Toronto Maple Leafs star right winger William Nylander is one of the multiple players taking part in the NHL/NHLPA's European player media tour, which kicked off in Milan earlier this week.

On Friday, he talked about the impact of former teammate Mitch Marner’s departure to the Vegas Golden Knights this summer.

As Nylander told NHL.com, Marner "was the one making sure that we had team events like Halloween parties, dinners, all those kind of events. He would set those things up. Somebody’s going to have to take on that role now because he did an incredible job doing all that stuff." 

Marner’s role as the Maple Leafs’ social convenor has its value, but let’s be honest here – Toronto's fans really couldn’t care less about who replaces Marner in that position. The Leafs have one goal, and that’s on the ice. The Buds have a clearly defined target this coming season – getting further in the Stanley Cup playoffs than they have in the past 25 years – and no Leafs fan could give a whit what they do away from the rink.

The more important element in the coming season for the Leafs – and the one that not enough people are talking about – is the imprint Toronto coach Craig Berube is having on the makeup of the Maple Leafs’ roster.

As Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president and CEO Keith Pelley said this summer after firing team president Brendan Shanahan, Berube will be more involved in making key decisions for the team.

“I'm a firm believer that the coach has to be involved more than just on the day of the game and in the dressing room,” Pelley said of Berube. “I have my utmost confidence in (Leafs GM) Brad (Treliving) and my utmost confidence in Craig.” 

That statement should resonate with Leafs fans as they look at the changes Toronto has made this off-season. Treliving didn’t go out and get some happy-go-lucky veteran player to make the Leafs’ dressing room a delightful place to be. Rather, the new additions that he brought to Toronto have Berube’s fingerprints all over them.

Indeed, arguably the two biggest additions to the Leafs are rugged players who have earned their reputation as being gritty and determined to make opponents’ lives miserable: center Nicolas Roy (acquired in the Marner sign-and-trade with Vegas) and left winger Dakota Joshua (picked up in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks).

Neither player shies away from a physical game, and that fits in perfectly with the type of team Berube wants to coach. And nothing else really matters in terms of changes to the team.

In the post-Marner era, the Maple Leafs will want to have a different identity than the finesse game Marner plays. Of course, Toronto will miss the offense Marner generated, but with Pelley’s words about Berube being more involved, it’s easy to see the different route the franchise is plotting out. It’s going to be more about snot and snarl for the Leafs next year, and that’s in no small part because Berube wants a tougher lineup.

It’s natural for NHL teams to try to mirror the blueprint for success of the most recent Stanley Cup winner, and that’s what’s been happening courtesy of Treliving and Berube. The back-to-back Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, imposed their will on opponents, Toronto included, by grinding them into the ground. That’s going to be job No. 1 for Roy, Joshua and the rest of the Maple Leafs.

As Nylander indicated, Marner was a fun teammate to have around. But that amounts to a hill of beans when playoff success has been hard to come by, as it’s been for Toronto during Marner’s time as a team leader and franchise cornerstone.

Halloween parties and team dinners are nice ways to take the pressure off of players for a short spell, but the Maple Leafs don’t need those things nearly as much as they need players who can make opponents regret going into the hard areas of the ice. That’s what Berube wants, and that’s what Leafs fans should want as well. 

There’s no question that Marner will be missed in many regards. But if Toronto goes deeper into the post-season than they have in the modern era, no one will be complaining that the Leafs’ dressing room wasn’t as jovial as it used to be. And Berube’s influence on the changes Treliving has made to the roster will be completely validated.

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Red Wings’ Moritz Seider Meets Inter Milan’s Yann Sommer in Milan During NHL’s European Media Tour

As the NHL’s European media tour made its stop in the heart of Milan, Italy, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider took a break from his packed schedule to link up with a fellow elite athlete Yann Sommer, the veteran Swiss goalkeeper now guarding the net for Inter Milan.

Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter) on XWhen 𝒉𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒚 meets 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 🏒⚽️ Jersey swap complete! 😍 @NHL

The meeting of the two stars, one from the ice and one from the pitch, took place at Inter’s training facility just outside the city. With both athletes sharing a love of elite performance and a mutual respect for each other’s sports, the vibe was relaxed but full of admiration. The two posed for photos, Seider holding an Inter Milan jersey, Sommer grinning with a Red Wings sweater in hand. 

The NHL has a packed slate of events for European media with one of them being several players attending the Inter Milan season opener on Monday. 

Divisional Focus: Red Wings Must Counter Rising Canadiens Almost as tough as it was seeing the Ottawa Senators return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for fans of the Detroit Red Wings was simultaneously seeing the Montreal Canadiens do the same. 

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

For Seider, it was a chance to celebrate hockey’s reach beyond North America and prepare the local population for the arrival of the NHL during next year's 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. For Sommer, it was a welcome reminder of the global camaraderie that sports can create and could lead to him appearing at a Olympic game in the near future. 

On the ice, Moritz Seider has become a force for the Red Wings. In the 2024‑25 NHL season, he suited up for all 82 games, notching 8 goals and 38 assists for 46 points, all while leading the team in hits (162) and maintaining a team-leading 25 minutes of average ice time per game. 

Yann Sommer is a professional soccer player from Switzerland who plays as a goalkeeper, the player who protects the net and tries to stop the other team from scoring. He currently plays for Inter Milan, one of the top soccer clubs in Italy. Sommer joined Inter in 2023 and quickly became an impact player on the team. In his first season, he helped Inter win the Serie A championship, which is the top league in Italian soccer.

Who’s Next? After Fedorov, Eyes Turn to Next Red Wings Jersey RetirementWith Fedorov’s No. 91 set to be retired, the Red Wings’ centennial season raises the question of which legends might be next.

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The Montreal Canadiens shook the draft when they acquired Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders on day one of the annual event. At the end of the season, Kent Hughes had identified two areas of need on his team, and he managed to fix one so early in the offseason, while also managing to have the asset commit to an eight-year contract, which was an absolute coup. Since then, fans have been eager to see what their new blueliner can do, and after a Summer of waiting, the time has come.

The Canadiens may not play their first preseason game for another month, but according to Alexa Dobson’s Instagram account, the player has now arrived in town. The new Mrs. Dobson posted a picture captioned “Last day” and another one showing the couple’s following itinerary: PEI-MTL. Meanwhile, the Habs’ X account is prompting fans to ask them questions for their new blueliner, yet another clue that he’ll be in town to work with.

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The hype for Dobson may not be as high as it was for Patrik Laine’s arrival last season, but fans are still sure to flood the CN Sports Complex in Brossard to catch a glimpse of his first on-ice strides as a member of the Sainte-Flanelle.

The defenseman will wear number 53 with the Canadiens; he wore number 8 with the Islanders, but that number belongs to Mike Matheson in Montreal, a tribute to his grandfather, who died at age 53, seven years after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Seven players have worn the number in Habs history; the last one to do so was another defenseman, Victor Mete.

Noah Dobson is now in town #GoHabsGo expect to see some footage of the new acquisition in Brossard in the coming days. pic.twitter.com/F3gBKq2p9d

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) August 23, 2025

Dobson was the Islanders’ first-round pick at the 2018 draft and the 12th selection overall. The 25-year-old has already got 388 games of NHL experience and has so far gathered 230 points. His most productive campaign came in 2023-24 when he scored 70 points in 79 games, but he could only manage 39 points last season after falling out of favor with bench boss and former Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy.

In his first full season under Roy, Dobson’s ice time decreased by 1:15, and his point-per-game production dropped from 0.89 to 0.55; his career average is 0.59. His power play production was slashed in half, as he only managed to gather 12 points with the man-advantage (compared to 24 a year ago) despite having the same ice time on the power play. The Islanders had the second-to-worst man advantage in the league with a 12.6% success rate, just ahead of the Anaheim Ducks.

It will be interesting to see how Martin St-Louis chooses to use Dobson and where he slots in on the Canadiens’ power play. It seems unlikely that Lane Hutson will be removed from the top unit, and with the kind of firepower the Tricolore will have up front with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Patrik Laine, it’s doubtful that the coach elects to use two blueliners on the top unit. Still, the second wave should be much more threatening than it was last season, and could provide Dobson plenty of opportunities if he does land on it.

Whichever way the pilot decides to use him, though, his arrival should help alleviate some of the pressure on Hutson and Matheson, which should benefit them both immensely. That’s particularly true for Matheson, who had a tough season last year, spending over 25 minutes per game on the ice, making him more prone to commit mistakes. The veteran’s role changed tremendously with Hutson’s arrival, and it should keep morphing with Dobson’s. It will be interesting to see how the Pointe-Claire native handles that in what will be a contract year for him. According to TVA Sports’ Anthony Martineau, Matheson is a player often mentioned when he asks Canadiens’ players who has played a mentor’s role for them. It goes to show how much goes on behind the scenes, and if Montreal elects to sign him to another contract, that mentor role will no doubt have something to do with it.

Dobson had a whirlwind of a summer with the trade at the end of June, a wedding days later, and moving into his new custom-made house in Prince-Edouard-Island with his wife, Alexa. The eight-year pact he signed will, however, provide him with stability for years to come in Montreal, and he comes to town with a friend waiting for him in Captain Suzuki, who he played with at the 2018 World Junior Championship.

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LAS VEGAS -- As a restricted free agent, Jonas Røndbjerg was signed to a one-year contract for the upcoming season on July 6.

The 26-year-old has played in 76 NHL games, all with Vegas, and has registered 10 points along the way (3 goals, 7 assists) over the past four seasons.

The Danish forward skated in 56 AHL contests during last season, producing 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) for the Henderson Silver Knights. Røndbjerg's 11 goals were tied for seventh on the Silver Knights last season, while his 15 assists tied for eighth.

Røndbjerg represented Denmark in May at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship and scored twice in five games. In August, he helped his country qualify for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.

FUN FACT: Røndbjerg has been a part of Vegas' organization since its inception in the NHL. He was drafted by Vegas in the third round (65th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the Knights' first-ever presence in the draft.

Fielding questions from the media in the aftermath of his second consecutive Stanley Cup, Florida coach Paul Maurice had praise for all of his Panthers in their six-game victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

But he only got emotional when he spoke about one particular player: Tomas Nosek.

Nosek, of course, wasn’t one of the Panthers’ stars and, in fact, started the Cup final as a goat when his puck-over-the-glass penalty late in the first OT period led to Edmonton’s power-play game-winner in Game 1.

After that setback, Maurice had assured reporters that Nosek’s team would rally around the veteran. And in the end, the gaffe was merely a footnote in hockey history.

But with the title clinched and all of Pantherdom in rapture again, Maurice practically teared up when talking about Nosek and what he meant to the team. The coach believed that one of his own errors on a line-change call had cost his Cats in a different game, so he felt an affinity with his fourth-liner. Nosek hadn’t been on the 2024 edition of the Panthers, but now he and Maurice were champions together.

And this wasn’t the first time Maurice had brought up his fourth line.

Several times during the final, he made it clear that Florida probably wouldn’t have beaten Toronto in Round 2 if it weren’t for the play of Nosek, Jonah Gadjovich and A.J. Greer. The Leafs were already up 2-0 in the series and in control of Game 3 when the fourth line helped flip the momentum. So, with the clock winding down in Game 6 against Edmonton and the Cup secured, Maurice made sure it was Nosek’s line out on the ice.

The long-winded message here? Depth matters. In a copycat league, those who wish to depose the Panthers in 2025-26 should realize that a couple of superstars can’t win a title by themselves – it takes all four lines and all three ‘D’ pairings.

So, perhaps it’s not surprising that several teams looking to take that next step in the playoffs made sure to shore up their own depth this summer. Toronto was one of them.

Though the Maple Leafs lost superstar Mitch Marner – a big blow to the depth chart, no doubt – Toronto got a couple of playoff-style bottom-sixers in the wake of Marner heading to Vegas. Nicolas Roy was the return in the Marner sign-and-trade, while crash-and-bang winger Dakota Joshua came via a trade with Vancouver later in the off-season.

For some Toronto fans, this could cynically be seen as an upgrade. They believed that Marner was often rendered ineffective when playoff series got serious, so bringing in two players who could help in such games while losing one who hadn’t is just simple math. And Roy and Joshua do fit the profile of players who could beat the Panthers. Roy already did it, in fact, when his Golden Knights ran over Florida in the 2023 Cup final.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the Devils made similar tinkering moves to augment a team with deep playoff aspirations. Connor Brown, who has been to two finals in a row with Edmonton, has taken his talents to Newark, while Evgenii Dadonov comes in from Dallas, where he made three solid post-season runs with the Stars.

Obviously, any playoff success in New Jersey is going to hinge on Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt, but Brown has proven to be a deft penalty-killer in recent times, while Dadonov can provide secondary scoring. These are the days of crossing all your T’s and dotting your I’s.

Of course, both of those Eastern Conference teams may have to go through the actual Florida Panthers if they want to become the next Florida Panthers, and we know the real Florida Panthers aren’t about to lay down during their burgeoning dynasty.

And when it comes to depth signings, I haven’t even mentioned perhaps the most significant of the summer, at least in terms of amusing kismet: the one team that has basically guaranteed itself a spot in the next Cup final is the Los Angeles Kings.

Do I say this because of the addition of bottom-sixer Joel Armia or veteran blueliners Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin? No, though those guys will help, but the player I’m talking about is the ageless Corey Perry, who has played in five of the past six finals. It seems you can’t have a Cup showdown without him these days. So, that’s just lateral thinking on the part of the Kings, frankly.

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This article appeared in our 2025 Yearbook and Fantasy Guide. This issue features team reports for all 32 NHL teams heading into the 2025-26 season, including an analysis of their offense, defense and goaltending, as well as our prediction for where we think they will finish in the league standings. We also include features on Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson and more. In addition, we take a look at the top skaters and goaltenders ahead of the coming season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

The NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour is underway this week in Milan, Italy, bringing together 26 NHL stars for an international showcase. Representing the New Jersey Devils and his home country of Switzerland was none other than Devils captain Nico Hischier.

The tour highlights some of the NHL’s top European players as they work with hockey legends and preview their upcoming appearance at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. Hischier joined names like Miro Heiskanen, William Nylander, Sebastian Aho, and several other European standouts.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly praised the event in an interview with NHL.com:

“The NHL is honored to visit Milan alongside our partners at Serie A, continuing to build on the momentum of our strategic collaboration. This week’s events give our players and leadership the chance to immerse themselves in one of the world’s great sporting cultures while showcasing hockey and NHL players to new global audiences. By engaging directly with Serie A’s passionate fans and iconic clubs, we’re strengthening our global footprint and creating connections that will resonate well beyond the Winter Games.”

At just 26 years old, Hischier continues to be an ideal ambassador for both the Devils and Switzerland. His leadership and two-way play have made him one of the NHL’s most respected centers. Recently ranked among the league’s Top 20 Centers by NHL Network, Hischier has steadily elevated his game since being drafted first overall in 2017.

Last season, he appeared in 75 games, posting 69 points and a career-high 35 goals. While his scoring has improved, it’s his defensive reliability, hockey IQ, and ability to drive play at both ends of the ice that make him invaluable to New Jersey’s lineup.

On the international stage, Hischier was named one of the first six players selected for Switzerland’s 2026 Olympic roster. He was also named to the 2022 Beijing Olympic team but could not participate due to NHL restrictions during the pandemic.

Speaking to NHL.com, Hischier expressed his excitement for the opportunity:

“I was excited back then, but obviously even more excited now because it is one thing I haven’t done yet, haven’t been a part of and I think it’s something that I’m really going to enjoy.”

Hischier also reflected on the pride of seeing more Swiss players thriving in the NHL:

“I try to be thankful, because I don't think it's very common, especially for Swiss guys, to have three Swiss guys in the same NHL team and we're all doing well with each other. I’m just very thankful and it’s going to be a very, very fun time, and I’ll try to enjoy it as much as possible.”

As the countdown to Milano Cortina 2026 continues, Hischier’s presence in Milan this week reinforces both his importance to the Devils and his growing role as a leader for Swiss hockey on the global stage.

There are 48 days until the New Jersey Devils drop the puck on a new season. In honor of the countdown, it’s fitting to highlight No. 48 himself—left winger Brian Halonen.

Halonen’s journey hasn’t been the traditional NHL path. Undrafted out of college, the 26-year-old forward signed with New Jersey as a free agent on March 28, 2022, after four standout seasons at Michigan Tech. He began his pro career in Utica with the Devils’ AHL affiliate, where he’s developed into one of the Comets’ most reliable offensive weapons.

At 6 feet tall and on a two-year, $1.55 million contract, Halonen has split time between the NHL and AHL. Over the past two seasons, he’s appeared in four games for New Jersey, logging 11:06 of total ice time. The bulk of his work, though, has come in the AHL—where last year he put together his best professional season yet: 62 games, 27 goals, 13 assists, and 40 points. That performance earned him the Comets’ Team MVP Award for 2024–25.

Despite his success in Utica, Halonen has yet to earn a meaningful NHL opportunity. Injuries to Jack Hughes, Curtis Lazar, and Nathan Bastian last season forced the Devils to dip into their depth, calling up players like Nolan Foote and Justin Dowling—but Halonen never got the call.

That decision is puzzling, given the Devils’ need for secondary scoring and the winger’s proven ability to produce. For a team that has repeatedly relied on its AHL depth to weather mid-season injuries, Halonen remains an underutilized option.

With just 48 days left until puck drop, perhaps this is the year New Jersey finally leans on Halonen. His scoring touch and steady play could make him exactly the type of depth piece the Devils need.

So why not Halonen?

Welcome to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s player preview series for the 2025–26 season. In these articles, we’ll preview the players who are expected to play for the Canucks in the 2025–26 season. This edition will cover Birmingham, Michigan native Max Sasson. 

Sasson’s 2024–25 Season

The 2024-25 season was very successful for Sasson overall. He played his first NHL game, scored his first handful of NHL points, as well as winning the Calder Cup with the Abbotsford Canucks. Sasson scored his first NHL point in his first game, assisting on Teddy Blueger’s second period goal in an eventual 4–3 win over the Ottawa Senators. He would score his first NHL a few weeks later, in a 5–1 home loss to the Boston Bruins. 

Sasson was a restricted free agent heading into the offseason, when he re-signed with the Canucks on a one-year, one-way contract for $775k. The Canucks front office likely hopes he is able to expand on his seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) from his prior NHL campaign, as well as incorporating his championship momentum from the Calder Cup in the big leagues.

Sasson’s 2024–25 Letter Grade

For his efforts this past season, Sasson earned a B+ letter grade, thanks to his speed, grit, versatility, and perseverance. He became a quick fan favourite, while also becoming a reliable bottom-six forward for the coaching staff with his NHL minutes.

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Sasson’s 2025–26 Predictions

Though the Vancouver coaching staff has changed quite a bit from the previous season, I expect that the reputation Sasson earned will carry forward as Adam Foote minds the bench. While Sasson is on a one-way contract, he is still exempt from waivers, so even if he doesn’t crack the opening night line-up in Vancouver, it is likely he will spend time in the NHL regardless.

Adam Kierszenblat’s Stat Prediction: 4G, 4 A, 8 P

Izzy Cheung’s Stat Prediction: 3G, 4A, 7P

Kaja Antic’s Stat Prediction: 9G, 12A, 21P

Bold Prediction: He will spend over half the season (41+ games) in the NHL.

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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.

Despite a third consecutive season of disappointment in 2024-25, there were still a few bright spots for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Captain Sidney Crosby continued to show why he is still one of the best active players in the game - and one of the greatest of all time - by registering his record-breaking 20th consecutive point-per-game season. Wingers Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust both cracked the 30-goal plateau and enjoyed career years. Young prospects in Owen Pickering, Rutger McGroarty, and Ville Koivunen came up and showed a lot of promise, giving the Penguins’ future outlook a boost.

But another player who flew a bit under-the-radar was forward Blake Lizotte.

Lizotte, 27, was signed to a two-year deal worth $1.85 million annually by the Penguins in the summer of 2024. He spent his previous six NHL seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, establishing himself as a reliable, speedy, gritty bottom-six forward with a touch of offensive upside.

He brought much of that same energy to the Penguins last season despite an unfortunate run of injuries in the early part of the season, and he ended up with 11 goals and 20 points in 59 games - which are respectable numbers for a role player. And - interestingly enough - he registered a good chunk of those points in a brief elevated role as third-line center in late November into early December, registering five goals and nine points in a nine-game stretch between now-departed wingers Michael Bunting and Anthony Beauvillier.

Lizotte was taken out of that role rather abruptly, though, and the Penguins didn’t look back. And, given their potential roster situation heading into 2025-26, what should folks expect to see from the tenacious 5-foot-9, 173-pound center this season?

It’s safe to say that Lizotte is probably not going to see much of an elevated role beyond the fourth line, even if he showed flashes of capability last season. With Rust and Rakell still on the roster as of now, the Penguins simply have too much forward depth for him to be afforded that opportunity. Guys like Tommy Novak, Anthony Mantha, and Philip Tomasino are more likely to occupy those roles, and prospects like McGroarty, Koivunen, and Filip Hallander will also be in the mix.

What Will The Penguins' Bottom-Six Look Like This Season?If one thing is for certain when the Pittsburgh Penguins open training camp a month from now, it’s that they have a whole lot of players in the mix for precious few spots on the roster.

In other words, Lizotte will likely resume his post as fourth-line center. But, one big difference this season in comparison to last is that he may actually have the opportunity to play with linemates who could, potentially, bring out more of the offensive upside in his game. 

Last season, Lizotte largely played with Noel Acciari and the likes of Danton Heinen and Kevin Hayes. While guys like Acciari, Heinen, and Hayes bring their own respective sets of skills to a lineup, one thing they didn’t bring was footspeed, which is an element that Lizotte thrives off of.

Ideally, Lizotte would be centering an energy fourth line: One that is capable of getting the job done defensively but also turning things around quickly the other way. That simply wasn’t possible with the guys he was playing with for most of last season. 

This season should be a different story, however - especially if some of the younger guys make a serious push for the roster out of training camp, which would force the hand of Penguins’ management to offload some of the older bottom-six veterans who won’t provide as much future-focused value. 

Of course, Lizotte himself could be a casualty of that situation. The reality is that he does have more trade value than some of the other guys in similar roles who would face the same predicament. But Lizotte also provides more value to the Penguins as a player, which is something they’d have to consider should the need arise.

Penguins Forward Could Become Popular Trade TargetIt is no secret that the Pittsburgh Penguins are open to making trades right now as they continue to retool their roster. Bryan Rust, Erik Karlsson, and Rickard Rakell are three notable names who have been discussed heavily in the rumor mill this off-season. However, with the Penguins willing to make changes, it is fair to wonder if some of their depth players could end up moved, whether that is during the summer or the season. 

Assuming Lizotte would stick around, however, he may get the opportunity to have a full season next to Dewar - who displayed some chemistry with Lizotte last season and also plays a speed game - and a guy like Justin Brazeau, who the Penguins signed out of free agency as an energy player. And if things shake out a bit differently, even guys like Tomasino or Hallander might drop down into a fourth-line role, which would provide some offensive upside for the line.

Overall, Lizotte should be in a much better position this season to have better, more consistent linemates as well as more consistent deployment. Hopefully, his health will hold up, too, as he was on a 16-goal, 28-point pace - which would have represented one of his two most productive NHL seasons.

He will still block a lot of shots. He will still kill penalties with relative ease. He will still throw his body and play the responsible defensive game that folks became accustomed to seeing last season. But, hopefully, some fresh linemates will be able to solidify Lizotte's line as a solid two-way threat and elevate his offensive game.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have a pretty decent forward group entering the 2025-26 season, especially if they don’t make any trades between now and October 7, when they open the regular season against the New York Rangers. 

They have plenty of options for all four lines, and it may lead to head coach Dan Muse doing a lot of experimenting during the season. There are a lot of veterans who are expected to take up a good chunk of the forward spots, but Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen will be right there, too. They had a nice trial run to end the 2024-25 NHL season and looked NHL-ready after getting top-six minutes with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. 

It’s been a year since the Penguins traded for McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for top prospect Brayden Yager. McGroarty had been on the trade market since last year when he informed the Jets he wasn't going to sign with them, and the Penguins hadn’t been floated as a potential trade partner until they made the deal. It shows how secretive the Penguins' general manager and president, Kyle Dubas, is, as he doesn’t let much information leak out. 

McGroarty did enough during training camp to make the opening night roster, but only played in three games before he was sent down to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. It was evident that he needed more time for development in those games, and he got more than it during the year in WBS. He worked on all aspects of his game and was a different player when he came back up to the Penguins at the end of the season.

He scored his first goal against the St. Louis Blues on April 3 from a dirty area late in the third period to send the game to overtime, and got some great reps on Sidney Crosby’s line. His skating, which was a question mark heading into the season, looked much improved, and he finished the season with one goal and two assists in eight games. 

He will have to earn his way onto the opening night roster for this season, and if he does, fans will need to temper their expectations. It’s great that the Penguins have some legitimate young players to look forward to for this season and in the future. That said, people have to be realistic about what to expect. If McGroarty gives the Penguins 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points over an 82-game season, that would be a tremendous success. That’s almost a half-a-point-per-game pace in his first full NHL season. Is it good enough to win the Calder Trophy or be a finalist for it? No, but that was never the expectation for him heading into the year. 

The same can be said for Koivunen, one of the main pieces of the Jake Guentzel trade. Koivunen made his NHL debut last season when he came up with McGroarty and showed his playmaking skills right away. He compiled seven points, all assists, in eight games, and was good at both 5v5 and the power play. He spent time with both Crosby and Evgeni Malkin last season, and could get more time with Malkin since he was a good fit on his line. 

Koivunen only played 36:12 of 5v5 minutes with Malkin, but made it count. When they were on the ice together, they had a 54.9% CF% rate, 52.5% of the expected goals, 55% of the scoring chances, and 60% of the high-danger chances. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Forward Looks To Capitalize On Second-Chance OpportunityHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

Like McGroarty, if he gives the Penguins 10 goals and 20-25 assists for 30-35 points, that would also be a successful season for him. He’s more of a playmaker than McGroarty, but also needs a bit of work on his skating heading into the year. 

Both players are very intriguing pieces for the 2025-26 season and are in a good situation with Muse at the helm since he specializes in development. Muse has also coached McGroarty before during his time with the U.S. National Development Program earlier in his coaching career. 

McGroarty and Koivunen will be heavily watched during training camp when it starts in a few weeks and during the preseason when it gets underway at the end of September. 

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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. 

Next up? No. 13, where we take a look at an older forward prospect getting his second shot in the organization after an impressive Swedish Hockey League (SHL) season last year: Filip Hallander.

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#13: F Filip Hallander

Since he is already 25 years old, Hallander needs to prove he belongs with the Penguins more urgently than a lot of others on this list. And, arguably, he doesn't qualify as a true "prospect." But, for our intents and purposes, he does, as he only played in three NHL games and - aside from his time in the SHL - has only ever played in the Penguins' organization.

He was drafted by Pittsburgh in the second round (58th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, and he had a generally average stint in the organization from 2021-23, registering 25 goals and 61 points in 104 AHL games and no points in three NHL games. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Has Middle-Six UpsideHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

He departed for the SHL for the next two seasons, and that's really where he broke out. His first season was resemblant of those in WBS, but last season, he put up 26 goals and 53 points in 51 games for Timra IK, earning him SHL Forward of the Year honors. He also broke the Timra IK single-season record for points that was previously held by former Detroit Red Wing Henrik Zetterberg, which he set in 2004-05 with 50 points.

And although Hallander has always been somewhat known for his all-around play, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward really nailed down the details of his two-way game in those two SHL seasons as well. His performance earned him a second chance and a two-year contract with the Penguins' organization this offseason.

Quite honestly? It's difficult to project a floor and a ceiling for Hallander because of his all-around game. His positional and situational versatility make him a valuable asset, as he plays center and the wing and can be deployed in all situations. Realistically, his floor should be a relatively safe one, as he should be an effective bottom-sixer at the NHL level. 

Mål nummer 21 av Filip Hållander för säsongen som därmed tangerar Mika Pyröäläs föreningens målrekord i högsta serien #timraikpic.twitter.com/QT84Rw77oG

— Timrå IK (@timra_ik) February 20, 2025

But his ceiling is another story. His two-way game already brings a lot of value, but he has grown into his offensive game as well. He drives the net, is cerebral, forechecks well, passes and shoots with precision, and has higher-end skating ability. He has an offensive toolset that would serve a middle-six role well.

The main thing working against Hallander - again - is his age. But he has a pretty decent chance of making the NHL roster out of training camp, and if he does, fans should expect a reliable two-way contributor who could potentially blossom into a top-six role if his offensive game continues to grow.

Sleep on Hallander at your peril. He is certainly one of the organizational dark horses who could become a solid NHL player.

The list so far:

- 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

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Young Swedish Forward Has IntrigueHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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Almost as tough as it was seeing the Ottawa Senators return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for fans of the Detroit Red Wings was simultaneously seeing the Montreal Canadiens do the same. 

Thanks to their own young, emerging players, both Atlantic Division teams reached the postseason before the Red Wings did during their respective rebuilds.

The Canadiens also dealt the Red Wings a considerable in late December, taking four of a possible four points with back-to-back wins by a combined 9-4 score just days before the dismissal of then-head coach Derek Lalonde and assistant Bob Boughner.

Entering the first game on December 20, both teams carried similar records - the Red Wings at 13-14-4 and the Canadiens at 12-16-3.

Montreal managed to edge out Detroit by a 4-3 final score at Little Caesars Arena in a tightly contested affair, but then dominated the rematch just 24 hours later at Bell Centre with a convincing 5-1 victory, as the Red Wings appeared listless and offered little resistance.

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

From that point on, Montreal went 26-15-8 (including a record of 15-5-6 in their final 26 games) thanks in large part to the emergence of young core players like Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky. 

Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, a Holland, Mich. native, had an incredible rookie campaign and was awarded the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best first-year player for the 2024-25 season, while veteran Patrik Laine brought an immediate boost to Montreal's power-play. 

Fellow defensemen Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle took on larger roles, while Sam Montembeault took firm hold of the starter's reigns in between the pipes.

Montreal also got a pleasant surprise from rookie goaltender Jakub Dobeš, who became the first goaltender in team history to surrender a single goal through his first two career NHL starts and is now their full-time backup. 

While the Canadiens had a short stay in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as they were defeated in five games by the Washington Capitals, they feel they are now better positioned to not only return to the postseason, but to build on their successful campaign in 2024-25 and advance further this time. 

"We're better across the board by virtue of having such a young group that's gained a year of experience, a year of know-how," Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said. "They've learned a little more, especially with the playoff run. But I would say that from a period of time in the season, we were in playoff mode trying to get back into the race and then kind of finalize it. So I'm hopeful that that experience provides a boost to the roster for next season."

The Red Wings will face the Canadiens in the opening game of the regular season at Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 9, followed by matchups on Jan. 10 in Montreal, and March 19 in Detroit.

The opening game will also mark the return of former Red Wings forward Joe Veleno, who was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks last season for goaltender Petr Mrazek. This offseason, he signed with his hometown Canadiens after being dealt from Chicago to the Seattle Kraken, who bought out the final year of his contract.

Detroit will look to get their centennial season off on the right foot in front of the home fans of Hockeytown. As the Red Wings found out the hard way at the end of the 2023-24 season, literally every point matters. 

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The NHL’s 2025-26 season is now only a handful of weeks away, so it’s as good a time as any for THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site to break down expectations for every Sabres player next year.

This new series kicks off with this file – an examination of every Sabres player, and the expectations for each of them this coming season. Time will tell whether this Buffalo organization finally gets into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 15 years, and needless to say, that’s the overarching theme for everyone in this series. 

For no particular reason, we’re going to start the series with the Sabres’ goaltending. And in the first article in the series, we’re going to focus on presumptive starting netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

Player Name: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Position: Goaltender

Age: 26

2024-25 Key Statistics: 55 appearances, 24-24-5 record, .887 save percentage, 3.20 goals-against average

2025-26 Salary: $4.75 million

2025-26 Expectations: Despite losing his starter’s job to journeyman James Reimer in the last three weeks of the regular-season – he played only five times in Buffalo’s last 14 games – Luukkonen will almost certainly start the season as the Sabres’ starter. Clearly, management feels he can get back to the level he performed at in 2023-24, when he posted a .910 SP and 2.57 G.A.A., playing almost exactly the same number of games both last season and the season prior.

Sabres' Signing Of Veteran Goalie A Solid Gamble That May Wind Up Saving Buffalo's SeasonThe Buffalo Sabres' first day of the NHL's free-agent frenzy saw Sabres GM Kevyn Adams take some low-risk, decent-return gambles in signing mid-tier veterans like winger Justin Danforth and defenseman Zac Jones. But another Sabres signing could prove to be extremely important as the season goes on -- and that's the signing of experienced goalie Alex Lyon.

Also working in Luukkonen’s favor – his considerable salary. The Sabres aren’t paying him to be a backup. He’s going to get the reins out of the gate. But it’s telling that Buffalo signed an insurance policy of sorts in veteran Alex Lyon. It wouldn’t surprise us if youngster Devon Levi also got a run, especially if Luukkonen flames out. 

Indeed, the Sabres simply cannot afford to let Luukkonen have another down year. There is so much at stake, with coaching and management jobs on the line, and players’ long-term future with the team as well. So to say there’s a considerable amount of pressure on Luukkonen is a considerable understatement. 

Here’s the worst-case scenario: Luukkonen struggles again and Lyon or Levi take the starter’s job from him. What do they do with the financial commitment they’ve made to Luukkonen? He’s still got four years left on his contract, and Buffalo is already paying buyout money and cap space for Jeff Skinner’s monstrous contract for the next five years. Ownership won’t be crazy to pay someone else not to play for the Sabres.

Sabres Potential Trade Partner: Pittsburgh PenguinsThe NHL's 2025 off-season is here, and teams are going to be jockeying for trades and free agents in the coming days and weeks. And in this ongoing THN.com Buffalo Sabres site series, we've been examining potential trade partners for the Sabres.

But let’s look at a possible positive development for Luukkonen. If his numbers look as good as they did two years ago, he’s going to give Buffalo’s forwards and new-look defense corps a chance to win games more often than not. And if that’s the case, he’s going to look like a smart investment.

There really doesn’t seem to be much middle ground for Luukkonen this coming year. Either he re-takes the No. 1 job, or Sabres GM Kevyn Adams (or his replacement) finds a new home for Luukkonen. It may take Buffalo retaining some of Luukkonen’s salary to find him a new employer. But there’s almost always another opportunity for a cost-controlled young goaltender, and given that Luukkonen is still well shy of 30, some team will take a second chance on him.

No matter the outcome, it’s going to be a momentous season for Luukkonen. If he likes playing in Buffalo, there’s a clear road ahead for him to do that. But it’s on him, and the Sabres team in front of him, to dictate the future for both parties.

The Winnipeg Jets could begin eyeing Sabres’ Alex Tuch as a potential trade target to strengthen their second line if Gustav Nyquist continues to underperform. 

The Winnipeg Jets could be considering a trade for Buffalo Sabres winger Alex Tuch, who is reportedly available on the trade market. This move could serve as a reliable fallback option for the Jets’ second-line winger position if Gustav Nyquist continues his slump from last season.

The Swedish winger is coming off a career-worst season, putting up just 28 points across 79 games with both the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild. Some question if age is starting to play a factor for the 35-year-old but Winnipeg feels confident in taking a gamble. If the Jets want to remain competitive towards competing for a Stanley Cup, then they will need to make sure that their top six is firing on all cylinders like last season. The departure of Nikolaj Ehlers leaves a hole that could be fixed if Nyquist reaches his similar numbers to a season prior to last year when he put up 75 points. 

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If he fails to reach close to these numbers and looks similar to the Nyquist we saw last year, the Jets may need to consider other options. One of them being a right winger on an expiring contract that would likely enjoy the opportunity to play for a Cup Contender again in Tuch. 

The 29-year-old Syracuse native is entering the final year of a seven-year contract with a very manageable cap hit of $4.75 million. Over the past three seasons, he has produced 94 goals and 111 assists, totaling 205 points. Given his track record, Tuch brings both scoring ability and physical presence as a right-shot winger that the Jets could utilize on their second line.

If Nyquist struggles to find their footing, Tuch could step in alongside Jets veteran center Jonathan Toews and dynamic winger Cole Perfetti. This new-look line has the potential to provide balanced scoring and create matchup problems for opponents with the addition of a lethal goal threat like Tuch making it that much more enticing to attempt a deal. Winnipeg’s coaching staff is exploring ways to maximize the impact of Toews and Perfetti, and adding Tuch would complement their skill sets. 

Drafted 18th overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2014, Tuch was later traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. He spent four solid seasons in Vegas, consistently putting up 30 to 50 points each year while gaining valuable playoff experience. Tuch could come into a Jets lineup that is growing in playoff experience every season and take things to another level.

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In his first full season with Buffalo, Tuch scored 36 goals and added 43 assists for nearly 80 points in 74 games. Buffalo and Tuch have recently been engaged in contract negotiations, but if those talks falter, the Jets might be positioned to present an offer. 

Winnipeg could leverage some of its young talent, including young fringe NHL players like Nikita Chibrikov or Colby Barlow for an immediate jolt into the lineup. Acquiring Alex Tuch could serve as a dependable insurance policy for Winnipeg’s second line, ensuring scoring depth beyond the top unit. With Tuch’s combination of skill, size, and experience, the Jets would add a valuable piece to bolster their playoff aspirations.

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