The Minnesota Wild, not really known for signing guys to professional tryouts (PTO's), has signed forward Brett Leason to a PTO. They recently signed defenseman Jack Johnson to a PTO as well.

Leason, 26, played in 62 games for the Anaheim Ducks last year. He recorded five goals, 12 assists, 17 points and 64 hits. The previous season he recorded 11 goals, 11 assists, 22 points and 80 hits.

The 6-foot-5 forward has been a bottom-six forward during his 220 career NHL games. He has also been on the penalty kill which is something the Wild are constantly looking for help with.

In four NHL seasons, one with the Washington Capitals and three with the Ducks, Leason has recorded 25 goals, 29 assists, 54 points and 195 hits.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

- Former Minnesota Wild Forward Inducted Into U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame.

- Former Minnesota Wild Defenseman Retires From NHL.

- Former Minnesota Wild Prospect Signs One-Year Deal With Columbus.

- Minnesota Wild To Have 16 Games On National Television.

- Where Wild's Filip Gustavsson Ranks Among NHL Goaltenders.

- Minnesota Wild: What's Next After The Marco Rossi Signing.

- Wild Sign Marco Rossi To A Three-Year Deal.

According to Marco D'Amico of RG Media, St. Louis Blues top prospect Justin Carbonneau could sign his entry-level contract very soon, and has been informed that he will have the opportunity to make the roster out of training camp and pre-season.

Carbonneau was selected with the 19th overall pick in the most recent NHL Draft after he recorded an outstanding 46 goals and 89 points in 62 QMJHL games with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. With the new CHL-NCAA agreement, Carbonneau could have committed to a college team, but has chosen to remain in the QMJHL and compete for a roster spot.

“After the World Junior Summer Showcase, I went back to St. Louis where I met with Jim Montgomery and the rest of the coaching staff,” Carbonneau told RG Media. “We discussed team strategies and expectations for me, and we also spoke about possible opportunities to crack the roster.”

The message the 18-year-old received was versatility. Carbonneau needs to prove that he is more than just a point producer, someone they can trust in their own end and in high-leverage situations.

“I want to show that I can be played in all situations and that’s a necessity to be ready to crack an NHL roster,” said Carbonneau. “ I need to work to show I can be trusted and bring value to my teammates.”

Because Carbonneau's offensive game has obtained plenty of praise during the NHL Draft process, his ability to throw his weight around and engage himself in the forecheck has flown under the radar. Standing 6-foot-1, 191 pounds, the right-handed shooter can more than stand his ground against bigger players, welcoming and initiating it when needed.

The Blues' top prospects will be competing in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase starting on Sept. 12. The roster features Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg, Theo Lindstein, Adam Jiricek and Carbonneau. The practices begin on Sept. 11, and this weekend is an excellent opportunity for Carbonneau to showcase why he should make the team.

“I have nothing to lose, I’m showing up to win a spot at camp,” said Carbonneau. “And, if not, I’ll be going back to an excellent situation with the Armada, where we get to compete for a President’s Cup.”

“Nothing to Lose” — Carbonneau Aims to Crack Blues Roster, Earn ELC Justin Carbonneau reflects on being drafted by the Blues, his first camp in St. Louis, and the work ahead to earn a roster spot in the NHL.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have 33 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #33. 

Let's take a look.

Petteri Nummelin - 2001 - Nummelin was drafted by Columbus in the 5th round of the 2000 NHL Draft.

After playing just 61 games for Columbus during its inaugural season, Nummelin bolted back to Europe to play for HC Lugano of the Swiss National League. He would return to the NHL in 2006 to play for the Minnesota Wild for two seasons but would again leave for Europe. 

During his career, he played in Switzerland, Finland, Norway, and even Japan before retiring in 2019. Nummelin was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2024 and is currently an assistant coach for HC Ajoie of the Swiss National League. 

Jamie Allison - 2002-2003 - Drafted in 1993 by the Calgary Flames

Allison played 55 games for Columbus from 2001 to 2003 and had one point. After leaving Columbus in 2003, he went to play for the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers. 

Before retiring in 2006, Allison had a wild thing happen. On December 13, 2005, goalie Chris Mason got hurt during the pre-game, resulting in the Predators having no backup goalie. As he was scheduled to be a healthy scratch that game, Allison was dressed as the backup goaltender instead.  

Jeremy Reich - 2004 - Drafted in 1997 by the Chicago Blackhawks

Reich played 9 games for the Jackets during the 2003-04 season and had one point. He spent most of his time playing for the Syracuse Crunch, where he had 118 points over five seasons.

He would go on to play in 90 games for the Boston Bruins, and played a season in the DEL. He played semi-pro hockey off and on until 2024 and was a coach for several years in minor hockey. 

Fredrik Modin - 2007-2010 - Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 3rd round of the 1994 NHL Draft.

On June 30, 2006, Modin was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Marc Denis. Modin played in 176 games for Columbus and had 85 points. After playing four seasons with the CBJ, he was traded to the LA Kings on March 3, 2010. 

On May 11, 2011, he announced his retirement due to back issues. He came back to the Columbus organization in 2015 and worked as a Hockey Operations Advisor until 2018. 

Tomáš Kubalík - 2011-2012 - Drafted by Columbus in 2008

Kubalík played in 12 games over two seasons from 2010 to 2012. He spent most of his time playing for the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. 

He left for Europe in 2013 and played there until he retired in 2024. He's played in Czechia, Finland, Poland, France, and Germany. For the last couple of seasons, he was an asst. coach for ERV Schweinfurt of Germany's fourth division. 

Adrian Aucoin - 2013 - Drafted by Vancouver in 1992.

Aucoin signed a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1, 2012. He played 36 games for the Jackets and had four points. Following his one season with the CBJ, he would retire on November 19, 2013. 

Aucoin has been coaching various age groups of youth hockey since his retirement. 

Markus Hännikäinen - 2016-2017 - Hännikäinen was undrafted out of Helsinki, Finland.

Hännikäinen had signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 20, 2015. Over parts of four seasons, he played in 91 games for Columbus and had 15 points, which included 8 goals. He spent most of his time playing for the Lake Erie/Cleveland Monsters.

In February of 2020, Hännikäinen was traded by the Blue Jackets to the Arizona Coyotes, ending his time with Columbus. 

Hännikäinen left for his native Finland when the COVID pandemic hit and never returned. He's played in the KHL(Finland), DEL, SHL, and is signed with HC Litvínov in Czechia for 2025-26. 

With 33 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.

Blue Jackets’ 2025-26 Training Camp and Pre-Season

Next up is training camp, which kicks off on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Camp will run until the pre-season begins and then transition directly into the full pre-season schedule. Here’s what the Blue Jackets have lined up so far.

After the first few days of camp, most rookies who received an invite will be cut and sent back to their junior teams. From there, the cuts will come more often as pre-season play gets underway.

The pre-season schedule is as follows:

Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. St. Louis Blues, 5 p.m. ET

Monday, Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ET

Wednesday, Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Sept. 27 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET

Tuesday, Sept. 30 vs. Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, Oct. 4 at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. ET

* Games in bold are home games * 

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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More From THN Columbus

Former Cleveland Monster Signs PTO With PredatorsFormer Cleveland Monster Dylan Gambrell has signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the Nashville Predators, according to Anthony Di Marco. Blue Jackets Will Participate In 2025 Prospect ChallengeThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced they will participate in the 2025-26 Prospect Challenge in Buffalo, taking place from September 11-15. FROM THE THN YEARBOOK: Blue Jackets Predicted To Finish 6th In The Metropolitan DivisionThe hockey season is around the corner, and that means The Hockey News has put out one of its most special and most coveted issues of the year. It's THN Yearbook season.

Without warning, aside from a heads-up an hour before it dropped, the Montreal Canadiens released their behind-the-scenes at the draft video on Tuesday night. With the rookie camp set to kick off the following morning and the anticipation building in town, the timing couldn’t have been better.

The team has long mastered the art of compiling thrilling videos that take the fans not only behind the scenes at the actual draft, but in the run-up to the yearly event. In other words, the video also features the scouting combine in Buffalo, and we get an extended look at the interview the team conducted with Hayden Paupanekis. The center not only came prepared, but he said all the right things.

Canadiens: Hutson’s Agent Sets The Record Straight
Pierre LeBrun Brings Up The Canadiens To Crosby
Canadiens: 4 Centers To Target Right Now

After he compared himself to a polar bear or a grizzly bear because they’re vicious, Dr. David Scott, a consultant in sports psychology, challenged him, asking how he could be vicious and only have 29 penalty minutes in 39 games. The youngster calmly replied that you don’t need to get penalties to be vicious and play hard, there’s no need to two-hand people in the face. When asked if he only saw his future at center, he answered that he would play wherever he was asked to by the coach. At the end of the interview, Dr. Scott congratulated him for handling himself well.

Unsurprisingly, the Canadiens drafted the power forward in the third round, as their amateur scout for Canada, Ben Shutron, was quite high on him. It will be interesting to see how he performs with the Memorial Cup hosting Kelowna Rockets under the watchful eye of new assistant coach and former Canadiens blueliner, Josh Gorges. As for the co-director of amateur scouting, Nick Bobrov, he was sold on Bryce Pickford, but Montreal was able to pick him later with the 81st pick.

Clearly, the Canadiens approached the draft with the mentality that they would move; they wouldn’t just pick at 16 and 17. In addition to trying to pull off the trade with the New York Islanders, the team was also evaluating players in case they were able to move up. In the end, the trade materialized, and Montreal didn’t get to pick in the first one. Still, it didn’t matter as they were very high on their second-round pick, Alexander Zharovsky, but they weren’t alone, which is why they had to trade up to get the 34th overall pick to avoid seeing another team snatch him from under their nose.

In a recent episode of the Rebuild: Inside the Montreal Canadiens, we heard that GM Kent Hughes consulted with team captain Nick Suzuki before acquiring Patrik Laine, and in this video, we see Hughes test the waters about a possible pick of Zharovsky. Before trading up to get him, Hughes texted rookie Ivan Demidov asking if he was awake. Not only was Demidov awake, but he was also positive about his work ethic and absolutely sold on his skills and talent. It was no secret that the Russian was on the Canadiens’ radar as they had set a meeting with him in Florida ahead of the draft.

The video goes on to show Hughes and Gorton calling a couple of their draftees, Zharovsky and LJ Mooney, who was clearly over the moon about being drafted by the Canadiens. Gorton made a point of reminding him that the Habs have had a lot of success with undersized Americans like Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield.

What this video highlights particularly well is the fact that the Canadiens have moved forward in their rebuild; it’s not just about the future anymore, it’s about the present. The team didn’t hesitate to send Emil Heineman and two first-round picks to the Islanders for a player that fits the Habs’ timeline age-wise, but can also help solidify their defense right away.

The video also gives us a peek at development camp and one of Martin St-Louis always inspired speech, basically telling the young hopefuls that making the NHL is not just about having the motivation and the will to get there, you need the discipline to stick with your training no matter how hard it is, even if you’re alone in the summer and you do not have the other hopefuls competing for a spot pushing you. The coach has got a knack for making speeches that light a fire under players; he knows how to inspire the same intensity he put forward on the ice when he was playing.

In short, the 23-minute video is an excellent way to get ready for the upcoming season and get to know a little bit more about players who are hoping to be Canadiens players down the line.

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Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

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Just like Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain, Sidney Crosby, is at the NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas, and Pierre Lebrun had the opportunity to speak to him. The TSN and Athletic Insider revisited comments the All-Star player made in February during the 4 Nations Face-Off, noting that he had grown up a Habs fan and would never forget the reception he received from the crowd in the Bell Center that night.

Never one to pull any punches, LeBrun asked the captain if he was trying to hint at something when he mentioned that he grew up a Habs fan. Unsurprisingly, Crosby said that he wasn’t, but he still appreciates the fact that the team wants him (LeBrun added he probably meant the fanbase).

Canadiens: 4 Centers To Target Right Now
Canadiens: Hutson’s Agent Sets The Record Straight
Canadiens Fan Wants To Make Big Impact With The Angel Project
Canadiens: About That Crosby Pipe Dream...

LeBrun also tested the waters with Crosby’s longtime agent Pat Brisson, and while he believes his client should be competing for the Stanley Cup every year, it’s the player who has the ultimate say on his destiny.

Growing up a Habs fan or not, if the Pens’ captain were ever to decide he wants to move on, it would more than likely be to chase a Stanley Cup, and as much as the Canadiens’ faithful may wish to land number 87, Montreal is not one of the top Cup contenders right now. Crosby’s good friend Nathan MacKinnon plays on a team that’s arguably much closer to a Championship than the Habs are right now.

Besides, if Crosby were to request a trade, Kyle Dubas wouldn’t just give him away. Pittsburgh is on the verge of a rebuild and needs both young players and futures. The Canadiens have plenty of good young players, but how much can one sacrifice for a player who has just turned 38 years old? We’ve heard pundits on TV or radio advocating that it would make sense to trade Cole Caufield for Crosby, but I cannot see it. As good as Crosby is, two years of his talent versus at least five more years of a sniper who has yet to hit his ceiling?

It doesn’t make sense to me, despite how vital a good center is to a hockey team. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have always been transparent about wanting to build a perennial contender. They wouldn’t just roll the dice on a trade that could make the team better for a very short while and then suffer a setback. If the Canadiens were ever to consider acquiring the long-time Pens’ captain, it would have to be at a very reasonable price, and it’s hard to imagine a world where no GM is ready to overpay for the three-time Cup Champion.

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Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

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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.

Zavragin, 20, was on SKA's bench as an unused substitute in Monday's 3-2 loss to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, where 22-year-old Artemi Pleshkov drew the start and stopped 28 of 31 shots.

Zavragin's place on the bench as the backup goalkeeper was actually a promotion for him, too.

On Saturday, Sergei Ivanov started for SKA against the Shanghai Dragons, but was yanked after 35:18 after allowing six goals on 20 shots. Pleshkov replaced Ivanov and stopped all five shots he faced in the final 23:37 of the 7-4 loss.

This is all to say that, without Zavragin on the ice, SKA is disappointingly 0-2-0 on the season.

The KHL outfit already replaced Roman Rotenberg, Matvei Michkov's former coach, with NHL legend Igor Larionov moving behind the bench, and the roster features players like Joseph Blandisi (already suspended), former Flyers forward Mikhail Vorobyov, veteran center and former NHLer Andrei Loktionov, Nikolay Goldobin, Rocco Grimaldi, Trevor Murphy, and St. Louis Blues prospect Matvei Korotky.

KHL Forward Supports Flyers' Aleksei KolosovAhead of what will be his first full training camp with the Philadelphia Flyers, top goalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov continues to draw support from his peers from all over the globe.

If Larionov's poor luck continues, he may be forced to turn to Zavragin, which would be something certainly celebrated by the Flyers across the pond here in Philadelphia.

Flyers fans may recall how the 20-year-old former third-round pick dominated in the KHL last season under heavy expectations, going 20-14-3 across 43 games between SKA and HC Sochi and ripping off a 2.50 GAA, a .917 save percentage, and four shutouts.

In the Gagarin Cup playoffs, Zavragin was 1-2-0 with a 3.22 GAA and .913 save percentage across four games.

Plus, it certainly doesn't help Zavragin's case that only three of SKA's top 10 point-getters from last season remain.

Ivan Demidov, Alexander Nikishin, Arseniy Gritsyuk, Zakhar Bardakov, Tony DeAngelo, and, potentially, Evgeny Kuznetsov, have all left for the NHL, while only Sergei Plotnikov, Marat Khairullin, and Valentin Zykov remain.

If things don't continue to trend upwards for Zavragin, perhaps the Flyers will have other ideas on how to best develop their top goalie prospect that don't involve the KHL.

The offseason is ending the same way it started for forward Luke Evangelista and the Nashville Predators, as both parties have not agreed on a new contract. 

Tuesday, upon the announcement of the Predators' training camp roster and preseason schedule, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta posted on Twitter/X that contract negotiations between the Predators and Evangelista were ongoing, but both parties "remained far apart on a deal."

It's the first news pertaining to Evangelista's contract that has been made public since July 15, when Evangelista did not sign his original qualifying offer, which was extended on July 1. 

Following the opening of the free agency market, General Manager Barry Trotz was asked about Evangelista's contract negotiations and he said both sides were still trying to "figure out a term that fits." 

Trotz also called Evangelista "the future" of the organization, showing that the Predators do want to keep Evangelista in Nashville for a longer term. 

His previous deal with his entry level contract, which was three-years, $2,392,50. 

Drafted 42nd overall by the Predators in the 2020 NHL Draft from the London Knights, Evangelista has quickly developed into a top-six forward. Last season, he scored 32 points in 68 games, and the season prior, he had 39 points in 80 games. 

It's not surprising that the Predators are trying to lock Evangelista into an extended contract as they have done so with other players, and have been criticized for it this offseason. 

Brady Skjei's seven-year, $49 million contract and Nic Hague's four-year, $22 million contract were ranked as two of the worst contracts in the NHL by The Athletic. The Athletic also scrutinized Juuse Saros' eight-year, $61.92 million contract. 

Jonathan Marchessault came to Nashville on a five-year, $27.5 million contract in the 2024 offseason because Vegas wouldn't sign him to the length Nashville eventually gave him. 

Evangelista is still on the Predators training camp roster, which will commence on Sept. 17 with team meetings. The first practice will be held on Sept. 18 and the first game is a split-session against the Florida Panthers on Sept. 21 at Bridgestone Arena. 

Evangelista contract saga 

Predators extend qualifying offer to forward Luke EvangelistaAfter Sunday's trade, sending defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sisson to Vegas for defenseman Nicolas Hague, the Nashville Predators have extended a qualifying offer to forward Luke Evangelista.  'Fixing defense' was focus for Trotz, Nashville Predators in free agency Compared to a year ago, the start of free agency was very quiet for the Nashville Predators. Nashville Predators qualifying offer to Luke Evangelista expires TuesdayThe Nashville Predators have been waiting patiently for the decision on forward Luke Evangelista.  Analysis: Do the Nashville Predators have issues signing players to the 'right' contracts? For the second time in less than a week, the Nashville Predators players' contracts have come under scrutiny again by The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn.  Column: Whatever happens with Evangelista's contract will dictate confidence in Nashville Predators front officeIs this an actual crisis or is this just spiraling in the offseason?  

Connor McDavid’s pending contract with the Edmonton Oilers is more than just a story about one player's tough decision and how it will affect him and his family. This is potentially a story about the dominoes that fall after McDavid makes his extension preference clear.

The reality is, while there is no one like the Oilers' captain, what McDavid chooses to do could reshape the NHL’s free-agent landscape.

The amount of money McDavid ultimately makes as the market drastically changes amid a rising salary cap could send ripples through the NHL. The NHLPA knows that McDavid's deal -- whatever it looks like when it's finally agreed upon -- will impact other high-profile unrestricted free agents waiting to see what the superstar signs for. 

'Absolutely I Want To Stay In Edmonton': Veteran D-Man On Possible Extension

“Is This Real?” Insider Says McDavid’s Comments Has NHL on Alert

TSN’s Frankie Corrado said on Domino’s That’s Hockey, elite UFAs are going to fall in line after McDavid's deal is finalized. That means players like Jack Eichel, Martin Necas, and Adrian Kempe could take their cue from McDavid, all knowing they'll be making a little (or a lot) less than he will.

Players Are Waiting On McDavid, Who Is Taking His Time

Let's say Eichel wants to sign in Vegas, and he'd prefer to re-up with the Golden Knights sooner rather than later. If he believes he's worth $14-$15 million per season, he could ask for that, but not necessarily if McDavid takes $15 to stay in Edmonton over the next two or three seasons.

On the other end, and where a player might benefit, Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday:

"Adrian Kempe, entering last year of his contract, just sat down with our media gathering at the NHL Player Media Tour in Vegas. He says there's no rush from his end or the team on an extension but he feels talks will pick up in the next few weeks or months. Wants to stay in LA."

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It makes sense there would be no rush. If McDavid signs for $16 million per season, Kempe can get well above $10 or $12 million, suggesting he's not $4 or $5 million less valuable per season than Edmonton's superstar.

The rare exception might be Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov. His situation is clear, as he's aware the Wild can't afford to lose him, and he'll get $15 million or more per season on a long-term deal if he asks. Corrado hinted Kaprizov could use his incredible leverage to ask for whatever he'd like, regardless of McDavid's extension terms. 

Is The NHLPA Pressuring McDavid?

Some reports suggest McDavid may also be weighing league-wide implications. The NHLPA, according to insiders, may be quietly applying pressure to McDavid not to take too big a discount.  A steep team-friendly deal affects several players, and too big a pay cut could lower salaries for other members. The NHLPA does not want that. 

Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal writes:

“On Friday I was speaking with an old colleague of mine who is now in labor law. He commented on the Connor McDavid contract situation and mentioned the “quiet” pressure on 97 from the NHLPA to set the new standard for how players are paid going forward. Connor and his family are truly in a “push and pull” situation in the middle of it all. Take too much, your team has cap issues. Take too little, it sets a different salary precedent for other players. That is a lot of pressure. No wonder he wants to take his time. But I still expect a deal done before Game One of the regular season.”

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If true, it's a tough spot for McDavid to be in. Perhaps he doesn't care and will do what he feels is in his best interest. Again, he's a unicorn. However, what we know from McDavid is that he steps up when the league asks. He's been instrumental in the All-Star formatting and trying to put the best product on the ice. It would make sense he'd feel an obligation to his fellow star players.

McDavid Says All That Matters Is Winning

Despite these considerations, McDavid’s priority appears to be winning. He is focused on keeping the Oilers competitive, and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said, “The one thing I can absolutely tell you with 100 percent certainty about this summer, is that everybody who was around him feels that the back-to-back Stanley Cup defeats have only made him more hungry to win.” 

One social media post read, “He doesn’t care about anyone outside this organization. Money is NOT the issue. It is something more intrinsic.”

NHL Officially Closes LTIR Investigation Into OilersAccording to Michael Russo of The Athletic, the Edmonton Oilers are off the hook for whatever it was the NHL was looking into regarding Evander Kane and the team's use of LTIR last season. 

If winning is the only medicine for what's ailing McDavid, perhaps what other players want or need, or where the NHLPA lands doesn't come into play.

David Staples of the Edmonton Journal said, “I don’t see McDavid feeling beholden to the NHLPA. But I can’t read his mind. No one can. As for the NHLPA, more money for one member just means less for another. Not sure ceiling matters in context of hard cap.” 

What is clear is that McDavid’s decision is about more than personal gain. With other top-tier UFAs watching closely, his contract could set the ceiling—or at least signal the market—for the NHL’s next wave of superstar deals. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.   Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

The ice hockey world mourned the death of Ken Dryden, Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender. Dryden not only won six Stanley Cups, but he was also on the call for the Miracle on Ice.

He passed away at age 78 after battling cancer. As one of the top goaltenders in NHL history, the hockey world paid tribute to the legend. One man in particular who shared a message was Devils legend Martin Brodeur.

In a post shared on multiple social media platforms, Brodeur wrote:

“I always looked up to Ken Dryden. He revolutionized the position & rose to the occasion in big moments. Beyond his greatness on the ice, he was a remarkable person, and the hockey community will miss him dearly. My condolences to the Dryden family. Photo by my dad, Denis Brodeur.”

I always looked up to Ken Dryden. He revolutionized the position & rose to the occasion in big moments. Beyond his greatness on the ice, he was a remarkable person, and the hockey community will miss him dearly. My condolences to the Dryden family. Photo by my dad, Denis Brodeur pic.twitter.com/vmgANLIa9O

— Martin Brodeur (@MartinBrodeur) September 6, 2025

Brodeur made history for the Devils and the NHL as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time. He won three Stanley Cups with the Devils, claimed the Vezina Trophy four times, and remains the all-time wins leader for goaltenders with 691 victories.

His message to Dryden shows just how profound Dryden’s impact was on the hockey world.

Other notable figures also released messages expressing their condolences. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media:

“Few Canadians have given more, or stood taller, for our country. Ken Dryden was Big Canada. And he was Best Canada. Rest in peace.”

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also shared a statement:

“From the moment Ken Dryden joined the Montreal Canadiens as a 23-year-old rookie in 1971, he made an immediate and lasting impact on the NHL, the Canadiens franchise, and the goaltending position. Ken’s love for his country was evident both on and off the ice.”

Not only did Dryden have an impact on the ice and in the broadcast booth, but he also stepped away from hockey in 1973 to work at a Toronto law firm, giving back to his community.

He played just eight seasons in the NHL before pursuing a different career path. In 397 starts, he earned 258 wins, ranking 63rd all time.

While Brodeur leads the list of all-time wins, the impact that Dryden had on his career — and on the hockey community as a whole - cannot be ignored as the sport mourns a legend.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have Sidney Crosby locked up for the next two seasons, but that hasn't stopped some of the national media from discussing him leaving the franchise. 

He has shown no interest in even thinking about leaving the Penguins. However, Pat Brisson, Crosby's agent, was asked about some of those rumors by The Athletic's Pierre Lebrun on Wednesday and didn't exactly squash them. 

“I mean, I’m answering something that, let’s put it this way, it’s always a possibility, you know?” Brisson told Lebrun in an interview. 

Brisson added that he believes Crosby should be playing playoff hockey every year. Crosby hasn't been in the playoffs since the 2021-22 season, when the Penguins lost to the New York Rangers in the first round. The Penguins had a 3-1 series lead on the Rangers before losing in seven games.

Since then, the Penguins have missed the playoffs in three-straight seasons and are in the middle of a rebuild. General manager Kyle Dubas is trying to return the Penguins to contention as urgently as possible, but it's going to take some time. 

Despite Brisson's comments, Crosby will play his 21st NHL season with the Penguins when the 2025-26 season starts in October. The Penguins will open the year against the Rangers October 7 inside Madison Square Garden.

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Heading into his first full season with the Kings, Kuzmenko looks to continue where he left off with the Kings.

Andrei Kuzmenko had a very interesting 2024-25 NHL season. He started with the Calgary Flames, where he played 32 games in which he registered 4 goals and 11 assists for 15 points. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Flyers alongside Jakob Pelletier.

Kuzmenko played only 7 games for the Flyers, registering 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points. Then, on the trade deadline, the Flyers would trade Kuzmenko to the Kings in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick. Kuzmenko achieved moderate success with the Kings, scoring 5 goals and registering 12 assists in 22 games, totalling 17 points. He also performed well in the playoffs, contributing 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 games. 

After the Oilers eliminated the Kings in 6 games, Kuzmenko would sign a 1-year $4.3 million contract with the Kings during the offseason. 

2025-26 Expectations and Predictions

Kuzmenko will look to try to replicate his first year in the NHL, where he was 1 goal shy of the 40-goal mark for the Canucks. According to PuckPedia, Kuzmenko is on the first line alongside Kopitar and Kempe, so he will have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the Kings. Playing alongside Kempe and Kopitar is one of the best things for Kuzmenko because Kempe leads the team in points. Kopitar led the team in assists, making this a very good opportunity for Kuzmenko to showcase his scoring and offensive playmaking abilities, and to prove why he should stay with the Kings after his contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. 

My prediction for Kuzmenko is that we will see flashes of his first-year performance with the Canucks, but I do not expect him to reach that point total this year. Playing alongside some of the best offensive Kings players, I wouldn't be shocked if Kuzmenko had a 30 to 40 point total at the end of the season. Ever since his first season in the NHL, it has been a slow decline, and both he and the Kings are hoping he can produce like he did in his first year. Kuzmenko has to prove why he deserves to stay with the Kings, but with him playing on the top line and getting power-play minutes, he will be able to make a good case for the Kings to keep him. 

You can say many things about NHL icon Sidney Crosby.

For instance, he’s not a rah-rah, heart-on-his-sleeve dramatic leader like, say, Mark Messier was. Crosby is his own terrific hockey ambassador in his own way, but he’s a hockey fan who knows his legacy in the sport. And Crosby can see the optics at play with where he’s at in his career right now, and where his Pittsburgh Penguins are at.

When asked by The Athletic if it were possible that Crosby would consider a trade away from his beloved Penguins organization, Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, did not flat-out reject all trade possibilities involving No. 87.

“I mean, I’m answering something that…let’s put it this way, it’s always a possibility, you know?” Brisson said. “It’s been three years (the Penguins) haven’t made the playoffs. It all depends on how (Crosby) is going to be and how the team is going to do. I maintain the same position that I do believe that he should be playing playoff hockey every year. In my opinion.”

Now, Brisson is allowed to have feelings about the situation that may not be 100 percent in line with Crosby’s feelings. But Crosby understands he’s still got a say in how the rest of his NHL days play out.

If he were quicker and more rash to act, Crosby would be an ex-Penguin by now. But it’s a measurement of his love for the Penguins that he’s still trying to see what can be salvaged in Pittsburgh before he and the team even remotely consider going down two different roads.

“I understand it,” Crosby said at the NHL/NHLPA Player media tour in Vegas. “You’d rather be talking about who we’re getting at the (trade) deadline or where we’re at as far as are we one-two-three in the division. That’s the hard part about losing.

“Everybody thinks the buzzer goes, you lose the game and that sucks, but there’s so much more. It’s the turnover, the uncertainty, the question marks. That’s tough. It makes you appreciate all those years we were competing and going after that big acquisition every trade deadline. I didn’t take it for granted, but I definitely appreciate it that much more now.

“But it hasn’t changed my approach. I still go out there trying to win every single game and be the best I can be. That youth and having that energy around you isn’t a bad thing, either. We have a lot of hungry guys and a lot of competition for spots so you find different things to feed off and continue to learn from.”

Crosby’s favorite team as a young hockey fan was the Montreal Canadiens. So you can see that the possibility of Crosby being traded to the Canadiens makes many Habs fans all but drool in anticipation. And Crosby didn’t shy away from acknowledging the mania that undoubtedly would follow Crosby pulling on a Habs jersey.

“Trust me, I get it,” Crosby said. “Growing up a Montreal fan, I understand how passionate they are. My first or second year in the league, I was in Montreal for a CCM thing in June and they were already projecting the lines for training camp in September. I was like, ‘This is wild’. They’re so into it and I get it as to why that would come up. It doesn’t make it any easier to hear those things when you’re losing, but knowing a team like that wants you isn’t the end of the world.”

Despite Crosby’s delicate handling of the current situation in Pittsburgh, it’s readily apparent that he isn’t yet ready to move on from this Penguins organization.

Who knows – once Crosby does retire, maybe there’s a universe in which he’s in a key management role and keeps his connection to the game fully intact. He wouldn’t be the first superstar to take a run at being a GM or president of hockey operations, and he won’t be the last.

Still, Crosby just turned 38 years old. As a player, he’s got more miles behind him than ahead of him. But taking one more run with Pittsburgh – and one Olympic run with Team Canada – sounds like the immediate road ahead for him. No one can question his loyalty, nor his ability. We’re watching one of the final chapters of Crosby’s Hockey Hall of Fame play out in real time, and only time will tell if Crosby finishes his NHL days in the only professional jersey he has ever worn.

“We want Sidney to hopefully be in the playoffs every year,” Brisson said of Crosby. “We want him to hopefully win another Cup or two. So, each year the team that he’s playing for fails to make the playoffs, it creates a lot of speculation.

“In reality, he’s not getting any younger. We’re here to support him. It’s the beginning of the season here. Let’s see how things are going. Hopefully they have a great season, and the speculation will go away.”

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The Philadelphia Flyers will welcome two fresh faces to the fold when they kick off rookie camp later this week.

On Monday, the Flyers announced their roster for their 2026 rookie camp and rookie series against the rival New York Rangers, headlined by former first-round picks Jett Luchanko, Jack Nesbitt, and Oliver Bonk.

But, they did include two newcomers. One of whom has been on the Flyers' roster on the NHL Media site for quite some time.

Defenseman Andre Mondoux and goalie Joey Costanzo are the Flyers' two rookie camp invites this week, and the former has been in the team's system on the NHL Media site since at least July 6.

Mondoux, 18, was also present at Flyers development camp that week.

The 6-foot-4 defenseman spent most of last season with the Pickering Panthers of the OJHL, scoring six goals, seven assists, and 13 points in 49 games.

Mondoux also played an odd eight games with the OHL Kingston Frontenacs, with whom he figures to play again next season.

KHL Forward Supports Flyers' Aleksei KolosovAhead of what will be his first full training camp with the Philadelphia Flyers, top goalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov continues to draw support from his peers from all over the globe.

With some growth and consistent OHL game time, it's plausible Mondoux can become a candidate to be a late-round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

As for Costanzo, the 20-year-old goalie is now too old for OHL competition and will have to move on to his pro career in short order.

Notably, Costanzo was 26-6-0 with the Windsor Spitfires in the 2022-23 season, though his 3.03 GAA and .901 save percentage were only average.

This past season, the 6-foot-1 netminder was 34-10-4 with Windsor with a 2.92 GAA and .892 save percentage, and he enjoyed a strong 7-3-2 run in the playoffs to the tune of a 2.29 GAA and .911 save percentage.

With the Spitfires, Costanzo was teammates with Nesbitt, the Flyers' second first-round pick this year, for the last two seasons, so the Flyers must have saw enough from him to warrant a camp invite.

Costanzo, Mondoux, and the Flyers rookies will take the ice to start rookie camp on Thursday, Sept. 11, at 10 a.m. at the Flyers Training Center.

The Ottawa Senators enter the coming NHL season firmly focused on improving their results in the 2024-25 campaign.

While the Sens made a couple of additions, they’re only going to go as far as their core of young talent carries them.

The good news in that regard is that Ottawa’s players are firmly capable of taking that next step instead of falling back out of the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years – and they’re not looking for any outside help as they aim to elevate their game.

“I think the next step is in our room,” Senators star center Tim Stutzle said during Monday’s Senators' Charity Open. “I’ve said many times I believe in this group, I believe in this core and the next step is in our room.

“I think (Senators GM) Steve (Staios) has done a phenomenal job to kind of support our group, and we’ve just got to take the next step. The young guys got to take the next step, and as a group, we’ve got to take the next step as well. Last year, we showed that if we play the way we want to play, we’re a really good team.”

That said, Senators players know the stakes for them are higher.

Missing the playoffs would be an utter disaster, and some tough conversations would have to be had about the future of the core if that happens.

But last year started a new chapter under coach Travis Green, who helped the team mature and play more disciplined hockey. The signs don't suggest they'll regress this season.

After being a top-10 team in misconduct penalties from 2021-22 to 2023-24, and a top-10 squad in penalty minutes from 2019-20 to ’23-24, the Sens took just three misconducts in 2024-25, and their 696 penalty minutes were 13th in the league. Even considering they had the fourth-most hits in the league last year, they ranked first in penalties drawn and second in net penalties, showing they can be physical while playing the right way.

Ottawa also finished last season with its best power-play percentage in franchise history, and they were tied for the most wins in the league when they scored first, with 35.

Last season was a step forward overall. Now that the players have adjusted to Green's system, there are new expectations to take their playoff-quality play to another level.

Their franchise-high power-play percentage only ranked 11th in the NHL last year, and their penalty kill ranked 19th. Their November record was a lousy 5-8-1, so the team is still searching for a points percentage of more than .500 in November for the first time since 2016. And when they trailed after the first period, their record was 4-19-4.

Fortunately for them, the Senators showed strong play more often than not last season, and doing that again will make them a lock for the playoffs this year. Being a notch more consistent can make them an even greater force.

Why The Ottawa Senators Are Ready To Contend In 2025-26In the last few years of Pierre Dorion's tenure as Ottawa Senators GM, fans and media would wonder during the summer if this was the year the long rebuild would finally be over. If not last year, was this the year? Is it over now?

To achieve that goal, Staios did make some tactical roster changes – acquiring former Los Angeles Kings blueliner Jordan Spence to be an upgrade on Ottawa’s right side of its ‘D’ – and put together a team that can do some real damage this season.

For his part, Spence knows his profile is about to get a significant boost from Los Angeles to Canada’s capital city. While that might be a stifling pressure for some players, Spence is choosing to embrace the change.

“Obviously, coming back to the Canadian market, I think there’s more eyes on you,” Spence said. “There’s pros and cons to that, but at the end of the day, I’m really excited to be here and get going.”

It would be a particular delight if the Senators not only get back into the playoffs but follow it up by winning a round or two and eliminating the Maple Leafs in retribution for Toronto's 4-2 first-round series win last spring. At least one Sens star had faith – has faith – that the answer for that is still in the Sens’ dressing room.

“I still believe we had a chance to win that (first-round) series,” Stutzle said. “Now it’s just about us and what we can do in this room. I think that’s going to be really important, that we keep believing in this room and have a good start.”

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