The Pittsburgh Penguins weren't big spenders during free agency last year and took a similar approach this year. They signed players to short-term contracts with the hope of giving them good value before potentially trading them to a contender at the trade deadline. 

One of the players they brought in on July 1 was defenseman Parker Wotherspoon. He was signed to a two-year, $2 million contract.

Penguins general manager/president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas really hammered home during multiple media sessions that he wanted to improve the left side of the defense going into next season, and he hopes that Wotherspoon can be part of the solution. 

He spent the previous two seasons with the Boston Bruins after starting his NHL career with the New York Islanders in 2022-23. Wotherspoon has played in 108 games, compiling one goal and 16 points. Offense isn't his specialty, but he's a good skater and can defend his own zone well. Those two things are what the Penguins will be looking for from him since they weren't good in their own zone last year.

As it stands, the defense as a whole isn't very good but Wotherspoon is still an upgrade on the left side over some of the options they had at their disposal last year.

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Featured Image Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Some of the greatest players in NHL history have donned the Winged Wheel, and over the years, Red Wings fans have been able to count themselves as some of the most fortunate in professional sports. 

After all, there are multiple fan bases who would do just about anything to witness their team win the Stanley Cup just once in their lifetimes, let alone four times in 11 years like the Red Wings did from 1997 to 2008. 

It could have been five in 12 years had the outcome of a certain Game 7 in June of 2009 at Joe Louis Arena gone a different way, but that's a topic for another day. 

Several of those aforementioned legends of the game were drafted by and spent their entire NHL careers with in Detroit. Names like Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, and Henrik Zetterberg never played a game in the NHL for any team other than the Red Wings. 

But there were also plenty of other legendary figures who were part of multiple Stanley Cup-winning editions of the Red Wings who got their starts elsewhere. 

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While there are multiple players who fit that bill, here are the first four we'll look back on. 

Brendan Shanahan

One of the most clutch goal scorers the Red Wings boasted in the last 30 years, Shanahan originally began his career on the East Coast after being selected by the New Jersey Devils with the second overall pick in 1987. 

He would eventually sign with the St. Louis Blues in 1991, and his goal scoring began to take off. In his second and third seasons with the Blues, he scored 52 and 51 goals, respectively. And after a brief tenure with the Hartford Whalers, the Red Wings decided to make one of the most impactful deals in their history. 

Shanahan was obtained on October 9, 1996 after the Red Wings had already started the 1996-97 season. Detroit sent future Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey along with forward Keith Primeau back to the Whalers, and Shanahan would arrive at Joe Louis Arena literally minutes before the Red Wings hit the ice for warmups in their 1996 home opener against the Edmonton Oilers. 

The rest, as they say, is history. Shanahan scored 47 goals in his first season with the Red Wings and would play an integral part of their 1997, 1998, and 2002 Stanley Cup-winning teams. During his time in Detroit, he scored 309 goals in regular season play and 33 playoff goals. 

While he would depart Detroit after the 2005-06 season after saying he felt was more identified with the team's past instead of the future, he would later be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a member of the Red Wings. 

Larry Murphy

By the time the Red Wings acquired Murphy from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 1997 NHL Trade Deadline, he was in the midst of his 17th season and had already won the Stanley Cup twice in a row as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992, the latter of which was under future Detroit coach Scott Bowman.

Murphy began his career with the Los Angeles Kings, who made him the fourth overall pick in the 1980 NHL Draft. He later played for the Washington Capitals and Minnesota North Stars before arriving with the Penguins in a 1990 trade. 

Murphy was in his second season with the Maple Leafs when he was essentially rescued by the Red Wings, as the Maple Leafs were one of the worst clubs in the League at the time. Murphy was immediately paired with fellow future Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, and won the Stanley Cup in consecutive seasons for the second time in his career.

He retired in 2001 after 1,615 career games played, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. 

Kris Draper

One of the least expensive acquisitions in NHL history, Draper was traded from the Winnipeg Jets to the Red Wings in 1993 for literally $1. 

Draper was originally selected by the Jets in the 1989 NHL Draft with the 62nd overall pick, and he had a modest 20 games of NHL experience by the time he arrived in the Motor City. 

He would go on to be one of the key elements of Detroit's famous "Grind Line" with Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty, and would get his name on the Stanley Cup four times by the time he retired from the NHL in 2011. 

Draper now works for the Red Wings as their director of amateur scouting and assistant general manager under his longtime teammate, Steve Yzerman. 

Igor Larionov

One of the smartest players to ever lace up the skates in the NHL, Larionov began his professional hockey career in his native Russia before he helped to lobby (with his future Detroit teammate, Slava Fetisov) for the defection of Soviet players to the NHL. 

Larionov, who was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1985 NHL Draft with the 214th overall pick, was finally allowed to relocated to North America and joined the Canucks in 1989. 

He would eventually claimed by the San Jose Sharks in the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft, and would ironically be part of the 8th seeded Sharks club that stunned the Red Wings with a seven-game series win in the opening round of the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Larionov was then traded to the Red Wings in the 1995-96 season, and would become part of Detroit's famed "Russian Five". He played an integral role in helping the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup consecutively in 1997 and 1998, but would leave the Red Wings to sign with the Florida Panthers in the 2000 offseason. 

His time in Florida was brief, as he would be traded right back to Detroit in late December of 2000, where he would play for another two and a half seasons, which included another Stanley Cup win. 

Larionov scored one of the most famous overtime goals in Red Wings postseason history in triple overtime of Game 3 of the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. His goal after nearly two full games worth of playing time gave the Red Wings the series lead for good. 

After one final NHL season with the New Jersey Devils in 2003-04, Larionov retired and would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008. 

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On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired goaltender Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round draft pick.

This move comes less than two weeks after the Penguins sent netminder Alex Nedeljkovic to the San Jose Sharks in a trade for a 2028 third-round pick. When that trade happened, it appeared that the Penguins were finally aiming to address their organizational goaltending logjam in order to give some younger guys their chance to stick on the NHL roster.

Now, the acquisition of Silovs - who is signed through the end of the 2025-26 season at $850,000 - once again, complicates things.

Silovs, 24, is still pretty young and relatively inexperienced at the NHL level. He appeared in 10 NHL games for Vancouver in 2024-25, posting an .861 save percentage and a 3.65 goals-against average. And, for his career, he is 8-8-2 in 19 appearances with an .880 save percentage and a 3.13 goals-against average.

While his NHL numbers might not jump out on the stats sheet, it’s his ability to step up in big games that has shone through. In the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs for the Abbotsford Canucks - Vancouver’s AHL affiliate - Silovs went 16-7-0 with five shutouts, a .931 save percentage, and 2.01 goals-against average, leading Abbotsford to its first-ever Calder Cup championship and taking home AHL playoff MVP honors at the end of it all.

In other words, the Penguins acquired a young goaltender much like some of the prospects they already have in their system in Joel Blomqvist, Taylor Gauthier, Filip Larsson, and Sergei Murashov: a netminder with potential that has seen stretches of inconsistency but could be a big part of the NHL roster looking ahead.

While more goaltending depth certainly isn’t a bad thing for the Penguins - as they have struggled in that department for the better part of the last decade - it also raises questions about what their plan between the pipes is heading into the 2025-26 season.

Although the Penguins carried three goaltenders for a near-month-long stretch early last season, it’s unlikely that will be the case barring injury concerns. Gauthier, 24, and Larsson, 26, are both signed to AHL contracts, while Blomqvist, 23, and Murashov, 21, are both signed to their entry-level contracts.

Penguins Sign Former Canucks Forward, Bring Back Goaltender To Bolster Organizational DepthWhile the Pittsburgh Penguins have been making plenty of smaller moves at the NHL level since the start of unrestricted free agency on Tuesday, they've also been shoring up depth at the developmental levels of the organization.

The latter two are the two goaltending prospects with the most promise for the Penguins, but both Larsson and Gauthier have shown flashes of brilliance in the Penguins’ system. Larsson started last season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a high note, but an injury in the back half of the season set him back, and he struggled in the games to follow. Gauthier took home ECHL Goaltender of the Year honors in 2023-24 with a .923 save percentage and 2.23 goals-against average only to best those numbers last season, as he finished with a .928 save percentage and a 2.06 goals-against average.

Gauthier was rewarded with an AHL contract for the 2025-26 season, and Larsson has one year remaining on his two-way contract. Blomqvist will be an RFA following the 2025-26 season, and Murashov is signed through 2026-27.

And all of the conjecture concerning prospects doesn’t even account for Tristan Jarry, who is still committed to the Penguins for three more years at $5.375 million and who has struggled to find consistency over the last two seasons for Pittsburgh.

BREAKING: Abbotsford Canucks Win 2025 Calder Cup After a magical playoff run filled with standout performances, the Abbotsford Canucks have officially won the 2025 Calder Cup. This is Abbotsford’s first Calder Cup win in franchise history and their first time making it out of the second round since their inaugural season in 2021. They clinched the Calder Cup after a 3–2 Game 6 win against the Charlotte Checkers in the Calder Cup Finals. The last time the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate made it to the Calder Cup Finals was when the Utica Comets did so in 2015. 

So, Silovs’s acquisition begs the question of whether or not the Penguins have another move up their sleeve.

Of course, Silovs is - by no means - a negative acquisition. He has upside, and he should have a chance to prove he belongs at the NHL level. But his presence also creates a logjam at the AHL level, as all four of the aforementioned goaltenders should probably be playing against AHL-level competition instead of getting buried in the ECHL.

Unless the Penguins either plan to move on from Jarry at some point before the season starts or package one of their young goaltending prospects in a potential trade, this move doesn’t seem to make much sense. While a good, low-risk move in terms of value, it will only risk stunting the development of four other goaltending prospects if a subsequent move isn’t made to clear that logjam again.

There is a lot of trade speculation surrounding three Penguins in Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell, and Bryan Rust. It’s conceivable to think that the Penguins could package one of their young goaltenders in a larger trade involving one of those players to net a higher return - and, possibly, net a young NHL player in return, which is what GM and POHO Kyle Dubas has suggested is a priority.

Or, maybe, a team like the Edmonton Oilers would poke around at Jarry for the right price, and the Penguins are exploring that option.

Whatever the case may be, if the Penguins truly want to look ahead to the next generation and the future of this franchise, they would be wise not to hold back any of their young goaltenders from playing at the level they should be playing at. There was a path to that happening prior to the Silovs trade.

Now, the path just got a bit murkier. And it’s up to Dubas and the Penguins to navigate that path forward for the 2025-26 season.

Penguins Trade Goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic To San Jose For Third-Round PickAfter much anticipation about the Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltending situation heading into the 2025-26 season, the dam has finally broken. 

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The Montreal Canadiens have several promising young players in their system. Oliver Kapanen is undoubtedly among them, as the young forward has the tools to blossom into an impactful player for the Canadiens as he continues to adjust to the NHL level. 

Kapanen played in his first 18 NHL regular-season games this past season with the Canadiens, where he posted two assists. He also played in three playoff games for Montreal this spring, posting one assist and an even plus/minus rating. Overall, it was a bit of a quiet start to his NHL career, but he also demonstrated promise. 

Kapanen spent most of this season with Timra IK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), as he played with the SHL squad from November to early April after being loaned there by the Canadiens. He would later be returned to the Canadiens on April 2 for the final portion of the year. 

While with Timra IK, Kapanen showed off his high potential, recording 15 goals and 35 points in 36 games. Overall, it was a strong season overseas for the 2021 second-round pick, and it is hard not to feel optimistic about him heading into 2025-26 because of it.

With how well Kapanen performed this season in the SHL, he is certainly standing out as a prime breakout candidate for the Canadiens. The potential for the young forward to emerge as a key forward on Montreal's roster is there, and it would not be surprising in the slightest if he takes a notable step forward next season with the Original Six club. It will be fascinating to see if he does just that from here. 

NHL Trade Rumors: 3 Potential Center Targets For CanadiensAfter taking a nice step forward during the 2024-25 season, the Montreal Canadiens have been busy this summer. They acquired Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders and Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in two notable trades. However, the possibility of them making another splash before the season is here should not be ruled out. 

Photo Credit:  © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Sabres should be in the market for an impact top-six forward after dealing winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan, but the opening weeks of free agency did not provide GM Kevyn Adams with an opportunity to replace Peterka’s production, either in a swap for defenseman Bowen Byram, or for a package of younger players, prospects, and/or draft picks. 

Adams may be relying on the return for Byram to bring back the replacement for Peterka, but if the Sabres choose to keep the restricted free agent blueliner, can they put together a deal for the player they need that would be attractive to another club?

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Two-time Stanley Cup winner Bryan Rust is likely to be one of the next victims of Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas’ purge of the Penguins to improve their chances to finish dead last and have the best chance of winning the lottery and selecting presumptive top pick Gavin McKenna next June. Dubas is expected to try moving out forward Rickard Rakell as well, potentially Sidney Crosby, and what is left of the Penguins championship core group.

The 33-year-old winger has spent all 11 seasons with the Penguins, and posted a career-high in goals (31) and points (65) last season. The two aspects that have to make Rust an extremely enticing target for Adams is the three years in term remaining at an AAV of $5.125 million, and that he does not have any no-trade protection.  Unlike the Dallas Stars, who are undoubtedly looking for NHL players in return for winger Jason Robertson, the Penguins would be looking for young prospects for Rust. That makes the Sabres and Pittsburgh an excellent fit for a potential trade.  

What Would It Cost?

The issue for Adams is not a lack of attractive pieces that Dubas would be interested in, it will be that half the league will be in competition with him for Rust. Youngsters like Zach Benson or Jack Quinn, who have two or more years of NHL experience under their belt would have to be part of the package, along with a secondary prospect like Isak Rosen or Noah Ostlund, or a lottery-protected first round pick.  

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While we're still approximately two months away from the start of Training Camp for the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season, there remain several free agents in all three position groups who are still waiting for a call for a contract. 

Among the players that are hoping to land a new deal are several former Red Wings who suited up as recently as this past season, or who departed from the team in recent years. 

Perhaps the most noteworthy figure that Red Wings fans are still well familiar with is Robby Fabbri, who played last season with the Anaheim Ducks after being traded by Detroit last July in exchange for goaltender Gage Alexander and a conditional 2025 fourth-round pick; his three-year, $12 million contract that he signed in 2022 expired this offseason. 

As has unfortunately been the case for much of his NHL career, injuries limited Fabbri's availability with the Ducks. He played in just 44 games, scoring eight goals with eight assists. In November, he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, while he was later placed on Injured Reserve with an upper-body ailment in February. 

Fabbri was an underrated addition to the Red Wings by GM Steve Yzerman during their rough 2019-20 season, acquired from the St. Louis Blues in November 2019 for checker Jacob de la Rose; his 14 goals were fourth-most on the team. 

That's 2 PPG's for newly acquired Robby Fabbri. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/BHpfDQqyBf

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 9, 2019

He reached a pair of career-highs in 2023-24, his final season in Detroit, playing in 68 games and scoring 18 goals. 

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Among the other players who are still looking for their next contracts that played for the Red Wings this most recent season are forwards Tyler Motte and Craig Smith, the latter of which was acquired in March (along with Petr Mrazek) from Chicago in the Joe Veleno deal. 

Motte, who was signed to a one-year contract, scored four goals with five assists in 55 games played, while Smith registered two assists in the 19 games he played after being acquired. 

Daniel Sprong, who scored 18 goals for the Red Wings in 2023-24, was well traveled last season. He began the season with the Vancouver Canucks, but was traded after only nine games to the Seattle Kraken, where he had previously played before signing with Detroit. After being waived by the Kraken and playing in the American Hockey League, he was eventually traded to the New Jersey Devils. 

Sprong ultimately played in only 30 combined NHL games in 2024-25, but scored only twice while adding five assists. 

Luke Glendening, who is now 36 years old and played the first eight seasons of his NHL career with the Red Wings, has since split his time between the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning. Last season in Tampa Bay, he scored four goals with three assists in 77 games. 

Additional former Red Wings players that fans are still familiar with include Brendan Smith, Jakub Vrana, and Klim Kostin. 

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Apr 16, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) skates behind the net against the Dallas Stars during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

It’s difficult to talk about the Nashville Predators’ 2024-25 season without re-hashing the disappointments that plagued the team from start to finished.

What began as a season of high hopes and expectations quickly faded to a 30-44-8 record and 68-point seventh-place finish in the Central Division.

While this off-season has seen the additions of promising prospects in Brady Martin (fifth overall) and Ryker Lee (26th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft, along with veteran blueliners Nick Perbix and Nicolas Hague, it certainly didn’t match the splash of last summer’s acquisitions of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei.

As the Predators prepare for the 2025-26 season, there are plenty of burning questions facing them. Here are five.

Can The Offense Bounce Back?

There’s nowhere to go but up. The Predators finished 31st in total goals (212), 31st in shooting percentage (4.24) and 30th in goal differential (-62), just to name a few.

The previous season, the Predators scored 266 goals (10th overall), finishing fourth in the Central before losing in six games to Vancouver in the first round of the playoffs. On paper, they were projected to be even better in 2024-25, only to fall way short of that mark.

Stamkos tallied 27 goals in 82 games this past season, 13 fewer than in 2023-24, when he had 40 in 79 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Marchessault’s goal production dropped from 42 over 82 regular-season games in 2023-24 with the Vegas Golden Knights to 21 over 78 contests this past season.

There were other factors that contributed to the Predators’ offensive struggles than the two star veterans. But as the 2025-26 season unfolds, success will depend on their production.

It’s difficult to fathom that Stamkos, 35, and Marchessault, 34, both mysteriously aged so significantly over a season. The only way they will prove doubters wrong is to get some semblance of their old form back. If that happens, the rest of the offensive problems should take care of themselves.

Will A Younger Blueline Mean A Better Blueline?

On the flip side, Nashville’s defense finished 27th in goals against with 274. Quite a drop from the 248 (13th) the previous year.

Predators general manager Barry Trotz pledged to go younger and bigger on defense. True to his word, he traded for Vegas Golden Knights blueliner Nicolas Hague June 29. The Predators sent defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sissons to Vegas. Hague then inked a four-year contract extension.

Trotz also signed defenseman Nick Perbix to a two-year, $5.50 million contract on the first day of free agency.

Hague mainly played with Zach Whitecloud on the Golden Knights’ third pairing last season, scoring 12 points in 68 games. As a 6-foot-6, 245-pound left-shot defender, he will add much-needed size and physicality to the Predators back end. At 26, he also gives the team more youth on the blueline.

Perbix scored 19 points in 74 games with the Lightning last season. He’ll also add size at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds.

Perbix provides the Predators with a right-shot option on the blueline, and could be an ideal third pairing with Hague. His +8 was higher than any Nashville player last season.

Can Juuse Saros Regain His Old Form?

Great defense may win championships, but so does great goaltending.

Last season, Saros went 20-31-6 in 58 games with a 2.98 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage.

In 2023-24, Saros posted a 35-24-5 mark in 64 regular-season games with a 2.86 GAA and .906 SP. In six post-season games that year, he was 2-4 with a 2.02 GAA and .900 SP.

Saros, who signed an eight-year, $61.92 million contract last summer, has appeared in 128 games over the past two seasons, counting the playoffs in 2023-24. His drop-off in performance could be due to wear and tear, but it’s unlikely his workload will change drastically next season.

Perhaps a longer off-season will recharge Saros. The Predators are certainly counting on it.

Is Getting Back To The Playoffs A Realistic Goal?

While talk of winning a Stanley Cup has lessened considerably since last season, getting back to the post-season is not out of the realm of possibility.

At his introductory press conference earlier this week, Hague recalled the disappointment Vegas felt in 2022 when they missed making the playoffs by just three points.

The following season, the Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup.

"We were very hungry and felt like we had something to prove that next year," Hague said.

That hunger, coupled with the presence of previous Stanley Cup champions Stamkos, Marchessault and Hague, could be just what the Predators need to get back to the post-season.

Is Andrew Brunette On The Hot Seat?

Trotz told reporters back in May that Andrew Brunette would be retained as head coach for next season.

"(Brunette) is a good young coach,” Trotz said. “He had a tough situation this year. But like a good young player, you have to stick with a good young coach."

Such votes of confidence have often been the kiss of death for a coach’s job security. Another slow start by the Predators could lead to major changes, and it’s not far-fetched to think that Brunette, and even Trotz, for that matter, could be on the receiving end of those changes.

The Vancouver Canucks announced they have traded 2025 Calder Cup MVP goaltender Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth round pick. 

Silovs had a 14-5-2 record with a .908 SP in 21 appearances with the Abbotsford Canucks and a 2-6-1 record with a .861 SP with the Vancouver Canucks in the 2024-25 regular season before turning it on in the playoffs.

The 24-year-old had a dominant playoff run finishing with a 16-7 record, .931 SP, 2.01 GAA, and five shutouts, three of which came in series clinching games. His performance helped Abbotsford win their first Calder Cup in franchise history and earned Silovs the 2025 Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as Playoff MVP.

Originally a sixth round pick of the Canucks in 2019, Silovs has a 59-35-13 record with a .906 SP in 110 career AHL appearances and an 8-8-2 record with an .880 SP in 19 career NHL regular season appearances. 

The Riga, Lat., native led his country to a bronze medal at the 2024 World Championship, earning tournament MVP and Best Goaltenders honors. 

The Penguins have acquired goaltender Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Details: https://t.co/SXuKx59Gvcpic.twitter.com/MWVs6i5EaI

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 13, 2025

Stillman recorded nine points in 46 games with the Utica Comets and three points in 19 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season.

A first round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2021, Stillman has 36 points in 119 career AHL games, he has yet to make his NHL debut. 

Prior to this deal the Canucks had eight goaltenders under contract in the organization after re-signing Nikita Tolopilo, this move allows Silovs the opportunity to find regular playing time in the NHL.

The Canucks have now lost Silovs, Sammy Blais, and Phil Di Giuseppe from their championship winning team. 

With this acquisition the Penguins also have a logjam in net and may be forced to make another move. 

For more information keep an eye on The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins team sites. 

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here. 

Photo Credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The Vancouver Canucks have cleared up some room in their goaltender department by trading Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In return, the Canucks receive Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick in the 2027 draft.

With this trade, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin clears up a logjam in their goaltending depth. They have Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen under contract for at least the next four seasons. In addition, Lankinen has a full no-move clause for the next two years, and Demko has one for three years beginning after next season.

Vancouver drafted Silovs in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. Since then, the Latvian goaltender has played 19 regular-season contests. In that span, he registered an 8-8-2 record across parts of three NHL campaigns.

Silovs has been a force for the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, playing 109 games for them over the last four years. Furthermore, the 24-year-old won a Calder Cup with Abbotsford last season, recording a 2.01 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage in 24 post-season appearances.

“We would like (to) thank Arturs for everything he has done for the hockey club, including helping Abbotsford win the Calder Cup,” Allvin said in a statement. “We wanted to give him an opportunity elsewhere as we feel we are very well positioned in goal at the NHL, AHL and developmental level.”

Silovs made a name for himself in the 2023-24 playoffs, where he stepped up to be the Canucks’ No. 1 goaltender. He helped Vancouver close out the Nashville Predators in the first round, including a shutout in Game 6’s series-clinching win.

Now, Silovs will likely be battling with netminder Joel Blomqvist to earn some NHL starts for the Penguins next season. In addition to Blomqvist and Silovs, Tristan Jarry will be looking to bounce back between the pipes after a relatively disappointing season last year. 

Silovs is entering the final year of a two-year contract carrying a $850,000 cap hit. He is a pending RFA who is eligible for salary arbitration at the end of the 2025-26 season.

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The Florida Panthers second straight summer with the Stanley Cup has officially begun.

It was exactly one year ago when we were treated to an incredible two months of hometown visits, parades, parties, golf trips, fishing journeys and more as the Panthers players, coaches, executives and other team members spent their special days with the Stanley Cup.

Now, starting on Sunday, those awesome stories will start coming fast and furious once again.

The first Panthers players to have his day with the cup this year was forward A.J. Greer.

It makes sense, as the Cup was just engraved with all the names of the Panthers, a process that took place in Quebec.

That’s the same province where Greer’s hometown of Joliette is located.

According to NHL.com, that’s where a parade was held to honor Greer, and thousands of people were in attendance.

Greer also set up an opportunity for fans to take photographs with the Stanley Cup in exchange for a donation the charity Clemente House, which is a non-profit that benefits families with disabilities.

Additionally, NHL.com also reported that Greer is hosing three days of youth hockey clinics that cost kids only $25 to attend, with all proceeds benefitting Maison Oxygene de Quebec, which helps “make a difference for fathers and their children” by offering “accommodation, accompaniment and community support,” according to the charity’s website.

Greer said the camps sold out in 15 minutes, per the story.

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Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) 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)

The Los Angeles Kings haven't been overly active recently, but their division rivals, the Vancouver Canucks, made a surprising trade, moving out young goaltender Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Silovs, who is 24 years old, played 10 games with the Canucks last season, posting a 3.65 goals-against-average (GAA) and a .861 save percentage (SV%). He won a championship with the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League (AHL) last season as well, also winning playoff MVP. 

The Canucks are looking to be a competitor in the Pacific Division next season, so they're staying active on the trade front in hopes of climbing into a playoff spot, and they will likely have to climb over the Kings to have a chance at doing so.

Making small moves like this will be what they continue to do this summer, and the Kings may have to react to remain competitive this season. 

A Missing Edge: LA’s Quiet Transition Away from EnforcementEL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings have made an impressionable summer thus far under Ken Holland. Impressionable in the sense that things could go as scheduled or very badly. Their push for 'contender' status has left many in doubt about their ability to prevail under an array of dubious circumstances left behind by a different administration. The team sought to bolster its size and experience, and while that was achieved, significant gaps remained, including enforcement. Report: Ontario Reign Hiring Andrew Lord As New Head CoachThe Los Angeles Kings’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Ontario Reign, have been searching for a new head coach, and have found one as they announced Andrew Lord would be taking over the job in the 2025-26 season. Kings Should Have Pursued Forward Isaac HowardThe Los Angeles Kings have been picked apart for their moves in free agency this summer, and while they still have a competitive team and seem poised to make another run to the playoffs, they missed out on a potential youngster addition who could've made the jump to the NHL this season.

Former New Jersey Devils first-round pick Chase Stillman is on the move again. 

The Vancouver Canucks have announced that they have acquired Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for goaltender Arturs Silovs. 

General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the #Canucks have acquired F Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for G Artūrs Šilovs.

DETAILS | https://t.co/q2lGh78sp3pic.twitter.com/I378yxWRei

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) July 13, 2025

Stillman was traded by the Devils to the Penguins only four months ago in the deal that brought Cody Glass to New Jersey. Now, after a brief stay with the Penguins organization, Stillman is heading to Vancouver. 

Stillman, 22, will now look to take that next step in his development. At this point in his career, the former first-rounder has yet to make his NHL debut, but he will aim to change that with the Canucks following this move. 

Stillman began his American Hockey League (AHL) career with the Utica Comets. In 54 games with Utica during his first AHL season in 2023-24, he posted 14 goals, 24 points, 72 penalty minutes, and a minus-2 rating. In 46 games with the Comets in 2024-25 before being traded by the Devils, he had three goals, nine points, and a minus-14 rating. 

It will now be intriguing to see how much of an impact Stillman can make with the Canucks. 

Devils Need Important Forward To Bounce BackNew Jersey Devils forward Dawson Mercer is undoubtedly a player to watch closely next season. When looking at the Devils' current roster, he is one of their most important forwards. Due to this, they will be hoping for the 23-year-old to have a much-needed bounce-back season in 2025-26.

Photo Credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The Vancouver Canucks have traded goaltender Artūrs Šilovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In return, Vancouver received winger Chase Stillman as well as a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft. In the end, the Canucks were able to get back assets for Šilovs, instead of losing him for free on waivers once the season began

In a press release, GM Patrik Allvin wrote "We would like thank Artūrs for everything he has done for the hockey club, including helping Abbotsford win the Calder Cup. We wanted to give him an opportunity elsewhere as we feel we are very well positioned in goal at the NHL, AHL and developmental level. Acquiring a future pick and depth forward will add to our organizational depth."

Stillman was drafted 29th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2021. The 22-year-old played his junior career in the OHL, where he helped the Peterborough Petes qualify for the 2023 Memorial Cup. Last season, Stillman was traded from New Jersey to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. 

Over the past two years, Stillman has played 119 regular-season games in the AHL, recording 18 goals and 36 points. He can play on both wings and received some time on the penalty kill last season. Based on the Canucks current roster, Stillman will most likely start the 2025-26 season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks. 

Canucks Artūrs Šilovs Named AHL Playoffs MVPAbbotsford Canucks goaltender Artūrs Šilovs has been named MVP of the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. The 24-year-old became the first goaltender in over a decade to capture the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy, and now joins an exclusive list which includes Robin Lehner, Michal Neuvirth and Carey Price. Šilovs picked up 16 wins during the post-season, while five shutouts were one short of the all-time record for a single playoff run. 

As for Šilovs, his time with the organization officially comes to an end. Drafted in 2019, the 24-year-old led Abbotsford to a championship this year in the AHL. During his time with Vancouver, Šilovs posted a 8-8-2 regular-season record at the NHL level while also leading the Canucks to Game 7 of the second round during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

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 from The Hockey News. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in a new goalie. 

The Penguins have announced that they have signed goaltender Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

The Penguins have acquired goaltender Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Details: https://t.co/SXuKx59Gvcpic.twitter.com/MWVs6i5EaI

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 13, 2025

Seeing Silovs on the move is not particularly surprising, as the Canucks have goalies Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen both now locked up long-term. Thus, there was no room for Silovs on Vancouver's NHL roster, and the Penguins have taken advantage of that by bringing him in.

Silovs, 24, has showed promise, so this has the potential to be a solid move for the Penguins. In 19 career NHL regular-season games over three seasons, he has posted an 8-8-2 record, a .880 save percentage, and a 3.13 goals-against average. He also played in 10 playoff games for the Canucks in 2024 when they dealt with injury trouble between the pipes, posting a 5-5 record, a 2.91 goals-against average, and a .898 save percentage. 

Silovs spent most of this season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, however. In 21 regular-season games with the AHL squad, he had a 14-5-1 record and a .908 save percentage. He was also a major reason why Abbotsford won the Calder Cup this year, as he had a 16-7 record, a 2.01 goals-against average, and a .931 save percentage. Due to his incredible play, he won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.

With this move, the Penguins have brought in a promising goalie who has the potential to emerge as a solid piece of their roster. Overall, this is a low-risk move for the Penguins, and it will be interesting to see how Silovs performs for them from here. 

Photo Credit:  © Bob Frid-Imagn Images

(Photo Courtesy of the Idaho Steelheads)

The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. Each week, we’ll dig back into the magazine’s archives to look back on a key moment, player or other important figure in the ECHL.

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(Note: Due to the digital quality of some older issues, articles may contain errors; we have left the article in its original digitized form).

Oct 12, 2004/vol. 58, issue 7

Focus on ECHL in lockout year

Strong, balanced Titans get nod over Steelheads in quest for Kelly Cup

BY MIKE MASTOVICH

The ECHL may be a feeder system for the American League and, ultimately, the NHL, but for this season at least, the system will work in reverse.

With the NHL locked out, many players are heading to the ’A’, bumping other good prospects down to the ECHL.

Though ECHL commissioner Brian McKenna says he hopes the NHL and union work things out soon, he admits the lockout will have a short-term benefit for his league.

“It means fewer recalls of our players because of injuries at the NHL level,” he said. “That means more continuity on qur rosters.”

Here’s our projected overall finish for 2004-05:

1. TRENTON TITANS Trenton returns a solid nucleus and added free agent veteran right winger Rick Kowalsky. Left wingers Matt Zultek and Scott Bertoli and center Chris Pittman led the scoring last year on a team that just missed earning a wild card playoff spot; all three are back. Also back are goalie Andrew Allen and veteran captain Vince Williams, who anchors the defense. Top newcomers are speedy center Steve Cygan and blueliner Evan Nielsen.

2. IDAHO STEELHEADS The Kelly Cup champions have the tools to defend their title. They signed eight players from last year’s team and added an NHL affiliation with Phoenix and an AHL link with Utah. The returnees include blueliner lererny Mylymok and forward Scott Burt, both fifth-year Steelheads. Also back are forwards David Cornacchia and Brett Draney and blueliners Darrell Hay and Dan Vandermeer.

3. FLORIDA EVERBLADES Florida, which fell to Idaho in the Kelly Cup final, will receive solid help from Carolina and also from Lowell of the AHL, as 12 players with two-way contracts are set to attend camp. Goalie Rob Zepp began the season in Lowell’s camp, but chances are he’ll be back to bolster the Blades. Other key returnees are forward Brent McDonald, who averaged a point a game last year, and blueliners Matt Pagnutti, Ryan Brindley and Ed Hill.

4. READING ROYALS Coach Derek Clancey will count on high-scoring returnee David Masse to ignite the offense. The Royals will have plenty of experience and a considerable talent pool from Los Angeles and Manchester (AHL). Leading scorer Greg Mischler and right winger Judd Medak are also back. The team has three of its top five scorers from last season.

5. SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS Already tough team got even stronger.

6. GWINNETT GLADIATORS Veteran sniper Cam Brown returns for 13th year.

7. LAS VEGAS WRANGLERS Tough to beat in Sin City.

8. SAN DIEGO GULLS Bent on erasing playoff disappointment.

9. COLUMBIA INFERNO A lot of firepower.

10. PEORIA RIVERMEN Always found near the top of the division.

11. ALASKA ACES Continue slow turnaround of fortunes.

12. WHEELING NAILERS Ended five-year playoff drought last year.

13. JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS Thirteen players return.

14. GREENVILLE GRRROWLVast improvement expected.

15. ATLANTIC CITY BOARDWALK BULLIES Will win with defense-first philosophy.

16. MISSISSIPPI SEA WOLVES ECHL vet Louis Dumont fronts team.

17. PENSACOLA ICE PILOTS New era begins under coach Dave Farrish.

18. CHARLOTTE CHECKERS Eduard Pershin returns after scoring 139 points in two years.

19. AUGUSTA LYNX Goaltender Jason Saal had a team-record five shutouts last year.

20. PEE DEE PRIDE Builds from within, without NHL affiliation.

21. LONG BEACH ICE DOGS New ties with Montreal Canadiens will boost lineup.

22. LOUISIANA ICEGATORS In transition after coach Dave Farrish’s departure.

23. TOLEDO STORM Speedy Nick Parillo fronts offense.

24. VICTORIA SALMON KINGS Expansion team’s motto this season: “Nobody’s Lunch.”

25. DAYTON BOMBERS Co-owner Don MacAdam also jumps into coaching duties.

26. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS Add leadership in Kevin St. Jacques and his career 849 points.

27. TEXAS WILDCATTERS Franchise hopes for strong second-year campaign.

28. FRESNO FALCONS Opponents outscored Falcons 275-187 last season. I

YOUNG ECHL

Here are the top 23-and-tinders who have been drafted by NHL teams.

FIRST TEAM

G Simon Lajeunesse, 23. Fresno

Ottawa, 48th overall, 1999

D Jared Newman, 22, Florida

Carolina, 110th overall, 2000

D Tim Branham, 23, Texas

Vancouver, 93rd overall, 2000

F Mathieu Brunelle, 21, Trenton

Philadelphia, 201st overall, 2002

F Nicolas Corbeil, 21, Mississippi

Toronto, 88th overall, 2001

F Carl Mallette, 23, Greenville

Atlanta. 107th overall, 2000

SECOND TEAM

G Nick Boucher, 23, Pee Dee

Pittsburgh, 280th overall, 2000

D Joe Martin, 23, Greenville

Chicago, 193rd overall, 2000

D Craig Olynick, 22, Toledo

Detroit, 166th overall, 2002

F Dusty Jamieson, 23, Charlotte

Montreal, 136th overall, 1999

F Derek Krestanovich, 21, Fresno

Washington, 92nd overall, 2002

F Russell Spence, 22, Greenville

Phoenix, 280th overall, 2002