It isn't exactly a secret that the Montreal Canadiens could use help at the center position. Their second-line center spot, in particular, is in need of an upgrade.
Because of this, the Canadiens are now being viewed as a potential fit for one of the NHL's most interesting center trade candidates.
In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Lyle Richardson named the Canadiens among the potential landing spots for Seattle Kraken young center Shane Wright.
"The Canadiens have reportedly pursued wingers Matthew Knies of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Kirill Marchenko of the Columbus Blue Jackets" Richardson wrote. "Nevertheless, the Canadiens could change their minds if their pursuit of those wingers proves fruitless, perhaps enough to consider circling back on Wright after passing him over four years ago."
With the Canadiens needing help down the middle, it would be understandable if they made a push for Wright. While the 22-year-old has not broken out as a true top-six center at this point in his career, he is still plenty young enough where that could change.
Wright also already has a solid offensive NHL season on his resume. In 79 games during the 2024-25 season with the Kraken, he set career highs with 19 goals, 25 assists, and 44 points. While he followed that up by recording just 12 goals and 27 points in 74 games last season, he has the potential to turn things back around.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Canadiens make a run at Wright. He could be a great fit on a young, exciting team on the rise like the Habs.
The Atlantic Division is going to look a little different next season following a massive trade between the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators.
In the deal, Ottawa sent their now-former captain Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers in exchange for three first-round picks and a second-round pick.
Nearly a month has passed since news of the trade came down, with teams across the league now mostly settled into their rosters for next season following the NHL Draft and start of free agency.
We’ve heard plenty from the Tkachuk brothers in the time since, as Brady was formally introduced in South Florida a few days after the trade, and he and Matthew have said plenty on their Wingmen podcast about becoming NHL teammates.
Center Shane Pinto, who has played all six of his NHL seasons with Tkachuk and the Senators, said he was caught off-guard by the trade when the news broke on Father’s Day.
“It took everyone by surprise,” Pinto said during the interview. “He’s been such a big part of this organization, obviously the face of it, and he’s obviously one of my good buds too, so to see him go, it sucks. I think he just wanted to go down a different path, and I totally understand that. We have a bunch of guys here that have been here for a while, I think we’re all growing together. We just wish him all the best and I know we’ll see him down the road. He’s going to be in our division, so I’m sure we’re going to see him a lot.”
Ultimately, it became clear that Tkachuk wanted to continue his career outside of Ottawa, and playing in Florida with his brother was the ideal landing spot.
Pinto showed an understanding for Tkachuk’s position, which makes sense as players don’t often criticize one another on how they handle their respective careers.
“At the end of the day, you just want guys who want to try to win for the Ottawa Senators, and that’s that,” Pinto said. “You want everyone on the same page and everyone going for the same goal, and that’s all you want. On a personal level, he’s still going to by my bud. There’s always going to be a business side of hockey, so you just leave that out of it.”
As Pinto mentioned, he’s going to see plenty of his former captain when hockey season rolls around.
In addition to the likely extensive media coverage of the Tkachuk brothers, Florida and Ottawa will also face off four times during the season, as is customary for divisional opponents.
Considering the amount of fireworks we’ve seen in matchups between the Cats and Sens in recent years, Tkachuk switching sides should only spice things up even more.
Nov 28, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto (12) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at Enterprise Center. (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)
Much of the dialgoue around the Vancouver Canucks as of late has been which players the team should trade. Veterans such as Jake DeBrusk, Elias Pettersson, and even Brock Boeser have been mentioned in trade talks throughout the 2026 off-season thus far, though it feels as though no one on the roster is truly safe from the rumours.
In a similar vein, Vancouver has also been named in recent trade talks surorunding players from other markets. Reports indicated that Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright would welcome a trade to Vancouver, while Brendan Gallagher was connected to the Canucks for a while before being dealt to the team ahead of free agency opening. Whether they roll the dice on them or not would depend on what Vancouver has to give up.
But what counts as too much to give up?
As little a list as it may be, there are some players that the Canucks should not be trading under any circumstances for the time being. With the team entering a rebuild that will keep fans invested based on the future potential rather than current play, the Canucks will want to prioritize keeping the players that will likely be around, or even entering their prime, come the time Vancouver’s contention window opens. These five players are the ones that the Canucks should not trade under any circumstances.
Zeev Buium
One of four pieces acquired in the Quinn Hughes trade back in December, it’s looking more and more like Buium could be the cornerstone of Vancouver’s future blueline. The Canucks opted to select only one defenceman during this year’s draft — Samuel Eriksson in the sixth round — leaving their defensive prospect pool with little change. This could change come next year’s draft, of course, though at the current moment it appears that Buium will be a big part of the future.
Offensively, Buium showed some flashes of intrigue in his 45 games with the Canucks this year. Aside from the three goals and nine assists he scored, the defenceman gave fans things to cheer about when making the occasional slick play to advance offence for his team. Adding to this is the commitment Buium seems to have towards building a better future alongside his teammates — something that always helps a player’s case in staying.
From a rebuild perspective, Buium fits the Canucks’ timeline well. With the 2025–26 season being his first year in the NHL, the defenceman can now approach the next couple of seasons the way he should be able to — as a learning experience. Given Vancouver’s status as a rebuilding team, there will be more room for young players like Buium to make mistakes and learn from them.
Of course, there is still currently a timeline on Buium’s long-term future with the Canucks. The defenceman’s entry-level contract is set to expire after the 2026–27 season, with Buium becoming an RFA after that. If the Canucks are set on a long-term fit with Buium, they’ll want to lock him down as quickly as possible.
Tom Willander
Despite Vancouver’s dark moments this year, Willander has shown he wants to be part of a solution in Vancouver. Having been selected 11th-overall by the Canucks in 2023, Willander very quickly shot his way up Vancouver’s defensive depth chart after a call-up in October that lasted the remainder of the season. He finished the season with 21 points in 70 games.
A candid, calm competitor, Willander impressed this season with his offensive capabilities as well as his quick adjustment to the NHL level. Injuries, as well as changes to Vancouver’s roster as a whole, resulted in Willander averaging nearly 17 minutes per night throughout his rookie NHL season. While there will always be things to work on, as a whole, the defenceman took the season with stride — all while emphasizing his desire to continue improving.
There’s more to keeping a player like Willander around than just the on-ice element. While 2025–26 was still his rookie season, the defenceman showed a keen sense of responsibility and level of accountability that would make him a valuable leader in the long run. As it stands, he, along with good friend Buium, appear primed to headline the Canucks’ next young D-core.
Tom Willander vs. Zeev Buium. 🎳
Watch the latest All-Access, presented by @Rogers.
It’s still extremely early to tell how his career will pan out, but so far, things look very positive for Novotný. The 24th-overall pick in this year’s draft was highly-coveted by Vancouver and is already looking to be an important piece of the team’s offensive depth when looking towards the future.
At the heart of his game, Novotný is a goal-scorer. The forward can shoot — evidenced by his 34 goals in 58 games for the Peterborough Petes this season. He can play hard and throw his body around in order to help gain possession and create offence.
Braeden Cootes
While it could be bold to say that Cootes will be the future captain of the Canucks, it wouldn’t be surprising. The center seemed like a shoe-in to take on the role the minute Vancouver drafted him 15th-overall in 2025, especially given his pedigree as former captain of Canada’s U-18 national team (2024–25) and the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds.
What may make Cootes even more well-suited to be a future captain is his impressive work-ethic. He made such a strong impression at training camp in 2025 that he made his NHL debut soon after at the start of this season, and even continued that run of determined play during Vancouver’s development camp in 2026. While these camps aren’t always an indicator of a player’s strong performance in the long run, the fact that Cootes put in the effort and made it count in times that not every player needs to isn’t unnoticeable.
Cootes can play well on both sides of the ice but showed a particular surge in offence throughout 2025–26. Long-term, it’s likely the center would slot into Vancouver’s middle-six, assumedly behind the next player mentioned on this list. Center depth has been an issue for the Canucks as of late, though Cootes will be one of a couple to help negate that heading towards the future.
Oct 13, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Braeden Cootes (80) skates against the St. Louis Blues in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Caleb Malhotra
Malhotra immediately shot up to number-one on the Canucks’ prospect depth chart list the minute he was drafted third-overall back in June. The center will fill a gap that Vancouver has been looking to remedy since things fell-through after the team moved on from centers Bo Horvat, Elias Lindholm, and J.T. Miller.
An offensively-prolific season with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL in 2025–26 will likely only be a stepping-stone in Malhotra’s development. The center will be heading to Boston University for the 2026–27 season, with his play throughout then likely determining his fate for 2027–28.
Malhotra will be a key part of Vancouver’s future regardless of when he makes a full-time jump to the NHL.
Honourable mentions: Liam Öhgren, Elias Pettersson (D), Brooks Rogowski, and Niklas Aaram-Olsen
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.
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.
Two Philadelphia Flyers prospects were among the players listed on Scott Wheeler's top 100 NHL drafted prospect rankings for The Athletic. This is because Porter Martone and David Jiricek both made the cut.
Martone was given the No. 3 spot on Wheeler's rankings. Seeing Martone be ranked so high is entirely understandable, as he has all the tools to become a star power forward in the NHL.
After posting 25 goals and 50 points in 35 games with Michigan State University as a freshman last season, Martone signed his entry-level contract with the Flyers. He made an immediate impact with the Flyers after this, posting four goals and 10 points in nine regular-season games.
Marte also had two goals and five points in 10 playoff games for Philadelphia. With numbers like these, he has already shown a lot of promise in the NHL and should only get better.
Jiricek, on the other hand, just made the cut at the No. 97 spot. The 2022 sixth-overall pick is still looking to break out and become a full-time NHL defenseman. It would not be surprising if he takes that next step with the Flyers next season.
Jiricek was excellent for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season after being acquired by the Flyers from the Minnesota Wild. In 15 games with the AHL club following the move, he posted two goals and 13 points. It will be interesting to see if he can translate some of this play over to the Flyers next season.
Now, it's not a free-for-all, upload-any-design kind of situation. Fans must use the available templates, as they have been approved by the league for trade marks and all that fun stuff.
Follow the link below to upload your creation:
A jersey made for the fans, designed by the fans.
This is your chance to design the #Isles Third Jersey for the 2027-2028 Season!
It makes you wonder, with how popular New York Islanders' star defenseman Matthew Schaefer has become since being selected first overall at the 2025 NHL Draft, if he's destined to find himself on the cover of the NHL video game in the near future.
If Schaefer is named the cover athlete for NHL 28, he'd surpass Celebrini as the youngest to ever do it.
Schaefer turns 19 on Sept. 15, so he'd still be 19 when the announced comes out, around the same time next season.
As mentioned in the story above, the plan, since we spoke with Gustafsson at the podium on night one of the NHL Draft, was for him to return to the SHL for a second season with SV71 before coming over to join the organization.
The Hockey News has been told, despite signing his ELC, that plan has not changed.
Gustafsson is eligible to come over and join the Islanders organization, whether that's at the AHL or the NHL level, when his season comes to an end, like we saw with Victor Eklund this past season.
Like with Eklund, though, don't expect Gustafsson to take part in Islanders training camp this fall.
We’ve already reached the middle of July, and Samuel Montembeault is still a member of the Montreal Canadiens. As things stand, it is conceivable that for a second year in a row, the Canadiens will have three NHL-caliber goaltenders on their payroll.
Last season, Montembeault’s struggles led to Jacob Fowler being called up much earlier than expected, and the Melbourne, Florida native proved that he was up to the task and didn’t look out of place for a second. He may just be 21 years old, but he manned the crease like a seasoned vet and quickly earned his teammates’ trust. In 17 games, he posted a 9-6-2 record with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage, and picked up a shutout along the way.
Meanwhile, the man who was a seasoned vet had only a 10-8-4 record, a 3.43 GAA, and an .872 SV. As for Jakub Dobes, he was in net for most of the Canadiens’ wins and ended the year with a 29-10-4 record, a 2.78 GAA, and a .901 SV. While he did struggle at one stage in the season when he couldn’t seem to win over the coaching staff’s trust, he blossomed when Montembeault was cast aside, and by the time the playoffs came around, he was the undisputed number one choice.
Earlier this month, the Canadiens rewarded the Czech netminder with a three-year contract extension which has a $5,357,575 AAV. That was a clear endorsement of the 25-year-old’s work, and while a contract doesn’t guarantee playing time, as Dobes said himself in his media availability, it at the very least lets him know that he’s got the inside lane right now.
Having three goalies on the roster is far from an ideal situation, especially when two of them are 25 or younger. At that age, goaltenders need to see a lot of action to develop properly, and GM Kent Hughes has been clear: if Fowler stays with the big club this season, he will need to see plenty of action.
The days of the clear-cut number one choice in net seem to be a thing of the past. Nowadays, it seems like teams prefer to bet on a two-goalie system, which allows them to avoid overworking their top guy while also providing the backup with enough playing time.
As things stand, the Canadiens are in win mode; the results matter. They are no longer in rebuilding mode, with the focus being almost exclusively on development. Given Montembeault’s performance last season, one has to wonder whether he could earn the team’s trust back if he were to spend the season in Montreal.
As good a teammate as the Quebecer is, the Canadiens cannot afford another season of uncertainty in net. Time and time again last season, he was beaten on his first shot, putting the team in a hole straight from the start. It wasn’t surprising that eventually, his teammates started to play nervously in front of him.
Of course, given how young Fowler is, he could still be assigned to the AHL for the season and get plenty of ice time even if it’s at a lower level. Does he need more time there, though? There are no set rules regarding the time netminders spend in the AHL. Dobes played 65 AHL games before becoming a regular with the Canadiens after Cayden Primeau’s collapse. Carey Price only skated in 12 AHL games before becoming a regular in the NHL. Andrei Vasilevskiy only patrolled the Syracuse Crunch’s crease for 37 games. Jake Oettinger saw 54 AHL games, while Dustin Wolf saw 138 before becoming the man in Calgary.
Fowler has only played 30 games with the Rocket and another eight in the AHL playoffs. Granted, that’s not a lot, but it may just be enough. Granted, Fowler must see a lot of action, but his development may well be better served in the NHL, and, statistically speaking, his presence in Montreal would give the Habs better odds of winning.
However, should the Canadiens decide to go with a Dobes-Fowler tandem and try to send Montembeault down to the AHL, he would no doubt be picked up on waivers, and it’s hard to imagine the Habs’ brass being willing to lose that kind of asset for nothing. While a lot has been said about the Canadiens’ need to improve their top six, it may be an even bigger need to find Montembeault a new home.
Although the Philadelphia Flyers may have missed out on Leo Carlsson and numerous other external targets throughout the start of the offseason, plenty of worthwhile players are still available for the taking.
The Flyers, of course, led with their biggest need, aiming to acquire a top-six center with trade interest in Mavrik Bourque and the attempted offer sheet on Carlsson.
They still have options, like Elias Pettersson, Shane Wright, and Adam Fantilli, but those players do not present as realistic or reasonable options at this point in time.
So where do we go from here? Well, the Flyers still need to re-sign Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale, who have filed for and seem to be heading towards arbitration, as well as Nikita Grebenkin.
The forward position is already a pretty full group in the absence of a true top-tier upgrade, but the defense is an area where the Flyers can still make significant strides without aiming to steal the moon.
Among the remaining restricted free agents, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin is one of the best out there, still just 24 years old, and now comes with Stanley Cup-winning experience after just one year in the NHL.
The 6-foot-3 Russian had been a KHL regular since the 2019-20 season, when he was still a teenager. Making the jump from the KHL to the NHL at the end of last season, Nikishin played in four playoff games for the Hurricanes and recorded one assist.
This season, Nikishin featured in 81 games for Rod Brind'Amour's group, scoring 11 goals, 22 assists, and 33 points in a depth role, occasionally filling in higher when needed due to injuries.
Brind'Amour, of course, reduced Nikishin's role further and leaned on his more experienced, developed players down the Hurricanes' Cup-winning stretch, and as a result, Nikishin registered only one assist and one point in his 17 playoff appearances.
Quietly, though, the 24-year-old has already played in 21 Stanley Cup playoff games, and his first NHL season was very prolific for the role he was given.
Nikishin, a 10.2.c restricted free agent, is not eligible to sign and receive an offer sheet, so the only way he plays for a team other than the Hurricanes next season is if a trade comes to fruition.
That's where the Flyers should come in.
How Nikishin fits with the Flyers
Behind Travis Sanheim and Cam York, the Flyers have a need for an upgrade on defense with age beginning to catch up to Nick Seeler. And, on top of that, Seeler was never especially great with the puck on his stick, which limits how Rick Tocchet's Flyers can attack in transition.
Emil Andrae, arguably the Flyers' best breakout artist, was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier in the offseason in the Joseph Woll deal, and even he couldn't feature regularly enough due to his diminutive 5-foot-9 stature.
Andrae has been replaced on the roster by Simon Benoit, who plays a different brand of hockey and doesn't have that same level of skill.
Nikishin, however, does, and he can play the role of a physical thumper if and when needed, too.
If and when the Flyers trade Rasmus Ristolainen, that presence will be needed on the blue line, and even then, we can easily argue that Nikishin has better puck skills and a higher offensive upside.
And if the Flyers manage to land Nikishin, the offensive upside of the defense would suddenly look quite promising, between him, Sanheim, York, Drysdale, David Jiricek, and/or Oliver Bonk.
Just one ambitious move could change the entire outlook of this team going forward.
That all said, one of the bigger obstacles of this whole idea is what Nikishin will want in regards to money and term on his next contract.
TSN NHL insider Darren Dreger believes that the former third-round pick's contractual demands are a "major factor" in any trade getting over the line.
Few teams are capable of paying the Hurricanes' trade price before offering a prolific contract, but the Flyers are one of them.
After all, the Flyers were prepared to sign Leo Carlsson for $18 million a year on top of paying up four first-round picks as compensation.
But if Nikishin wants $8 million or so on his next contract, the Flyers can do that. In fact, they probably should.
Sanheim still makes a modest $6.25 million against the cap, and it's possible Drysdale gets even more than that on his next deal.
Alexander Nikishin's player card. (Evolving-Hockey)
Nikishin has a higher upside than both, provided he continues to develop and improve as he further adapts to the North American game with a full year of NHL experience under his belt.
Even if Nikishin's offense plateaus at 10 goals and 30 points, that's what Cam York did at his best in 2023-24. And after a 17-point 2024-25, York got $5.15 million annually from the Flyers.
As long as Nikishin's defense comes along, the Flyers could, at worst, be paying about $3 million more for a bigger York, who is also a much better shooting threat.
Honestly, it's hard to see the financial risk here from the Flyers' perspective.
Is this a trap set by the Hurricanes?
The common social media argument against trading for Nikishin is, why would the Flyers target a defenseman in Nikishin that a Stanley Cup-winning team is willing to trade away?
But the answer is more simple than that.
As long as Jaccob Slavin, K'Andre Miller, and Shayne Gostisbehere are healthy, Nikishin will be stuck behind them on the depth chart.
The Hurricanes can instead cash in on a young player that they would be otherwise paying money that far exceeds his role on the team, and get assets in return that they can use to bolster the roster in other ways.
Yes, Slavin, Sean Walker, Gostisbehere, and Jalen Chatfield are all 30 or older, but the Hurricanes just won the Cup. Their window is open now, as we have seen.
And if those players age out and the Hurricanes need to replace Nikishin, they can leverage their prospects and/or draft assets to get it done, as they already did once with Miller last offseason.
Carolina also just drafted a very safe, solid defense prospect in William Hakansson during the 2026 NHL Draft last month.
Entertaining a Nikishin trade is just smart GM'ing by Eric Tulsky; he isn't unnecessarily backing himself into corners and has all of his outs and options mapped out in advance.
The Michkov factor
And then there's the Matvei Michkov connection, which is arguably the Flyers' biggest wildcard in this whole thing.
Michkov and Nikishin were once KHL teammates on powerhouse club SKA St. Petersburg, for whom Nikishin served as captain in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Artemi Panarin, one of the two captains (Mikhail Sergachev) drafting the all-star teams, drafted both Michkov and Nikishin to his squad, reuniting them for the star-studded charity contest set to be played in St. Petersburg on July 25.
Kirill Kaprizov is also on Panarin's team, but that possibility is long gone. So is Pavel Mintyukov, who recently re-upped with Anaheim.
Naturally, the Flyers can instead hope (or ask) Michkov to recruit Nikishin to Philadelphia, where the team has a big need for his talents and services.
The Athletic's Kevin Kurz recently wrote in a mailbag, "My impression is that the organization, particularly the coaching staff, knows that everyone will have to do more to ensure Michkov is more integrated next season into what has become a tight-knit dressing room. Ultimately, it’s going to be up to Michkov — something that Briere seemed to reinforce at the end of the 2025-26 season — but I would expect a more proactive approach."
In recent seasons, the Flyers have had an exodus, of sorts, of players who were close to Michkov on and off the ice.
Ryan Poehling, who was once Michkov's locker room stall-mate that would trade Russian and English phrases with him, was dealt away in the Zegras trade.
Goalie Ivan Fedotov was traded last offseason, and not long after that, Egor Zamula shared the same fate.
The Flyers do have unsigned free agent Nikita Grebenkin as a fellow countryman for Michkov, but he's as young and inexperienced as his phenom teammate.
Over the course of this past season, the integration of youngsters Alex Bump, Denver Barkey, and Porter Martone helped some, as they are all of similar age, but it's not quite the same when you can't communicate in English the same way you can in Russian.
So, there's that aspect, too, where adding Nikishin would give Michkov another buddy he can really relate to and associate with, and one that the Flyers would presumably have a similar level of long-term investment in, in contrast to Fedotov and Zamula.
It was declared that the Flyers are now swashbuckling risk-takers, pirates who will bowl over anyone in their way, after the Carlsson debacle, but there was little risk involved there. The Flyers were giving away what would have been four late first-round picks for a 21-year-old, point-per-game center whose large contract would have just paid him in advance for what he was on track to become.
Trading for a less proven but talented Nikishin, who plays for a division rival? Now that's a real risk. And the coming months will prove how far the Flyers are willing to go, what bumps and bruises they are willing to accept, and how badly they are willing to be burned, on the road to building a winner.
The center-ice position is important for every NHL team, but with the system the Florida Panthers play, the responsibility on their center-ice men is very high.
Coach Paul Maurice demands excellence both offensively and defensively, attention to detail, and coverage all over the ice. Those demands can’t be achieved by just any center in the NHL, but GM Bill Zito has done an excellent job finding players who fit.
The Panthers’ first three-line center spots are occupied by Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell, as unless injuries occur, those three players have locked down their roles. But heading into the 2026 NHL off-season, the fourth-line role was vacant.
Throughout the 2025-26 season, several players occupied that role. Cole Schwindt was used quite frequently after he was claimed off waivers, Tomas Nosek skated on the fourth line when he returned from his injury, and even Luke Kunin was used in that role to start the season.
Heading into the 2026-27 season, that role is for veteran Lars Eller.
Eller has a very impressive NHL resume. The 37-year-old won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018, skating as a third-line center and adding seven goals and 18 points in 24 playoff games. He plays a reliable two-way game, winning over 50 percent of his faceoffs in seven of his last eight NHL campaigns.
He might not give the Panthers double-digit goals and 30-40 points as he did in his prime. Still, the Panthers can feel very comfortable using Ellers in defensive situations against any of their opponents’ lines.
Eller believes he is a perfect fit with the Panthers and remains hungry to add another Stanley Cup.
“I’m as hungry as ever,” said Eller when he first spoke to the Florida media. “I want to say I still have that same hunger as when I came into the league almost two decades ago. Once you’ve had a taste of winning, it doesn’t satisfy that hunger to want to go out and do it again. And I think this team has also proved that they have that hunger in them.”
Originally a 13th overall pick by the St. Louis Blues in 2007, Eller has racked up 1184 games of NHL regular season experience, scoring 193 goals and 439 points. In the post-season, Eller has played 116 games, notching 15 goals and 50 points.
While the ability to chip in offensively is appreciated, it’s how Maurice deploys Eller that will show his value.
Eller can hop over the boards to kill penalties and take timely defensive zone faceoffs, which will allow Maurice to give Barkov and Lundell extra rest and more opportunities to start their shifts in the offensive zone.
With just an $850,000 cap hit for one season, Eller could turn out to be a bargain signing in the regular season and in the playoffs.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free.
See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source.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.
They signed Gustafsson to a three-year entry-level deal — which carries an average annual value of $1.575 million, according to Puckpedia — less than three weeks after the draft. Gustafsson told The Post at development camp that he planned to play for HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League again next season, and after signing his deal, that’d mark a similar route to the one that 2025 first-round pick Victor Eklund took last year.
Eklund inked his entry-level deal July 14, played for Djurgårdens IF in the SHL, skated in 11 games for AHL Bridgeport between the regular season and playoffs and then even made his NHL debut in Game 82. If Gustafsson skates in fewer than 10 NHL games next season, the first year of his entry-level deal would likewise slide and he wouldn’t burn that initial season of his deal.
Malte Gustafsson during an Islanders rookie scrimmage on July 1, 2026. Dennis A. Clark for NY Post
Plenty still has to happen for Gustafsson to reach that point, to where he’s potentially an option to help either the Islanders or AHL Hamilton. But he arrived “as advertised” to development camp, head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters earlier this month, and his blend of size, physicality and two-way ability already positioned the 18-year-old as someone who could develop into a critical piece of the Islanders’ blue line in the future.
“He’s mature beyond his years,” DoBoer told reporters after the final day of development camp, “and I thought in the game yesterday, he got better as it went on. I thought the second period of that game, I thought you started to see him get more confident. These rookie camps are tough. I can remember over the years some of the best players I had didn’t look great at rookie camp.
“So you’ve got to take them with a grain of salt sometimes, but I thought Malte came as advertised. He did a great job.”
For the first time since NHL 2001, a member of the San Jose Sharks will be on the cover of an EA Sports NHL video game.
The next generation is here. Macklin Celebrini is the youngest NHL cover athlete in history. Tune in for the #NHL27 Reveal Trailer on July 16 at 11 AM ET.
On Tuesday morning, Sharks star forward Macklin Celebrini was officially named the cover athlete of EA Sports NHL 27. While Owen Nolan was the most recent member of the Sharks to grace the cover of an EA Sports title, Joe Thornton was the most recent Shark to appear on a video game cover overall.
Thornton was the cover athlete on 2k Sports’ NHL 2k7 which was released in October 2006.
It’s fitting that Celebrini is once again passed a torch that once belonged to Thornton, as he broke Thornton’s record for most points by a Shark in a single season during his sophomore campaign and set a benchmark for the next generation of Sharks.
Celebrini is also the youngest player to ever be featured on the cover on an EA Sports NHL game.
Celebrini spoke to ESPN about the cover, stating: “I thought it was amazing. I loved it. Fairly simple process: They just sent it to me and I was just like, 'Yeah, it looks good.'"
Patrick Kane, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer among American-born players, remains unsigned this offseason.
Do the Colorado Avalanche have a realistic chance of signing him this offseason?
Probably not.
At this point, Colorado's offseason appears all but finished unless the front office finds a way to shed salary before training camp. That scenario looks increasingly unlikely. According to PuckPedia, the Avalanche are currently $445,841 over the salary cap, leaving virtually no financial flexibility. Kane would likely command somewhere between $2.75 million and $3 million, not including any potential performance bonuses.
If there's a realistic window for Colorado to pursue Kane, it would likely come closer to the NHL trade deadline. Even then, it raises an important question: Is it worth making a move for a 37-year-old winger?
There are valid arguments on both sides.
The biggest concern is the mixed message it would send. The Avalanche have emphasized getting younger, yet they signed 34-year-old center Jaden Schwartz to a three-year contract despite his lengthy injury history. Kane—who has been linked to Colorado multiple times over the past few seasons, including before signing with the Detroit Red Wings—is hardly a move that aligns with a youth movement.
On the other hand, few players can match Kane's résumé.
The former No. 1 overall pick has built one of the most accomplished careers of his generation. Kane won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year in 2007-08 before helping lead the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships. He captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during Chicago's 2013 title run, and in 2015-16, he put together one of the greatest seasons by an American-born player, winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP, the Ted Lindsay Award, and the Art Ross Trophy after leading the NHL in scoring with a career-high 46 goals and 106 points while appearing in all 82 regular-season games.
One criticism that's surfaced is that Kane simply isn't the 100-point player he once was.
That argument misses the bigger picture.
Yes, Kane is 37 years old, and expecting him to produce at an MVP level is unrealistic. But it's also worth remembering that he surpassed the 100-point mark only twice during his Hall of Fame-caliber career. His value has never been defined solely by gaudy point totals.
Even in the later stages of his career, Kane remains one of hockey's smartest offensive players, capable of driving possession, creating scoring chances, and producing in key moments when surrounded by elite talent.
And that final point is where Kane could potentially make sense for Colorado.
Kane has spent the last three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, and while injuries have been part of the conversation during that stretch, he has continued to produce at a high level. Last season, he recorded 57 points in 67 games, including 16 goals and 41 assists. The year before, he finished with 59 points in 72 games.
When looking at the numbers, Kane was actually more productive on a per-game basis during the 2024-25 season.
The biggest area where Kane could help the Avalanche is on the power play.
Since Colorado traded Mikko Rantanen, finding consistency on the man advantage has been a challenge. Kane's ability to operate from the right half wall—a spot where he has made a living throughout his career—could address one of the Avalanche's biggest offensive needs.
Kane has scored 140 career power-play goals, which ranks 73rd on the NHL's all-time list, tied with former Avalanche forward Milan Hejduk and Scott Mellanby. He also scored 12 power-play goals during the 2024-25 season, although that number dropped to just two last year.
While his goal-scoring production is no longer what it was during his prime, Kane remains an elite playmaker who understands how to manipulate defenses and create opportunities for teammates.
Colorado's power play has struggled at critical moments since moving on from Rantanen. The Avalanche experienced a brief resurgence after acquiring Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames, but that momentum disappeared when the playoffs arrived and the man advantage failed to deliver when the team needed it most.
If the discussion is strictly about offensive skill and power-play production, Kane would be an intriguing gamble.
The concern is that his age has also brought some defensive drawbacks.
Kane has become more prone to costly turnovers, and those mistakes can create dangerous scoring chances the other way. His offensive instincts remain elite, but the margin for error becomes smaller as players get older.
That was highlighted late last season during Detroit's playoff push.
The Red Wings were fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive when they erased a 4-1 deficit against the Minnesota Wild, tying the game in the third period. Shortly after Patrick Kane scored, he was involved in a controversial sequence when his stick caught Jack Hughes' skates while he was heading toward the bench away from the play, resulting in a tripping penalty.
Minnesota capitalized, scoring with fewer than 15 seconds remaining on the power play to secure a 5-4 victory and effectively end Detroit's playoff chances.
Kane later took full responsibility for the mistake, telling reporters the penalty made him feel "maybe the worst I felt personally in my career."
From a hockey standpoint, however, Kane would still bring something Colorado cannot easily manufacture: experience.
He knows what it takes to win. He knows how to handle pressure. He knows the demands of playoff hockey.
Kane has appeared in 143 career playoff games, recording 138 points, including 53 goals and 85 assists. That type of postseason résumé would immediately add another layer of experience to an Avalanche team built around championship expectations.
But the decision is not solely about what Kane can provide on the ice.
The biggest question surrounding Kane's potential fit in Colorado may come from his time with the Chicago Blackhawks and the controversy that followed the organization’s 2010 Stanley Cup championship.
Kane was a member of the Blackhawks during that championship season when former Chicago prospect Kyle Beach alleged that he was sexually assaulted by then-video coach Brad Aldrich. Beach, who was initially identified as John Doe in legal proceedings, filed a lawsuit in May 2021 detailing the allegations.
A subsequent independent investigation examined how the Blackhawks organization handled the claims and found that members of the team's leadership became aware of the allegations during the playoffs but decided to wait until after the Stanley Cup Final before addressing the matter.
After Chicago won the championship, Aldrich was eventually given the option to resign or face termination if the allegations were substantiated. He resigned and was permitted to participate in postseason celebrations.
The fallout from the investigation extended beyond Aldrich and the organization's leadership. Beach later described the treatment he received during his time with the Blackhawks, alleging that he was “subjected to humiliating trash talking by his teammates during scrimmages where coaches were present” and was “repeatedly” targeted with gay slurs.
Beach also described an alleged incident during training camp where a teammate asked if he “missed his boyfriend Brad [Aldrich],” referring to the man Beach accused of assaulting him.
Kane, along with longtime Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, was one of the established players within the organization during Beach's time in Chicago. Neither player was accused of participating in the abuse, but they certainly did nothing to stop what transpired as established leaders of an elite organization
For Colorado, that history creates another factor to consider.
The Avalanche would have to evaluate not only whether Kane can still provide offensive value at 37 years old, but also whether adding him fits the culture and identity the organization wants to maintain.
Ultimately, the Patrick Kane debate comes down to risk versus reward.
On the ice, there is still plenty to like. He can create offense, elevate a power play, provide veteran leadership, and bring championship experience to a team trying to win another Stanley Cup.
But the Avalanche are also operating with limited cap space, trying to balance an aging core with a desire to get younger, and would have to weigh the off-ice considerations that come with adding one of the most accomplished—and complicated—players of his generation.
Right now, the salary cap alone makes a Kane-to-Colorado reunion unlikely.
But if the opportunity presented itself at the trade deadline, the Avalanche would face a difficult question:
Is the potential reward of adding Patrick Kane worth the risk?
The Montreal Canadiens could use another skilled forward on their roster. With it now being two weeks since the start of free agency, there are not a ton of UFA options still available for the taking. While this is the case, the Canadiens still have an intriguing potential target to consider in future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane.
When looking at the Canadiens' current roster, it is fair to argue that they could use another skilled forward in their top six. While Kane is not as dominant offensively as he was during his prime years, he would still have the potential to be a strong pickup for their second line and power play if signed.
Kane just had another solid season in 2025-26 with the Detroit Red Wings, posting 16 goals, 41 assists, and 57 points in 67 games. This was after he had 59 points in 72 games with the Red Wings in 2024-25 and 47 points in 50 games for Detroit in 2023-24. With numbers like these, he is still plenty capable of providing good offense, and he would be a nice pickup for Montreal because of it.
Kane would also be a good veteran for the Canadiens to have on their roster as they enter their Stanley Cup window. The 37-year-old is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, after all.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Canadiens make a push for Kane. On a one-year, affordable deal, there could be a good match here.
Patrick Kane has had some incredible seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. He has also been great in a supporting role as a member of the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings since leaving Chicago behind.
Kane is going to go to the Hall of Fame whenever he decides to retire. He will have his number retired by the Blackhawks, and possibly even have a statue at the United Center.
However, he has some good hockey left in the tank, maybe multiple years, and he is currently looking for his next NHL home. Of all the places that make sense for the greatest American-born player ever, these four stick out the most:
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are in the mix. They are going to be without Connor Bedard for the first month of the season, which would make Kane a solid option during that time. When Bedard gets back, he will have a power-play specialist and another option at even strength.
Whether Kane or Bedard plays together at 5-on-5 would be a mystery, but it's a possibility. If not, Kane would be a great winger for any of the young centers that Chicago is trying to develop.
Not only would he fit in, as he knows the city, building, and organization, but he would also be an incredibly experienced player who would be a great mentor for the kids on the team.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are the other "obvious" candidate for Kane. Before making Chicago his home, Western New York was where he learned to play the game as a Buffalo native. This, much like returning to Chicago, would be a homecoming for Kane.
The Sabres are actually good for the first time in a long time, too. Before making the playoffs and winning a round in 2026, they hadn't been in the postseason since 2011. For most of Kane's career, his hometown team was an undesirable place of employment.
Now, they are a great team to join as they are hoping to be a playoff team for the second year in a row, this time getting past the second round.
The Sabres just lost Alex Tuch in free agency. Tuch is the player that Kane would mostly be looking to replace (offensively) if he chose to go to Buffalo.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are an interesting option for Kane. After winning the draft lottery and selecting Gavin McKenna first overall, they are looking to compete in 2026-27 with stars like Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Darren Raddysh leading the way.
Adding Kane would give them some scoring touch in the middle of their lineup. They missed Mitch Marner's creativity last season, and although Kane won't match Marner at this stage of his career, he can bring that element back to the lineup in a smaller role.
Kane would also bring a sense of calmness to the group. Playing in Toronto is not easy with the coverage that they get nationwide, and Kane has the experience and status necessary to take on some of that responsibility.
Colorado Avalanche
If Kane wants to lock himself onto a sure playoff team that needs a dynamic winger, he'd sign with the Colorado Avalanche on a cheap deal. They have superstars in Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Necas, all of whom are good enough to lead a Cup-contending team.
If Kane were to go there, he'd for sure be a factor on one of thier power play units, which needs some help as that was one of their only weaknesses en route to a Presidents' Trophy last year.
Kane's potential fit in terms of his linemates is less important with Colorado than if he were on other teams because they are going to be a well-oiled machine regardless. Of all the truly elite teams in the league right now, if both parties are truly willing, this would make the most sense from a team success perspective.
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.
