OPENING NIGHT COUNTDOWNS

67 Days Until Opening Night: James MalatestaMalatesta was drafted 133rd overall by the Blue Jackets in 2021.

Last season, Malatesta set a career-high in games played at 57. He scored 10 goals and totaled 18 points, while setting a career-high with 87 PIMs. He was signed to a one-year extension by Columbus last month and will be an RFA once again at the end of 2027. 

66 Days Until Opening Night: Mario Lemieux Mario Lemieux was drafted first overall in 1984.

Super Mario only played two games against the Blue Jackets, one in the 00-01 season, and one in the 02-03 season. He had 167 combined points in those two seasons, and could not muster a single point against Columbus. That's a win!

In those two games he had zero points, was a minus-3, had 6 shots, and played 25:40 per game. 

65 Days Until Opening Night: Luca Del Bel BelluzDel Bel Belluz was drafted in 2022, #44 overall, by Columbus.

Del Bel Belluz was drafted in 2022, #44 overall, by Columbus, a pick that some considered a steal at the time. Later in 2022, he would sign his entry-level contract with the CBJ. The Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL drafted the Woodbridge, Ontario product, and then, in his final year, he was traded to the Sarnia Sting, also of the OHL.

64 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #64There have only been two players wear the #64 for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Unfortunately for Columbus, neither one of them made a significant impact for Columbus. Cleveland is a different story, however. 

Fix-Wolansky never got an extended chance to prove he could be an everyday NHL player and was not tendered a contract in 2025. He went on to sign a deal with the New York Rangers. He would never play for the Rangers, but played 72 games for the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring 31 goals and totaling 55 points.

62 Days Until Opening Night: The History Of Jersey #62The Columbus Blue Jackets have only had four players wear #62 in their history, and in a weird twist, three of them have been since 2023. They haven't had any real impact players wear the number in their short 25-year history, but that could change one day. 

Alex Broadhurst -  Draft: Chicago, 7th round - 199th overall - 2011

Broadhurst was traded by Chicago to Columbus on June 30, 2015, along with Brandon Saad and Michael Paliotta, for Artem Anisimov, Jeremy Morin, Corey Tropp, Marko Dano, and Columbus' 4th-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. He would only play in a pair of games for the CBJ during the 2017-18 season. Where Broadhurst would excel would be in the AHL for the Cleveland Monsters. He played in 229 games for Cleveland, scoring 48 goals and totaling 132 points. On February 25, 2019, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets. He would play 2019-20 with the San Diego Gulls, and then leave for Europe. He spent two seasons in Liiga and the last four playing in the KHL. He is signed to play for the Fischtown Pinguins of the DEL in 26-27.

61 Days Until Opening Night: Rick NashThe Jackets have only had one player wear the #61. No one else will wear it. 

Nash went on to score 41 goals in his 2nd NHL season, securing the Rocket Richard Trophy, which he shared with snipers Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk. He was the youngest player in league history to lead the league in goals.

NEWS

A Second Buyout Window For Columbus Has Opened And Why They Won't Use ItThe<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets"> Columbus Blue Jackets</a>&nbsp;have a long streak of not going to arbitration with any RFA's, and it continued this year by signing Jet Greaves and Cole Sillinger just before their scheduled hearings.&nbsp;

Now, per CBA rules, they have 48 hours to buy out any players by putting them on outright waivers. The rule kicks in 72 hours after their final arbitration hearing, or, in this case, by signing Cole Sillinger and avoiding a hearing. The window will close on Thursday. 

Former Blue Jackets Goalie Retires After 11-Year NHL CareerThis former Blue Jackets goalie is calling it a career.

Hutchinson spent the 2022-23 season with the Blue Jackets organization. In 16 games with Columbus that campaign, he posted a 2-6-3 record, an .877 save percentage, and a 4.29 goals-against average. This would be his lone season with the Blue Jackets, as he spent his first NHL season with the Detroit Red Wings in 2023-24. 

Cole Sillinger Excited To Play With Coyle & Olivier For Years, But Know They Have To Take It To Another LevelCole Sillinger sat down with the media for a short press conference to talk about his new deal.

 "We've talked about it; it starts with our belief, just what we're capable of doing, and I know those two guys that they have more of themselves as well. Obviously, was super pumped to see Charlie extend for six more years at the start of the summer." 

Blue Jackets Rank Surprisingly High In NHL Contract Efficiency RankingsDom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic ranks every team in the NHL based on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7471312/2026/07/29/nhl-contract-efficiency-rankings-2026/" target="_blank">their contract efficiency</a>, which you can see here.&nbsp;Luszczyszyn compares his algorithm's market value to a roster's actual salaries in order to see if a team is making the most of its salary cap space.&nbsp;

Regarding the defense, Zach Werenski came in with a positive of 99.7%, which puts his total model value at a staggering $18 million per season. Don Waddell better hope Werenski and his camp don't see this model. 

3 Former Blue Jackets Who Are Still Free AgentsThese three former Blue Jackets are still free agents in August.

Patrik Laine, James van Riemsdyk, and Nick Blankenburg are three former Blue Jackets who are still free agents at this juncture of the off-season.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Colorado Avalanche News

• 2026 OHL in the system: Colorado Avalanche. [CHL]

• Predicting the Colorado Avalanche’s top scorers in 2026-27. [Sports Illustrated]
• Former Avalanche goalie Justus Annunen has gone from a trade piece in Colorado to a rising star in Nashville, forcing the hockey world to rethink what his ceiling truly is. [The Hockey News]

News Around the League

• Patrick Kane returns to Blackhawks on two-year deal. [Sportsnet]

• Sharks And Celebrini agree to five-year, $94M extension at record $18.8M AAV. [TSN]

• McDavid: Babcock ‘perfect fit’ for where Oilers are at. [The Score]

• How Eric Lindros could have changed Avalanche history. [Sports Illustrated]

• Women of Colour Hockey Collective broadens its reach by introducing the game to Jamaican children. [Toronto Star]

• Gap remains wide as Senators, Drake Batherson work toward new deal. [Toronto Sun]

• McKenna, other top prospects take in ‘fun’ NHLPA Rookie Showcase. [NHL]

• Decision on Russian participation for the 2026-2027 IIHF Championship season made following event-by-event review. [IIHF]

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going into the 2026-27 NHL season with an entirely new coaching staff, with Jim Hiller steering the ship from behind the bench.

It was a much-needed shakeup after the Maple Leafs missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since that streak started in 2016-17. With that change, particularly the hire of Hiller, turned heads.

In the process of searching for a new bench boss, Toronto had reported links to the likes of Peter Laviolette, Patrick Roy, Jay Woodcroft, Dallas Eakins, and even Joe Pavelski. But there weren't many hints about Hiller returning to the Maple Leafs organization for a second stint, this time as the 41st head coach in the franchise's history, instead of an assistant, as he was from 2015-16 to 2018-19 with Toronto.

Part of the reason for that is how Hiller's tenure with the Los Angeles Kings played out. Under Hiller, the Kings were a very mediocre team offensively at their best. At their worst, they were a team that kept a tight, defensive system but struggled mightily to score goals, which ultimately led to his firing on March 1.

Therefore, Hiller is certainly going into this coming season with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. 

Indeed, his system with Los Angeles led to average results and dull hockey, but that was a different team. The Kings didn't have superstar offensive talents such as Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Not to mention threats like John Tavares, Matthew Knies, Gavin McKenna, and others.

'Celebrate Offense Again': How Jim Hiller Plans To Fix Maple Leafs, But Retain Craig Berube's StyleNew Toronto Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller plans to "celebrate offense again" and wants his team to skate. But he'll also retain a portion of Craig Berube's style of hockey.

Hiller will have the opportunity to show that he's not just a coach who has his team sit back and defend. In fact, when he was an assistant in Toronto, he was in charge of the team's power play, meaning he can incorporate an attacking approach into his team's play.

His time with the Kings was his only stint as a head coach in the NHL. With that, there isn't much of a successful sample size to say that Hiller is a top coach in the league and capable of guiding the Leafs back to the playoffs. After all, he finished 24th in TheHockeyNews.com's NHL head coach ranking.

Where Does Maple Leafs' John Chayka Stand Among NHL GM's With Most To Prove In 2026-27?With his history in the NHL, all the moves he's made with the roster, coaching staff and front office, among other actions since being hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs, is John Chayka the NHL GM with the most to prove this coming season?

But if he's going to rewrite that narrative, he'll have to do it under some real pressure, not just because of where the Maple Leafs stand based on failure from this past year, but also because of the market.

Hiller may not rank as highly among his peers with the most to prove this coming year like GM John Chayka might, but the Leafs' head coach is definitely in the top 10 in that regard.

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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. 

So, this time around, making a top-20 list was challenging. However, 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. So, this excludes names such as Ben Kindel, Filip Hallander, Oliver Okuliar, and Alexander Alexeyev.

To kick off our 2026 Top-20 Penguins' Prospects list, we will first reveal the names of those who just missed the cut. 

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Honorable mentions

C Atley Calvert

Leaving the 22-year-old undrafted center off this list was a very, very tough call. After putting together two very impressive WHL campaigns with the Moose Jaw Warriors from 2022-24, Calvert joined the organization on an ATO and was eventually signed to an AHL contract.

His performance in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers - former affiliate of the Penguins - during the 2024-25 season included 13 goals and 36 points in 38 games, and it earned him an AHL promotion, where he has remained ever since. In 96 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), Calvert has 25 goals and 52 points.

He was rewarded a precious contract slot when the Penguins inked him to a two-year, entry-level contract earlier this summer. They believe in his talent and his growth and that he will continue to play a pivotal role in WBS’s top-six.

RW Melvin Fernstrom

Fernstrom, 20, had a lot going for him heading into the 2025-26 season. He had just won Rookie of the Year for the Swedish Hockey League the season prior, when he put up eight goals and 17 points in 48 games playing against men.

However, he took quite the step back last season.

After recording just three goals and four points in 36 SHL games, Orebro HK was set to loan him to a lower league until the Penguins elected to bring Fernstrom back to North America from his loan. He did have a nice showing for WBS in the regular season, posting two goals and eight points in 14 games, before an injury ended his season. So, there is some reason for optimism heading into the 2026-27 season.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done in the skating department for Fernstrom, and he has to develop more consistency. A strong year could land him back on the top-20 list next year and on track to help the NHL club at some point.

Decision To Sign Novak Serves As Reminder Of Penguins' Needs At CenterThe Penguins signed forward Tommy Novak to a three-year extension Friday, but it also exposed a glaring organizational need.

D Jake Livanavage

A product of the University of North Dakota, Livanavage signed a two-year entry-level contract last season to appear in one NHL game, so he will be entering the second year of his deal.

He nearly cracked the list because of the offensive upside. He had five goals and 25 points in 39 games for North Dakota last season, and he is a fleet-footed blueliner in transition as well as a power play specialist. If he can take a step this season, he may even see NHL time.

The Penguins are pretty thin at left defense as is, and they’re even more shallow in their prospect pool at the position. Livanavage is one of those wild cards who could pan out - but he definitely needs to refine the defensive side of his game first.

LW Pierce Mbuyi

Mbuyi is probably the name here that has the highest chances of being a riser by this time next year.

The 18-year-old was selected in the third round (86th overall) by the Penguins in this year’s draft after posting 32 goals and 75 points in 68 games for the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack last season. He may be a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, but his tenacity, speed, forechecking, lively shot, and ability to expose the soft areas of the ice should bode well for his continued development. 

He has committed to go back to Owen Sound for the 2026-27 season as the team’s captain, and he will then head to Penn State University for the 2027-27 campaign. If Mbuyi’s development goes on the track the Penguins think it will, he will easily crack the top-20 next season and could end up being a third-round steal for them. 

NHL Prospect Pool Overview '26-27: Pittsburgh Penguins Trust Youth To Bolster Aging CoreThe Pittsburgh Penguins are still transitioning from one era to the next, but integrating their prospects into the NHL over the next few years will be critical.

Other notables: D Quinn Beauchesne, D Peyton Kettles, D Charlie Trethewey, F Jordan Charron, G Gabriel D’Aigle

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At this point, it's no secret that the Philadelphia Flyers locker room is full of interesting characters, and that makes it no surprise that Porter Martone meshes with his new group of NHL teammates just fine.

Despite his young age, Martone, 19, has already served as captain for his country at the international junior level, and his personality bleeds through on and off the ice.

The 2025 No. 6 overall pick is a strong, effective communicator who conducts himself well, likes to talk, and knows what to say and how to say it.

So, naturally, Martone had a great story to tell about the lowlight of his hockey career, spilling the beans to ESPN's Emily Kaplan at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago this past week.

"My draft year, we're in the OHL Cup Finals. It's like the biggest game of my life at that point. This is like the Stanley Cup for me at this age. And I think we were losing 2-1. Our D-man broke a stick, and as he skated back, they got a breakaway," Martone explained to Kaplan.

"So I tried to huck my stick from the bench to give to our defenseman and it lands in the other guy's skates and trips him, and they kicked me out of the game. I played five shifts and I don't know why I did it. I remember I was bawling my eyes out because it's like the biggest day of my life. And we ended up losing too, so it kind of made it worse."

3 PTO Candidates for the Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers have a number of veterans who could be worth a dart throw on a PTO heading into training camp.

A for effort for Martone, and to be fair to him, it's not like we don't still see experienced NHL players throw sticks and other equipment at players on breakaways to give away penalty shots and automatically awarded goals.

Draft classmate Michael Misa dominated in the game Martone was referencing, scoring three goals and five points to break Connor McDavid's previous record of 19 points with his 20 in seven games.

Martone had seven goals and 15 points of his own to that point, including a tally in the game, but he was, as described in full detail and glory, ejected in the second period.

Four years later, now in the NHL with the Flyers with 10 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience under his belt, it's safe to say that Martone can leave this one in the past.

The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures. 

We are continuing to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago.  Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

Kekalainen ideally is looking for someone who could make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six. 

A player who could be available for next to nothing in a trade is veteran winger Frank Vatrano. A Massachusetts native and product of the US National Development Program, the undrafted college free agent signed with Boston in 2015, but did not achieve any NHL success in three years with the Bruins and only blossomed after being traded to Florida in 2018. 

The 32-year-old has been remarkably consistent until last season, with seasons of 24, 16, and 18 goals with the Panthers, 18 with FLA and the NY Rangers in 2022, and 22, 37, and 21 goals with the Ducks. Vatrano’s scoring success ended last season, due mostly to a shoulder injury in late December that caused him to drop to five goals in 50 games.  

As with Alex Killorn and Chris Kreider, Vatrano may be on the trade block because the Ducks are looking to shed salary to sign RFA winger Cutter Gauthier after Anaheim matched the offer sheet to Leo Carlsson. Both Killorn and Kreider are 35 or older and have a cap hit in excess of $6 million, but they are each entering the final year of their contracts. 

Vatrano is younger, is more likely to bounce back from a bad season now that he is healthy, and his cap hit is $4.57 million, but he is signed through 2027-28. Another factor for the Sabres might be the salary deferral of $9 million ($3 million for each year of his three-year, $18 million contract extension), that is paid out at $900,000 annually for 10 years starting in 2035. 

That factor could limit the cost to acquire the veteran winger to nearly nothing, but it might rule out the Sabres interest in Vatrano based on Buffalo’s fiscally conservative nature. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

The 2025-26 New York Islanders season did not go the way many hoped, as they faded down the stretch and ultimately missed the playoffs.

Still, reasons for positivity emerged. 

Matthew Schaefer engraved himself as a total franchise cornerstone, a generational defenseman for the Islanders. Cal Ritchie had an excellent second half of the season, while the youth push continued in earnest.

Ilya Sorokin, for his part, was a Vezina Finalist and had an outstanding season, though his performance (along with the entire team's), tapered down the stretch.

Sorokin, interviewed by Russian Outlet Sport Express, talked about missing the playoffs.

"There's not much good news, of course," Sorokin said. "Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it's probably hard to say it was a blow. But we need to change something in our training system and learn from it. I'm sure both the coaching staff and the players understand this. Our fans have much higher expectations of the squad."

Sorokin's likely talking of ex-Head Coach's Patrick Roy's system, one that focused on maximizing offense but often led to dangerous rush chances against constantly.

The Islanders' superstar netminder shouldered some of the blame, too.

"Ultimately, it was those one or two saves that could have given us extra points and put us in the playoffs," Sorokin said. "We can say whatever we want now, but the main thing is to figure out why it didn't happen.

"That's what summer is for—work. I think at some point I was a bit lacking in physicality. Towards the end of the season, I started playing practically every game in a row, and perhaps I was no longer feeling fresh."

Sorokin played the vast majority of games down the stretch, with David Rittich struggling and Semyon Varlamov unable to play, the Islanders leaned hard into Sorokin.

As Sorokin said, it's a long summer. The Islanders can and have work to improve, along with Sorokin.

Now that NHL free agency started one month ago, most of this year's top UFAs have landed their new contracts.

Although this is the case, there are still some interesting players available for the taking on the free agent market. When looking at who is left, one player whom the Canadiens should consider taking a chance on is forward Vladimir Tarasenko. 

With the Canadiens needing another skilled winger on their roster, Tarasenko could be worth taking a gamble on with a one-year contract. While the 34-year-old forward is not the same dominant star he was during his prime, he would still have the potential to provide the Canadiens with more offensive production if signed. 

Tarasenko showed last season with the Minnesota Wild that he is still capable of producing offense. In 75 games with the Wild during the 2025-26 campaign, he posted 23 goals, 24 assists, and 47 points. With numbers like these, he could be a nice addition for the Canadiens' top nine if signed.

Tarasenko would not provide the Canadiens with a long-term answer for their top six but could be a very solid player for them to bring in for next season. This is especially so when noting that he has a ton of playoff experience and has won the Stanley Cup twice in his career.

It will be interesting to see if the Canadiens end up making a push for Tarasenko this summer from here, but there could be a good match here. 

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. 

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

37. Ashton Schultz - Center (Chicago/Sioux City - USHL)

The Sabres continued their practice in the 2025 NHL Draft of selecting players with longer development windows, since they did not have to sign them within two years. That window has altered slightly with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement kicking, but GM Jarmo Kkealainen and his scouting staff will have plenty of time to evaluate young center Ashton Schultz, who was selected in the sixth round (167th overall) in the first decentralized draft in Los Angeles. 

The Victoria, MN native is a product of the vaunted Minnesota high school system and played 11 games in the USHL for Sioux Falls as a 17-year-old, while also scoring 57 points in 28 games for Minnetonka HS. In 2024-25, he scored 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists) in 57 games for the Chicago Steel, and last season, he split time between Chicago and Sioux City, posting 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) in 49 games. 

Ashton Schultz cleans up the rebound to keep @Musketeerhockey' postseason hopes alive. pic.twitter.com/oTxqmvHK24

— Ryan Sikes (@rms_hockey) April 24, 2026

The 19-year-old is committed to play for the University of North Dakota this fall. The 5’11”, 181 lb. center is described by Elite Prospects as someone who ”always gives his teammates an option, whether that’s offensively, defensively, or along the walls. Sturdy inside contact with play-killing skills, he breaks up the opposition’s cycle, diffuses their rushes, and retrieves pucks at top rates.”

Follow Michael on X, and Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

We are now officially just one month away from training camp, and the Philadelphia Flyers, for all intents and purposes, look to be done adding to their roster for now. That said, injuries always happen, and internal competition is never a bad thing.

Free agency opened a month ago, but the Flyers overall did very little, signing veteran fourth-liner Noel Acciari and a slew of AHL players, headlined by journeyman Zach Aston-Reese and former first-round pick Nolan Foote.

With their overall lack of additions, the Flyers figure to be one of the more active teams around the NHL with PTO signings ahead of training camp.

No. 3: Kevin Hayes, C/LW

I know what you're thinking, and maybe this isn't possible after the whole Cutter Gauthier debacle with former head coach John Tortorella, but Kevin Hayes is a serviceable depth option as an offense-first, top-nine forward.

Hayes, 34, is in the twilight years of his NHL career, and he is no longer attached to the albatross $7.142 million cap hit that helped accelerate his previous departure from the Flyers three years ago.

Unsuccessful stints with the St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins leave Hayes a free agent, but advanced data shows a player who is still effective relative to his role when given a chance.

If there's no bad blood between the veteran forward and the Flyers, there could be a fit here, particularly in the event of an injury.

It's worth noting, too, that Hayes scored 13 points in 19 games the last time the Flyers made the playoffs before this past year--2019-20--and there is an element of familiarity with a number of current Flyers players.

Hayes scored four goals, four assists, and eight points in 28 games with the Penguins last year.

No. 2: Luke Glendening, C/RW

Continuing with the theme of center and forward depth, Luke Glendening has seemingly been replaced by Acciari, who joined the Flyers on a two-year pact at the start of free agency last month.

Still, the Flyers were big fans of the 37-year-old, the versatility he brought, and the fire he played with in his short time in Philadelphia.

Down the stretch and in the playoffs, Glendening, who was claimed on waivers from the New Jersey Devils, emerged as an integral piece on the Flyers' fourth line next to Sean Couturier, especially after Nikita Grebenkin suffered what ended up being a season-ending injury.

Glendening, often used as a faceoff and matchup specialist, scored two goals, three assists, and five points in 18 regular season games with the Flyers, posting a +4 rating and winning 57.2% of his draws.

In 10 playoff games, Glendening scored one goal and was a +3, but won only 48.7% of his faceoffs.

Flyers Rank Below Average in NHL Contract Efficiency Once AgainDespite a handful of new signings, the Philadelphia Flyers are still average at best at conducting their contract negotiations.

If the formerly undrafted veteran remains unsigned as training camp draws closer, and wants to continue his NHL career, a reunion with the Flyers on a PTO basis makes perfect sense for both sides given the fit.

No. 1: John Klingberg, RHD

One thing the Flyers made clear heading into the offseason was their desire to add to and upgrade the defense.

To this point, though, they haven't really done that.

Left-shot bruiser Simon Benoit was brought on in the Joseph Woll trade, replacing a superior puck-mover in the younger Emil Andrae, and that was it.

Talented trade deadline addition David Jiricek is poised to take on a bigger role and have a chance at finally establishing himself as an NHL regular, but the Flyers have done little to insure themselves in the event that this doesn't happen.

Top prospect Oliver Bonk is even less experienced at the NHL level, and there are no guarantees either youngster can run a competent power play at this level.

That's where John Klingberg comes in.

Klingberg, 33, was once one of the NHL's premier offensive defensemen, but injuries contributed to a rapid decline at both ends of the ice.

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

After extensive time off the ice due to surgeries and rehab, Klingberg played 56 games for the San Jose Sharks last season, scoring 10 goals, 17 assists, and 27 points, including five goals and nine points on the power play.

This would have played Klingberg second to only Travis Sanheim in goals among Flyers defensemen, and second in points behind Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale.

Additionally, the Flyers, as a team, had only three power play goals from defensemen: one each from Sanheim, Drysdale, and Cam York.

While Klingberg ranked at or near the bottom in many qualifying metrics among the 30 defensemen who played at least 165 minutes on the power play last season, he did, however, rank eighth in scoring chances per 60 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick.

It's unlikely Klingberg is the answer for the Flyers' power play at this stage in his career, and he may not end up being an upgrade at all, but the Flyers could do worse than to give out a PTO and see if there's anything left in the tank worth taking a chance on.

More than a month has passed since NHL free agency opened, yet several accomplished veterans remain unsigned as August begins.

While most teams have shifted their focus toward training camp, the Minnesota Wild still have an opportunity to improve their forward depth without making a long-term commitment.

Rather than handing out guaranteed contracts, the Wild could invite a veteran to training camp on a professional tryout (PTO). Like they did with Brett Leason and Jack Johnson last year.

If the player earns a roster spot, Minnesota gains experienced scoring depth at a relatively low cost. If not, the organization can simply move on before the regular season begins.

Here are three remaining free agents who could make sense as PTO candidates.

David Perron

David Perron may no longer be the 30-goal scorer he once was, but he still brings qualities every contender values.

The 38-year-old has appeared in more than 1,200 NHL games and owns a Stanley Cup championship with the St. Louis Blues. Throughout his career, Perron has been an effective net-front presence, a reliable power-play contributor, and one of the league's more consistent secondary scorers.

While his skating has understandably slowed with age, Perron's experience and hockey IQ could still make him a useful depth option in the bottom six.

Minnesota has placed a premium on leadership over the past several seasons, and Perron certainly checks that box. A PTO would allow the Wild to evaluate whether he still has enough left to help their roster before committing to a contract.

Brandon Saad

Of the remaining free agents, Brandon Saad may be the cleanest fit for Minnesota.

The 33-year-old has built a reputation as a dependable two-way winger throughout his 14-year NHL career. While his offensive production has dipped in recent seasons, Saad has still shown he can contribute secondary scoring while playing a responsible 200-foot game.

Saad has scored at least 19 goals in nine different NHL seasons and owns two Stanley Cup rings from his time with the Chicago Blackhawks. His experience, defensive reliability, and ability to play up and down the lineup would fit well with the style head coach John Hynes wants from his forwards.

The Wild are expected to rely on younger players such as Danila Yurov, Maxim Shabanov and Bobby Brink for larger roles this season. Adding a veteran like Saad on a PTO wouldn't block their development, it would simply create competition. If Saad earns a contract, Minnesota adds a proven NHL winger. If the younger players outperform him, the Wild lose nothing.

Jonathan Drouin

Jonathan Drouin carries the highest upside of any remaining unrestricted free agent.

The former third-overall pick has battled injuries throughout his career, but when healthy, he has continued to demonstrate the offensive creativity that made him one of the league's top prospects.

He recorded 56 points with the Colorado Avalanche in 2023-24 before injuries limited him last season.

For a team searching for additional scoring depth, Drouin's skill set is intriguing. His playmaking ability could complement Minnesota's talented forwards, and he still possesses enough offensive talent to contribute in a middle-six role if he returns to form.

The biggest question is whether Drouin would even consider a PTO. Players with his offensive resume often continue searching for guaranteed NHL contracts well into the offseason.

But if the market remains quiet, a professional tryout with a playoff contender could provide an opportunity to rebuild his value.

Stats

David Perron

2025-26: 13G, 15A, 28P - 65GP

Career: 332G, 480A, 812P - 1239GP

Jonathan Drouin

2025-26: 4G, 20A, 24P - 64GP

Career: 111G, 287A, 398P - 671GP

Brandon Saad

2025-26: 3G, 6A, 9P - 49GP

Career: 269G, 269A, 538P - 984GP

A Low-Risk Opportunity

Minnesota appears comfortable heading into training camp with its current group, but there are still questions surrounding the team's secondary scoring. Inviting an experienced veteran to camp would create healthy competition without adding long-term financial risk.

If one of these veterans proves he still belongs in the NHL, the Wild could add proven experience and depth on an inexpensive contract. If none of them earn a roster spot, Minnesota simply moves forward with its younger players.

At this stage of the offseason, that's exactly the kind of low-risk, potentially rewarding move worth exploring.

A former member of the Florida Panthers who won a Stanley Cup with the franchise is heading back to his hometown team.

In Czechia.

Tomas Nosek, who spent two seasons with Florida and 11 in the NHL, has signed with HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga.

The move was announced Friday by HC Pardubice.

Nosek, 33, is from Pardubice and has been playing in the team’s system since 2007, when he started with the HC Dynamo Pardubice U18 squad.

During his two seasons with the Panthers, Nosek played a total of 80 regular season games, accumulating three goals and 13 points while winning 49.9% of his faceoffs, primarily centering Florida’s fourth line when in the lineup.

He suited up for 16 games during the Panthers run to the 2025 Stanley Cup, logging three assists and laying out 44 hits.

When the time came for Nosek to spend a day with the Stanley Cup, he brought the trophy back to Pardubice, visiting his childhood rink and former high school before sharing the Cup with thousands of fans at the town’s historic Pernštýnské Square.

For a man who clearly has a lot of love for his hometown, it’s very cool to see him take advantage of an opportunity to potentially finish his career there.

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If you’ve taken a closer look at the Montreal Canadiens schedule for this season, you might have noticed that two of the 84 games will be played on a Monday afternoon. One is on January 18 against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center, and the other is on February 22 against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. There is also a Thursday afternoon game, played on New Year's Eve at 2:00 PM against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The game against the Sabres falls on Martin Luther King Day, which is a bank holiday in the USA but not in Canada, but the ones against the Flyers and the Bolts are not bank holidays in North America.

So why would the NHL schedule afternoon games then? NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly explained the reasoning behind it in the latest edition of The Eye Test Podcast hosted by Pierre McGuire and Jimmy Murphy. Essentially, the league has decided to design a package of weekday games to air at prime time in Europe without competition from European football, particularly on Monday nights.

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If you’re not keen about missing a couple of your favorite team’s games, you might have to get used to it, as Daly also stated that he thinks it’s inevitable that at some point, the NHL will expand to Europe. If that’s the case, there will be more weekday games for every team. Daly does acknowledge that there are still obstacles to making that happen in an 84-game season, but it’s interesting to hear that the League is studying the possibility.

Could we ever see European-based @NHL teams?

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly: "I think it's inevitable on some level"#thesickpodcast@MurphysLaw74pic.twitter.com/esmS9X1hEx

— The Sick Podcast - The Eye Test (@sickpodnhl) July 30, 2026

Of course, should that happen, it would mean that every team has to travel to Europe during the season, and it’s hard to imagine them doing that to play a single game against one team. From a financial standpoint, it would make more sense to have at least a couple of teams overseas. However, for those teams, they would have to be on the road for months at a time to visit the league’s other franchises. It’s hard to imagine any player being keen on leaving their family behind for months…that’s no doubt one of the obstacles Daly was referring to. If players are reluctant to come to cities like Montreal because of the language, the weather and the taxes, I can’t imagine life on the road for months being a big selling point.

Of course, the impact could be diminished if the league were to create a whole division in Europe, but would that be a viable idea? What would it do to the quality of the on-ice product? An expansion with that many teams at once could really have a negative impact; the PWHL is doing a four-team expansion this season, and that’s a real concern. Hopefully the NHL takes notes.

For now, though, it may be time to look at your team’s schedule closely and start booking some days off if you don’t want to miss anything. On Monday, October 12, the Sabres and the Florida Panthers are playing at 1:00 PM in Buffalo. On Thursday, November 12 at 12:00 PM, the Carolina Hurricanes are playing the Seattle Kraken as part of the 2026 NHL Global Series. On Monday, November 30, the Ottawa Senators are visiting the Nashville Predators at 1:00 PM. On Monday, December 7, the Colorado Avalanche are visiting the New York Islanders at 1:00 PM. On Monday, December 14, the Sabres are visiting the Senators at 2:00 PM. On Monday, December 21, the Washington Capitals visit the Toronto Maple Leafs at 1:00 PM. On Monday, December 28, the Vegas Golden Knights are visiting the Minnesota Wild at 2:00 PM. On Thursday, December 31, there are five afternoon games featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Senators, the Hurricanes and the Detroit Red Wings, the Canadiens and the Lightning, the Capitals and the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the St. Louis Blues and the Golden Knights. It may be New Year’s Eve, but it’s not an official Bank Holiday in North America, and the list goes on in the New Year. Whichever team you support, be sure to plan ahead.

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In the summer of 2025, the New York Islanders signed highly-coveted Russian free agent forward Maxim Shabanov to a one-year deal.

Shabanov, who turned 25 early in the 2025-26 season, came in with a ton of promise and excitement, with some thinking he could become a clear top-six forward with electric skill.

The Islanders, however, had a crowded forwards room to begin the year, and Shabanov started hot.

He scored in his NHL debut and the Islanders' first game of the season, and played the first six games of the year, totalling three points.

Then, Shabanov suffered an injury and missed 12 straight games. In his third game back from injury, Shabanov torched the Detroit Red Wings for two goals and three points in a statement 5-0 win, playing over 14 minutes.

That moment felt like a breakout moment, and one he could springboard into future success:

Maxim Shabanov Breaks Out: Proves Why He Was a Sought-After Signee With Highlight-Reel Showing For IslandersMaxim Shabanov's dazzling skills, from pinpoint passes to highlight-reel goals, demonstrate the exciting offensive talent the Islanders secured.

One game later, Shabanov played a hair over 10 minutes in a 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Shabanov played a total of 17 straight games after injury, posting two goals and seven points, including that Detroit game.

The Russian forward received inconsistent ice time and line mates, and couldn't establish a rhythm. 

After that 17th straight game, then-Islanders' Head Coach Patrick Roy opted to scratch Shabanov for one game, hoping to light a fire in his player.

Two games later, Shabanov started a three-game point streak, and put up five points in five games.

As the Islanders struggled in January, so too did Shabanov. Shabanov went eight straight games without a point, to go with a -3 and a lousy 3-4-1 record for the Islanders. Shabanov was scratched once in the middle of that stretch, and then once after.

Immediately after Shabanov got scratched for a third time, Islanders' General Manager Mathieu Darche went out and acquired Ondrej Palat, replacing Maxim Tsyplakov who had spent the year as the Islanders' 13th or 14th forward.

Palat entered the lineup regularly, and Shabanov exited. Later, at the NHL Trade Deadline, the Islanders acquired Brayden Schenn, adding another forward to an already crowded mix.

Before the acquisition of Palat in late January, Shabanov played 38 of the 52 games, missing 12 to injury and getting scratched twice.

Of the final 30 games the Islanders would play, Shabanov played just six games, scoring once and adding two assists.

Ilya Sorokin pointed out in an interview after the season that Shabanov needed more positivity and to work more to earn his place, and it's hard not to think he was speaking of this period.

Nonetheless, Shabanov ultimately became an unrestricted free agent after the Islanders did not tender him a qualifying offer, ending his time on Long Island.

The Minnesota Wild swooped in and gave him a one-year deal.

The Top 25 Under 25 is a collaboration by Mile High Hockey staff members. Seven writers have ranked players under the age of 25 in the Colorado Avalanche organization as of September 1, 2026. Now, we’ll count down each of the 25 players ranked.

A robust list of 35 players for this year’s ranking led to many more candidates than usual for honorable mention. It wasn’t an easy choice to identify who deserved special mention with what was a wide range of opinions on players from our voters which gave some top 25 support to each and every one of those 35 eligible names. Narrowing it down to just three who just missed the cut comprise a forward, defenseman and goaltender, showing there’s budding organizational depth at all positions.

Forward – Nolan Roed – St. Cloud State (NCAA)

Former seventh round pick from the 2025 draft Nolan Roed missed out on the top 25 by just one point after landing at #21 on our list last year. Roed had a good freshman year at St. Cloud State where he scored 18 points and five goals in 36 games. It was a hot start to his season which led to Roed getting named NCHC rookie of the week in late October but he cooled off a bit once conference play started in the new year. Roed has some versatility in his game with tenacity to get to the net front and scoring ability, which Colorado looks for in both Avalanche and Eagles forwards. The 20-year-old still has a long collegiate career ahead of him in hopes of impressing the Avalanche enough for a contract offer in the future.

Goaltender – Tobias Tvrznik – Wenatchee Wild(WHL)

The newcomer of our honorable mentions is one of the new goaltenders to the organization. Tobias Tvrznik was selected at 126th overall in the fourth round of the 2026 draft in his second year of eligibility after spending a year in the WHL with the Wenatchee Wild. There the 6-foot-four goalie put up respectable stats of 16-18-4, 3.10 goals against average and .913 on a not very good team and caught the eye of the Avalanche. He possesses the enticing qualities of size and athleticism that Colorado looks for in a prospects. Previously Tvrznik was playing in Czechia junior leagues and didn’t get enough exposure but was ranked eighth for North American goaltenders and was invited to the NHL draft combine in 2026. Colorado has added a lot of goaltending talent lately so it will be interesting to see where the 19-year-old goalie goes from here both literally and figuratively.

Left Defense – Saige Weinstien – Utah Grizzlies (ECHL)/Colorado Eagles (AHL)

It has been an interesting three years for Saige Weinstien since he was one of the rare rookie camp invitees who got offered a contract by the Avalanche at the conclusion of training camp in 2023. From there the six-foot-one left handed defenseman spent the next two seasons finishing his junior career in the WHL with Spokane and then he finally started playing pro hockey last season. There weren’t plans for Weinstien with the Colorado Eagles, therefore he was sent to the Utah Grizzlies in the ECHL and spent 30 games there and chipped in two assists. He did see three games of AHL action and scored his first professional goal in January, which was fun to see the more defensive oriented defenseman score. Weinstien didn’t play much in the spring and also dealt with an ankle injury.

The 21-year-old landed at #17 on our ranking last season but dropped out of this year’s version of the Top 25 Under 25 due to a lot of new faces added to the organization but also the uncertainty in Colorado’s commitment to and path to get Weinstien a job in the NHL. It’s a critical year ahead for him to make an impact in the AHL and hopefully get a look with the Avalanche in order to move up the organizational depth chart, which could get him back on our list.

Weinstein's first AHL goal has us tripping with excitement 🤪 pic.twitter.com/j9xvHTAR8u

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) January 18, 2026

The other seven players in the Avalanche organization are worth a mention include defensemen Gustav Stjernberg and Cole Tuminaro, goaltender Alexandre Raymond, forward Cooper Gay and defensemen Nikita Ishimnikov, Ondrej Ruml and Chris Romaine.