Category: NHL

Just under a week before the two sides were scheduled for saiary arbitration, the Buffalo Sabres and defenseman Conor Timmins agreed on a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension. The 26-year-old blueliner was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a deal for veteran Connor Clifton and the Sabres 2025 second-round pick on day 2 of the NHL Draft last month. 

The St. Catharines, ON native coming off a 15-point season with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Penguins (3 goals, 12 assists) in 68 games was expected to get a slight raise from the $1.1 million salary he made last season, but with the cap going up and the Sabres buying an unrestricted free agent year, Timmins salary doubled to an AAV of $2.2 million. That amount is still $1.1 million less than Clifton’s 2025-26 salary.    

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Timmins ranks fifth in salary on the Sabres blueline, behind team captain Rasmus Dahlin ($11 million), Owen Power ($8.35 million), Bowen Byram ($6.25 million), and Mattias Samuelsson ($4.285 million), and ahead of the recently acquired Michael Kesselring ($1.4 million), Jacob Bryson and Zac Jones ($900,000). Although he will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams may try to be proactive and try to get Kesselring extended, after he was the main piece in the trade that sent JJ Peterka to Utah.

The signing of Timmins leaves the Sabres with one remaining restricted free agent in goalie Devon Levi. The 23-year-old is not arbitration-eligible and cannot be signed to an offer sheet, but after spending the last one-and-a-half seasons in AHL Rochester and the signing of veteran Alex Lyon to a two-year contract earlier this month, there may begin to be some concern of how motivated Levi is to sign a new deal with Buffalo.  

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo 

Apr 11, 2006; St. Louis, MO, USA; Nashville Predators forward Paul Kariya (9) skates up ice against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, MO. Mandatory Credit:Scott Rovak-Imagn Images Copyright © Scott Rovak

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Sep 19, 2006/vol. 60, issue 03

Nashville pull

Predators attracting prime free agents as Music City emerges as hockey hot spot

BY JOHN GLENNON

In the old days of NHL free agency, players generally considered one variable – money – when it came to signing with a new team.

While that’s still usually the case, the league’s salary cap has evened out many offers, meaning players also are looking for what makes them feel warm and fuzzy in addition to rich and famous.

The short-term result has seen the small-market Nashville Predators become somewhat surprising players in free agency during the past two off-seasons.

The trend began last summer when left winger Paul Kariya stunned the hockey world by choosing to sign with Nashville, continued this past June when center Jason Arnott picked the Preds and resumed last month when right winger J-P Dumont selected Music City over a number of other suitors.

Dumont signed a two-year deal that will pay him $2 million this season and $2.5 million in 2007-08.

“We had some offers, but I talked to (former Predator) Joel Bouchard, who played there a few years ago and he told me good things about the town and organization,” Dumont said. “He told me (Nashville) would be the best pick by far and he didn’t even know who the other teams were.

“He said those guys really know how to treat everybody as a family. I wanted to go somewhere where I feel wanted and welcome.”

Dumont, who became a free agent when Buffalo chose to walk away from a salary arbitration award of $2.9 million, was one of the last significant players on the open market.

Carolina also made a notable late addition by signing defenseman David Tanabe to a one-year, $900,000 deal, after Boston walked away from Tanabe’s arbitration award of $1.275 million.

With training camp fast approaching, only a few notable free agents remained; winger Anson Carter being the most prominent.

In Nashville, management and coaches were excited over the arrival of Dumont, who has scored at least 20 goals in four of his past five seasons.

“I thought our forwards were (already) good and now in my mind they’re the best forwards we’ve ever had,” said Preds GM David Poile.

Nashville also was pleased with its growing reputation as a players’ choice destination. Arnott’s signing process, for instance, actually began when his agent asked Poile why the Predators hadn’t been inquiring about Arnott, explaining Arnott had Nashville on his wish list.

Dumont seemed equally enthusiastic about his move.

“His interest was as great, if not more, than ours from that standpoint,” Poile said. “It points out two things: We’re a very competitive team and the city of Nashville is a great place to play.”

Only four players who don't wear visors remain under an NHL contract.

Two years ago, TheHockeyNews.com examined the eight players who were still playing NHL games without the visor on their helmets. Half of those players either retired or didn't play in the NHL in 2024-25.

The NHL introduced the mandatory visor rule in 2013-14. All players who appeared in fewer than 25 NHL games before that season must wear a visor "properly affixed to their helmet."

Of all the league's active players, 101 of them played games before the 2013-14 season. Of that group, 83 played at least 25 games. In fact, Alex Ovechkin had already played 601 games by that point. Corey Perry, Brent Burns, Anze Kopitar and Shea Weber, who hasn't played since 2021 due to injury but is under contract for one more season, each passed 500 games as well.

That said, all those longtime NHLers wear visors. Let's take a fresh look at the four active visor-less players before seeing who dropped off the list since April 2023.

Ryan O'Reilly, C, Nashville Predators

O'Reilly, 34, played 265 regular-season NHL games and recorded 45 goals and 82 assists for 127 points before the visor rule came into effect.

The 6-foot-1 center from Clinton, Ont., is currently an alternate captain on the Nashville Predators. He has two years left on his contract at a $4.5-million cap hit, and he's still bringing some scoring power and two-way play to the lineup. He followed up his 69-point campaign in 2023-24 with 21 goals and 32 assists for 53 points in 79 games in 2024-25. His 746 faceoff wins were the 11th-most in the NHL, good for a 55.7 win percentage.

O'Reilly is also 48 games away from 1,200 in his NHL career.

Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas Stars

Benn, 36, has been the Dallas Stars' captain for as long as the visor rule's been in effect. Before 2013-14, he had 82 goals and 111 assists for 193 points in 263 games.

The 6-foot-3 left winger from Victoria, B.C., re-signed with the Stars on a one-year contract with a $1-million cap hit and $3 million worth of performance bonuses – $500,000 each at 20, 30, 50 and 60 games played, $500,000 for winning the third round and another $500,000 for winning the Stanley Cup while playing in at least half of his team's playoff games. 

After recording 78 points in 2022-23 and 60 points in 2023-24, Benn put up 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points in 80 games this past season while winning 56 percent of his faceoffs, going 296-for-529. He's eight games away from 1,200 in his career, one goal away from 400 and 44 points away from 1,000.

Zach Bogosian, D, Minnesota Wild

Bogosian, 35, played 297 games before mandatory visors became grandfathered in, recording 34 goals and 69 assists for 103 points.

Bogosian played 81 games in 2024-25, which ties a career high set initially with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009-10, his sophomore season. He had four goals and 12 assists for 16 points with the Minnesota Wild in 2024-25. He averaged 15:48 of ice time and had 80 blocked shots and 81 hits.

The 6-foot-3 blueliner from Massena, N.Y., has one season left on a two-year contract worth $1.25 million annually.

Ryan Reaves, RW, San Jose Sharks

Reaves, 38, played 131 games and recorded nine goals, five assists, 14 points and 281 penalty minutes before 2013-14. His 29 major penalties are the most among the NHL's active players who played before the visor rule took effect.

The 6-foot-2 right winger from Winnipeg still has the most major penalties among active players to date, with 93. He's arguably the most feared fighter in the NHL, with Georges Laraque, Andrew Peters and Craig Rivet each ranking him as the league's top active fighter in 2023.

After recording two assists in 35 games, the Toronto Maple Leafs put Reaves through waivers in March and traded him to the San Jose Sharks on July 10. He has one season left on a three-year contract with a $1.35-million cap hit.

Who Else Was In The Final Eight?

Jordie Benn, Zack Kassian, Milan Lucic and Matt Martin were among the final eight visor-less NHL players in 2022-23.

Jordie Benn, 38, is now a development coach and amateur scout on the Stars, recently working with the team's prospect pipeline at development camp. He retired from professional hockey in September 2024.

Martin, 36, retired on June 24 after playing 987 regular-season games and recording 3,936 hits, the second-most in the NHL since 2005-06 when the stat was first tracked. The New York Islanders hired him as a special assistant to GM Mathieu Darche.

Kassian, 34, retired from the NHL in October 2023 and played eight games in Czechia in 2023-24. He spent the 2024-25 season as a pro scout with the Edmonton Oilers.

Lucic, 37, last played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins in October 2023. He took a leave of absence from the Bruins after being arrested on a domestic violence charge, but the case was later dismissed. His partner, Brittany Lucic, posted a photo of her and Milan Lucic smiling to Instagram on July 22, with the caption saying, "healing is real... and it's exactly what this world needs more of."

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Daniel Brown, the lawyer for former Ottawa Senator Alex Formenton, made a statement to the media this week after his client was found not guilty of sexual assault charges. Formenton and four other members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior Team were accused of sexual assault by a then 20-year-old woman in a London, Ontario hotel room.

Brown said in his statement that London Police "got it right" when they first investigated this case seven years ago and decided then not to lay charges against Formenton.  Brown asserts that it was political and media pressure that brought the case back into the spotlight, and the Crown Attorney knowingly forged ahead with a hopeless prosecution.

Here is Brown's full statement:

Alex Formenton was barely 18 years old, on the verge of a promising hockey career that came to a screeching halt on June 18th, 2018, after what was meant to be a night of celebration with coaches in two minutes.

For the last seven years, he's lived under a dark cloud.

The public now knows what Alex has always maintained, that he is completely innocent of this false allegation. But only after his case has erupted into a massively publicized social cause.

Alex's face has appeared on millions of screens and newspaper pages, and there can be little doubt that an untold number of people out there believed he was guilty simply because he was accused of a crime, long before any evidence was presented in court.

This rush to judgment, to believe the worst of people, is one of the most regrettable of human traits. So, too, is our reluctance to change that opinion, even when it's proven wrong, after a full and fair trial.

Notwithstanding, just as Justice Carroccia’s unequivocal exoneration of Alex today, there will inevitably be those who will still believe he committed a crime.

Nobody in room 209 that night has emerged unscarred from this event. The criminal court process is a bruising experience for everyone, but never more than when a case's high profile incorporates such high stakes.

In Alex's case, he was condemned and felt banished from society. This experience for him has been crushing. Nonetheless, the impact of this case has changed Alex as a person, and he's matured well beyond his years.

It is inevitable that some people will not forgive Alex for what he was accused of doing. Others, however, will understand that this tragic matter rightly comes to an end today.

Alex has never minimized his role in the sexual encounter, or denied engaging in consensual sexual activity with the complainant. He fully cooperated with the police investigation, and provided investigators with a complete account of his behavior back in 2018.

Alex's narrative isn't conjecture. His police statement was corroborated at trial by several crown witnesses, by video evidence, and was even supported in large measure by the complainant’s evidence herself.

Even Justice Carroccia said today that she accepted that Alex told the truth in that police statement. And while no police investigation is perfect, the London police got it right seven years ago when they decided it would be a mistake to charge Alex.

The evidence always demonstrated that he didn't commit a sexual assault. However, political and media pressure brought this allegation back into the spotlight in 2022, and the Crown Attorney knowingly forged ahead with a hopeless prosecution.

Besides the human toll on everyone involved, this lengthy legal process exhausted valuable resources that could have been deployed elsewhere in the justice system, but were lost here.

Alex, his family, and his defense team are grateful to Justice Carroccia for her careful consideration of all the evidence that was presented at this trial. She's reached a just and correct verdict that must be respected.

Nobody disputes that sexual assault is a terrible societal plague, and Alex sincerely hopes that this prosecution doesn't stop the quest to combat sexual violence and to bring genuine offenders to justice.

However, an accusation is just that, an accusation. This case stands to the fact that we must never lose sight of the fundamental right to be presumed innocent. Now more than ever before, a fair response to sexual assault claims requires a balanced perspective and public trust in the decision-making of the courts.

Anything less only harms the justice system and the cause of eliminating sexual violence.

---

The complainant's lawyer, Karen Bellehumeur, said on Thursday her client was very disappointed with the judge's evaluation of the evidence, which the judge described as not credible or reliable.

"When a person summons the courage to disclose their story, the worst possible outcome is to feel disbelieved. It's a gutting experience that no one deserves. That's why today's verdict is so devastating. E.M. did everything in her power to recount her experience honestly and to the best of her ability.

"She agreed to do everything asked of her by the criminal justice system. She spoke to the police whenever requested, she reviewed her evidence, she prepared her testimony, she answered every question, she spoke with intelligence and from her heart.

"Yet it was not enough."

---

It's not clear yet whether Formenton will now attempt to resume a pro hockey career. The 26-year-old is an RFA whose playing rights are still held by the Senators. The CBC reported that there are court documents that indicate Formenton has embarked on a career in construction and has moved on from hockey. Whether his acquittal alters those plans remains to be seen.

If he does decide to return to hockey, he could return to play professionally in Switzerland, where he spent parts of two recent seasons, or somewhere else in Europe, the NHL says all five players remain ineligible to play in their league until they can thoroughly review the judge's findings.

The NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) has issued a statement saying that Formenton, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, and Michael McLeod should be ruled eligible to play, particularly after they’ve already missed more than a full season. The union also raised concerns that the findings could be inconsistent with the disciplinary procedures outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

This article orginally appeared at The Hockey News Ottawa, where you'll find all the latest Senators news:
2018 World Junior Trial Ends: Former Senator Alex Formenton Found Not Guilty
Croatia's NHL Trailblazer: Sens Prospect Bruno Idžan Takes NHL Road Less Travelled
Can The Senators Count On Dylan Cozens To Consistently Produce?
Senators Re-Sign 2021 First-Round Pick To One-Year Deal
Why Mason McTavish Isn’t Coming Home To The Senators

American forward Peter Mueller, 37, has announced his retirement from hockey through the website of his last club, Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga.

A former NHLer, Mueller had played continuously in Europe since 2013 and was on his second tour of duty in Brno. Last season, he had 36 points in 36 regular season games and then 13 points in 20 playoff games. Mueller’s first-period goal in Game 7 of the finals against Dynamo Pardubice turned out to be the series-winner in a 3-0 Kometa victory.

In May, Mueller signed a contract extension with Kometa but has apparently had second thoughts about that decision this summer due to ongoing back issues.

“This is an unexpected decision for us,” said Kometa GM Libor Zábranský. “I have been in contact with Peter for the last 14 days and I respect his decision. Of course, we will miss him and it will be difficult to replace him at this time, but that’s just the way it is. We all wish his entire family only the best for the next stage of their lives.”

Eighteen years. Eighteen years of ups and downs, lots of different countries, different places, different styles and many adventures that always meant chasing the title.

I would like to take this opportunity to officially end my hockey career. Being able to play at the highest level for eighteen years and allowing hockey to take me and my family around the world has been the greatest gift I can imagine. Meeting amazing people along the way has turned into lifelong friendships. Thank you to all the organizations that believed in me and gave me the opportunity to play.

I would like to thank my parents for introducing me to hockey. The early morning wake-ups, the long car rides, and the lakes to skate on whenever it froze. They were the first to believe in me and always supported me.

To my wife Taylar and children Charlie and Rosie, thank you for being with me on this adventure and being my biggest fans. Thank you for always supporting me and keeping me going on bad days. You tried to take my mind off hockey when I needed it. Your support on this journey has been truly amazing and I couldn't have done it without you.

I have been incredibly lucky to play this sport professionally for eighteen years and I look forward to what is to come.
And thank you, Libor, for your trust, for believing in me and allowing me to play for more than twenty minutes (smile). Under your leadership, I experienced some of my most fun years in hockey and I am forever grateful to you for that. I will always be here to support Kometa!

- Peter Mueller

Originally from Bloomington, Minn., Mueller starred in junior hockey for the WHL’s Everett Silvertips and was chosen eighth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

However, he never lived up to his potential in the NHL. He recorded 54 points his rookie season in 2008-09, but was never able to reach that total again. In 297 NHL games over six season with the Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers, Mueller scored 63 goals and added 97 assists for 160 points with 98 penalty minutes. He also went to the training camps of the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins.

Former Pens, Avs Defenseman Signs In CzechiaCzech-Canadian defenseman John Ludvig, 24, has signed a one-year contract with Dynamo Pardubice, the Czech Extraliga club announced on Wednesday.

Internationally, Mueller has represented the USA at two U-18 World Championships (winning gold in 2005), two World Junior Championships and two senior men’s World Championships.

In his first tour of duty with Kometa, he was the Extraliga MVP in 2018-19 and led the league with 64 points in 2020-21.

In addition to Kometa, Mueller also played in Switzerland for the Kloten Flyers, in Sweden for the Malmö Redhawks, in Austria for Red Bull Salzburg, in Czechia for HC Vítkovice and in Germany for Grizzlys Wolfsburg.

Photo © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images.

Kometa Brno Returns To Top Of Czech Extraliga Kometa Brno is once again the champion of the Czech Extraliga, defeating Dynamo Pardubice 3-0 in the seventh and decisive game of the finals on Tuesday night in Pardubice. It was the second series in a row that the team won a seventh game on the road.

The Buffalo Sabres avoided arbitration with former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Conor Timmins, signing him to a two-year contract on Sunday. Timmins filed for salary arbitration just days after Buffalo acquired his rights, along with defenseman Isaac Belliveau, in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins for a second-round pick and defenseman Connor Clifton. The defender was previously scheduled for arbitration on August 2, according to PuckPedia.com, had he not been able to come to terms with the Sabres before then.

Timmins doubled the value of his previous two-year contract with the Leafs, which paid him $1.1 million AAV, by signing for $2.2 million AAV with the Sabres. The 26-year-old is coming off a career-high in games played last season (68) following a career that had been filled with injuries. With the Leafs, Timmins had two goals and six assists in 51 games before he was dealt, along with forward Connor Dewar, to the Pittsburgh Penguins \as part of a three-way deal and salary-cap clearing move that brought defenseman Brandon Carlo to Toronto.

Earlier this summer, Timmins shared his excitement about joining the Sabres, having grown up watching games in Buffalo since he is from nearby St. Catharines, Ontario. He will also be in proximity to several of his former Maple Leafs teammates. Timmins took to Instagram earlier this month, enjoying the Coldplay concert in Toronto with former Toronto teammates Bobby McMann and Joseph Woll.

Conor Timmins Shares Photos Attending Coldplay Concert In Toronto With Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann And Joseph WollToronto was abuzz with Coldplay's four recent concerts at the new Rogers Stadium, but for Maple Leafs fans, an extra layer of excitement came courtesy of defenseman Conor Timmins. Earlier this week, Timmins, now with the Buffalo Sabres but clearly still close with his former teammates, shared photos on Instagram of himself, Bobby McMann, and Joseph Woll soaking in one of the shows. Timmins even playfully dubbed the newly created venue 'Middle Of Nowhere' in his post.

Timmins has played 101 of his 159 NHL games with Toronto over three seasons, scoring five goals and adding 27 assists while averaging 16:04 of ice time. With the Sabres, Timmins currently slots in as a projected third-pair defenseman.

(Top image credit Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

Earlier this off-season, the Pittsburgh Penguins traded defenseman Conor Timmins and prospect Isaac Belliveau to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for blueliner Connor Clifton and a second-round pick. 

Now, after being a restricted free agent (RFA) over the last few weeks, Timmins and the Sabres have come to terms on his new contract. The Sabres have announced that they have signed Timmins to a two-year, $4.4 million contract. With this, the former Penguins defenseman will carry a $2.2 million cap hit for the Sabres until the end of the 2026-27 season. 

Timmins and the Sabres were scheduled to go to arbitration soon, but they have now avoided it by getting this new contract finalized. 

Timmins appeared in 68 games this past season, split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Penguins, where he posted three goals, 12 assists, 15 points, 55 hits, and a plus-11 rating. He notably improved his play after being traded to the Penguins, as he had one goal, six assists, seven points, and a plus-9 rating in just 17 games with the Metropolitan Division club. 

Now, Timmins will look to be a solid part of the Sabres' blueline after getting this nice two-year deal. There is no question that the Sabres need help on the right side of their defense, and it will be intriguing to see if the former Penguin can help them on that front from here. 

Exciting Penguins Prospect Is Big Player To WatchThe Pittsburgh Penguins have plenty of promising youngsters in their system as they focus on the future. One of them is defenseman Owen Pickering, as many believe that the 2022 first-round pick will emerge as a key part of the Penguins' blueline for many years to come. 

Photo Credit:  © Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

With 78 days to go until opening night at Nationwide Arena, there's only one person to talk about - Damon Severson. 

One of the hot topics going into this offseason was Damon Severson, the right-shot defenseman who was traded to Columbus by New Jersey for a 3rd-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, June 9, 2023. He was sent to Columbus in a sign-and-trade with a contract of 8 years, for $6,250,000 per season. 

Before coming to Columbus, Severson spent nine seasons with the New Jersey Devils, after being chosen 60th overall by the Devils in the 2012 NHL Draft. Severson was essentially let go by the Devils after the 2023 season because they weren't going to be able to afford him. After helping the Devils through a rebuild, it was time to pay some younger guys to step in, so he became expendable. 

His first season with Columbus wasn't terrible, minus missing games due to injury. He played in 67 games, had 9 goals, 28 points, and 51 PIMs. 

In his second season, however, the wheels would come off a bit between him and Dean Evason. Towards the end of the season, with a relatively healthy blue line, and with star rookie Denton Mateychuk playing well, Severson saw himself scratched a lot. 

After scoring 6 goals and totaling 25 points, Severson's last game of the season was on April 1 against the Nashville Predators. He would go on to miss the last nine games of the season as a healthy scratch. The last goal he scored was on December 6, 2024, and his last assist was on March 21. 

Despite all that, Don Waddell is in a position to keep Severson and try to get him to play better, as his options are limited to basically nothing. 

Severson and his contract probably can't be traded due to its value, and he isn't a buyout candidate at all. You can read about buying him out and why it won't happen below.

The NHL Buyout Window Is About To Open; Will The Blue Jackets Use it?Now that the Florida Panthers have won the 2025 Stanley Cup, the offseason will get into full swing, and the first piece of business will the NHL's buyout window. 

The Jackets also re-signed Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro a few weeks ago, so that puts even more pressure on Damon Severson to get better. The CBJ will have Erik Gudbranson, Denton Mateychuk, and Damon Severson, who are right-shot defensemen, plus Ivan Provorov, who is a left-shot D, but can play the right side just as well as he can the left. At exit interview day, he even mentioned that not too many guys can play both sides as well as he can. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Damon Severson must find a way for him to be better this season. They have guys that can play in case he's not, but the team is better when Damon Severson is playing up to his talent level. 

Here's the scouting report on Damon Severson:

Damon Severson is a right-shot, two-way defenseman known for his offensive upside and solid skating, but also for his occasional defensive lapses and turnovers. He's a reliable player in his own zone, using his body positioning and active stick, and can be effective in all situations, including power plays. While not a physical player, he can play a subtly physical game.

Strengths:

• Offensive Potential: Severson has a good point shot and passing ability, making him a threat on the power play and in transition.
• Two-Way Game: He's effective in both his own zone, using his positioning and stick, and in transition, with strong passing skills.
• Skating: He's a solid skater with good acceleration and agility, allowing him to skate the puck out of the zone.
• Intangibles: He possesses good hockey sense and is described as calm with the puck
• Experience: He has experience playing in all situations and against top-nine forwards.

Weaknesses:

• Defensive Consistency: He has occasional lapses in defensive zone play, leading to giveaways and turnovers.
• Offensive Consistency: While capable, his offensive production can be inconsistent.
• Physicality: He's not a player known for delivering big hits, though he can play a subtly physical game.

Overall: Severson is a solid, reliable defenseman who can contribute offensively and defensively. While he has occasional flaws, his overall game is well-rounded, and he can be a valuable asset for a team. He's a player who can be relied upon in all situations, but may not be a player who stands out with exceptional offensive numbers. 

Do you think Damon Severson will have a bounce back year?

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The Hockey News Sunday Recap: Columbus Blue JacketsDid you miss anything from the past week at The Hockey News - Columbus Blue Jackets? If you did, we have you covered with the Sunday Recap. Click on each card below to read the stories from the past week. 

Swedish Hockey League club Brynäs IF has called a press conference for Monday, at which time it is expected to announce the signing of veteran center Nicklas Backström, HockeyNews.se has reported.

For 37-year-old Backström, it would be a return to the club he played with from age 13 to 19. Backström has 73 points in 121 career SHL games, all for Brynäs. He last played for the Gävle-based club in 2007, the year after the Washington Capitals made him the fourth overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Backström, 37, has not played any competitive hockey since October 2023, when he played the first eight games of the season for the Capitals. At that point, he decided to pause his career, as his hip had not responded well to surgery in 2022, although he did not announce his retirement.

Backström recorded 271 goals and 762 assists for 1033 points along with 504 penalty minutes in 1105 NHL regular-season games between 2007 and 2023. He also recorded 114 points in 139 playoff games and was a major part of Washington’s 2018 Stanley Cup championship team, recording 23 points in 20 playoff games that spring.

Throughout his NHL career, he usually played on a forward line as winger Alexander Ovechkin, the league’s all-time leading goal-scorer.

It's official: Jakob Silfverberg returns to BrynäsIt was highly expected last week when Jakob Silfverberg of the Anaheim Ducks announced he was leaving the NHL and now it’s official. The Brynäs IF website has announced that the 33-year-old is coming home to the city of Gävle and the club he grew up playing for.

Despite just being promoted from the tier-two HockeyAllsvenskan last season, Brynäs finished first in the SHL regular-season standings and went all the way to the league finals, losing to Lulea in six games.

Brynäs has been busy this off-season building a team that should be again considered a front-runner for the title.

Just days ago, the Anaheim Ducks lent the team a pair of prospects – goaltender Damian Clara and forward Lucas Pettersson. The team has also signed free agent goaltender Collin Delia and former NHL first-round pick Kieffer Bellows this off-season.

Other players under contract for the coming season include Jakob Silfverberg, Johan Larsson, Robert Hägg, Oskar Lindblom, Michal Kempný and Christian Djoos.

Photo © Brad Mills-Imagn Images.

Ducks’ Italian Goalie Prospect Loaned Back To Swedish ClubItalian goaltender Damian Clara, has been loaned by the Anaheim Ducks to Brynäs IF, the Gävle-based SHL club announced on Saturday.

Earlier this week, the Chicago Blackhawks re-signed goaltender Arvid Soderblom to a two-year, $5.5 million contract. The Blackhawks and Soderblom were scheduled for arbitration, but they have now avoided that by getting this new contract done. 

With this new contract, Soderblom will now carry a $2.75 million cap hit starting next season, which is a nice raise for the 6-foot-3 goaltender. This comes after he recorded a 10-18-7 record, a .898 save percentage, and a 3.18 goals-against average in 36 games this past season. Overall, he took a step in the right direction in 2024-25, as he had the best save percentage and goals-against average of his four-year career thus far.

With Soderblom taking a bit of a step forward this past season, it is certainly fair to wonder if he could break out further and hit a new level with the Blackhawks in 2025-26. When noting that he is only 25 years old, the possibility of him doing so should not be ruled out. This is especially so when noting that he is still only 86 games into his NHL career. 

If Soderblom takes another step forward in 2025-26, it would certainly be good news for a Blackhawks team that needs all the help it can get between the pipes. Yet, time will tell if he can do just that after getting his sweet new deal. 

Blackhawks Top Prospect Is Big Breakout CandidateWith the second overall pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected defenseman Artyom Levshunov. This was after the 6-foot-2 defenseman put together a strong freshman season at Michigan State University, posting nine goals, 26 assists, 35 points, and a plus-27 rating in 38 games.

Photo Credit: © Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Red Wings fans anxiously await the arrival of high-end prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka on the main roster

The Red Wings are looking to make significant upgrades across their lineup with one more addition needed for the top six and more help on the blueline. They could look to add throughout the early preseason and regular season or they could look to give some rising prospects a chance for a spot on the main roster. 

One player on the mind of all Red Wings fans is 2023 first round pick, Axel Sandin-Pellikka. The Swedish defenceman is coming off another strong season with Skellefteå AIK in the SHL, tallying 29 points in 46 games, along with eight more points in 11 playoff appearances.

He carried that momentum into international competition, excelling at the U20 World Junior Championships with four goals and six assists in ten games, and adding 13 points in 12 additional international contests.

Now, he appears ready to push for a full-time NHL role and is likely to get a long look at the top level. He also gained some North American experience with the Grand Rapids Griffins, picking up a point over five games split between the regular season and playoffs.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka nets hat trick at World Juniorsundefined

He'll be involved in a very tight position battle for a right defence spot as the Red Wings have the top spot locked up with Moritz Seider followed by Albert Johansson and newcomer Jacob Benard-Docker in the second and third pairings. Defencemen Justin Holl and Ian Mitchell are also on the verge of making a spot but will likely operate as healthy scratch options in case of injuries. 

Sandin-Pellikka will be going against these defencemen that have already played and made an impact at the NHL level, which may make things challenging to break through. It'll likely take a chance from management for him to break through as many of the defenceman ahead of him have lengthy experience but are far from game-breaking players.

Red Wings' Chris Chelios Inducted into Michigan Sports Hall of FameFormer Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios to be Inducted into Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

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If they can put a 20-year-old in Sandin-Pellikka in a position to succeed with meaningful minutes, he could learn how to play at the next level and hopefully transition his game.

He could also take a slower approach like his fellow countryman did in Detroit with Simon Edvinsson. At 20 years old, he came to North America and played 106 AHL games across two seasons to adjust to the style of play, while also working into NHL games along the way.

Edvinsson would finally get a full look last season, where he played in 78 games with the Red Wings and recorded 31 points and a +12 rating. He is now fully developed and is poised to take a run at making the Red Wings top pairing with Moritz Seider. 

This sort of outcome would mean still a few more years away for Sandin-Pellikka, which nobody wants to hear, but it could be the best move for him as throwing him into a hostile environment could work out a couple different ways.

If it turns out like it did for Seider that would be a huge success as he won the Calder in the 2022  season with no prior North American playing experience. It could also work extremely poorly like it did for Vancouver's Olli Juolevi, who was a top five pick back in 2016 but was rushed to the NHL at 20 years old and never recovered, falling behind with his development.

Ultimately, it will come down to the Red Wings coaching staff to determine whether Sandin-Pellikka is ready and to give him the best opportunity to succeed. While fans would love to see an explosive NHL debut similar to Moritz Seider’s, the more realistic answer might be additional years of development. 

For now, Sandin-Pellikka’s strongest path to the main roster will be through a standout training camp and making the most of every opportunity. His situation adds an intriguing layer to the preseason, as many fans will be watching closely, hoping he can carve out a role that mirrors Seider’s rapid rise.

Detroit Red Wings 2025-26 Promotional ScheduleThe Red Wings announced their promotional schedule for the 2025-26 season

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You might not have noticed, which is odd considering the subject in question is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenseman, but Tyler Kleven was all over the place during the Ottawa Senators’ too-short-but-still-inspiring 2025 playoff run. His shot-pass from the point was tipped to tie the score in Game 2, his poised breakout led to another tying goal in Game 3, and his sense to jump up into the play and gain the zone led to the Senators’ overtime goal in Game 4.

And it should have come as no surprise to anyone who watched Kleven closely during his first full NHL season. The 23-year-old from Fargo, N.D., improved and had more of an impact as the season went on, and it’s a trajectory both he and the Senators count on continuing after Kleven signed a two-year deal in June that carries a cap hit of $1.6 million.

Considering the fact Kleven played only 53 games in the minors – all of which came in 2023-24 – he hasn’t exactly been a slow burn. The Senators have brought him along at a good pace, both at the AHL and NHL levels. But with almost 100 big-league contests and one playoff round now to his credit, Kleven feels at home as a third-pair defenseman with the potential to move up to the second pair down the road. “I felt like I definitely took some steps this season,” Kleven said. “In the playoffs, I got to play in different scenarios a little more than I did at the start of the year.”

This was no ordinary Stanley Cup run, this was a Rat Race! 🐀

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There is a sense Kleven hasn’t even come close to reaching his potential as an NHL blueliner yet. As is the case with all young players, he spent most of the season gaining the trust of the coaching staff and making low-risk plays that would not lead to mistakes. But he gained confidence as the season progressed, and that was evident in Game 3 of the first round against the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the Senators trailing 2-1, without a single third-period shot and from a defensive-zone faceoff, Kleven gathered up the puck and tried to move it up ice, but the pass was deflected by Max Domi. Kleven then calmly gathered the puck back up and skated a few strides before making a pass that helped set up Brady Tkachuk’s tying goal.

"With the caliber of player you're playing against, it's hard to go out and have an ESPN highlight-reel hit every night."

- Tyler Kleven

Both the Senators and Kleven are confident he has more in his arsenal. He had almost no ice time on special teams in the regular season or the playoffs, and there’s certainly an element to his game that lends itself to him being an effective penalty-killer. Even though he registered a respectable 105 hits this season, his college game suggests he’s a much more physically robust player. And while he can shoot it a ton, getting the puck on net has been an issue. He registered 78 shots on goal, but he also took another 75 that were blocked. “With the caliber of player you’re playing against, it’s hard to go out and have an ESPN highlight-reel hit every night,” Kleven said. “It just doesn’t happen like that. You wait for your moment, and once that moment comes, you take advantage of it. I thought there were times during the season that I showed I was a physical player, and in the playoffs, I was way more physical.”

Kleven spent much of the first half of the season playing alongside veteran Travis Hamonic on the third pair, then teamed with Nikolas Matinpalo once the latter was called up just after Christmas. Coincidentally, that was when Kleven’s game started to take off. That familiarity helped Kleven, who played much of last season with Matinpalo on the Senators’ AHL affiliate in Belleville.

With Nick Jensen expected to be out for some of next season after undergoing off-season hip surgery, there might be a chance for Kleven to move up in the lineup, depending on what the Senators do in terms of trades or signings over the summer.

One thing working in Kleven’s favor is that, even though he shoots left, he’s comfortable playing the right side as well. In fact, with the Senators’ system, he often ends up there as the play develops. And because he has such a long reach and stick, he’s adept at breaking up plays in the defensive zone. “On the right side, if they ever need someone to help out there, I got more looks toward the end of the season,” Kleven said. “My last 20 games, I got more looks there. In the offensive zone, I get to use my one-timer more, and I didn’t get to use that a ton. It takes a little time to learn, but I certainly don’t mind playing the right side.”

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This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have plenty of promising youngsters in their system as they focus on the future. One of them is defenseman Owen Pickering, as many believe that the 2022 first-round pick will emerge as a key part of the Penguins' blueline for many years to come. 

Pickering played in his first 25 games this past season with Pittsburgh, where he recorded one goal, three points, 13 hits, and 19 blocks. He also played in his 47 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, recording two goals, 11 assists, 13 points, and a plus-18 rating. Overall, it was a solid first professional season for Pickering, and he will now look to build off it in 2025-26 from here. 

When noting that Pickering has a ton of potential, it would not be surprising in the slightest if we see the 6-foot-5 blueliner take a notable step forward in his development next season. He now has a year of experience on his resume, so he could hit a new level now that he is more adjusted. Furthermore, the potential for him to have a good role on Pittsburgh's roster is there, as the depth on the left side of their blueline is not the strongest. 

With all of this, there is no question that Pickering is a breakout candidate to watch for the Penguins next season. If he takes a nice step in the right direction in 2025-26, it would be great news for a Penguins club that needs all the help it can get right now. 

Ex-Penguins Star Found Perfect Fit With New TeamDuring this past off-season, former Pittsburgh Penguins star forward Jake Guentzel signed a seven-year, $63 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. This was after Guentzel posted 30 goals and 77 points in 67 games split between the Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes during the 2023-24 campaign.

Photo Credit:  © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving is in peak-summer form.

The 55-year-old had a busy start to summer, signing a plethora of new players and dealing Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Nicolas Roy. He also made trades to acquire Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua, each of whom will fit into Toronto's depth quite nicely.

As we enter the unofficial middle of the summer, it appears the Maple Leafs' GM is getting in some much-needed time with his family. He made a cameo in his daughter, Reese's, TikTok on Friday evening.

Treliving, dressed casually with a pair of sunglasses in the TikTok, apologized, saying, "sorry we're late the girls we're throwing a fit," before his daughter and her friend stepped through the door wearing their outfits.

TikTok · Reese1175 likes, 63 comments. “#dinner 💗🥰✌️🥂@Paulina”

Even the Maple Leafs' social team commented on the TikTok: "Oh he does tik toks 👀," the team wrote.

Not only did the Maple Leafs trade for players like Roy, Maccelli, and Joshua this summer, but they also added several depth players, including Michael Pezzetta. Toronto got a majority of its work done before free agency, signing John Tavares, Matthew Knies, and Steven Lorentz to extensions.

They also traded Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Henry Thrun.

Report: Nick Robertson's Arbitration Hearing Date With Maple Leafs RevealedThere's a date for restricted free agent Nick Robertson's arbitration hearing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Tavares' contract came in at four years, $17.5 million, Knies' deal was a six-year, $46.5 million contract, and Lorentz's was a three-year, $4.05 million extension. Each of the deals got done after Toronto was eliminated from the playoffs in seven games by the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers.

Before the deals got done, the Maple Leafs selected six players in the 2025 NHL Draft, including Tinus Luc Koblar, Tyler Hopkins, William Belle, Harry Nansi, Rylan Fellinger, and Matthew Hlacar. Each of the six players participated in Toronto's development camp in early July.

Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton, Chris Tanev, Tavares, and Pezzetta are spending most of their summer in Toronto. The rest of the Maple Leafs' players will filter back into the city at some point in August before training camp begins.

'Always Working His Ass Off': Sharks' Ryan Reaves Praises Auston Matthews After First Year As Maple Leafs CaptainAuston Matthews might have had a down year with goalscoring, but there was growth in other facets of his game.

Toronto's first preseason game is against the Ottawa Senators on September 21 at 3:00 p.m. ET. The Maple Leafs will play six games before their regular season gets underway at home on October 8 against the Montreal Canadiens.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Cameos In Daughter’s TikTok While Juggling Offseason Duties

(Top photo of Treliving: @reese.treliving / TikTok

Last week, THN Florida began a series that will examine current members of the Florida Panthers who could someday have their number retired by the team.

The first player we discussed was probably the one most likely to have his jersey hanging in the rafters someday, and that was Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov.

This time, we’re going to take a look at the man who has been arguably Florida’s most important playoff performer.

The past six seasons in South Florida have been quite a roller coaster for Sergei Bobrovsky.

It was all the way back in 2019 when the veteran goaltender signed a massive 7-year, $70 million contract with the Florida Panthers.

He was viewed as a steadying force between the pipes that would backstop the team to the kind of success that the franchise had not seen, really, ever.

The kind of core piece that would eventually have his number hanging in the rafters.

Well, as it turns out, that’s exactly what has happened with Bobrovsky, but the path taken to arrive where we are now was more than a little rocky at the start.

Bob’s first few years with the Panthers were not his best, though the team in front of him was far from the defensive juggernaut that Florida can now be considered.

His incredible athleticism and propensity for flashy saves were not being utilized properly until Paul Maurice showed up in Sunrise.

When Maurice installed his physical, aggressive defensive systems, they came with a renewed vigor for the team to take away opportunities between the circles and clean up any second chance pucks before they can be whacked home on a rebound.

Florida’s ability to execute Maurice’s systems extremely well combined with Bobrovsky taking his game to another level during the Stanley Cup Playoffs have yielded some truly amazing results.

Now here we are, entering the final year of Bob’s deal, and he’s going to be remembered as one of the best players this franchise ever acquired.

Back-to-back Stanley Cup victories. A Vezina consideration. Conn Smythe votes. An All-Star appearance.

On the Panthers all-time goaltending rankings, Bobrovsky is second to only Roberto Luongo in games played, wins and saves.

Not only has Bobrovsky cemented himself as a future Hockey Hall of Famer, but it’s probably also safe to say that Bob will someday have his No. 72 hanging in the rafters in Sunrise.

Do you agree? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)