Category: NHL

Brennan Othmann has come into the New York Rangers rookie camp with a different mindset. 

This past season, Othmann got a 22-game audition with the Rangers and while he showed some positive flashes, he failed to score a goal during that time frame. 

Not being able to get on the stat sheet with a goal impacted Othmann as he began to lose confidence in himself.

“It just wasn’t going in,” Othamann said. “It wasn’t like I was playing bad hockey, but it just wasn’t going in. That takes a toll on your mind, and that is something that not everybody prepares you for that side of the game.”

After experiencing the trials and tribulations of NHL play, Othmann decided to change up his trainer and whole offseason training program. 

He worked out at the gym of hockey performance expert, Gary Roberts, along with some of the top NHL players in the world, including Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Gabriel Landeskog, Sean Durzi, and Quinton Byfield.

“I just thought at this point it's just time to kind of make a change,” Othmann said about his change of trainers. “They helped me gain my confidence back that I didn't really have here towards the end of the year, so they did a great job.”

On top of his on-ice training, Othmann gained some muscle this summer and said that he weighed in at about 195 pounds. 

“You just want to put on as much size and muscle as you can, and then after that, once you stop growing, and that's kind of your making, make and model,” said Othmann. “I had all the engines for the car, and Gary and his staff built the car.”

Othmann has been attending Rangers rookie camp for many years now, but that didn’t stop him from coming back this season.

The 22-year-old forward views rookie camp as an opportunity to grow and improve as a player.

“Doing camp here is just another confidence builder,” Othmann said. “We discussed coming here, and at the end of the day, I wanted to because it helps with confidence. It gets you ready for main camp, and it gives you a week’s head start.”

With training camp just around the corner, Othmann will compete to earn a spot on the Rangers’ opening-night roster. 

Last season, Othmann finally got a crack at some NHL action, but now he’s looking to carve out a permanent spot with the Blueshirts.

During the first day of rookie camp, Othmann was sentimental when discussing his love for hockey and his career. 

Regardless of what transpires at training camp, Othmann is confident in himself and his pathway into the NHL.

“I’m brutally honest, I’m not worried about my abilities or when I’m going to play in the NHL, I will play in the NHL at some point,” Othmann stated. “Whether it’s this year or whenever, I’m going to play in the NHL. I'm just confident in my ability as a player…

“I don't know what other job I'd rather be doing. I'm a professional hockey player going on my third year now, like, it's exactly what I want to do. Obviously, in the NHL, but I'm a professional hockey player. I get here, I work out, I skate, I laugh, I have fun. That’s the best part of it, being around guys that you love and guys that love you back.”

Feb 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; The Chicago Blackhawks celebrate against the Nashville Predators after the game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

As the 2025-26 season approaches, we’re previewing each of the Nashville Predators’ Central Division opponents.

This series will feature each team in chronological order and not their predicted order of finish in the division.

Our first preview focuses on the Chicago Blackhawks.

2024-25 Season By The Numbers

RECORD

25-46-11 (.372)

OVERTIME

3-7

SHOOTOUT

2-4

OVERALL

31st

OFFENSE

2.73 GPG (26th)

DEFENSE

3.56 GAA (31st)

POWER PLAY

24.9% (7th)

PENALTY KILL

79.3% (14th)

EXPECTED GF/60

2.10 (32nd)

EXPECTED GA/60

2.78 (29th)

Season Analysis

For Chicago Blackhawks fans, the beginning of the club’s rebuild probably seems like ages ago, but it’s only been around three years.

Last season, the Blackhawks finished 31st overall in the NHL standings, improving by two wins and nine points from the previous campaign.

Odds are that trend will continue for another season. The Hockey News predicts Chicago to finish eighth in the Central, with Stanley Cup odds at 90/1.

If end-of-season momentum means anything, the Hawks accumulated points in five of their final six games in 2024-25.

Offense

Connor Bedard has led the team in scoring each of his first two seasons (67 points in 2024-25). He can’t do it all by himself, though; the only other forwards who tallied at least 50 points last season were Ryan Donato (62) and Teuvo Teravainen (58).

The Blackhawks are hoping Frank Nazar (26 points) can build off the momentum of his World Championship performance and become a bigger impact. They’re also counting on Oliver Moore (four points in nine games) to build his confidence coming out of the University of Minnesota as part of Chicago’s youth movement.

Defense

Chicago no longer has Seth Jones, who was traded to the Florida Panthers last March for goaltender Spencer Knight and a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Alec Martinez, who announced his retirement last April, is also gone.

This puts Alex Vlasic as the Hawks’ No. 1 blueliner, with Connor Murphy being the team’s most experienced defenseman.

More will be expected from Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel and Kevin Korchinski, but the bulk of the backend responsibilities will fall on Vlasic’s shoulders.

Goaltending

After coming over from the Stanley Cup Champion Panthers, Knight posted a 3.18 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in 15 games. His most impressive performance came right after the trade, a 41-save gem that resulted in a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

The next 14 games saw Knight record an .885 save percentage, but his ceiling is high if he can get a solid defense to back him up. Speaking of backups, the Hawks hope Laurent Brossoit can come back from the knee surgeries that kept him out all of last season and spell Knight in net. Arvid Soderblom is also in the mix.

Special Teams

The Blackhawks may have been ranked at or near the bottom in many statistical categories, but special-teams play wasn’t among them.

The club had the seventh-best power-play unit (24.9%), and the penalty-kill was a solid 14th (79.3%). Only 10 teams gave up fewer shot attempts against per 60 shorthanded minutes.

Last Season’s Series

The Predators and Blackhawks faced each other a total of four times in 2024-25, with Nashville sporting a 3-1 advantage in the series. It turned out to be the only series the Preds won against a team in their own division.

2025-26 Season Series

The two teams will again face off four times this season. The first meeting takes place in Chicago Nov. 28, then in Nashville on Jan. 10, 2026. The final two meetings are Feb. 26 at Bridgestone Arena and March 22 in Chicago.

The Bottom Line

One of the biggest reasons the Blackhawks hired Jeff Blashill as their new head coach last May was his ability to work with young players. He will certainly get a golden opportunity to demonstrate that in Chicago.

ST. LOUIS -- Justin Carbonneau made his intentions recently about whether to go to college this fall or remain eligible for junior play.

In electing to play in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, he also left the door open to sign an entry-level contract, come to St. Louis Blues training camp starting Sept. 18 and vie for a roster spot in the NHL.

Those wheels continued to be set in motion when the first round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft (No. 19 overall) signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday along with 2023 seventh-round pick, Nikita Susuev. Each gets a two-way contract. 

Carbonneau, 18, who will be in St. Louis Thursday and Friday to practice with fellow Blues prospects before departing to face the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks prospects in Minnesota on Friday and Saturday, respectively, played the past three seasons with the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and is eligible to return there again this season barring a change in plans by the organization.

He made his decision on July 11 to return to junior, thus leaving the window open to perhaps win a job out of training camp with the Blues this season.

Carbonneau said after development camp in early July that the relationship with the Blues has been rock-solid from the get-go and that the trust has already been instilled. It's evident that he wants to give it his best shot to become an NHL player immediately after putting up 89 points (46 goals, 53 assists) in 62 games a season ago. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound forward was impressive when he was in town two months ago.

Susuev, 20, has spent his playing career in Russia, including 2024-25 when he had 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 42 games across all competitions, including MHK Spartak Moskva and Taifun Primorsky Krai of the MHL and Admiral Vladivostok of the KHL last year.

The 6-0, 172-pound forward has posted nine points (six goals, three assists) in 55 career games in the KHL, including stints with Spartak Moskva and Admiral; he had 54 points (20 goals, 34 assists) in 72 career games in Russia’s top junior league, the MHL.

On day one of rookie camp, the Montreal Canadiens’ rookies underwent medical and physical testing. At the same time, coaches Pascal Vincent, Martin Laperriere, and Daniel Jacob were thrown in the deep end right away, facing the media questions on day one.

Vincent is eager to get the ball rolling and mentions that the Canadiens will have a good team for this rookie camp. Still, he does expect the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, and Ottawa Senators to ice very competitive sides for this weekend’s prospect showdown. If you were wondering if Ivan Demidov will be seeing any action this weekend, the answer seems to be yes.

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Asked what the youngster had to gain from attending rookie camp even though he’s all but guaranteed a spot on the Canadiens’ roster for the upcoming season, the bench boss said:

Playing games and measuring up against players his own age is beneficial, as is seeing the town’s frenzy for this event, even in September during training camp. I believe that even though he finished the year with the Canadiens, it’s always beneficial. We’ll be introducing a few concepts, refreshing his memory, and allowing him to play games in real situations. Practicing is one thing, but facing actual in-game action is quite another. I think he can benefit from this environment.

- Pascal Vincent on what Ivan Demidov can get out of rookie camp.

Vincent admits that expectations will be high for the Russian youngster this season because he’s so talented, but adds that, at the same time, the goal is for him to dominate in the NHL eventually; he doesn’t have to do it at training camp. What the coach wants to see is how fast he can actually master the concepts that will be taught in the couple of practices that are on schedule. He explains that to be successful in the NHL, you can’t just play on one side of the ice; you must master and play the defensive side of the game as well.

The rookies are hard at work! Photo credit: Pierre Bourgault / Club de hockey Canadien Inc. #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/4oe7kFO3mO

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) September 10, 2025

The Canadiens’ rookies will hit the ice for the first time on Thursday morning at 10:00 at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, and we should have a better idea then of what the lines and pairings are likely to be for this camp and for this weekend’s games against the Jets and Leafs.

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The Seattle Kraken's AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, will have a heavy rookie influence in 2025-26, with several 2023 NHL Draft picks set to embark on their rookie seasons.

The Seattle Kraken drafted 10 players in the 2023 NHL draft, seven of whom will play with the Firebirds this season. Of those seven players, Eduard Sale is the only skater with AHL experience, completing his rookie campaign last season, scoring six goals and 21 points in 51 games.

Entering their rookie seasons are Carson Rehkopf, Oscar Fisker Molgaard, Lukas Dragicevic, Caden Price and Kaden Hammell. Joining the 2025 rookie class is Tyson Jugnauth, a defenseman who the Kraken selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft and Justin Janicke, a 2021 seventh-round pick who played four seasons with the University of Notre Dame. 

“For the first-year Coachella Valley players, they will be laying down a foundation of growth and maturity as they adjust to the AHL level of competition,” said Firebirds head coach Derek Laxdal, who will be leading Rookie Camp. “Most of them are coming off success in juniors. Oscar Molgaard has played three pro seasons in Sweden and might have a smoother transition. It can be until Christmas before our first-year Firebirds players are entirely comfortable. Our job is to help them be their best, help them adjust. It’s why the AHL is such a great learning ground.”

It'll be a difficult transition for these players, adjusting to the speed and physicality change from playing in junior leagues or in Europe. Laxdal and the training staff at rookie camp will attempt to emulate the pace of play, hoping to make the transition as seamless as possible. 

“When you move to the pros, it’s about the speed on the ice and, importantly, the time you have to make decisions diminishes,” said director of player development Cory Murphy. “The players are stronger and faster, which leads to you having less time to make decisions with and without the puck. It forces young players to make decisions faster.”

In some cases, like Jani Nyman, the transition comes naturally, and they dominate from the get-go. For others like Jagger Firkus, it takes them a large chunk of games to get their footing, but when they do, everything begins to flow. But, in other cases, for players like David Goyette or Sale, they struggled to ever really get their feet under them. Both Goyette and Sale have a lot of pressure to rebound and perform at the level the Kraken organization believes they can perform at. 

“A key point is our [first-year AHL players] are going to a place and franchise with a great staff that has a really good handle on development and working with these players individually,” said Murphy. “Our role is to support the prospects in that process. We know the players very well just from working with them [once drafted by the Kraken]. We're in contact with the staff at CV and provide any feedback and help. It’s a big group making the (AHL) jump.”

Three Kraken Prospects Looking To Dominate Rookie Camp And Prospect ShowcaseThe Seattle Kraken's rookie camp kicks off on Thursday with 17 forwards, nine defensemen and two goaltenders practicing at the Kraken Community Iceplex before taking on the Vancouver Canucks' prospects in a two-game showdown. 

After a long offseason of Kirill Kaprizov contact talks and rumors, NHL insider Frank Seravalli weighs in.

Sources say #mnwild superstar Kirill Kaprizov’s camp turned down an extension offer believed to be 8-years, $128 million in a meeting on Tuesday in Minnesota that would have made him the highest-paid player in #NHL history in both AAV ($16 million) and total dollars.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) September 10, 2025

According to Seravalli, Kaprizov’s camp talked with the Wild on Tuesday. He has reportedly turned down a 8-year $128 million contract.

Kaprizov, 28, has one more year left on his current 5-year contract before he enters free agency.

He has recorded 185 goals, 201 assists and 386 points in 319 career games.

We will see where this goes once training camp opens.

The Ottawa Senators have unveiled their 25-man roster for this weekend's Prospects Challenge in Montreal. The Sens will hold their rookie camp on Thursday and Friday, then head for Quebec to play two games at the Bell Centre. They take on the Toronto Maple Leafs rookies on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., and the Winnipeg Jets freshmen on Sunday at 7:00 p.m.

The camp locale is a departure from last season when the Sens rookies travelled to Buffalo for the Sabres' annual Prospects Challenge, with games against Boston, New Jersey and Columbus.

This year's roster of Sens' hopefuls is highlighted by defenseman Carter Yakemchuk, who had an impressive main training camp with Ottawa last season and nearly made the team. The 2024 seventh overall pick is the only player on the roster with realistic NHL aspirations at the moment.

Logan Hensler, the Senators’ first-round pick this year, will not participate in this camp as his school year has begun at the University of Wisconsin. Ottawa’s three goaltenders for the camp are Jackson Parsons (Embrun), Vladimir Nikitin, and Lucas Beckman.

Up front, notable names include center Stephen Halliday, Belleville’s leading scorer in the AHL last season; Tyler Boucher, a former Sens first-rounder who has spent the past five years battling injuries; and Blake Vanek, the son of former NHLer Thomas Vanek and a third-round pick this summer.

One of the first things that stands out about this camp roster is its size. There aren’t many NHL clubs with a rookie camp roster that includes three players standing 6’7”. And only four of the 25 players are under 6 feet tall.

Forwards:

Tyler Boucher, Xavier Bourgault, Jake Chiasson, Philippe Daoust, Lucas Ellinas, Stephen Halliday, Landen Hookey, Danny Katic, Alex Mercier, Oskar Pettersson, Jamieson Rees, Carter Savoie, Blake Vanek, Mason Zebeski

Defensemen:

Matthew Andonovski, Jorlan Donovan, Gabriel Eliasson, Tomas Hamara, Braiden Simmons-Fischer, Djibril Toure, Eerik Wallenius, Carter Yakemchuk

Goaltenders:

Lucas Beckman, Vladimir Nikitin, Jackson Parsons

Among Habs fans, all eyes in Montreal will, of course, be on highly-skilled winger Ivan Demidov, who was chosen two picks before Yakemchuk last year. Demidov played two games for the Habs last year, putting up a goal and an assist. He fared quite nicely in the KHL as a teenager last season with 49 points in 65 games.

The prospects Challenge will feature four games in total. In addition to Ottawa’s matchups, the Canadiens will host the Jets on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. On Sunday, the 14th, an Original Six matchup between Toronto and Montreal begins at 3:00 p.m.

More Sens Headlines:
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
Staios: 'We're Not Dismissing That Yakemchuk Makes Our Team Out of Camp'

On paper, the Philadelphia Flyers are making strides. 

In the off-season, they acquired promising center Trevor Zegras and signed center Christian Dvorak and goalie Dan Vladar, and they plan to not be sellers – and stockpile more draft choices – at this season’s trade deadline.

“Now, we’re adding, and you only add when you think you have a shot to be in the playoff conversation,” Dan Hilferty, the Flyers’ governor, said at a news conference Wednesday at the team’s practice facility in Voorhees, N.J.

Keith Jones, the club president, said this year “feels a little bit different” than the start of recent seasons. 

“We’re starting to progress,” he said. “Our players are continuing to move forward, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure that continues to happen. I feel really good about where Danny (Briere, the GM) has the team now and for the future. We’re a deeper team, and there’s way more options for our coaching staff.”

Jones said he believes younger players, such as Noah Cates, Bobby Brink, Tyson Foerster and Matvei Michkov, will continue to progress. He is also high on goalie Samuel Ersson, saying he’s a “big believer” in the goalie. 

“He’s in a position, age wise, (to improve), and being pushed by the depth at the position is going to benefit him as well. I think Sam is going to stand up to the test this year.”

Ersson, who turns 26 on Oct. 20, is coming off a disappointing season where he recorded a 3.14 goals-against average and .883 save percentage. The Flyers finished last in the NHL in save percentage (.872) last year, according to naturalstattrick.com.

Hilferty was asked if the Flyers would consider bringing back Carter Hart, 27, if the NHL reinstates him. In July, Hart was found not guilty of a sexual-assault charge stemming from a Hockey Canada trial that also involved Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote.

“At this point, we’re going to make no comment on that situation,” Hilferty said. “The NHL has made it clear they’ll speak first, and right now, we’re not prepared to comment at all on the Carter Hart situation.”

Besides better goaltending, the Flyers need Cam York to blossom and take on a major role. 

Jones acknowledged that the defenseman had a disappointing year and said he thinks his game will “come back into a place it was two years ago.

“Last year wasn’t a great year for him, but I do believe he’s going to be a big part of our blueline.” 

The Flyers have missed the playoffs for five straight years, equalling their longest drought in franchise history. Making the playoffs this season isn’t the main priority. Trending in the right direction is their main focus.

“I feel really good that we’re going to have a successful year,” Hilferty said. “How I define a successful year… is not necessarily making the playoffs, although that would be great as the fan in me, but just to see improvement throughout the year in our younger players and (see) that competitive edge continue to grow.”

He said the rebuild was about a “patient approach, growing it though the draft, and making sure we don’t jump ahead of ourselves and that we get get our cap space in a good place. I feel really good about where we’re headed … and I’m excited about coach (Rick) Tocchet coming in.”

The fans seem to have bought into the plan as, according to Hilferty, 90 percent of them renewed their season tickets.

“I said this to the players the other day. ‘We want to build a culture of sustainable excellence, not just a shot next year and it falls off afterward,’ ” Hilferty said.

NHL Anticipates Eligibility Update On Hart, Formenton, Dube, Foote And McLeod In 'Near Future'Nearly seven weeks have passed since the five players involved in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault trial were found not guilty on all charges. And yet, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Dillon Dube continue to remain ineligible to return to the NHL.

Breakaways

Jones reiterated that Foerster, recovering from an elbow infection, will be ready for the start of the season, and he said goalie Aleksei Kolosov is expected to be in Voorhees when veteran camp opens on Sept. 18. … A couple dozen Flyers were on the ice Wednesday, including Michkov, Zegras, Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny. … Rookie camp starts Thursday in Voorhees at 11 a.m. and is expected to highlight winger Alex Bump, 21, a Minnesota native who is a contender to make the team.  The camp is free and open to the public.

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The Hockey News Big Show discusses some of the biggest topics going on in the NHL and beyond right now, with Ryan Kennedy reporting from the player media tour in Las Vegas.

NHL Player Media Tour’s Biggest Standouts by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode:

1:20: What is Quinn Hughes saying about Jack Hughes mentioning he wants to play with his older brother?

6:50: What did Ryan hear from Sidney Crosby? Are there any potential trade destinations if Crosby does eventually decide to look elsewhere?

12:00: What was Crosby saying about Macklin Celebrini? What is Celebrini’s potential to get on the Olympic team?

14:00: How much does Celebrini going to the World Championship affect his chances of making the Olympic squad?

16:05: Victor Hedman gave a cheeky quote about the Florida Panthers at the tour. What are the chances the Tampa Bay Lightning upset the Panthers this year?

20:00: Linus Ullmark called for video review from the goaltender’s view regarding goalie interference. Do you agree or disagree? 

24:00: What can the Nashville Predators do to bounce back this season?

27:20: Do we like Cale Makar's idea for a new defensive award?

30:30: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly gave updates on the new CBA.

35:40: What’s your favorite NHL player media tour interview of all-time?

38:10: Is Dustin Wolf’s new seven-year contract extension a boom or a bust?

40:30: Aleksander Barkov and tennis star Bianca Andreescu are part-owners of a pro pickleball team. What other athlete duos would you like to see co-own a sports team?

42:25: Thoughts on the CHL not issuing passes to college hockey coaches to get into buildings?

43:35: Glow in the dark jerseys: yay or nay?

Watch the full Episode here 

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform

Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov has declined a historic contract extension, potentially setting the stage for free agency and making him a possible target for the Red Wings next offseason. 

One of the biggest stars in the sport of hockey Kirill Kaprizov made headlines on Wednesday when it was revealed that the Russian superstar turned down the biggest contract in NHL history. The reported extension was for a record-breaking eight years, $128 million with a cap hit at $16 million per season.

Sources say #mnwild superstar Kirill Kaprizov’s camp turned down an extension offer believed to be 8-years, $128 million in a meeting on Tuesday in Minnesota that would have made him the highest-paid player in #NHL history in both AAV ($16 million) and total dollars.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) September 10, 2025

Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin and team owner Craig Leipold have both been vocal about their desire to keep the 28-year-old winger and he could be using it to his advantage.

Knowing they are willing to pay whatever he asks for, Kaprizov could continue to draw out the extension talks and force Guerin's hand. If Kaprizov follows in the footsteps of Connor McDavid, he too could be looking to leave for a more bonified contender. Kaprizov has never been apart of a playoff series win in his career and the Wild as a whole haven't won a series since 2015. 

Few teams will be able to accommodate a contract that is Kaprizov-sized at $16+ million per season while also being in the conversation of being a contender or playoff team with one of them being the Detroit Red Wings. Depending on roster moves, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman could have up to $24 million in cap space to play with next season, making him able to take a big swing at a big ticket free agent. 

The Red Wings have been a few points outside of the playoff picture in each of the last three years as they currently ride a nine-year playoff drought. Adding a player like McDavid would be tall order but Kaprizov could see a perfect fit. He would be able to perfectly slide into the top line alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, could take a larger contract than most teams are willing to give and could be the final piece in a playoff team that could go on a deep run. 

Detroit would also have money left over to help bring in another defender as their defense has been a point of weakness in recent years and could give extensions to veteran winger Patrick Kane and to breakout defenseman from last season, Simon Edvinsson. The Red Wings also have several prospects in the minors on the verge of making the jump to the NHL and could work as another argument for Kaprizov in that the franchise is moving in the right direction for the future.

Red Wings’ Alleged Interest in Former Norris Trophy Winner Refuses to Go AwayWhile the Detroit Red Wings were among the more active teams in free agency this summer, none of their acquisitions can realistically be considered a major addition. 

Potential 2026-27 Lineup with Kirill Kaprizov:

Kirill Kaprizov - Dylan Larkin - Lucas Raymond

Carter Mazur  - Marco Kasper - Alex DeBrincat

Michael Rasmussen - Nate Danielson - Patrick Kane

Andrew Copp - J.T. Compher - Mason Appleton

-

Simon Edvinsson - Moritz Seider

Niko Mikkola (Free Agent) - Albert Johansson 

Shai Buium - Axel Sandin-Pellikka

-

John Gibson - Sebastian Cossa

Sandin Pellikka Ranked 21st in Controversial NHL Network Top 25 Prospects ListRed Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka mentioned in controversial prospect rankings list made by NHL Network. 

The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan. The opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, and with the two-year deal signed last month with defenseman Bowen Byram, Adams will have to try to acquire a scoring forward with younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. With just a few weeks before training camp, the odds are that an addition like that will have to happen during the season. 

Nashville forward Luke Evangelista is in a similar predicament to Peterka prior to the trade in June. Selected eight picks after the former Sabre in 2020, the 23-year-old winger was a scoring star with the London Knights in 2022, and after half a season in the AHL, jumped up to the NHL at 21 years old. He scored 16 goals in his first full season with the Preds two years ago, but as with most things in Music City, the young winger regressed last season in the final year of his entry-level contract, scoring 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 68 games.  

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Evangelista has still not signed a deal with the Predators, who went on a wild spending spree last summer with the signings of Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei, and Jonathan Marchessault, but this recent offseason, they were more conservative, adding blueliners Nick Perbix and Nic Hague. Based on his past two seasons, the Sabres could sign the Toronto native to a two-year bridge deal, similar to what Jack Quinn agreed to, to see if he can take a step forward and into a top-six role. 

What Would It Cost?

The Predators are loaded with draft capital over the next two seasons, and would likely be looking for a player who could step into the NHL in place of Evangelista. Adams could be attracted to the winger as an acquisition, as he is four years away from hitting unrestricted free agency and would likely cost at or below the $3.375 million AAV that Quinn signed for early in the summer. A player such as Isak Rosen, looking for a clearer avenue to the NHL, might make sense for both clubs. . 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

St. Louis Blues forward Zach Dean entered the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance Program.

Dean will be unavailable to the Blues indefinitely while he receives care from the program, the NHL and NHLPA announced Wednesday. He will return to the club when the program's administrators clear him for on-ice competition.

The league, players' union and Blues did not provide a reason for Dean receiving care from the program, which is the standard. In respect of his privacy, only the player can decide whether to give an explanation or not.

Dean, 22, played 11 games last season for the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. He recorded one goal and three assists for four points in the injury-riddled campaign.

After the Vegas Golden Knights drafted Dean 30th overall in 2021, he won a world junior gold medal with Team Canada in 2023 and finished his QMJHL career with the Gatineau Olympiques. That same year, Vegas traded him to the Blues in exchange for center Ivan Barbashev.

In 2023-24, Dean put up 14 points in 49 AHL games while also getting a nine-game trial in the NHL. He awaits his first career NHL point.

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ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Blues prospect Zach Dean has taken an indefinite leave of absence while he receives care from the Player Assistance Program of the NHLPA and NHL, the league announced on Wednesday.

Zach Dean of the @StLouisBlues to receive care from NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. https://t.co/Rv9DSWo31Hpic.twitter.com/gvRf9xP8ff

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) September 10, 2025

Dean was acquired by the Blues from the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 27, 2023; the 22-year-old was the No. 30 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Dean was injured most of last season with Springfield of the American Hockey League with a lower-body injury, playing in just 11 games (four points; one goal, three assists).

Dean was listed on the Blues' training camp roster, which was released on  Wednesday afternoon.

Under the terms of the joint program, Dean will return to the Club when cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators.

The Chicago Blackhawks are going to participate in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase alongside the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. It is an opportunity for some of their best young players to play high-level matches against other good prospects of a similar skill set. 

Earlier in the week, the Blackhawks announced their roster for this showcase, and it is loaded with talent. Some players will be in other developmental leagues in North America this season, others who aim to be in the NHL, and a handful who have the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL in their near future. 

Every prospect is worth watching, as they are all there wearing NHL colors for a reason. However, these five stick out above the rest as “must-watch”: 

Artyom Levshunov

Artyom Levshunov’s importance to the organization can’t be put into words. Chicago selected Levshunov with the 2nd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, so they believe that he has the pedigree to be a top-flight defender. 

After playing for about a third of the 2024-25 season with the Blackhawks, and looking like he belonged in the process, he has another chance at competing in this event. As one of the more experienced players on any of the three teams, Levshunov should be on everyone’s radar. 

Sam Rinzel

When Sam Rinzel was selected by the Blackhawks in the latter stages of the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft, it wasn't a guarantee that he would be a possible number-one defenseman on a team. The ceiling was always there, but he had to grow into it. It appears as if he has. 

With the regular season approaching, Rinzel is coming in with a chance to lead the Blackhawks in minutes, or at least be near the top. He only has 9 games played, so they must be smart about it, but he didn’t look out of place once at the end of 2024-25. 

Both Rinzel and Levshunov project to be key contributors to the 2025-26 Chicago Blackhawks, so they should be major factors in an event like this. 

Nick Lardis

Nick Lardis scored 71 goals with the Brantford Bulldogs in 2024-25. Add in 46 assists for a big total of 117 points in 65 games played. That's outstanding, especially for a player picked in the 3rd round (67th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft. 

Now, Lardis is looking to turn pro. Whether he sticks with the Chicago Blackhawks or Rockford IceHogs at the beginning of the season remains to be seen. How he plays in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase will certainly impact that. 

Ryan Greene

Ryan Greene played in 2 NHL games last season after a strong year as the captain of Boston University. Greene was a second-round pick (57th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, and he has all of the tools to make him a successful NHL role-player. 

Greene didn't collect any points in his two NHL games, but he isn't out there to be a primary scorer. He can contribute, but it's the little things that he does at a high level everywhere he goes that make him noticeable.

During the Prospect Showcase, watch him to see how he impacts the game, whether the puck is on his stick or not. His style of play would make for a great bottom-six forward on a good team. 

Oliver Moore

Oliver Moore could be the fastest player on either of the three teams. Sometimes, he moves too quickly for his own good. However, there is no denying the talent that made him a first-round pick (19th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft. 

After a good year at Minnesota (and back-to-back Gold Medals at the World Junior Championships with Team USA), Moore came to the NHL for nine games at the end of 2024-25. He collected four assists in those nine games.

Watch him at this event to see if he brings the speed and tenacity that he's capable of bringing. If he does, he will help the Blackhawks win games. Moore is one of those players capable of being all over the ice because of his speed, which will keep eyes on him at this event. 

He'd like to be in the NHL to begin the year, which could happen if he has a good camp. A strong showing here would be a great start. 

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