Category: NHL

Insider reports indicate the Avalanche feeling forward Martin Necas may not re-sign and could look to deal him.

The 2026 NHL Free Agent class has the potential to be the biggest in league history with some of the biggest names up for grabs. Barring a similar event to this year where all the top players re-sign, we could see a major shake up within the league.

Most hockey fans look to biggest names like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Artemi Panarin among others on the block and salivate at the idea of their team nabbing one of the league's best. 

Chris Johnston: Martin Necas is probably the most important decision [for the Avalanche]; figuring out if you can sign him and if not how do you deal with that? Do you walk him to free agency...? - Chris Johnston Show

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 10, 2025

For Detroit fans, there's a name to look out for in the bunch that could be a potential option for the Red Wings in Colorado's Martin Necas. The 26-year-old winger has grown into a solid 70-80 point producer with upside to grow even further. His large frame at 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 pounds have led some, like Spittin' Chiclets Ryan Whitney, to describe his play as a 'horse on skates' as he is extremely hard to move.

As the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, the pressure has been on Necas to perform and he has in some of the biggest moments. With 13 points through 18 playoff games in 2019 or five points through Colorado's seven-game series with the Dallas Stars this past postseason, Necas has shown he can make an impact when the team needs him and could help elevate a cup contender or on a rising team like the Red Wings.

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He is currently entering the final year of his two-year bridge deal with a very friendly $6.5 million cap hit. Detroit could easily move prospects and picks to an Avalanche team that has relatively sold off the boat in terms of assets to keep them competitive. This became evident when Colorado recently traded off depth forwards in Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets for a prospect and two draft picks. 

Selling off a player on an expiring deal like Necas, who could help Colorado massively improve their draft capital and prospect pool in a trade makes a lot of sense. The Red Wings would be able to compensate better than most and as they have plenty of high-end prospects that they would be able to give up for a young impact player like Necas.

Elliotte Friedman: Re Martin Necas: Is he going to commit to the Avalanche? And if the answer is no, what is Colorado going to do about that? That's going to be one of the interesting questions throughout the year - 32 Thoughts Podcast

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 8, 2025

There's been some insider reports indicating the Avalanche being worried about the chance of Necas not wanting to re-sign and test the market. Detroit would be able to get a top-six winger that would require some moving around as they already have Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat on the right wing. However, he would be an instant boost on offence and they could keep around for several years as he's so young. 

Necas's next contract with the growing cap could be in the neighborhood of anywhere between $8-9 million per season which would fit into Detroit's budget. Necas could prove to be very happy where he is with some of the best players in the world in Colorado or he could have a chance to play a big role with a team that should be contending in the coming years like Detroit. 

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Mar 28, 2006; Glendale, AZ, USA; Nashville Predators goalie (29) Tomas Vokoun against the Phoenix Coyotes at Glendale Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Copyright Rick Scuteri

Tomas Vokoun won over 300 games as a goaltender in 15 NHL seasons, one of only 40 to achieve that mark in league history.

The Czech Republic native played for the Predators from 1998-2007, when he was traded to the Florida Panthers. Before Juuse Saros and Pekka Rinne, Vokoun established himself as the Preds’ franchise's go-to goaltender after the club selected him in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft.

Nothing in life comes easy, and that was certainly the case for Vokoun. The Montreal Canadiens chose him in the ninth round (226th overall) of the 1994 NHL Draft.

After coming to North America at age 19, Vokoun spoke no English. Far from home, he struggled to adjust to a new culture while getting accustomed to the North American style of hockey.

Vokoun played his first professional season with the Wheeling Thunderbirds of the ECHL in the 1995-96 season. Despite the obstacles, he went 20-10-2 during the regular season, leading the Thunderbirds to an opening-round sweep over Columbus in the playoffs.

Thanks to the support of his teammates and coaches during his lone season in Wheeling, Vokoun’s English-speaking skills improved, and he began thriving off the ice as well.

“It wasn’t easy leaving my home as such a young age,” Vokoun told The Hockey News in December 2024 following his induction into the Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame. “Everything was new for me, and the first few months were hard, but my teammates were very supportive.”

Vokoun’s NHL debut with the Canadiens was rockey, to say the least. He made a relief appearance against the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 6, 1997, giving up four goals on 14 shots in one period.

Montreal exposed Vokoun in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft. He played 37 games during the Preds’ inaugural season and split time between them and the Milwaukee Admirals until 2000. He eventually established himself with the Predators after they traded Mike Dunham to the New York Rangers in 2002.

Vokoun notched 161 victories with the Predators, then a franchise record. He recorded the first post-season shutout in team history in Game 4 of Nashville’s first-round series against the Detroit Red Wings in 2004.

Even though Detroit prevailed in the series, Vokoun made 41 saves in that game. He earned his first of two trips to the NHL All-Star Game that season and notched 34 wins to guide Nashville to its first playoff berth.

During the lockout of 2004-05, Vokoun played 19 games in Finland. In 2005-06, he had an NHL career-high 36 wins before his season was cut short after being diagnosed with a blood-clotting issue in his pelvis that sidelined him during the post-season.

After being cleared following the season, a broken thumb limited Vokoun to 44 games in 2006-07. The Predators traded him to the Florida Panthers in June.

Vokoun spent four seasons with the Panthers before finishing his NHL career with the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. His career spanned over 700 games with five different teams.

Currently, the 49-year-old Vokoun resides near Boca Raton, Fla. While he’s no longer active in professional hockey, he still spends time mentoring young goaltenders.

Long after his playing career ended, Vokoun can still look back with fond remembrance and feel blessed to have played at the sport’s highest level.

“I lived my dream, I played hockey for a living,” he said. “Anytime you can take something you picked when you were five years old and get paid for it… If you play hockey and your goal is not to play in the NHL, then there’s really no reason to play. It was a privilege, and I’m grateful.”

Welcome to this edition of The Hockey News' Vancouver Canucks Mailbag. In this series, we answer your questions about what is going on with the Canucks. In this article, we take a look at prospects, Elias Pettersson & more. 

Where Does Räty Fit Into Next Year's Lineup?

Aatu Räty's position in the lineup depends on whether Vancouver upgrades their second-line center position. While Räty could fill the third-line center role, I believe the best place for him next season is on the fourth line. Ultimately, playing him on the fourth line for a season would let him adjust to the NHL, as he has only played a total of 48 career games over the past three seasons.

Based on Räty's ability to win faceoffs, I also believe he could help on the penalty kill. When the Canucks start a penalty kill, he could be sent out to win the faceoff, and then skate off once the puck is cleared. Even if he loses the draw, Räty's defending is good enough that he could stay on the ice while shorthanded and not be a detriment to his team. 

Will Elias Pettersson Hit 100 Points Next Season?

The conversation surrounding center Elias Pettersson has dominated on social media this off-season. While some may have lost faith in the former Calder Trophy winner, it appears that Pettersson is fully healthy and ready to prove the doubters wrong in 2025-26. In short, he is Vancouver's most important forward and needs to have a strong year if the Canucks have eyes on a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

While we know that Pettersson can reach the 100-point mark in a season, I don't think he will hit it this coming season. What I do think happens is that he records between 90 and 95 points while being a contender for the Selke Trophy. Pettersson will also be named to Team Sweden for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he will have a better performance than he did at last year's 4 Nations Face-Off.

Could Kirby Dach Be A 2C Fit For The Canucks?

Kirby Dach is an interesting player. Drafted third overall in 2019, the Montréal Canadiens center is still looking for his breakout season. Dach has also dealt with injuries throughout his entire NHL career, which has limited him to just 59 games over the past two seasons. 

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While their play styles are different, Dach and Filip Chytil are in a similar situation. Both are seen more as third-line centers who can possibly make the jump to the second line if needed. Based on his career so far, I don't believe Dach would be a fix for the second-line center problem.  

Thoughts On Wilson Björck?

Wilson Björck is an intriguing prospect. He lit up the J20 this past season with 67 points in 43 games and is on Team Sweden's radar for the 2026 World Juniors. Björck is also a very versatile forward as he can play both on the wing and down the middle. 

During Development Camp, Björck was one of the players who stood out. The 19-year-old is very calm when the puck is on his stick, which allows him to deliver accurate passes to teammates in scoring positions. Set to join Colorado College next season, spending some time at the NCAA level should help him adjust to the North American ice surface before he makes the jump to the pro level. 

Which Prospects From The 2025 NHL Draft Are You Most Excited About?

The Canucks added six interesting prospects in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. While the organization got good value on their later-round picks, the most exciting prospects are their first two selections, Braeden Cootes and Alexei Medvedev. Both have already signed their entry-level contracts and are headed back to the CHL next season. 

Cootes projects as a middle center at the NHL level, while Medvedev has the potential to be Vancouver's starter one day. Both have high compete levels and were standouts at this year's Development Camp. Both will also be players to watch this September, both at the prospect games against the Seattle Kraken and during Training Camp. 

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Kent Hughes has been very active this season so far. he pulled off the most significant trade when he managed to pry defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, surprised everyone when he acquired Zach Bolduc, and made some depth signings. However, he still didn’t manage to address another area of need for the Montreal Canadiens, the elusive second-line center.

The free agency market was thin, but when Jonathan Toews signed with the Winnipeg Jets, Matt Duchene re-signed with the Dallas Stars, and Mikael Granlund joined the Anaheim Ducks, it got even thinner. As Jeff Gorton said in his media availability before the draft, when something’s going on in the league and someone becomes available, the Canadiens know about it and assess the suitability of the player for their team, and that’s probably exactly what they did with Evgeny Kuznetsov.

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On Friday, his agent, Shumi Babaev, revealed that he had spoken with the Canadiens since the pivot would have liked to play in Montreal with former teammate Ivan Demidov in the KHL with SKA St. Petersburg. Even though he would have wanted to join the Habs, Babaev was told there just wasn’t room for him with the Tricolore.

While the Russian pivot is said to be highly motivated for his NHL comeback, he hasn’t played in the best league in the world since the 2023-24 season, when he put up 24 points in 63 games split between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes. The player was plagued by personal issues and spent some time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance program.

He then signed a new contract with the Canes, but ultimately, the agreement was terminated, and he signed a four-year deal with SKA in the KHL, but both parties agreed to terminate the contract at the end of the first season. There were no details released as to the reason for the termination, but it's likely the Canadiens conducted due diligence by leveraging Nick Bobrov’s contacts in Russia. The Habs had a good channel of communication with SKA, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they reached out to get some inside information.

While Kuznetsov could have been a good fit with Demidov, there is no doubt a reason why the Canadiens decided to tell his agent that there just wasn’t room for him, even though the Tricolore is lacking depth at center right now.

It’s looking increasingly likely that Kirby Dach will get yet another kick at the second line can. The Canadiens are probably hoping that youngsters Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen will come to camp all guns blazing and light a fire under the 24-year-old who will be playing the last year of his contract.

Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

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American-born Russian winger Nikolai Kovalenko, 25, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on social media on Saturday.

The move comes nine days after CSKA acquired Kovalenko’s KHL rights from Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in exchange for recently-signed ex-NHLer Egor Sokolov.

Kovalenko was born in Raleigh, N.C. while his father, Andrei Kovalenko, played for the Carolina Hurricanes. He grew up in Moscow and Yaroslavl, and played in 304 KHL regular-season and playoff games for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Ak Bars Kazan and Torpedo between 2017 and 2024, recording 157 points.

At the end of the 2023-24 KHL season, Kovalenko, who had already signed a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche, was assigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. He made his NHL debut in that year's playoffs when he was called up to play in two games for the Avalanche.

Kovalenko split the 2024-25 season with Colorado and the San Jose Sharks, recording 20 points and 16 penalty minutes in 57 games. Midway through the season, he was involved in a trade that saw goaltenders Alexandar Georgiev and Mackenzie Blackwood head in opposite directions.

Two Days After Signing In KHL, Sokolov Traded For NHL Free Agent Two days after signing with CSKA Moscow, Russian winger Egor Sokolov has been traded to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, the CSKA club announced on Thursday.

CSKA, colloquially known in North America as the Red Army team, is a perennial powerhouse in Russia, but after back-to-back Gagarin Cup titles in 2022 and 2023, has been knocked out in the first round of the playoffs each of the past two years.

The team has made numerous moves in recent weeks, including signing Sokolov and then trading him for Kovalenko’s rights two days later. The team has also signed goaltender Spencer Martin and acquired Denis Zernov from Metallurg Magnitogorsk in exchange for New York Islanders prospect Ruslan Iskhakov. CSKA also has under contract for 2025-26 ex-NHLers Denis Guryanov, Nikita Nesterov, Nikita Okhotyuk and Vladislav Kamenev.

Photo © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images.

Goalie Spencer Martin Signs In KHL Canadian goaltender Spencer Martin, 30, has signed a two-year contract with CSKA Moscow, the KHL club announced on Wednesday.

The San Jose Sharks acquired Ryan Reaves from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Henry Thrun. While the move was a bit perplexing to both fan bases at first, especially for Sharks fans, it helped clear an obvious logjam and added some needed toughness to the forward group.

There isn’t much upside offensively for Reaves, as he’s posted a total of 137 points over the course of 16 seasons, but both the organization and the player know what he brings to the table.

The 38-year-old winger has one more year on his current contract, which has a cap hit of $1.35 million. He signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2023-24 season, and things certainly didn’t go as either he or the team had hoped.

According to Reaves, he never gelled with the coaching staff, and constantly moving in and out of the lineup on a consistent basis never allowed him to get momentum going for his game. Despite the issues, Reaves still referred to the Maple Leafs as “a first-class organization.”

Reaves, who found out about the move “two minutes before a signing,” said that he asked Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving for a change of scenery. “The way things ended in Toronto, it wasn’t exactly how I wanted,” Reaves said. “It was time to move on. I’m happy that Treliving out in Toronto found a spot for me, and I couldn’t be more happy in San Jose.”

Fans in San Jose don’t have the fondest memories of Reaves, who spent a few years with the Vegas Golden Knights half of a decade ago, which led to some intense and memorable playoff moments.

When asked about his history with his new organization, Reaves joked: “What history?” He then continued, adding, “I think it’s definitely good that there was a little buffer in between to let that cool off a little. There [have been] a few teams over the years that I would’ve said I never would’ve gone to just because of the rivalries that were going on, Chicago when I played in St. Louis. Then, probably San Jose from our days in Vegas.”

Coming into a young team looking to move out of a rebuild, Reaves knows exactly why general manager Mike Grier brought him into the fold. “They definitely didn’t sign me for my goal scoring.” Instead, Reaves will be tasked with the responsibility of protecting the Sharks’ young stars, specifically Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and possibly Michael Misa if he makes it to the NHL this season. ”I know my role, and I know what I need to bring to this team.”

Reaves’ game focuses squarely on physicality, and even if he’s not an everyday player, he can also add some veteran leadership. With the departure of Marc-Edouard Vlasic this summer, Reaves has instantly become the oldest player in the Sharks organization. Over the years, he’s played with some of the top players in the NHL, including Sidney Crosby, Artemi Panarin, and, of course, Toronto’s former “core four”. As a result, even as a fourth-line enforcer, Reaves will bring a wealth of knowledge he can share with the Sharks’ young stars.

Entering this season, Reaves has played a total of 912 career NHL games. With 88 games remaining until he hits the milestone of 1000 games played, he won’t hit that benchmark this season with the Sharks. Regardless, he’s confident he can play all 82 games this season if he’s asked to do so, but Father Time is slowly catching up with him. “I don’t know if any 38-year-old hockey player is 100% but it’s good enough to get on the ice, get up and down, and play the way I need to, play physical and fight when I need to.”

At this stage of his career, the main thing Reaves wants is to be wanted. “I go where anybody wants me and anybody who wants me,” he said. “I’m excited to do whatever I can for that team and organization.”

Reaves doesn’t bring much offensive or even defensive value to the Sharks. He has one job with the San Jose Sharks, and that’s to protect his younger teammates through his physical play. He’s not the type of player who will be in the lineup on a nightly basis, more than likely, but if he’s going to win over the fans in the Bay Area, he’ll need to make an impact whenever he’s given an opportunity to do so.

If Reaves wants to hit the 1000-game mark, he needs to have an impressive run with the Sharks and show teams around the league that he still has what it takes to make an impact. As a result, he’ll be an interesting player to keep an eye on when the season gets underway this fall.

Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Sharks Sign Former Islanders Goalie To One-Year ContractThe San Jose Sharks have announced they’ve signed former New York Islanders goalie Jakub Skarek to a one-year deal worth $775,000. From The Archive: NHL Franchise Legends - Evgeni Nabokov The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. From The Archive: Aging Like Fine WineThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Earlier this week, projected 2026 first-overall pick Gavin McKenna committed to Penn State University. He is undoubtedly a massive pickup for the school, as he dominated the Western Hockey League (WHL) over the last few seasons. This past campaign with the Medicine Hat Tigers was his best, though, as he had 41 goals and 129 points in 56 regular-season games and 38 points in 16 playoff games. 

With how wonderfully McKenna has played at the junior level, many believe he will be a superstar at the NHL level. Because of this, next year’s draft lottery should have just as much hype as it did during Connor Bedard’s draft year in 2023. 

Because of this, let’s look at five teams who could have a real shot of winning next year’s draft lottery and selecting McKenna. 

Pittsburgh Penguins 

Could the Pittsburgh Penguins get their next face of the franchise in McKenna next year? It certainly should not be ruled out. They finished last season with a 34-36-12 record and did not address their major roster needs this off-season.

The Penguins are rebuilding and currently sport one of the weakest rosters in the NHL. Players like Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson are also among the league’s top trade candidates, so there is a possibility that the Penguins could get worse before the season is here. 

The Penguins also desperately need a young star talent like McKenna, especially with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the later stages of their careers. It will be interesting to see if they end up being the lucky club that lands him. 

San Jose Sharks 

The San Jose Sharks finished at the very bottom of the NHL standings for the second year in a row this past campaign. Thus, they stand out as a potential landing spot for McKenna. 

The Sharks made some nice moves this off-season, bringing in Dmitry Orlov, John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, Alex Nedeljkovic, Adam Gaudette and Philipp Kurashev. With this and the club having several young players on the rise, it would not be particularly surprising if the Sharks are a bit more competitive next season. However, they likely still have more work to do before they significantly climb up the NHL standings. 

If the Sharks won the draft lottery and picked McKenna, he would only make their excellent prospect pool even better. A trio of McKenna, Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith would be incredible for a Sharks team on the rise to build around. 

Chicago Blackhawks

After bringing in several new players in free agency last year, the Chicago Blackhawks elected not to be big spenders this time around. The Blackhawks will instead be looking for their talented young players to take big steps forward in 2025-26.

While it is completely understandable that the Blackhawks have had a quiet off-season, it also seems likely that they will once again be in the bottom portion of the NHL standings in 2025-26. With this, they certainly stand out as a potential landing spot for McKenna at next year’s draft. 

McKenna landing in Chicago would also make for a fun story, as he is a cousin-by-marriage to Bedard. However, more importantly, McKenna would give Bedard another elite talent to work with as the Blackhawks look to take that next step. 

Philadelphia Flyers 

The Philadelphia Flyers have made some interesting additions this off-season, as they have brought in Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak and Dan Vladar. While they have added to their group, they still have work to do before they compete for a playoff spot and could be a lottery team next year.

While they signed a solid backup in Vladar, goaltending is still the biggest question mark on the Flyers’ roster right now. They do not have a proven starting goaltender, and this could make them near the bottom of the NHL standings again next season. 

There is no question that adding McKenna would be significant for the Flyers, as he would provide them with another top youngster to build their core around. Could you imagine the Flyers having McKenna and Matvei Michkov on their roster? That duo would make some real magic together.

Seattle Kraken 

The Seattle Kraken brought in some new players this summer, including Mason Marchment, Ryan Lindgren and Frederick Gaudreau. While adding to their depth was certainly important for the Kraken, it is hard to predict that these moves will be enough for the Kraken to move up in the standings next season. 

When looking at the Kraken’s roster, it is clear that they still do not have a game-changing forward that all playoff teams need. However, winning next year’s draft lottery and picking McKenna would help change things on that front. There might not be a team out there that needs a player like McKenna more than Seattle right now. 

Honorable Mentions

Two other teams who could have a real shot at getting McKenna are the Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators. Both of these teams performed below expectations last season and are wild cards heading into 2025-26. 

The possibility of a bounce-back season for the Bruins is there, especially if Jeremy Swayman regains his elite form, and top defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm stay healthy. However, after trading away several former core players at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, there are certainly questions surrounding the Original Six club. 

As for the Predators, they will need players like Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos to heat back up offensively if they hope to improve next season. They will also need Juuse Saros to regain his elite form, as the Predators are not an easy team to beat when the star goalie is on his A-game. Yet, if things go south for Nashville again, they could be the team that gets McKenna.

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Former Bakersfield Condors goaltender Collin Delia has signed a one-year deal in Sweden with Brynas IF, it was announced Friday. 

A product of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Delia spent the entire 2024-25 season with the Condors, putting up a record of 12-11-5 along with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Across a total of 181 career AHL regular season appearances, Delia has gone 88-72-25 while posting a 2.95 GAA and a .901 SP.

Having turned pro in 2017, Delia has also appeared in a decent amount of NHL games, getting into a combined 52 with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks. In that time, he posted a stat line of 19-18-7, a GAA of 3.51 and a .897 SP. 

With Delia heading over to the SHL, this will be his first time playing professionally overseas. Having not appeared in an NHL game since the 2022-23 season, Delia is likely hoping to prove himself once again. If he has a strong season with Brynas, Delia could attract interest from NHL teams looking to bolster their goaltending depth.

The Winnipeg Jets have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with defenceman Isaak Phillips. 

The move was announced on Friday, completing the process of signing for the restricted free agent recently acquired from Chicago in exchange for Dmitry Kuzmin. 

Phillips' contract is of the two-way variety, meaning he can be sent up and down through Waivers with no issue for the duration of the two years. He will make $813K if playing at the NHL level, or an average of $388K if spending his time with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

Phillips, 23, played in three games with the Blackhawks last season, to which he scored a goal. It wasn't his first NHL goal either, as he has been recalled from the Rockford IceHogs in each of the last four seasons. The defender has two goals, 12 points and 31 penalty minutes to his name in 56 NHL contests. 

The Barrie, ON. product played 28 games for Rockford last year, collecting eight points, before moving to the Moose, where he added another three goals and eight points in 39 games. Phillips has collected 26 goals, 87 points and 234 penalty minutes in 238 career minor league contests. 

He will look to battle for a spot in the current logjam of young defencemen vying for the No. 8 job in Winnipeg. 

Mark Philadelphia Flyers prospect Nikita Grebenkin down as another player who's publicly shared his support for polarizing goalie Aleksei Kolosov.

Kolosov, 23, had a rough first full season with the Flyers organization last year, going 5-6-1 with a 3.11 GAA and .884 save percentage at the AHL level and 5-9-1 with a 3.59 GAA and .867 save percentage at the NHL level.

During his time in the AHL, though, the embattled goalie prospect briefly crossed paths with Flyers trade addition Nikita Grebenkin before getting re-called to the NHL on March 25.

In the duo's brief time together, Kolosov apparently left quite the positive impression on Grebenkin, as he shared in a recent interview.

"Aleksei, a good, positive guy. A professional who knows his stuff," Grebenkin told Legalbet.by of Kolosov. "I'm very glad that I met him."

It should be noted that, in a stretch of five AHL starts in March, Kolosov earned three of his five total wins for the season.

Flames Sniper Backs 'Excellent' Aleksei Kolosov to Stay with Flyers, Continue NHL CareerGoalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov has all the talent and experience to stay with the Philadelphia Flyers and forge a successful NHL career for himself, but will he?

Is it a coincidence that some of Kolosov's best hockey in the AHL came when a fellow Russian speaker joined the fold? Potentially, as those results were rarely repeated in the NHL when playing alongside Matvei Michkov, Ivan Fedotov, and Egor Zamula.

It's been implied that Kolosov only wants to play in the NHL for the Flyers, but it's become clear that the NHL is too great a step up at this time despite the Belarusian's obvious flashes of talent.

Perhaps a full year in the AHL with his new friend, Grebenkin, and/or fellow goalie Fedotov will do Kolosov some good.

The 23-year-old has the talent and apparently takes his craft seriously, but can he muster the motivation to make a career for himself in North America? The Flyers are waiting to see if Kolosov can make it happen.

There have been some crucial changes lately at the junior level. Players who skate in the CHL are no longer ineligible to play in the NCAA, and we’ve started seeing a bit of an exodus towards the American Collegiate League. Projected first-overall pick at the 2026 draft, Gavin McKenna, is leaving the Medicine Hat Tigers for Penn State this upcoming season, and he’s not the only one defecting.

Keaton Verhoeff, another top 2026 draft prospect, is moving on from the WHL’s Victoria Royals to join the University of North Dakota. Cayden Lindstrom, McKenna’s Medicine Hat teammate and fourth overall pick at the 2024 draft, is heading to Michigan State.

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Calgary Flames prospect Luke Misa, who skated with the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads last season, and defenceman Jackson Smith, the 14th overall pick who spent the past three seasons with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, have also committed to Penn State. As for Justin Carbonneau, the St. Louis Blues first pick at the last draft, he has confirmed that he will be returning to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada if he doesn't make the Blues' lineup. 

Thankfully for the CHL, Frank Seravalli reports that the new CBA includes a clause that could make the CHL at least a bit more attractive for top-end talent. Starting in 2026-27, NHL teams will be able to place one 19-year-old CHL player in the AHL per season. Previously, CHL players could only be sent to the AHL if they were 20. This means that top prospects who chose the CHL path could turn pro faster.

With only one player per team eligible, though, that means a maximum of 32 prospects per year will be affected, and that a player will have to be pretty impressive to be given that opportunity by his team.

When this kicks in for the 2026-27 season, the Montreal Canadiens could consider sending a player like Hayden Paupanekis, a third-round pick and 69th selection at the last draft, to the Laval Rocket next season if he completely dominates in the CHL this upcoming season. They felt he had no more to learn from that league, but he is not yet ready for the NHL. Of course, they’d have to sign him first, but it still gives NHL teams an interesting option.

As for top CHL talent, it means they could turn pro a year earlier, even though they are not yet ready for the NHL. For the Habs, it would also mean having more control over a player’s development and progress. The step between the CHL and the AHL is quite steep, however, and only a select few players could be ready to make that move. Given how physical the AHL can be, smaller players may not be good candidates to go down that route.

Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

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We're getting into the deep part of summer, but there is unfinished business in many NHL markets. And one of those markets is Buffalo, where the Sabres continue being unable to move forward on defenseman Bowen Byram, and their roster doesn't inspire confidence they can be in the mix for a playoff spot.

Where could Byram be traded? We've covered many potential possibilities in this series, which focuses on potential trade partners for the Sabres. (You can read some older files by clicking here and here.)

In this file, we're looking at a potential trade fit with the Anaheim Ducks.

TEAM: Anaheim Ducks

CAP SPACE: $28.9 million

FREE AGENTS:  Lukas Dostal, G (RFA); Mason McTavish. LW (RFA); Sam Colangelo, RW (RFA); Brock McGinn, RW; Robby Fabbri, C

NEEDS: Elite depth on defense; goal production; fixing league's worst power play (11.8 percent efficiency) and the league's fourth-worst penalty kill (74.2 percent) last season; adapting to system of new coach Joel Quenneville

SABRES FiIT? The Ducks finished the 2024-25 season in sixth place in the weak Pacific Division, 10 points behind the race for a wild card. Anaheim has worked for some time to rebuild their stock of top talent, and that top talent is starting to unlock their potential. But when it comes to the Sabres, Anaheim's focus is the same as Buffalo's -- namely, each of the two teams want the same type of assets. That won't make it easy for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to find a Ducks player that (a) he'd like as a competitor, and (b) a financial fit.

That. said, Adams has to know he can command a big price if he trades the right player.  And that player almost assuredoy will be Byram. As an elite puck-moving blueliner, the 24-year-old is going to commond a major raise on the $3.85 million he earned last season with Buffalo. But the key question is, will he be earning it in Anaheim, or somewhere else?

If This Is It When It Comes To Sabres Roster Changes, It's Going To Be A Long Season In BuffaloThe Buffalo Sabres' underwhelming roster changes thus far this off-season have some fans itching to see them make a move of consequence, particularly when it comes to the future of RFA defenseman Bowen Byram. But what if nothing else transipres on the roster alterations front? What if the Sabres roster we see in early July is highly similar to the one we see when next season begins?

At that point, all eyes turned to Ducks GM Pat Verbeek. But Verbeek didn't go crazy at the start of free-agenc, Verbeek signed veteran cemter Mikael Grandlund, and he also traded for veteran left winger Chris Kreider. Clearly, Anaheim is intent on being in the playoff race this year.

The way you get there is to trade Byram. Adans has held onto Byram with all his might, but it may be time to part ways with Byram. And that If that's the case, sending Byram to Anahheim could bring back a player who could help them over the long haul -- Ducks winger Mason McTavish.

McTavish made approximately $894.167 last season, and he produced 22 goals and 52 games last year. That's a terrific bargain, but one that won't last any longer. And if the Ducks aren't sufficiently invested in the 22-year-old, the Sabres would gleefully take McTavish off their hands,

Sabres Could Be Facing Ticking Clock With ByramThe Buffalo Sabres situation elected to go to salary arbitration with restricted free agent defenseman Bowen Byram last week, eliminating the possibility of another NHL club going the offer sheet route, but the yet to be scheduled hearing could be a deadline of sorts for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to get the best return possible for the Stanley Cup winner.  

One of the Ducks' chief rivals in the Pacific Division is the San Jose Sharks, who made over their back end, bringing in a handful of experienced hands. That's what the Ducks' movees have been all about: if Anahein gets to the trade deadline and they're not in the race, they can trade these veterans for meaningful assets in return.

But we don't see that happening. We like what Verbeek has done here, even if it will take another year or two for Anaheim to blossom into a true Stanley Cup contender. And if he pulls off a trade for Byram -- with that possibility probably being remote -- Verbeek will install an asset that could be part of their defense corps for the next decade.

Details concerning the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) four-year extension - set to go into effect for the 2026-27 season - are beginning to surface. 

And there is one new rule in the CBA that is generating quite the buzz.

As part of the new CBA, the longstanding age requirement of 20 for players coming out of the CHL and into the AHL seems to have been modified. Now, organizations will be able to loan one 19-year-old player per season to play at the AHL level. They must play in one AHL game to be eligible for an official recall.

This news could be quite paramount for a number of reasons.

For one, some of the bigger-name prospects in different organizations will be able to make the jump to professional hockey sooner, which could be better for their development if they have nothing left to learn in junior hockey. Another big part of it is that it might entice players to remain with their CHL clubs as opposed to going to the NCAA, which is set to become a more popular and commonplace option for higher-end prospects after 2026 projected no. 1 pick Gavin McKenna's commitment to Penn State University. 

NHL will try w/ CHL to eliminate mandatory return rule for 19-year olds. Clubs would be limited to 1 loan of 19 y/o to AHL without having to offer him to CHL 1st

AHL paper loans for cap savings:
seems like a player must report to the AHL club + play in 1 game before next recall pic.twitter.com/jngekJxILT

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) July 11, 2025

But, logisitics aside, this is a rule that has - for a long time - worked to stunt the development of some of the league's best prospects. It could also open the door for teams to have a player make the jump who isn't quite ready, but it should largely be a net positive for pretty much all parties involved.

And one team to be on the lookout for in the next handful of seasons is the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Unfortunately for the Penguins, the rule would not go into effect until the 2026-27, meaning it would not benefit top defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke, who - at 19 - is believed by many to be ready for the jump to professional hockey. This really is a shame for Brunicke, who will either have to go back to a poor junior team in the Kamloops Blazers - potentially picking up more bad junior habits - or make the NHL club out of training camp, which is something he may not quite be ready for.

However, this could be big news for some of the Penguins' top draft prospects going forward - and they'll sure have a lot of those.

New episode dropped!@kelsey_surmacz4 and @HunterHodies discuss the Matt Dumba trade and what it means for Erik Karlsson, the new CHL/AHL rule, some potential #LetsGoPens RFA targets, n'at.@TheHockeyNews
Watch: https://t.co/e0ZAI2kuaH
Listen: https://t.co/rx2k4M41fjpic.twitter.com/MuS4sEYSgx

— Pucks N'at Podcast (@pucks_nat_pod) July 11, 2025

Pittsburgh selected 13 players in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, and they have a total of 29 picks in the next three drafts - including 17 picks in the first three rounds. Chances are, they're going to have some players who will be primed to make that jump from the CHL to the NHL - including two of their 2025 first-round picks in Ben Kindel and Bill Zonnon, one of whom would now be AHL-eligible next season.

The new rule will pave a new path for the Penguins to, perhaps, get a jump on the development of some of their top younger players, and - in turn - potentially accelerate their rebuild if all goes to plan. At the end of the day, the change will benefit the NHL teams in the basement the most, as they will be the teams with the most high-end talent in their systems.

What Is The Best Developmental Path For Top Prospect Harrison Brunicke In 2025-26?For 19-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins' defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke, it is only a matter of time. 

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Feature image credit: Kirby Lee - Imagn Images