The Hockey News’ NHL summer splash rankings are in the home stretch, with the Vegas Golden Knights in third place. 

Our rankings focus on each team’s off-season additions, departures, hirings and firings to see which teams improved, worsened or stayed the same. It's not necessarily who had the best or worst off-seasons, although there were exceptions at the bottom of the rankings for teams that did significantly less than expected, and there are a couple of squads in the top tier that did more than expected to prevent being much worse. 

One of the NHL’s boldest teams in its short history, the Golden Knights once again acquired a marquee-level talent. In 2024, it was Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin and San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl. In 2021, it was former Buffalo Sabres star center Jack Eichel. In 2019, it was Ottawa Senators right winger Mark Stone. So Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon wasn’t really shocking anyone when he made a trade this summer for former Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Mitch Marner.

Sometimes, a team ranks relatively higher in these summer splash rankings because they’ve made many moves. But in the case of the Golden Knights, sometimes one single move can elevate you to a higher level. As we’ll explore below, Vegas is now positioned to be one of the NHL’s most dangerous groups next year.

Additions

Mitch Marner (RW), Colton Sissons (RW), Jeremy Lauzon (D)

The Breakdown: The Golden Knights weren’t flush with salary cap space heading into the summer, but McCrimmon acquired the best pending free agent on the market because he made the cold-blooded choices to move on from a couple of veterans and expects to put another player on long-term injured reserve. 

Yes, Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon are footsoldier-type players who played for the Nashville Predators last season, but who’s kidding who – acquiring Marner as a 28-year-old who just put up 75 assists and 102 points last season is one of McCrimmon’s greatest coups.

Marner is an excellent two-way star who does a lot of things that help teams win – at least, in the regular season. But in Vegas, he’s going to be able to relax and be part of an organization that has plenty of Stanley Cup experience, good and bad. In Toronto, it was mostly bad, and that’s why Leafs fans will be watching closely this season to see if Marner can deliver in the playoffs in a way he never did with the Maple Leafs. 

If Vegas can unlock that next-level performance from Marner, the trade and lucrative contract extension will be well worth it. At both ends of the ice, the Golden Knights are better, directly as a result of what Marner brings to the table.

NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Vegas Golden Knights Have One Top-Tier ProspectThe Vegas Golden Knights are today’s focus in the NHL prospect pool overview series.

Departures

Nicolas Roy (C), Victor Olofsson (LW), Tanner Pearson (LW), Nicolas Hague (D)

The Breakdown: The Golden Knights had to pay a price to fit Marner’s enormous salary into their payroll, and that meant giving up on a couple of capable competitors in trades – Roy was sent to Toronto in the Marner trade, and defenseman Hague was traded to the Predators.

Roy’s experience as a gritty third-line center who puts up at least 30 points a season will be missed, as will the 17 minutes of physical defending Hague averaged per game. Pearson was a decent depth forward who had 27 points, while Victor Olofsson had 29 in 56 games.

Although he’s still under contract, defenseman Alex Pietrangelo’s health concerns make him a potential departure. 

Pietrangelo lived up to expectations since he came to Vegas from the St. Louis Blues, but all the miles on his odometer have caught up to him. He announced on June 30 that it’s unlikely his body will recover to the standard an NHL player needs to compete, so he could end up on the long-term injury reserve for the final two seasons of his contract. That hurts, since Pietrangelo still averaged 22:24 in ice time last year, and he produced 33 points from the blueline. But the Golden Knights’ depth on ‘D’ should help soften the blow.

The Bottom Line

The team that landed Marner this summer was always going to be high on these NHL summer splash rankings. Marner’s all-around skill set makes him worth the $12 million per season he’ll be making for the next eight years, and that move was the biggest home run of any NHL team this summer.

With Marner in the lineup, his creativity and finesse game will change what Vegas is as a team, but Vegas will also change who Marner is as a player. At least, that’s the plan for Marner. And we see it as a solid plan.

The Golden Knights are focused on being a legitimate Cup threat once again, and acquiring Marner makes them exactly that.

Summer Splash Rankings

3. Vegas Golden Knights

4. Carolina Hurricanes

5. Anaheim Ducks

6. Philadelphia Flyers

7. Vancouver Canucks

8. San Jose Sharks

9. Utah Mammoth

10. New York Rangers

11. Detroit Red Wings

12. New Jersey Devils

13. St. Louis Blues

14. Pittsburgh Penguins

15. Colorado Avalanche

16. Ottawa Senators

17. Boston Bruins

18. Edmonton Oilers

19. Minnesota Wild

20. Seattle Kraken

21. Columbus Blue Jackets

22. Washington Capitals

23. Nashville Predators

24. New York Islanders

25. Tampa Bay Lightning

26. Toronto Maple Leafs

27. Dallas Stars

28. Calgary Flames

29. Los Angeles Kings

30. Winnipeg Jets

31. Chicago Blackhawks

32. Buffalo Sabres

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It's Friday, Ask The Maven Time. Today's question is from Jim Resnick of Flatbush: (Take it away, Jim.)

WHICH DIVISION IS THE STRONGEST  IN THE NHL? 

The Maven Replies: It has to be the Atlantic; no questions asked. Start with the fact that it's home to the two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Not that long ago, the Atlantic's Tampa Bay Lightning won two straight Stanleys. While the Maple Leafs never win the prize – and may never - Toronto, the NHL's richest team, always delivers a formidable entry. Likewise, the youth-filled Senators and Canadiens threaten to become serious Cup challengers next season and for many seasons thereafter. 

It's a tie for the runner-up. The Central Division and Pacific have a lot to boast about. Edmonton's McDavid-Draisaitl combo went to the Final twice in two years. And Vegas won a Cup not very long ago. On the other hand the Central's Stars, Avalanche and Jets have been strong in their own right.

This should not be taken as a slight to the Metropolitan Division. Take the surprising Alex Ovechkin-paced Washington Capitals as Exhibit A for strength in the Met. Nor were the Hurricanes a slouch either; they never are; and the Devils are an up and coming team. But, when the Islanders and Rangers both miss the postseason, it's cause for reflection – and the reason why the Met comes in close-to-the-third fourth!

Bottom Line: As long as Florida keeps winning Cups, the Atlantic stays on top!

It’s been a busy offseason for general manager Kent Hughes. The Montreal Canadiens GM stole the show at the NHL draft when he acquired Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, before sending Cayden Primeau to the Carolina Hurricanes and Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for some much-needed help up front.

He also signed all of his RFAs and got some help on the free agency market in Samuel Blais, Joe Veleno, and Kaapo Kahkonen. When he put pen to paper with defenseman Jayden Struble, he signed the last contract he had to sign this offseason, but there’s one contract Canadiens’ fans would like to see sorted out in advance: Lane Hutson’s.

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Earlier this week, RG.org’s Marco D’Amico wrote that the negotiations are already ongoing between the two sides and that the relations are very cordial. He has that right now; the sticking point is to agree on the correct term and the right price tag, which makes sense. D’Amico also adds that the best comparables for Hutson shouldn’t be new teammate Dobson and his $9.5M cap hit, but young stud defensemen who signed the second deal of their career coming out of their ELC, like Ottawa Senators’ Jake Sanderson or Minnesota Wild's Brock Faber.

While that makes perfect sense from a business standpoint for Hughes and the Canadiens, one fact remains. Those young players signed their deal before the astronomical rise in the salary cap came into play and before the new CBA came into effect with its new limitation on contract terms.

If Hughes and the Canadiens want to be able to sign Hutson to an eight-year deal, which they can do until the new CBA comes into force on September 16, 2026, they will have to compensate Hutson handsomely. While the young blueliner has very little leverage right now, given the fact that he won’t be eligible for an offer sheet next season, he does have the possibility to delay his signing until the Habs can only ink him to a seven-year deal.

Considering the way the salary cap is rising and how significant a role Hutson has shown he can play for Montreal, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him get a deal that’s very close to Dobson’s. The young blueliner has superstar potential, and it’s never been as obvious that Hughes wants him to be part of his team’s scoring. Keeping him for an extra year is well worth an extra million a year.

When Hughes spoke to the media about Dobson’s contract, he made a point of saying the defenseman was in a different situation than Caufield and Slafkovsky when they signed theirs, since the rearguard wasn’t just coming out of his ELC. Still, Hutson’s body of work speaks for itself; he has set himself in a category of his own.

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Last off-season, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed defenseman Matt Grzelcyk to a one-year, $2.5 million contract in free agency. In the end, it is fair to say that the Penguins got good value in this move, as Grzelcyk fit in nicely with the Metropolitan Division club. 

In 82 games with the Penguins this past season, Grzelcyk scored a goal and hit new career highs with 39 assists and 40 points. With numbers like these, the Charlestown, Massachusetts native certainly gave the Penguins solid offense from the point. He was also noticeably impactful on the power play, as he finished the year with a career-high 15 power-play points. 

However, even after putting together the best offensive season of his nine-year NHL career in 2024-25, Grzelcyk remains an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this off-season. Given the season he had with the Penguins in 2024-25, should Pittsburgh consider reuniting with him? 

If the Penguins signed Grzelcyk, he would have the potential to upgrade their left side, while also giving them another clear option for their power play. The Penguins also have over $13 million of cap space, so they could afford to bring back Grzelcyk easily. 

Yet, at the same time, the Penguins also already have plenty of left-shot defensemen signed for next season. They signed blueliners like Parker Wotherspoon and Alexander Alexeyev in free agency this year and have other left-shot defensemen like Owen Pickering, Ryan Graves, and Ryan Shea to work with. This is where fitting in Grzelcyk could be a challenge, especially when noting that they also have four NHL-caliber right-shot defensemen signed, too. 

Nevertheless, it is going to be interesting to see where Grzelcyk ends up landing this off-season. Given the campaign he had, he should be able to at least land a professional tryout (PTO) from an NHL club. 

Penguins New Goalie Is Big Breakout CandidateThe Pittsburgh Penguins added several new players to their roster this off-season. Perhaps the most intriguing of the bunch is goaltender Arturs Silovs.

The Chicago Blackhawks have several exciting young players in their system as they continue their rebuild. They will certainly be hoping that their promising youngsters can continue to develop in the right direction during the 2025-26 season.

We recently discussed how Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight was named the team's top breakout candidate for the 2025-26 campaign by The Hockey News' main site. However, Chris Meaney of NHL.com has now argued that another exciting young player is Chicago's top fantasy hockey breakout candidate for the 2025-26 season - forward Frank Nazar. 

Given the season Nazar just had, it is understandable that Meaney views him as the Blackhawks' top breakout candidate. The 2022 first-round demonstrated that he is already capable of producing solid offense at the NHL level, as he recorded 12 goals, 14 assists, and 26 points in 53 games during the 2024-25 season. These are good numbers, and it would not be surprising in the slightest if his offense goes up in 2025-26, now that he has more NHL experience. 

Meaney also noted that Nazar has the potential to be the Blackhawks' second-line center this upcoming season. Playing in a big role like that could certainly benefit the Detroit, Michigan native, as it would give the opportunity to have plenty of playing time. 

With Nazar getting better as this past season went on, it is certainly possible that he could build off that in 2025-26. It is going to be very intriguing to see if he can put together a big breakout season for Chicago from here. 

Blackhawks New Forward Is Interesting AdditionThe Chicago Blackhawks have made a few additions this off-season in what has been a pretty quiet summer for them. One of their moves was bringing back old friend Sam Lafferty, as they acquired him from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick back in July. This marked the third time that the Blackhawks have traded for Lafferty. 

In case you haven't heard by now, Pittsburgh Penguins' top wingers Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust are two of the hottest topics of discussion in NHL trade rumors this summer.

And that's all because of the impressive campaigns they put together last season.

For both wingers - each on the wrong side of 30, with Rakell, 32, one year Rust's junior - the 2024-25 season marked a career-best one. Rakell finished the season second only to captain Sidney Crosby in team scoring with 35 goals and 70 points, while Rust was just a tick behind him with 31 goals and 65 points. Both players are capable of putting the puck in the net, and they have each shown immense chemistry with Crosby.

Regardless of the uniform each will be wearing once the puck drops on the season - and, given that training camp is one month out, it's becoming more and more likely that both might still be donning Penguins' sweaters - it's fair to wonder whether or not each player is capable of replicating last season's production. While each would clearly be an asset to the Penguins if they don't wish to tank this season, they could prove just as valuable - if not more valuable - to a contending team if they can sustain the level of play they put together in 2024-25.

So, how realistic is that for each player?

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Rust has been consistent... but he's also aging

If one thing rings true about Rust - aside from, arguably, being one of the most underrated and least talked about players in hockey - he, like Crosby, has set a standard of consistency in Pittsburgh for a while. 

Rust wasn't always a top-six winger. In fact, Rust began the first several seasons of his NHL career as a bottom-six player who killed penalties and did a lot of the "thankless jobs," as former Penguins' head coach Mike Sullivan would so often put it. 

But he has sure blossomed into a top-of-the-lineup player. Even if Rust can be streaky at times in the midst of any given season, he has still managed to produce six consecutive seasons of 20 or more goals and at least 42 points. And those lower point totals have mostly coincided with injury-riddled seasons in which he missed chunks of time. Otherwise, he has sat right around or a tick below point-per-game. 

Can The Penguins Still Rebuild With One Of Rakell Or Rust Around?It seems like Pittsburgh Penguins' forwards Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust are the subject of Pittsburgh hockey news just about every other day at this point.

But that's part of the catch: Rust's injury history is quite a bit concerning, as - aside from 2022-23, when he played in 8`1 games - he has not appeared in more than 72 games in a season. Some of those seasons were shortened due to the Covid-19 lockdown and fallout from 2020-22, but he still missed a few games in those seasons as well. 

In addition, Rust is no longer a spring chicken. He's 33 years old, and the type of hardline, hybrid power forward game he likes to play hasn't exactly proven sustainable with age in the past. The reality is that Rust's production could fall off a cliff at any given moment, and he has three years left on his deal that pays him $5.1 million annually.

There are some factors like those to consider here - as well as whether or not Rust can sustain this level of play away from Crosby - but it's probably still a safer-than-not gamble to assume that he should be able to put together at least a few more solid campaigns, Crosby or not.

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Rakell's goal-scoring ability is serious... but so is his history

Here's something to consider about Rakell: Realistically, he should never be separated from Crosby while playing for the Penguins. He and the Penguins' legend are magical together, and Rakell potted 35 last year despite not even being deployed on Crosby's line in the latter part of the season.

In fact, that's how it's been for him since he arrived in Pittsburgh at the 2022 trade deadline. When he plays with Crosby, he can score goals. When he's away from Crosby, he can still score goals, but not quite with the frequency that 87's elite playmaking ability sets him up for.

But folks can go back even further than Rakell's Pittsburgh days to see that same pattern.

His best seasons with the Anaheim Ducks from 2016-18 were largely spent alongside another elite playmaking center in Ryan Getzlaf. And then - post-Getzlaf - his production dipped a bit for a few seasons, as some injury and nutrition issues weren't doing him any favors.

Do The Penguins Have A Legitimate Shot At McKenna In 2026?WIth the 2025-26 NHL season just around the corner, teams are looking ahead to their respective training camps beginning in mid-September.

But he was also void of a playmaking center who could set him up to finish, and he didn't really have that again until he was dealt to Pittsburgh. This isn't to suggest that Rakell isn't capable of creating on his own, as he definitely is. But he's capable of elite goal-scoring ability if he's paired with the right centerman.

Therefore, a repeat of last season - or even a near-repeat - largely depends on who Rakell is deployed with alongside with in the lineup. If it's another season alongside Crosby, there's no discernible evidence that Rakell will just forget how to score. And he would more than likely need to be flanking a playmaking center wherever he lands.

There may be a slight hint of co-dependence from Rakell, but he's still a very capable goal-scorer. Banking on his 2024-25 production again, though, might be a bit of a stretch.

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St. Nicklas: A Goalie's Best Friend - August 1, 1997 - Volume 51, Issue 42 - Chuck Carlton 

Before he turned three, Kevin Lidstrom had a good idea about how father Nicklas earns a living. Not that he’s terribly impressed, though.

“He knows that I play hockey,” the elder Lidstrom said. “He sees me on TV, but that’s no big deal. He knows that it’s Daddy and then he’ll go play with his stuff again. Like, whatever. Maybe in a few years, he’ll realize it more.”

In that regard, Kevin is no different than most of the NHL.

They watch Lidstrom log close to 30 minutes a night on defense, launch ferocious one-timers from the point, almost always win the 1-on-1 battles and they shrug. Whatever. Maybe it’s because he’s from Sweden, with the same blend-into–the-wallpaper personality seemingly indigenous to that Nordic country. Maybe it’s because he makes everything seem effortless on cue. Detroit Red Wings’ scout and former teammate Mark Howe opts for the former.

“It’s because of his personality,” Howe said. “He goes out and does a great job, but the media and everybody want to read about the players who are flashy and have the controversial quotes. He goes in, takes a shower, ices down and goes home.”

Lidstrom is the perfect poster boy for anonymous excellence. Red Wing teammate Darren McCarty was baffled by Lidstrom’s exclusion from a Norris Trophy finalist spot last season. “He’s always getting lost in the shuffle,” McCarty said.

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Well, almost. Coach Scotty Bowman, not one to gush about players, salutes Lidstrom. “He’s one of the more underrated defensemen in the league,” Bowman said. “He’s a much better defensive defenseman than people give him credit for. When you compare him to other defensemen in the league, he’s right there.”

That was the case this season. Although Lidstrom wasn’t a Norris Trophy finalist or first- or second-team all star, he might have been both if the voting had been done after the playoffs. Wings' captain Steve Yzerman listed Lidstrom and Conn Smythe winner Mike Vernon as the team’s post-season MVPs.

Wings’ associate coach Dave Lewis, himself an NHL defenseman for 18 seasons, points to the Red Wings’ near-constant use of Lidstrom. “He’s one of the top five or six defensemen in the NHL,” Lewis said. “He’s the first guy we think of to play in a situation. He plays the left side, the right side, he kills penalties. He’s on the ice at the end of the game and he’s on the power play. There’s no time when he doesn’t play.”

The Red Wings’ dependence on Lidstrom, already high, will certainly increase this season. The limousine accident and subsequent head injury to Vladimir Konstantinov has friends, fans and teammates focused on his recovery to a normal life with his family, not hockey. His return for this season, at the least, is highly unlikely.

Aggressiveness, which Konstantinov brought to the table every shift, is the one area critics fault in Lidstrom’s game. Teammates say the only time they’ve seen Lidstrom visibly angry is when he lost a game of Helicopter, a card game brought to the team by its Russian contingent. Even Lidstrom acknowledges his restraint can be mistaken for passivity.

“It’s a tough question,” Lidstrom said. “I think it gets back to the desire to win. Some guys really show it with their aggressiveness, fighting or big hitting. I’m not a big hitter. I don’t fight. I feel I have that inside. I can bear down in those situations and get it out. I think I would be a better hockey player if I could get it out more, be more aggressive and show it in different situations. It’s hard to explain how to get it out.”

Lidstrom finished last season third in scoring among defensemen with 15 goals and 57 points in 79 games. In the playoffs, despite needing 47 shots to record his first goal, he finished with two goals and eight points in 20 games. He and partner Larry Murphy saw the most even-strength shifts against Eric Lindros and the Legion of Doom in the Stanley Cup final. Lindros and power winger John LeClair were a combined minus-10 in the final.

“I try to think of teams in the league that wouldn’t want to have him,” Howe said, “and I can’t think of any. From all the games I saw, I thought Brian Leetch was very deserving of the Norris Trophy. But I thought Nick had a great season, especially in the playoffs when we needed him to play between 25 and 30 minutes and against all of the top lines.”

Growing up in Vasteras, south of Stockholm, Lidstrom played hockey in the winter and soccer in summer and studied to be an engineer. Like most Swedish players, he idolized Borje Salming, Sweden’s first quality contribution to the NHL. “He was my hero, my idol. He was the big guy back then,” Lidstrom said. “I had the opportunity to play with him in the (1991) Canada Cup. He was my partner. It was a big thrill with him being the legend he is, especially back in Sweden.”

Lidstrom was still available in the third round of the 1989 entry draft, part of the Red Wings’ heist of Europeans with later-round picks. Sergei Fedorov, Slava Kozlov and Konstantinov all were taken no earlier than the third round. Lidstrom came to Detroit in 1991, well versed in hockey and English, but still trying to learn North American culture. Countryman Johan Garpenlov, then a Red Wing, helped Lidstrom make the jump.

“There was a little bit of an adjustment, not as much as what our Russians went through,” Lidstrom said. “Sweden is getting more and more like America over here with fast food and everything. It’s real similar. Still, everybody has to make an adjustment. There’s the language. Even though I spoke English and understood everything, there are a lot of things there are different and words I don’t know. There are things maybe you guys take for granted that I had to learn over again.”

The hockey was second nature, despite adjusting to the smaller NHL rinks. He finished his rookie season of 1991-92 with 11 goals and 60 points and was runner-up to Pavel Bure of the Vancouver Canucks for the Calder Trophy. When Howe came to Detroit as a free agent, friend Brad McCrimmon had a scouting report. “He told me, ‘We’ve got a guy who's going to be one of the best defensemen in the league in a couple years,’” Howe recalled.

The second year was less successful for Lidstrom. He never got going and then had to adjust in mid-season to playing with Paul Coffey, acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in a trade. Partnered with Coffey, the highest-scoring and arguably the best-skating defenseman in NHL history, taught Lidstrom much and also forced him to be more disciplined. “Having Paul developed my game even more,” he said.

He bounced back with solid seasons and played in the All-Star Game in 1996 when he posted career highs in goals (17) and points (67). Along the way, he developed one of the best one-timers in the NHL.

“I think I started to work on it more and more after I came over here,” Lidstrom said. “1 don’t think I was shooting the puck as much when I played in Sweden. I was more setting other guys up for shots or down-low plays. Over here, my shots got better and better. We’ve been using it a little more, too. I’ve been kind of the guy, the puck gets to me and I shoot it. That developed after I got over here.

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The Detroit Red Wings were among the more active teams in free agency during the offseason, bringing aboard multiple new players including James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton, Ian Mitchell, and Jacob Bernard-Docker. 

However, the Red Wings weren't able to land any of the more notable names which included Mitch Marner, Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand. 

It was a tough reality that Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman acknowledged while addressing the early goings of their offseason on July 3.

"We didn’t even get a chance to talk to those guys (the top free agents)," he said. "They all signed with their clubs or were traded before free agency. Not much we can do about that."

Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights by the Toronto Maple Leafs immediately after signing an eight-year, $96 million contract. Additionally, the Florida Panthers managed to re-sign Ekblad, Bennett, and Marchand to new multi-year contracts. 

Continuing with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions was a difficult offer for Ekblad to turn down, especially given that he has been with the franchise since being selected first overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. 

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Ekblad had been linked to the Red Wings in the days and weeks leading up to free agency, and he could have earned even more in Detroit than the $6.1 million cap hit he ultimately re-signed for in Florida.

NHL Insider James Mirtle, a senior writer for The Athletic, disclosed that the Red Wings were “pushing” to land a big-name free agent and could have offered Ekblad a more lucrative contract.

"I know Detroit was pushing for some of the top potential UFAs this summer, but as mentioned above, a lot of them didn’t end up even getting to market," he wrote in a recent column. "Aaron Ekblad, in particular, could have signed for a much thicker average annual value in Michigan than the $6.1 million he took with Florida." 

Ekblad clearly felt that the appeal of playing for a Stanley Cup contender, combined with the familiarity of the only team he has ever played for, were important factors in his decision. 

The Red Wings had ample salary cap space entering free agency, which was aided by the trade of Vladimir Tarasenko and his entire $4.75 million cap hit to the Minnesota Wild. 

Currently, they still have approximately $12 million with which to work. 

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Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor has been named to the NHL Network's annual Top-20 list. 

Each offseason, amid the dog days of summer's slowest period through mid-August, the NHL Network slowly releases its list of the league's Top-20 players at each position. 

Released systemically and over a lengthy period of time, NHL Network compiles 20 wingers, 20 centres, 20 defencemen and 20 goaltenders in advance of training camp, sparking debate amongst NHL fans throughout North America. 

This time around, Winnipeg's top winger, Kyle Connor earned the honour of NHL Networks' No. 9 winger in the league. 

Entering last season as NHL Network's No. 45 player in the league, Connor blew up for a career-high 97 points in 82 games, while also scoring 41 times. He was ranked seventh in the league in goals scored and led Winnipeg with 56 helpers on the year. 2024-25 marked Connor's fourth-straight season of 30-plus goals. 

Connor, 28, has 284 goals, 582 points and 139 penalty minutes in 613 games for Winnipeg over his nine-year NHL career. 

NHL Network's full Top-20 Wingers list:

• Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
• Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
• Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
• Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
• Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
• Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth
• Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
• Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils
• Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
• Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
• Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
• Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
• William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights
• Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
• Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild
• David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
• Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

Back in December, the Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Justin Barron to the Nashville Predators in exchange for veteran blueliner Alexandre Carrier. With this move, the Canadiens gave their blueline a bit of a makeover, and it's a move that undoubtedly benefited them. 

After posting one goal, six assists, and a minus-14 rating in 28 games with the Predators before the trade, Carrier bounced back in a big way with the Canadiens. In 51 games with the Habs following the move, the right-shot defenseman posted two goals, 16 assists, 18 points, 120 blocks, and a plus-4 rating. With numbers like these, Carrier emerged as a solid part of the Canadiens' defensive group. 

Carrier's dependable defensive play undoubtedly gave the Canadiens' blueline a significant boost that it needed. Furthermore, because of his steady play, he also cemented himself a spot on the Canadiens' penalty kill.

Overall, the decision to acquire Carrier was certainly a good one for the Canadiens, and he should now build off his strong 2024-25 season with Montreal from here. It is clear that the change of scenery benefited him, and it is going to be very fascinating to see what kind of year he can put together in 2025-26. There is no question that he will be a defenseman that the Canadiens will continue to rely on as they look to continue to head in the right direction. 

Canadiens Have Interesting Potential Target In Kraken ForwardIt is fair to say that the Montreal Canadiens have had a strong off-season so far. They notably boosted their blueline by acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. They also acquired a young forward in Zack Bolduc, who has the potential to emerge as a top-six winger for them. 

Marc-Andre Fleury, a beloved figure from the Golden Knights’ inaugural season, officially celebrated his retirement from the NHL this past weekend. 

Friends from all over came together to celebrate Marc-Andre Fleury’s career & we already know it was a legendary one 🌸🐐
 
📸: reavo7five / vlaroseefleury (IG) pic.twitter.com/5yROtUloC5

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) August 11, 2025

“Flower” as he is more affectionately known, spent 21 seasons in the league, and is the second-winningest goalie in NHL history, with 575 career wins. He won three Stanley Cup Championships along the way with his first team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Following that, he became a key component in taking the Knights to their first Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, forever placing himself in the hearts of fans across the desert. Fleury earned himself the Vezina trophy in his 2020-21 season with the Knights having a 26-10-0 record, .928 save percentage, 1.98 goals-against average, and 6 shutouts. Over those four seasons in Las Vegas he played in 192 games and came out victorious in 117 of them. 

Though Fleury was eventually traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, his connection to Las Vegas never wavered. “Fleury 29” jerseys remained a staple among fans at T-Mobile Arena, a testament to the legacy he left. Fleury’s 500th career win, a 27-save shutout in his hometown of Montreal, came while wearing a Blackhawks jersey, making him just the third goalie in NHL history to reach that milestone. 

He closed out his career with the Minnesota Wild, mentoring younger players and still delivering his signature acrobatic performances. His final game fittingly was against Vegas during last season's playoff run. 

Fleury’s wife, Véronique, hosted a retirement gala bringing together NHL stars past and present to celebrate her husband's impressive career that spans four franchises. With Fleury hanging up his pads for good, the anticipated future Hockey Hall of Famer leaves behind a history of a great game—and an even greater heart behind it.

EDMONTON – When it’s time, it’s time.

The Edmonton Oilers know that timing is everything. They were on the wrong side of it when the dual offer sheets to Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway struck last summer. They were on the right side of it with the acquisitions of Jake Walman, Mattias Ekholm, and Zach Hyman.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

Not everyone who plays in the NHL stays in the NHL—one former Oilers player who knows that all too well is Patrick Thoresen.

Patrick Thoresen has announced his retirement from professional hockey.

Patrick signed with the @EdmontonOilers ahead of the 2006-07 season, making his @NHL debut on October 5, 2006. One week later, on October 12, Patrick scored his first career goal and would play 68 games in… pic.twitter.com/A2YChzclUa

— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) August 14, 2025

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Thoresen was an undrafted NHL player who spent time with the Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers. After collecting 24 points in 106 games, he would ultimately take his talents overseas to several different leagues and teams before calling it a career.

The former Oilers forward spent time in the Swiss League, KHL, SHL, and HockeyAllsvenskan. This last season was spent with Djurgardens IF of the HockeyAllsvenskan in 2024-25.

He was the leading scorer on a team that featured Marcus Kruger and recently drafted prospects Viktor Eklund and Anton Frondell. Thoresen recorded 41 points in 48 games.

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Is it October yet? 

Unfortunately, no, but we're here to help pass the time. From Aug. 8 to Sept. 1, The Hockey News Nashville Predators will be counting down 24 players in 24 days, profiling every current or potentially rostered player. 

Today's player profile is defenseman Justin Barron. 

24 Nashville Predators in 24 days series 

Adam Wilsby

Jordan Oesterle

Andreas Engulund

Cole Smith

Michael McCarron 

As an NHL prospect 

Barron entered the 2020 NHL Draft as one of the top defensemen in his class. 

He had spent three seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL, tallying 81 points in 153 games and helping the Mooseheads to an appearance in the 2019 Memorial Cup, which was hosted in Halifax. 

Barron was played in the CHL's Canada/Russia series and the top NHL prospects game and was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie team in 2018. In the NHL draft, he was selected 25th overall by the Colorado Avalanche.

He'd return to Halifax for the 2020-21 season, scoring 31 points in 33 games and competing for Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, finishing as runner-up. 

Professional career 

Barron joined the Colorado Eagles for their final seven games of the regular season in 2021, scoring four points in seven games. He also had three points in two playoff games.

The next season, he played the majority of games with the Eagles, tallying 20 points in 43 games. He made his NHL debut that year, playing in two games. 

In March 2022, Barron was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Artturi Lehkonen. He played five games with the Canadiens, scoring two points. For the 2022-23 season, Baron split time between Montreal and Laval, with the large sum of games being played with the Canadiens. 

He scored 15 points in 39 games with Montreal and 16 points in 25 games with the Rocket. Barron also returned to the international stage, playing for Canada at the IIHF World Championship. 

Barron split time again during the 2023-24 season, scoring 13 points in 48 games with Montreal and 11 points in 32 games with Laval. 

In December 2024, Montreal traded Barron to Nashville for defenseman Alexandre Carrier. Barron played 17 games with the Canadiens that season, scoring one point. 

In Barron's first year in Nashville, he had 12 points in 45 games. He is currently second year of a 2-year, $2.3 million contract. 

What role will he play this season? 

Barron already has an edge coming into this season: he's a righty shot.

The Predators have a lot of lefties but very few righties. While this doesn't have a huge impact on what the Predators can do on defense, it does help to have players on their preferred sides of the ice. 

Barron has yet to really break out. His best season was with the Canadiens in 2022-23, where he had 15 points in 39 games. He's also not taking a ton of penalty minutes, meaning that this could be a player the Predators look to amplify. 

Barron has done a lot of shifting back and forth over his career, so having him in one place for an entire season may allow him to find a rhythm he hasn't been able to establish during his career so far. 

If he can really find his game, the Predators could use him in some big spots. However, for now, he will likely be sitting in the bottom pairing between himself and Nick Blankenburg. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins added several new players to their roster this off-season. Perhaps the most intriguing of the bunch is goaltender Arturs Silovs.

The Penguins acquired Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks this past month. The Penguins needed more depth between the pipes, so seeing them take a shot on a young goalie like Silovs is entirely understandable. Meanwhile, the Canucks parting ways with Silovs was also easy to understand, as they have both Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen locked up long-term now.

The Penguins should now offer Silovs the opportunity to receive more chances at the NHL level, as he is projected to be their backup during the 2025-26 season. More consistent playing time at the NHL level should benefit Silovs, and it is a big reason why he is a clear breakout candidate heading into next season.

Silovs' excellent play during the playoffs this year with the Abbotsford Canucks should also create more hype surrounding him. The 2019 sixth-round pick was a huge reason why Abbotsford won the Calder Cup, as he had a 16-7 record, a 2.01 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage, and five shutouts. With his awesome play, he was also named AHL playoff MVP. 

With all of this, it is hard not to feel optimistic about Silovs heading into the 2025-26 season. If he continues to trend in the right direction with his development, he could end up being a solid piece of the Penguins' roster moving forward.

Former Penguins Forward Signs OverseasFormer Pittsburgh Penguins forward Joseph Blandisi is heading overseas, as he has signed a two-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.