery, when I re-did my entire hips, (my doctor) said when they opened me up — he’s had like 5,000-plus surgeries — he said this is some of the worst hips I’ve ever seen, and you’re only 30 years old,”

Although he was a shadow of his former self after leaving the Stars organization, Klingberg leaves behind a strong legacy in Dallas. All things considered, at least in the offensive zone as his defensive play was difficult to watch at times, Klingberg had a respectable final chapter in San Jose as well. 27 points in 56 games is certainly no small feat for an offensive defenseman, even in this day-and-age. 

Klingberg, 34, ends his NHL career with 700 games played, 92 goals, and 351 assists. According to Stephens, Klingberg is planning on returning to Sweden where he will become a broadcaster covering the Swedish Hockey League, NHL, and international play.