Welcome to this edition of "From The Archive". In this recurring series, we open The Hockey News' vault and display some of the top Vancouver Canucks related articles from the past. Today's article comes from Volume 72, Issue 9, where Ken Campbell wrote about Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson. 

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Rare Rookie, Volume 72, Issue 9, January 29, 2019

When Guy Lafleur was five years old, his father built a small rink in the backyard of their home in Thurso, Quebec. After school and on weekends, the rink was crowded with Lafleur and his friends, but on weekdays, rushing through lunch before returning to school, it was his alone for half an hour or more. A few years later, anxious for more ice time, on Saturday and Sunday mornings he would sneak in the back door of the local arena, finding his way unseen through the engine room, under the seats, and onto the ice. There, from 7:30 a.m. until just before the manager awakened about 11 a.m., he played alone; then quickly left. Though he was soon discovered, as the manager was also coach of his team, Lafleur was allowed to continue, by himself, and then a few years later with some of his friends.

– Ken Dryden in his best-selling book, The Game, talking about the childhood of Montreal Canadiens teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur

YOU’D BE EXCUSED FOR thinking that the days of the Guy Lafleurs freelancing their way to hockey glory are over. NHL careers are stage managed now more than ever, meticulously planned from childhood, complete with full family moves to play in superior big-city hockey associations, an obsession with playing up an age group and families with seemingly unlimited resources and a willingness to pour them into on- and off-ice instruction from scores of people who make their living off the dreams of others.

And it might make you a little depressed. If that’s the case, you should really know about Vancouver Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson. He never had a skills coach growing up, and he still doesn’t. Like Lafleur, Pettersson grew up in a tiny place. Ange is geographically in the center of Sweden, and in 2010 its population was 2,872. Apparently nobody has bothered to update it since then. Before Pettersson, the most famous person from Ange was Sami Pahlsson, who played 11 seasons in the NHL and won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks. It’s a place that has produced no fewer than six heavy-metal bands, including Corroded, which recorded a song called Age of Rage for the play-for-free version of the video game Battlefield 4, so it sounds like they’re doing all right. The lead singer Jens Westin is friends with Pettersson’s parents and was his older brother’s music teacher in middle school.

And like Lafleur, Pettersson developed his eye-popping array of skills essentially on his own. His father sometimes watched him do drills and helped him, “but he only played hockey from 10 to 12 years old.”

Ange has one arena, the Kastbergshallen. It’s right there off National Road 83, just past the ICA Supermarket. Get onto Bagskyttevagen (Archery Road) and bear right once you get to the skeet-shooting range and you’re there. Pettersson’s father, Torbjorn, who owns and maintains several apartment buildings in town, was also the manager of Ange IK, which meant he also occasionally drove the Zamboni, which also meant he had keys to the rink. Elias and his older brother, Emil, a 24-year-old prospect for the Nashville Predators who plays for AHL Milwaukee, would take the keys and head down to the rink anytime they wanted. And there, without a badgering wannabe Scotty Bowman teaching systems or doing cycle drills, they worked on their skills. “Just a couple of boys having fun with the puck,” said Tommy Ostrom, who, along with Johan Altberg, recruited both brothers as an agent in Sweden.

Prior to his record-breaking season in the Swedish League last year, Pettersson wasn’t happy with his shot. So he broke it down into 12 different motor movements and worked tirelessly on each one until it got better. By himself. “I wanted to (improve) at one-timers and get a quicker release,” he said. “Every day after practice I would stay for 15 minutes extra and work on one-timers. One day I’d just work on my balance, another day I’d get my stick in a certain position, another day I’d shift my weight, each one one day apart.”

The way Emil recalls, Elias was good at every sport he tried, but he combined that with an unwavering passion and stubborn streak. When he and Elias were growing up, their father’s old unicycle was sitting in the basement. “I tried to learn (how to ride it) for about 10 or 15 minutes, and I got so angry I just threw it away,” Emil said. “(Elias) tried it about a year after, and he just kept trying until he got it.”

And the results of that determination are on full display. Unless an opponent takes him out for the season, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility given how much he has been targeted in Year 1, Pettersson will make a mockery of the Calder Trophy race. Last season, Mathew Barzal was named rookie of the year by scoring 85 points, which was the highest total by a rookie since Evgeni Malkin, who had the same number in 2006-07. Pettersson, who had missed seven of the Canucks’ first 45 games, was scoring at a pace that would see him record 91 points in a full 82-game schedule. Over the past 25 years, only Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby have scored more points as a first-year player. Of course, Pettersson is no stranger to putting up mind-boggling numbers. Last season, his 24 goals and 56 points with the Vaxjo Lakers were the most ever recorded by a junior player in the SHL, breaking a mark set more than 40 years ago by Kent Nilsson. Along the way, he also won the league scoring title, was MVP of both the regular season and the playoffs, rookie of the year and a champion in both the SHL and the World Championship for Sweden.

I CALL HIM ‘THE MINI PAVEL DATSYUK.’ YOU SEE HIM SHIMMY - SHAKE GUYS– Vancouver Canucks teammate Brock Boeser

His play earned him a nickname. Teammates in Vaxjo called him ‘The Alien’ because of his otherworldly talents. “It’s pretty funny, but I don’t know if I like it too much,” Pettersson said. “That puts a lot of pressure on me.”

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Now that he’s in the NHL, he’s earning a few other monikers. “I call him ‘The Mini Pavel Datsyuk,’” said teammate Brock Boeser, who knows a little bit about impressing as a rookie in the NHL. “You see him shimmy-shake guys, it’s pretty impressive. He’s always thinking one step ahead of the play.”

Among his bag of tricks this season was a penalty shot he took on Pekka Rinne in early December. Pettersson slowed up in front of the net, then prompted Rinne to bite on a fake backhand before going forehand with lightning speed and tucking the puck under the Nashville Predators goalie. That move didn’t surprise Boeser. He first saw it in a shootout during the Canucks’ rookie development camp in 2017. “I thought, ‘This guy is legit,’” Boeser said.

It’s actually a little surprising that Pettersson is accomplishing so much at such a young age. Because until now, he’s always been a little behind his peers, largely because he was so much smaller than them. Consider this: the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation has been holding its TV-Pucken tournament since the 1950s, which brings together 24 teams from different regions in a tournament for the best under-16 players in Sweden. Of the 561 of them who played in the 2013-14 tournament, only two of them were lighter than Pettersson (one of them was a goalie) and only 37 were shorter. Pettersson was 5-foot-6 and 103 pounds at the time, and in the intervening years has grown eight inches and added 73 pounds. “He’s freakishly strong, and he catches guys by surprise,” said teammate Bo Horvat. “At the same time, being that skinny, he weasels his way through everybody.”

He’s still slight by NHL standards, but in today’s game if you have superior brains, legs and hands, it mitigates a lack of size more than ever. “Being smaller has been good for my game,” Pettersson said, “because of that I can take a hit and still have good speed. If I were a bigger guy and stronger than everybody else, maybe I never learn to take a hit.”

Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter raises another valid point: “It’s a little easier to come into the game now. You don’t have to worry about getting your head taken off.” Added Suter’s teammate Zach Parise: “The confidence with the puck, it’s crazy. He’s a rookie, and he’s cutting to the middle of the ice, buying time, holding onto the puck. It’s awesome, it’s great to see.”

That’s exactly what Canucks coach Travis Green was thinking before Pettersson arrived at training camp this season. Green saw no point in putting a player as lightly built as Pettersson on the wing in his first season and expect him to dig pucks out of the corner, reasoning that he would get the puck a lot more down the middle of the smaller rink. The Canucks had drafted him as a center, but he broke all the Swedish scoring records as a winger, so there was going to be a period of adjustment. That lasted throughout the Canucks’ rookie tournament, where Pettersson was decidedly ordinary. But with every passing day, he got better and more comfortable, and now the Canucks don’t even make any attempt to hide the fact they know he’s their best player.

SPECIAL TALENTS PLAY THE WAY YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE A KID PLAYING ROAD HOCKEY– Canucks coach Travis Green

With players such as Pettersson, those with elite hockey minds, it’s almost as though the game they are seeing and playing is different than the one the other nine skaters on the ice are experiencing. For those players, everything moves more slowly, which gives them the ability to think two or three plays ahead. “I remember when I played,” Green said, “when you played with special talents, it was almost like they played the game the way you did when you were a kid and you were playing road hockey. I remember when I was playing road hockey I felt like I could do anything I wanted with the (ball), and that’s a nice feeling, but there’s only a few guys in the world who get that feeling on the ice.”

In his four seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the mid-1970s, Inge Hammarstrom scored 20 goals three times. As one of the first players in NHL history to come over from a European league, he acquitted himself well. That didn’t prevent Leafs owner Harold Ballard, however, from opining that Hammarstrom could “skate into the corner with a half-dozen eggs in his pocket and not break any of them.” It was a xenophobic remark that helped set an inaccurate and unfair tone that European players carried with them for years. A couple decades later, someone might have said Hammarstrom could walk into an arena in Europe and come out with superstar players. It was Hammarstrom who convinced the Canucks to take the skinny kid from the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier professional league, with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 draft.

With Hammarstrom’s track record for identifying talent, the Canucks were willing to listen. As a scout with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1991, he had to talk his bosses into taking a chance on another skinny Swede, Peter Forsberg, at No. 6. “The year before that I was pushing for Jaromir Jagr (at fourth overall), but we took another really good player, Mike Ricci,” Hammarstrom said. “We also got Mikael Renberg from Sweden, and Chris Simon. It was a pretty good draft year.”

A half-season into his NHL career, it’s difficult to fathom that Pettersson fell that far in the first round, though Nico Hischier, Nolan Patrick, Miro Heiskanen and Cale Makar are all fine players in their own right. One executive whose team didn’t have a shot at Pettersson said his European scouts were adamant that he was the superior talent in the draft, despite not doing much to impress their North American counterparts in tournaments in Europe or the World Junior Championship. And nobody, but nobody, could project that Pettersson would improve so much in such little time. The exec marvelled at how much Pettersson’s shot has improved since then. “He was absolutely not shooting the puck like that in his draft year,” he said.

As is the case with rare finds, there was some luck involved. Pettersson left home when he was 16 to play in Timra, about 70 miles east of his hometown. Hammarstrom lives in Timra and is a regular at the rink. He would often attend Timra’s practices and stay and chat with Pettersson on the bench, as well as teammate Jonathan Dahlen, who is former NHLer Ulf Dahlen’s son, who just happens to be good friends with Hammarstrom. (It should come as no surprise that Dahlen was the return for the Canucks when they dealt Alexandre Burrows to the Ottawa Senators two years ago.)

During those chats, Hammarstrom got to know Pettersson as a person, and the two became close friends. Hammarstrom saw a young man who was a little difficult to get to know at first, but one who became an open book once he was comfortable. He also saw a young man who was stubborn, in a good way, one whose passion for the game drove him to continue to practice something until he perfected it. “I knew he was an exceptional person with a very strong character who knows what it takes,” Hammarstrom said. “When you talk to him, you immediately know he understands all it takes. For me, it was Elias all the way from the beginning of his draft year. Every meeting it was Elias. I liked some other guys, too, but for me his hockey sense, smarts and hand speed, that kind of control and moves are exceptional.”

From there it was matter of convincing Judd Brackett, the Canucks’ director of amateur scouting, and the rest of the staff, that Pettersson was worth a few trips to Europe for extended viewings. In the end, it was an easy sell, and the Canucks went into the 2017 draft unanimous that Pettersson would be their choice, provided he was still there at No. 5. At the time, Pettersson was listed generously at 161 pounds. He was rated No. 9 in THN’s Draft Preview, where one scout opined that he tended to stay away from high-traffic areas on the ice. “So you have to ask yourself whether it’s smart to not put yourself in those situations, or is it because he’s scared?” the scout asked. “Only one person can answer that. You have to determine whether it’s intelligent self-preservation or a lack of accountability.” Fifteen pounds and a year-and-a-half later, we all know the answer to that question.

I KNEW HE WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL PERSON WITH A VERY STRONG CHARACTER WHO KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES– Scout Inge Hammarstrom

The Canucks were blessed by the fact that at least the four teams choosing ahead of them were thinking the same thing. “He didn’t get much exposure (in his draft year) because he was very skinny and he looked very weak,” Hammarstrom said. “But what I noticed right away on the ice was his quickness. His mind was so quick that he solved problems on the ice that I haven’t seen a young player do in a long time. He was like Peter Forsberg, you know? Someone special. I remember playing against Wayne Gretzky, and you can see when they’re special.”

Speaking of solving problems, Pettersson is going a long way toward solving many of them in Vancouver. Prior to the season, the Canucks were far more likely to be in a position to unite the Hughes brothers – the Canucks’ 2018 seventh overall pick, Quinn, and his younger brother, Jack, the overwhelming favorite to go first overall in 2019 – than they were to be in contention for a playoff spot. But there they were in January, hanging in and competing for a post-season berth. They likely won’t make it, but more importantly, led by some promising young talent in Pettersson, Boeser and Horvat and with more on the way in the form of Hughes and goalie Thatcher Demko, the Canadian west coast is not a barren wasteland. The Canucks, at the very least, have been fun to watch this season, and there is real, tangible hope they can elevate themselves, led by the best player they’ve had since Pavel Bure.

Pettersson is scoring at crucial times, too. Seventeen of his first 42 points came on goals that put the Canucks ahead in a game, and nine times he scored goals that lifted his team into a tie, which was tied with the Boston Bruins’ David Pastrnak for the league lead in that category.

In the Canucks’ first game of 2019, Pettersson scored a hat trick against Ottawa, including the overtime-winner on his second breakaway of the 3-on-3 competition that was the talk of the NHL. He also hit two performance bonuses, on the same day, that bumped his rookie salary from $925,000 to $3.8 million, by scoring his 20th goal of the season and being named to the NHL All-Star Game. (In the next game, Pettersson sustained a mild MCL sprain in his right knee as the result of being pulled down by Montreal Canadiens rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi in an exchange that had nothing to do with being a hockey play.)

Is his coach surprised at the dominance Pettersson has displayed in his rookie season? “Yeah, I am,” Green said. “I really am. We didn’t know exactly what we were getting. We think we have a special player, and I think we’re just starting to see what he can do.”

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. 

The 2025-26 season is now just around the corner after a long, busy offseason for general manager Pat Verbeek and the Anaheim Ducks. There’s still one large order of business remaining on the table: the Mason McTavish contract extension.

From a (mostly) new coaching staff to four key additions, the Ducks organization received a significant facelift this summer as they attempt to take another step and put an end to their elongated rebuild.

The team's complexion is vastly different than the one that started last year’s training camp. Four pieces once considered part of the team’s future core at one point or another now call a different organization home, as does a player who was in Anaheim for just a short time but made a meaningful impression.

I had fun asking one question about each Ducks roster player ahead of the upcoming season, so I decided to do the same for those former key pieces who once called Anaheim home.

Questions Facing Each Anaheim Ducks Defenseman, Goalie Heading into the 2025-26 Season

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Brian Dumoulin: Can he help Los Angeles topple Edmonton at long last?

Dumoulin only played 61 games in a Ducks sweater, but he had an immediate positive impact on the young dynamic defensemen on the Ducks' blueline, emphasizing good habits and communication skills. He signed a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings this summer to add veteran experience and added Stanley Cup pedigree to a team that’s lost in the first round to the Edmonton Oilers in each of the last four seasons. Whether he’s slated to play a bottom-pair role next to a fellow veteran like Cody Ceci or aid in the development of a talented offensive talent like Brandt Clarke, Dumoulin will have the opportunity to solidify the middle or bottom of the Kings' depth chart on the blueline.

Cam Fowler: Can he set a new career high in points?

Fowler was the first of this group to depart the Ducks, ending a 14-plus-year career with the organization in which he played just shy of 1000 games (991), when he was traded to the St. Louis Blues in Dec. 2024. He made an immediate impact and found instant chemistry with the Blues, notably alongside Colton Parayko, where the two now comprise the projected top pair in St. Louis. After the trade, Fowler scored 36 points (9-27=36) in 51 games for the Blues, the highest scoring rate (.71 points per game) in his career. He’ll have to fight for top power play time with Justin Faulk, but if Fowler gets the nod (and stays healthy), he has the chance to set a new career high for himself, which now stands at 48 points, set in the 2022-23 season.

John Gibson: Can he lead Detroit into he playoffs?

On day two of the 2025 NHL Draft, Gibson was traded from the team with the third-longest playoff drought (Anaheim, seven years) to the team with the second (Detroit, nine years). Gibson’s numbers bounced back in a big way in 2024-25, after a half-decade of mediocrity. Talent remains, but health is the question. It’s a gamble the Red Wings are willing to take, as they’ve been knocking on the door of the playoffs in the last two seasons. Cam Talbot, with whom Gibson will likely form a tandem, played well last season, but the goaltending position has been volatile for the Red Wings for the duration of their rebuild. Gibson and Talbot can hopefully raise the team’s floor and give the players in front of them needed security as they look to finally break through and play spring hockey.

Isac Lundestrom: How long can he stick in the NHL?

Lundestrom was given a relatively long leash in Anaheim, where he played 337 games over seven seasons, but never found a way to meaningfully impact games on the offensive side of the puck. This summer, he signed a two-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. His skating, defensive prowess, and work ethic will always endear him to coaches, but his NHL role seems destined to that of a fourth-line center, a position in which he’ll have to fend off hungry, young players for the remainder of his career. He’ll also need to improve on his 45.9% clip in the faceoff circle, so coaches can trust him with defensive zone starts if he’s to be relied on as a matchup option in any way.

Trevor Zegras: Who is the real Trevor Zegras?

Zegras burst onto the scene in 2021-22, dazzling on a nightly basis, was the 2022 Calder Trophy runner-up, and notched back-to-back 60-plus point seasons. A lengthy contract negotiation amid a coaching change and a mandate to work on his 200-foot game led to a muted impact followed by significant injuries over the following two seasons. Verbeek and the Ducks made the decision to go in a different direction, sending him to the Philadelphia Flyers this summer. Whether he ultimately ends up on the wing or sticks at the center position, as is the initial intention of the Flyers, he’s a player who will hopefully be afforded the freedom to explore the reaches of his vast creativity, increasing the odds of returning to that scintillating talent we saw early in his career.

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After just one training session on the ice at the Montreal Canadiens’ rookie camp, it’s safe to say that one player is head and shoulders above the other. As the hopefuls were put through their paces on Thursday at the CN Sports Complex, media and fans alike were keeping a keen eye on Ivan Demidov.

It might only have been drills, but the Russian was giving it his whole and using those magical hands of his whenever necessary. His skills didn’t go unnoticed by his fellow rookies and Florian Xhekaj, who often skated alongside him on the day, told the media that he “tried to give him the puck and create space out there”. It’s not because Xhekaj can’t score, he’s done it 24 times last season with the Laval Rocket, but Demidov’s presence and skills are just that impressive.

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So impressive in fact that defenseman Adam Engstrom couldn’t help but say that he’s just so much fun to watch out there, just doing such great stuff with the puck all the time.

As for goaltender Jacob Fowler, he described the 19-year-old phenom as “a special player who’s an even better person off the ice” before adding “his talent is some of the highest I’ve ever seen but it’s also the way he works with it”. No one will argue with the netminder when he says he’s only going to get better. He already has, since coming over from Russia, his skating as improved and he doesn’t have the same stance anymore; moving on the ice looks much more effortless nowadays than it did when he first joined the Canadiens last April.

While the main camp hasn’t even started, it’s hard to imagine how Martin St-Louis could deprive his first power play unit of such skill and creativity. Whatever happens, though, the Canadiens’ power play will be much better this season than it was last year. The arrivals of Demidov, Noah Dobson, and Zachary Bolduc will bring a significant influx of talent and provide the coach with so many more weapons to work with. While the offseason hasn't been kind to the Canadiens' penalty kill, it sure has been to its man-advantage. 

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have 31 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #31. 

Let's take a look at today's edition, which is all about goalies. 

Ron Tugnutt - 2001-2002 - Drafted by Quebec in the 1986 NHL Draft. 

Tugnutt for President!! He played in 53 games for the Jackets in the first year of the franchise and went 22-25-5 with a .917 save %.

After two years with Columbus, he went on to play the final two years of his long career with the Dallas Stars and Utah Grizzlies of the AHL. 

He played 16 years and won 186 games in the NHL. After retiring, he went into coaching, where he would coach at various levels and leagues as a goaltending coach. 

Pascal Leclaire - 2004-2009 - Leclaire was drafted #8 overall in 2001 by Columbus.

He compiled a career record of 45-55-12 with Columbus and had a save % of .907%. The Jackets traded him to Ottawa on March 4, 2009, with he and a 2009 second-round pick went to Ottawa in exchange for Antoine Vermette. The pick the CBJ sent to Ottawa would wind up being Robin Lehner. Leclaire would retire on November 12, 2012. Leclaire was also in net for Columbus and gave up the first career goal to future Hall-of-Fame and all-time leading goal scorer Alex Ovechkin. 

David LeNeveu - 2011 - Drafted by Phoenix in the 2002 NHL Draft. 

LeNeveu played in one game for Columbus during the 2010-11 season. He played one period and gave up 2 goals on 12 shots. He never played another NHL game after his time in Columbus and finished his career in the KHL in 2014-15. 

He bounced around different leagues before retiring, playing in Russia, Poland, and Slovakia. He was also the goaltending coach, President, Part-Owner, and Governor of the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL from 2014 to 2017. 

Shawn Hunwick - 2012 - Undrafted out of Sterling Heights, Michigan. 

Hunwick famously made one appearance for Columbus, playing 3 minutes on April 7, 2012. He relieved Steve Mason in a 7-3 Jackets win. He never played another NHL game and finished his career in Germany in 2013 after just one year of professional hockey. Hunwick announced his retirement from professional hockey on August 26, 2013.

Curtis McElhinney - 2014 - Drafted by Calgary in 2002. 

McElhinney could have been listed as the player who wore #31 the best. He started 66 games for the Jackets and came in to relieve the starters another 19 times. His career record with Columbus was 26-33-8. He went on to win a pair of Stanley Cups for the Tampa Bay Lightning, backing up starter Andrei Vasilevskiy. He retired on September 25, 2021.

He was the Toronto Maple Leafs Dir. of Goaltending from 2023 to 2025. 

Anton Forsberg - 2015-2017 - Drafted by Columbus in 2011. 

He played for the Columbus organization for three seasons but would only get 9 starts. In those 9 starts from 2014 to 2017, his record was 1-8. Where he really showed his worth was during the 2015-16 season while he was playing for the Cleveland Monsters. He had a record of 23-10-6 and also went 9-0 in the Calder Cup Playoffs. He and former CBJ goalie Joonas Korpisalo guided the team to a Calder Cup Championship.

On 23 June 2017, he and Brandon Saad were a part of a package to the Chicago Blackhawks that brought Artemi Panarin to Columbus. After five years in Ottawa, he signed a free agent deal with the LA Kings for two years.  

Michael Hutchinson - 2023 - Drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 2008 NHL Draft. 

Hutchinson started 10 games for Columbus after coming over from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Blue Jackets legend Jonathan Quick in March of 2023. He went 2-6-3 and made 6 relief appearances as well. 

He left to play in Finland for the 24-25 season but hasn't been signed anywhere for 25-26. 

With 31 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena, the anticipation for the season is in full swing. Take a look at the schedule of events below.

Blue Jackets Participate in 2025 Prospects Challenge in Buffalo

The Blue Jackets will take part in the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo from Thursday, Sept. 11, to Sunday, Sept. 14. They’ll play three games and have one day off.

The schedule looks like this:

Thursday, Sept. 11 - 7 p.m. vs. New Jersey Devils

Friday, Sept. 12 - No Game Scheduled

Saturday, Sept. 13 - 7 p.m. at Buffalo Sabres

Sunday, Sept. 14 - 3:30 p.m. at Pittsburgh Penguins

This will be the second year Columbus has participated in the Prospects Challenge. Before that, they played in the NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City. As for the roster, it won’t be released until closer to the tournament.

Let us know what you think below.

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

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EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders prospect Calum Ritchie knows how big the loss of Brock Nelson was for the club. Being the big return piece in the Nelson deal with the Colorado Avalanche isn't something the 20-year-old takes lightly. 

“Brock’s a legend here,” Ritchie said on the first day of Islanders rookie camp on Thursday. “To be traded for him, it’s obviously big shoes to fill. I’m going to work my hardest every day to try to fill that.”

Now, the Islanders aren't looking at Ritchie as a Nelson comparable, nor should he have the pressure ahead of his first season on Long Island that he has to be a guy that comes close to 30 goals to make the trade seem worthwhile. 

The two players share some commonalities, particularly in their transition abilities through the neutral zone and over the blue line, but Ritchie is more of a playmaker.

He recorded 55 assists with 15 goals for 70 points in 47 OHL regular-season games before 16 assists with nine goals for 25 points in 21 OHL playoff games. 

“My two-way game, my passing improved last season,” Ritchie said. “I think I’ve always been considered a playmaker. I felt like I was moving the puck really well last season, thinking the game smarter. I’m really confident in my abilities right now, and my defensive game has improved a lot, too. So I’m happy with where I am.”

Ritchie, who seemed like the most NHL-ready player at development camp in terms of his physical makeup, has bulked up quite a bit since last year's training camp with Colorado. 

He entered camp in the Mile High City weighing 185 pounds. He enters Islanders camp at 200. 

“My goal is obviously to play in the NHL,” Ritchie said. “So I’m going to work my hardest and try to achieve that.”

He'll be working hard alongside an abundance of Islanders prospects. As one of the many new guys at development camp following the 2025 NHL Draft, Ritchie said that he was able to stay in touch with a lot of those guys.

"I've gotten close with Schaefer, Aitchison, Romano, Maggio, George -- all those guys," Ritchie said. "So, it's been really good. Everyone is a great guy here. It's actually an unreal group, a great time, and I'm just looking forward to the rest of camp."

Outside of Isaiah George -- can't forget about Tristan Lennox's one period --  Ritchie is the only other prospect at rookie camp who has played in an NHL game before.

Ritchie did make the Avalanche out of training camp last season, playing in seven games before being loaned back to juniors after recording a goal, which just so happened to come against the Islanders. 

"Having that experience last year was really good for me, and I thought I learned a lot," Ritchie said. "I'm a lot better of a player now than I was then. So, yeah, and I think it helps me a lot to have that experience."

While Ritchie may be able to fill Nelson's role as the No. 2 center, the Islanders' decision to move Mathew Barzal from Bo Horvat's wing to center will likely clog the center ice for the young centerman. 

Ritchie is open to playing the wing, and general manager Mathieu Darche said that if he plays well enough, he'll make a spot for him. 

Could we see Ritchie actually win the No. 2 spot, moving Barzal back to Horvat's wing, where he's shown an ability to perform at a high level?

What about on Jean-Gabriel Pageau's wing?```

The options are there. Now it's about Ritchie to prove that he doesn't need any AHL seasoning and that he's ready to produce, long term, at the NHL level. 

The Philadelphia Flyers may appear set at the goalie position at the NHL level this year, but anything can happen, and the book isn't closed on prospect Aleksei Kolosov yet.

Lamentable performances in net over the last few seasons, including from Kolosov himself, have largely doomed the Flyers to their lack of success.

An offseason addition of Dan Vladar is expected to help stabilize incumbent starter Sam Ersson and give the Flyers a reliable duo, but Ersson, too, is guilty of struggling. He's also been bedeviled by injuries, which can anecdotally be attributed to his increased workload.

Knowing that, Flyers GM Danny Briere already warned that he expects Kolosov and Russian counterpart Ivan Fedotov to be ready when called upon.

In a press conference Wednesday, Flyers president Keith Jones echoed that sentiment, advising that the book is not closed on either Fedotov or the enigmatic Kolosov.

"We had hoped their ability to adjust would occur quicker than it did. I wouldn't write off either guy, Fedotov or Kolosov," Jones said. "Kolosov is obviously younger and is an extremely athletic goaltender. And, if he can put all the pieces together in the future, he could turn into a very good goaltender."

The question, for some Flyers fans, will be about Kolosov's commitment to patience and playing his role.

NHL Suspends Ex-Flyers Goalie Carter Hart Until DecemberAccording to a report, former Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart and the four other players involved in the Hockey Canada trial will be suspended until Dec. 1.

The 23-year-old Belarusian ultimately arrived, albeit late, to training camp last year, and made his NHL debut as early as Oct. 27.

Despite that, though, Kolosov's hot start flamed out, and he was sent to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

There were many occasions last season where the Flyers' former third-round pick sat in the press box as the third goalie in the NHL, which did his development no favors.

"He'll be here, and we're excited about that, too. He has an opportunity, just like everybody else, to come in and show what he has," Jones added. "Developmentally, we would prefer that last year he spent a little more time in the American Hockey League. It just was not in the cards. I wouldn't do it differently, but I'm excited about the depth that we have."

Jones was also sure to note that the Flyers are "happy" to have Vladar, and that Kolosov and Fedotov will have to prove they have the chops to cut it at the NHL level. For real this time.

Flyers: Where Is Egor Zavragin?Top Philadelphia Flyers goalie prospect Egor Zavragin has yet to play for his KHL club, SKA St. Petersburg, in the early goings of the 2025-26 season.

Fortunately for both, and especially the youngster Kolosov, the Flyers seem intent on giving their homegrown guys one last opportunity to carve out an NHL path.

The Florida Panthers were back on the ice in Fort Lauderdale this week.

A group of the team’s best and brightest prospects gathered in South Florida ahead of the 2025 Prospect Showcase taking place in Wesley Chapel, just outside of Tampa.

It runs from Friday to Monday, with the Panthers facing prospects from the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes in a round-robin.

Florida’s roster consists of 25 players, broken down to 15 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders.

Coaching the Panthers prospects once again this year is Florida’s AHL head coach, Geordie Kinnear.

“The Rookie Tournament is a great opportunity for these guys to keep getting evaluated, but also an opportunity to get better, to get a little taste of playing competitive hockey against your peers,” Kinnear said.

On Thursday, the Panthers’ prospects gathered at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale for some practice and meetings before heading north to the Tampa area.

You can check out footage from Thursday’s practice in the video below:

Forward Gracyn Sawchyn, who Florida selected in the second round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, is gearing up for his first professional season after signing his entry level contract earlier this year.

“I’m a lot closer to the guys now, so it’s good to be around everybody again,” said Sawchyn.

He’s playing in his third, and ultimately last, prospect tournament.

“Every year has been a little bit different,” he said. “I think the biggest thing for me is just trying to play a mature game. Do that this weekend, and hopefully carry that on to training camp with the big guys.”

Florida’s three-game schedule kicks off on Friday afternoon against the prospects from Carolina.

Here is the Panthers schedule:

Friday, Sept. 12 at 2:00 p.m. vs. Carolina

Saturday, Sept. 13 at 5:00 p.m. vs. Tampa Bay

Monday, Sept. 15 at 12:00 p.m. vs. Nashville

All games are open to the public and free to attend, and the Panthers previously said all games would be streamed online as well.

Florida’s full 25-man roster can be seen below:

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The Pittsburgh Penguins put out a cryptic tweet regarding former goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury on Thursday. 

They tweeted a video of "Fleury Flakes" with a Fleury bobblehead next to it, along with the caption, "Starting our day with a balanced breakfast." The video also shows someone pouring milk into a bowl of cereal.

Starting our day with a balanced breakfast. pic.twitter.com/dkQeebIFz9

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 11, 2025

Allan Walsh, Fleury's longtime agent, has been posting cryptic tweets about that video throughout the day, including one with Fleury in a Penguins' uniform.

Who misses this? 🌸 pic.twitter.com/ioXUdr9c59

— Allan Walsh🏒 (@walsha) September 11, 2025

It doesn't seem like this is by accident since Fleury spent 13 seasons with the Penguins before spending time with the Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks, and Minnesota Wild. He helped the Penguins win three Stanley Cups and is one of the best goaltenders in NHL history. Fleury retired following the 2024-25 season after 21 NHL seasons.

He was a fan favorite during his time in Pittsburgh and got one heck of a standing ovation when he played his final game inside PPG Paints Arena last season. The Wild came from 2-0 down to beat the Penguins 5-3 in that contest. 

This could be about Fleury signing a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Penguins, so let's see where this goes. 

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Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization. 

I have already mentioned how the Penguins - by most accounts - have a pretty clear-cut top-three prospects, and it is very difficult to rank between the three. 

Forward prospect Rutger McGroarty was at No. 3, and I stayed on the forward front for this one, too. At No. 2, we have Ville Koivunen, who has already displayed some serious potential at the NHL level.

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#2 F Ville Koivunen

Apr 11, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Ville Koivunen (41) skates with the puck while being defended by New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic (8) during the third period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images" />

Again, it's worth noting that the top-three prospects for the Penguins is a really tight race right now, and any one of them could have slotted anywhere. So, at this point, a lot of this is based on pure observation, but it's also about positional need.

Even if the Penguins may have more pressing needs than top-six wingers, Koivunen is certainly one to watch as a top-six - and, likely, a top-line winger. 

Koivunen, 22, was selected in the second round (51st overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2021. He was brought to Pittsburgh as the cornerstone piece of the Jake Guentzel trade ahead of the 2024 NHL trade deadline, and - up to this point - he has done nothing but live up to the expectations - even if a lot of people didn't even realize what the Penguins were getting in Koivunen at the time.

Fans were understandably devastated about losing Guentzel, a perennial 30-plus goal-scorer and near-point-per-game player - truly one of the elite left wings in the league. Even though Koivunen has big shoes to fill - and it's not fair to expect him to match Guentzel's production, especially in the goal department - he keeps getting better and better, and it's encouraging when considering what he's already done.

Penguins Should Give Exciting Prospect Big ChancePittsburgh Penguins prospect Ville Koivunen is easily one of the team's most promising youngsters. The 22-year-old forward had a strong start to his NHL career this past season with Pittsburgh, as he recorded seven assists in eight games. He also performed well down in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2024-25, posting 21 goals and 56 points in 63 games. 

For starters, Koivunen finished his first full season in professional hockey with 21 goals and 56 points in 63 AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). Had he not gotten the call to the NHL late last season, he likely would have finished first in AHL rookie points and in the top-three in goals. His 56 points were only four behind AHL rookie points leader Justin Hryckowian, and his 21 goals were only three behind Florian Xhekaj for third.

But Koivunen would certainly choose the NHL call over an AHL rookie scoring title. And he didn't disappoint in that stint, either.

When called up from WBS along with McGroarty in late-March, he was placed in the top-six alongside Evgeni Malkin, and he later got a stint with Sidney Crosby after an injury ended McGroarty's season prematurely. In eight NHL games, Koivunen recorded seven points - and he easily could have had himself a few goals, too.

He and McGroarty were trusted in the top-six, were on the ice at the end of games for six-on-fives, and - in Koivunen's case - even saw time in the top power play unit.

The Penguins think the world of Koivunen, and they should. The 5-foot-11, 161-pound winger may not be the biggest and certainly needs to add some size, but his hockey smarts and vision rival those of some seasoned NHL stars. He knows exactly where to go with the puck, has some deception to his release in terms of shooting and passing, and anticipates to a tee. 

He also isn't afraid to hold onto the puck, survey the ice, and find the open man, something that a lot of rookies and players his age don't have the patience to pull off.

Koivunen's playmaking ability alone is enough to indicate that he'll be an impact NHL player. He also has an underrated shot, skates well, and has many of the details that most young players need to round out already present in his game. And if he can add more of a two-way dimension to his repertoire, the sky is the limit.

Koivunen could end up being a point-per-game player at the NHL level, but even if he doesn't, he should still be an impact middle-six player at minimum, given his toolset.

Yes, there are other pieces of the Guentzel trade yet to be determined, too. But Koivunen is beginning to show that he alone may be worth the cost a few years down the road.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Young Forward Keeps Getting Better And BetterHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

---

The list so far:

- No. 3: F Rutger McGroarty
- No. 4: F Ben Kindel
- No. 5: G Sergei Murashov
- No. 6: D Owen Pickering
- No. 7: F Tanner Howe
- No. 8: G Arturs Silovs
- No. 9: G Joel Blomqvist
- No. 10: F Tristan Broz
- No. 11: F Will Horcoff
- No. 12: F Mikhail Ilyin
- No. 13 F Filip Hallander
- No. 14: F Bill Zonnon
- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

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Denver, Colo. - One of the big markers of the return to hockey season is the Rookie Tournament that takes place before training camps. The Colorado Avalanche prospects officially kicked things off at Family Sports Center, the official practice facility of the Avalanche, on Thursday morning. 

The Avalanche released their rookie showcase roster on September 2nd. Of the listed names on the roster, the only skater not dressing is Taylor Makar, who is recovering from what is believed to be an injury sustained during the off-season.

The roster for Rookie Tournament is set ✅ pic.twitter.com/RP0sIMJz7m

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 2, 2025

Among the list of participants, Linus Funck (D), a 4th round pick in this most recent NHL Entry Draft, will play before he joins the OHL's London Knights for the upcoming 2025-26 season. 

Cooper Gay (F), a name to keep an eye on, made his professional debut with the Eagles after finishing his collegiate career at the University of St. Thomas. Once he joined the Eagles in Loveland, he tallied a single point in the form of a goal in two games played.

Gavin Brindley (F), also listed on Colorado's roster, will be a player to watch during this tournament. Brindley, acquired in the trade that sent Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets, registered 6g/11a in 52 GP with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) last season. While nothing spectacular on the scoresheet, he's a smaller forward, listed at 5'9", and known for his speed and skills as a two-way player, making him a valuable asset in Colorado's arsenal of prospects.

Gavin Brindley is looking extra speedy today. @MileHighHockey#goavsgo

Avs skill coach Mark Popovic told the players to “dig deeper.”

Everyone did. pic.twitter.com/gy3O499u6w

— Ryan O'Hara (@OHaraSports) September 4, 2025

Nikita Prishchepov (F), who made his NHL debut in the 2024-25 season, could be facing a positive opportunity to make a case for himself as a trusted call-up this upcoming season. He did not register any points in the 10 games he played with the Avalanche last season, but totalled 9g/14a in 59 GP with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

This most recent NHL season saw 40+ players dress for the Avalanche amid roster management due to suspensions and, mainly, injury. A tournament like this allows players to showcase their skills on a larger stage while also receiving valuable instruction from coaching and skills staff as they move on to their respective teams for the upcoming season. While Colorado's front office has spent a lot of the organization's prospect pool in trades in recent years, there's still a lot of exciting talent to keep an eye on this upcoming weekend.

Colorado's rookies will feature in two of the three games during this tournament, the first of which will occur on Friday, September 12th, at 6:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) against the Utah Mammoth's rookies. Their second appearance will come on Sunday, September 14th, at 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) against the Vegas Golden Knights. Both games are set to be played at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, on Rink #2.

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For the second consecutive offseason on June 30, future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane signed a one-year contract extension to remain a member of the Detroit Red Wings. 

If things go according to plan, it won't be long before he overtakes former longtime Dallas Stars forward (and brief one-time Red Wing) Mike Modano for the highest-scoring player born in the United States in NHL history. 

Kane is only 32 points away from reaching the mark of 1,374 set in 2011 by Modano. He's also only 57 points away from reaching 1,400, and when he scores for the eighth time this season, it will be the 500th goal of his career. 

While speaking at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour on Tuesday in Las Vegas, Kane looked ahead to the upcoming season and acknowledged that it's something in the back of his mind. 

"The first thing you think of is, if you play long enough, you're going to reach some of these milestones, right?" he said via NHL.com.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Kane's production in the first three months of last season dropped considerably, but he almost immediately began resembling his old self when the Red Wings mad the coaching change from Derek Lalonde to Todd McLellan on December 26 following a 13-17-4 start. 

After McLellan's hiring, Kane lit the lamp 16 times while adding 29 assists. 

IT'S 4-0?!?!

We're only 7:53 into this game! 😳

🇺🇸: @NHLNetwork
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctFpic.twitter.com/cTZpWSe8Dz

— NHL (@NHL) January 12, 2025

"Obviously, last year I wish I would have had more production," he said. "I got off to a tough start. But I feel like I should be about a point-a-game guy. I always felt that way, so that's kind of where the bar is for me."

Have Your Say: Will Patrick Kane Reach 60 Points In 2025-26? - Community PostThe Detroit Red Wings and Patrick Kane expressed mutual interest in a contract extension at the end of last season, and it came to fruition with a one-year, $3 million deal that was finalized on June 30. 

At 36, Kane is one of the elder statesmen on the Red Wings. But if you think that he's growing tired of coming to the rink every day, think again. 

"For me, it's just the love of the game. I love being on the ice," he said. "I love practicing. I love playing. I love being in a moment where the team needs to count on you and you need to step up, right? That's the kind of thrill that drives me now. It's not necessarily the numbers."

Kane and the Red Wings will begin Training Camp in Traverse City, Mich. on Sept. 18. 

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It appears that Alex Formenton now has a potential path back to the NHL. Formenton, along with Cal Foote, Michael McLeod, Dillon Dubé, and Carter Hart—who were all found not guilty in the recent 2018 World Junior trial—will reportedly be eligible to sign with an NHL team as soon as October 15th.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the players won’t be eligible for NHL duty until December 1st, when their suspensions expire. As part of the agreement, they also waived their right to appeal the ruling.

Hart is considered the most attractive asset for NHL clubs, given the number of teams out there with goaltending issues. But Formenton, once regarded as one of the fastest skaters in the league, will certainly draw some interest as well. The question is whether that interest will come from the Senators, who still hold his NHL rights.

Asked about the situation on Monday at the team’s annual golf tournament, GM Steve Staios declined to comment, saying it was a league matter and noting that Formenton remains ineligible. It was a response that didn't exactly close the door on a possible reunion.

If the Senators had decided they had absolutely no interest in ever bringing Formenton back, Staios had the chance to say so directly on Monday and put the matter to rest forever. Instead, he opened up two possibilities. The first is the possibility of eventually signing him. The second is the possibility of trading his rights, and you don't get what you want in any deal if you publicly declare you have no interest in retaining the asset.

While much of the speculation surrounds Ottawa’s potential interest, it’s also unclear whether Formenton himself even wants to resume his career as a Senator. That said, the club's decision makers have changed since he left the team, and he still has several close friends in that locker room. 

Formenton signed a 3.5-month deal with his Swiss team that takes him well into December. But you'd have to think contractual accommodations were made that allow him to return to the NHL at some point this season, should a team show interest in him.

HC Ambrì-Piotta welcomed him back warmly last week. On social media, the team rolled out a Formenton highlight package, pics from his official photo shoot in uniform, and even an in-house interview—his first hockey-related interview in years.

“Yeah, it feels amazing," Formenton said. "To get back on the ice feels really good. Like I’ve said before, it feels like home here. I’m so excited to get started and play in front of these fans.”

Formenton is now the third player on the Swiss team roster with Senators ties, joining Chris Tierney and Chris DiDomenico. The team is already one game into its regular season.

“It seems like a very tight group,” Formenton said. “Everyone’s willing to fight for each other, and hopefully it’ll be a very successful season. The fans deserve it, and everyone in that room deserves it.”

Asked what he hopes to contribute, Formenton gave a predictable reply, but the real answer will only come when he gets back into game action.

“I hope to bring a high pace and a hard-working style. If that comes with scoring goals or helping on the PK—wherever I’m needed—that’s what I’ll work toward. I’m just really excited to put the jersey back on and play in front of the fans, because they’ve been very supportive.”

By Steve Warne
This article first appeared at The Hockey News-Ottawa

More Sens Headlines From The Hockey News Ottawa:
Sens Unveil Rookie Camp Roster For Games This Weekend
Senators GM Steve Staios On Why He Brought Back The Same Group
Can The Senators Still Avoid Losing Their 2026 First Round Pick?
Ottawa Senators Radio Play-By-Play Team Won't Travel To Road Games This Season
Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk: 'We Want More'
Four Major Storylines This Month At Ottawa Senators Training Camp

Mar 25, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Cal Foote (52) stretches before the game against the Seattle Kraken at Bridgestone Arena. Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

On Thursday, the NHL released a statement concerning the five players who were found not guilty in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial this summer.

Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod were each members of Hockey Canada’s 2018 National U-20 Junior Team.

According to the statement, all five players will be eligible to sign an NHL contract no sooner than Oct. 15, 2025, and eligible to play in NHL games no sooner than Dec. 1, 2025.

“Taking into account that the players have been away from the game for 20 months – including since their acquittals in July -- we have determined that the players will be eligible to sign an NHL contract no sooner than October 15, 2025, and eligible to play in NHL games no sooner than December 1, 2025, bringing their total time out of the League to nearly two years,” the statement said.

Foote, who was originally drafted in the first round (14th overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2017 NHL Draft, played for the Predators during the 2022-23 season.

In 24 games with the club, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-shot defenseman totaled a goal and three assists for four points.

In 145 NHL games across four seasons with the Lightning, Predators and New Jersey Devils, Foote recorded 20 points (5-15-20). He played in Slovakia during the 2024-25 season.

Upon learning of the allegations in May 2022, the NHL commenced a third-party investigation into the conduct of the five players involved. At the trial, Justice Maria Carroccia found the players not guilty of sexual assault in Ontario Superior Court in London, Ont., on July 24. McLeod was also found not guilty of one count of being a party to the offense.

“The events that transpired after the 2018 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala in London, Ontario, prior to these players’ arrival in the NHL, were deeply troubling and unacceptable,” the League statement said. “The League expects everyone connected with the game to conduct themselves with the highest level of moral integrity. And, in this case, while found not to have been criminal, the conduct of the players involved certainly did not meet that standard.”

The NHL said it had in-person meetings with each of the acquitted men following the verdicts and acknowledged they expressed regret and remorse for their actions.

The Buffalo Sabres need all hands on deck if they're to end their `14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought. And that means everyone on the roster is going to have to pull their weight. What will expectations for every Sabres player look like? That's the focus of THN.com's Sabres site series.

We began the player-by-player evaluation process by looking at Buffalo's goalies and defensemen. And of late, we're focusing on the Sabres' forwards -- including today's focus, winger Jordan Greenway. The veteran left winger has had trouble staying healthy in recent years, but as one of the Sabres' more physical players, he can impact a game in a way few of his Buffalo teammates can.

Let's now turn the spotlight on Greenway and see what may be in the cards for him in 2025-26.

Player Name: Jordan Greenway

Position: Left Wing

Age: 28

2024-25 Key Statistics: 34 games, 3 goals, 8 points

2025-26 Salary: $4-million

2025-26 Expectations: Greenway appeared in less than half of the regular-season for Buffalo last year, and there's a definite pattern in regard to his health, as he hasn't played in more than 67 games since 2018-1`9 -- his first full season in the NHL. 

Greenway's heavy physical game takes a toll on him and his opponents, but he's being paid like a high-end third-line forward, and the most offense he's put up in the past four seasons are the 10 goals and 28 points he had for Buffalo in 2023-24.

Even as a member of the Sabres' third line, Greenway needs to do more than that to justify his salary. He's signed through this coming season and another year after that, but Greenway could be moved if Buffalo struggles and he isn't playing up to expectations. Greenway does have limited no-trade protection, but it's only a partial no-trade clause, one that allows him to veto a trade to one of five teams of his choosing.

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

That still leaves 26 teams Greenway could be traded to. But that's a line of thought for another day. For now, Greenway has to (a) stay healthy, (b) exact a physical toll from opponents, and (c) be part of a winner. If he has an issue in any of those regards, Greenway is going to hear it from Sabres fans who are rightfully exhausted by the continuing failure of this Buffalo team to be relevant.

Greenway isn't ever going to be an all-star or a difference-maker on offense. But the reason the Sabres have kept him around is because he's the type of player Buffalo needs more of -- a physical threat and a solid defender in limited minutes. 

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Entering Contract Year, Star Winger Tuch Will Be Feeling The HeatThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is almost here, and it’s a great time on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site to continue our player-by-player series in which we analyze expectations for every Sabres player in 2025-26.

Neither Greenway nor the Sabres can afford a step backward this year. There's so much on the line for all of Buffalo's players (and management members, for that matter). Greenway knows his role, but some good fortune on the injury front will likely go a long way toward keeping him in the lineup and doing his utmost to live up to his salary. He's earning $1-million more than he's made in the past three years, and that means he's got to produce more. It's as simple as that.

And if he can't achieve those three things, Greenway's future in a Sabres uniform will be in doubt. The rubber is meeting the road for him this season, and nothing short of a strong year will calm the cynics and keep Greenway in Buffalo for a long time to come.