Category: NHL

We’re wrapping up our Vegas Golden Knights Development Camp coverage with a spotlight on two standout 21-year-olds, Matyas Sapovaliv and Abram Wiebe.

Both Sapovaliv and Wiebe were drafted by the Knights back in 2022. Sapovaliv in the second round (48th overall) and Wiebe in the seventh round (209th overall).

Sapovaliv is a Czech center known for his poise and precision in the offensive zone. A natural facilitator, he thrives by slowing the game to his tempo, using his vision and puck control to let plays develop before threading pinpoint passes through tight lanes.

His technical playmaking ability has been on full display throughout his development, from his standout seasons with the Saginaw Spirit in the OHL. He posted 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) in just 54 games in the 2023–24 season. Following that came his transition into the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights. He played 71 games in the 2024–25 season, posting 19 points (11 goals, 8 assists). Sapovaliv’s knack for navigating traffic and delivering the puck under sticks and through bodies makes him a constant threat and a valuable asset in any offensive scheme.

“It’s pro hockey. It's been hard, especially the start,” Sapovaliv said in regard to his first pro season. “I had good teammates and good coaching staff. I got better through the season and finished hard.”

Started at the NHL Draft, now we’re here ➡️ Matyas Sapovaliv was drafted by the @GoldenKnights in the 2nd round of the 2022 NHL Draft, and played his first pro season with the Silver Knights during 2024-25 pic.twitter.com/GjdJF9BJX3

— Henderson Silver Knights (@HSKnights) June 25, 2025

Now for Wiebe—he’s been on a slightly different, yet still impressive path, playing at the D1 collegiate level for the University of North Dakota.

In his 2023–24 freshman season, the defenseman appeared in all 40 games, putting up 10 points (1 goal, 9 assists) and finishing second on the team with a +14 rating. At the end of that season, he was named to the NCHC All-Academic Team and also earned NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete honors. Going into his 2024–25 season, he improved his numbers, putting up 24 points (4 goals, 20 assists) in 38 games.

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to play at North Dakota,” Wiebe said. “It’s such an amazing university, amazing hockey team with great coaches, so I’m so thankful that I got the opportunity to play there. I thought last year, going from my freshman to sophomore year, I just gained a lot of confidence heading into my sophomore year, which gave me the opportunity to join the rush and be more involved on the offensive side of the game this year. So, I’m kind of just using that this summer to get bigger, stronger, and faster.” 

Make it a 🎩 trick of winners this week, as Abram Wiebe repeats as NCHC Defenseman of the Week!

RELEASE: https://t.co/3WPWi80ixR#UNDproud | #LGHpic.twitter.com/tdelwFqE77

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) December 16, 2024

Both of these young men have exciting seasons ahead, and their performances over the past few days at development camp gave fans a clear glimpse of the potential they bring to the future of this organization. 

Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ryan Reaves is on the move.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have traded Reaves to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun.

TRADE: We’ve acquired defenceman Henry Thrun from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forward Ryan Reaves pic.twitter.com/dZKTlDwXGP

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 11, 2025

Seeing Reaves get traded is not necessarily surprising, as he fell down the Maple Leafs' depth chart this season and even spent time in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies. Now, with this trade to the Sharks, he should provide more toughness in San Jose's bottom six as they continue their rebuild.

Reaves appeared in 35 games last season with the Maple Leafs, posting two assists, 28 penalty minutes, 103 hits, and a minus-2 rating. He also scored a goal in three games with the Marlies. 

Reaves spent the first part of the 2017-18 season with the Penguins before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights at the deadline. In 58 games as a Penguin, he recorded four goals, eight points, 84 penalty minutes, and 161 hits. 

In 912 career NHL games split between the St. Louis Blues, Penguins, Golden Knights, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, and Maple Leafs, Reaves has recorded 63 goals, 137 points, 1,100 penalty minutes, and 3,065 hits. 

Penguins Trade for Stars Defenseman Matt DumbaThe Pittsburgh Penguins added another defenseman to their roster on Thursday when they traded for Matt Dumba of the Dallas Stars. They also got a 2028 second-round pick for taking Dumba, while sending fellow defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok to the Stars. 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs traded veteran Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Henry Thrun on Thursday night.

Reaves, 38, has one season remaining on a three-year contract worth $1.35 million annually. He recorded two assists, 28 penalty minutes and 103 hits in 35 games for the Maple Leafs this past season.

He's one of the NHL's heavyweight fighters, taking 93 major penalties in his career and logging a total of 1,100 penalty minutes, the sixth-most by an active player. This past year, he fought once in the regular season against the Columbus Blue Jackets' Mathieu Olivier and once in the pre-season against the Ottawa Senators' Donovan Sebrango.

Reaves cleared waivers in March and played three games for the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

On the Cam & Strick Podcastthis week, Reaves discussed his time after being assigned to the AHL and more. He said he was skating with a skills coach for a couple of weeks instead of practising with the Marlies before he called to join the team and play some home games.

Reaves also defended Mitch Marner for not re-signing in Toronto and joining the Vegas Golden Knights.

" 'Mitchy' earned the right to go wherever he wants, and he's dedicated his whole career to Toronto, a hometown guy, and he's poured everything he had into it, and sometimes it's just time to move on," Reaves said, adding that Leafs fans can be a little ruthless to Marner.

As for Reaves' time with the Leafs, he said he likes Toronto but didn't go downtown often, except for games. But he praised Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and William Nylander.

Although Reaves' contract expires after next season, he said he'd like to hang on for another two years in the NHL so that he can reach 1,000 games and go for the Stanley Cup. He's currently 88 games away from 1,000.

Thrun, 24, enters the second campaign of a two-year contract with a $1-million cap hit. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound blueliner played 60 games for the Sharks this past season, putting up two goals and 10 assists for 12 points. He averaged 17:31 in ice time and blocked 66 shots.

In 119 career NHL games, Thrun has five goals and 20 assists for 25 points with a minus-48 rating. Before his pro career began, he played at Harvard, captaining the squad in 2022-23. He had 31 points in 33 games that year and was named to the NCAA's first all-American team in the East, the first all-star team in the ECAC, the NCAA's all-Ivy league first team and more.

This past January, Thrun said he felt stronger on pucks and better defensively, and he had a good relationship with coach Ryan Warsofsky as he tried to improve.

Toronto gains $350,000 in cap space, now having about $5.33 million overall, according to PuckPedia. The Sharks have about $23.5 million in cap space, about $1.3 million over the cap floor.  

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The Buffalo Sabres are still the center of attiention in many markets due to the potential work future of RFA defenseman Bowen Byram. And there are many potential trade partner fits for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams. We've decided to cover many of them, including the Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles Kings. and St. Louis Blues. 

And in this file in the series, we're examining another potential trade fit partner for the Sabres -- in this case, the San Jose Sharks. Let's get to the important details.

TEAM: San Jose Sharks

CAP SPACE: $23.8 million

FREE AGENTS: None

NEEDS: More experience on 'D and at forward; more high-end talent throughout the roster.

SABRES FIT? The Sharks have been a reclamation project for many years now. But under the watchful eye of San Jose GM Mike Grier, the Sharks have been quietly building a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. And there could be a fit between Grier's Sharks and the Sabres.

There's no question the Sharks are angling to get into the playoffs next year. But Greir is a realist, and he understands it's going to take another couple years before San Jose makes it into the post-season. So patience is going to be a virtue for the Sharks. 

That said, there have been rumors connecting San Jose to Byram, as they've almost completely made over their defense, adding veteran Blues defenseman Nick Leddy via waivers, and signing former Hurricanes blueliner Dmitry Orlov and John Klingberk to amp up the veteran knowhow.

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.  

We're not prepared to say the Sharks are a playoff team just yet, but San Jose almost certainly isn't going to be as easy a pushover as they were this past season. Bringing in so many veterans to firm up their back end is a clear strategy to improve his group, while also potentially trading away some of these veteran D-men by the trade deadline if they can bring invother high-quality young players in return.

Who would the Sabres want from San Jose in exchange for Byram? Well, there's the rub -- and the reason a deal probably won't happen between Buffalo and the Sharks: the Sabres don't really need the players the Sharks will want to make available in a Byram trade, and the players the Sabres do want, the Sharks probably want to keep.

Is There Anything Left For Sabres To Pick Up In Free Agency?The NHL's free-agent frenzy has colmed down considerably, with most of the available talent now off the market. And the Buffalo Sabres still have approximately $13.6 million in salary cap space to utilize. So, is there anything left for Buffalo to spend on the open market, or is the only road to improvement via trades?

To wit -- Sharks center William Eklund would clearly intrigue Adams, but Grier isn't going to move a 41-assist, 58-point season while making only $863,333 next season. So it's very difficult to envision the right set of circumstances that will lead to a Buffalo/San Jose trade happening in the foreseeable future .

Ultimately, both teams want to be buyers, and each team only has a couple legitimate trade chips, so don't imagine you'll be seing a Sabres/Sharks trade anytime soon.

 

He already has local ties to the Mitten State, and he's returned - this time, as a seasoned NHL veteran

The Detroit Red Wings signed former Michigan State Spartans forward Mason Appleton, who had previously played for the Winnipeg Jets and the Seattle Kraken, to a two-year, $2.9 million contract on the opening day of free agency. 

“Detroit is a team that had a lot of success for a really long time,” Appleton said via the Red Wings official website. “I think that getting this team back in the playoffs would just be huge, and the sky is the limit from there. You just have to get your foot in the door and then anything can happen. It’s a team and city that I believe in, and I’m super excited to get things rocking there.”

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Originally hailing from Green Bay, Wisconsin, which is a little over two hours away from Detroit by flight, the decision was an easy one for Appleton and his family.

"I thought Detroit was a great fit for me on the ice. And then off the ice, it made a lot of sense too with my wife and I being from Wisconsin, it’s a lot closer than some other teams," he said. "It just seemed like the right fit. Free Agency kicks off, it’s a stressful time, and things happen that you wouldn’t expect but at the end of the day we were very happy to end up in Detroit." 

#NHLJets are 8-0-0 this season when Mason Appleton
scores pic.twitter.com/ZRhpuJRmkZ

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) March 26, 2025

Appleton, who was selected with the 168th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Jets, played 72 games for the Spartans between 2015 and 2017, scoring a total of 17 goals with 36 assists. His 22 points in his first season in East Lansing led all rookies, and he was recognized with the Most Outstanding Rookie Award. 

Appleton was even named team captain of the Spartans for the 2017-18 season, but he would depart the University to begin his professional career by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Jets. 

He would split his first two seasons in Winnipeg between the Jets and the Manitoba Moose, their American Hockey League affiliate. Appleton then played in a career-high 56 games in 2020-21, scoring 12 goals with 13 assists. 

But he would be selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, and played in 49 games with the new club before ultimately being traded back to the Jets at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline. 

He's played exactly 400 games in the NHL, scoring 57 goals with 81 assists. He also has a goal with 11 assists in 32 postseason games, including seven assists in the 2025 playoffs as the Jets advanced to the Western Conference Semi Final. 

Now, Appleton is turning his focus on playing a role in bringing playoff hockey back to Detroit. 

“Detroit is a team that had a lot of success for a really long time,” Appleton said. “I think that getting this team back in the playoffs would just be huge, and the sky is the limit from there." 

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The Vancouver Canucks have signed goaltender Aleksei Medvedev to a three-year, entry-level contract. Vancouver selected the 17-year-old with the 47th pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Medvedev was the fourth goaltender selected in this year's draft, and the highest goalie selected by the Canucks since Thatcher Demko in 2014. 

In a press release, GM Partik Allvin wrote, "Aleksei is an important addition to our organizational depth in goal and his signing is a great thing for our hockey club. He showed us a lot at development camp and has a bright future if he continues to build on his skill set and fundamentals. We look forward to monitoring his progress and helping him develop into a solid pro."

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

Five Years Of Vancouver Canucks Free Agency Moves

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Medvedev spent last season in the OHL with the London Knights. The Russian-born goaltender went 22-8-2, with a .912 save percentage. He also participated in the 2025 OHL Top Prospect Game and was part of London's Memorial Cup-winning team. 

Since Medvedev has now signed his ELC, he is unable to play in the NCAA. He is set to return to the Knights next season, where he will be the projected starter. Medvedev is now one of eight goaltenders who have been signed by Vancouver, joining Demko, Kevin Lankinen, Artūrs Šilovs, Nikita Tolopilo, Ty Young, Jiří Patera and Aku Koskenvuo. 

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Defenseman Nicolas Hauge, known for his size and physical play, aims to return to the more offensively minded side of the game he played in juniors. 

The Nashville Predators' newest addition, acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights on June 29 that sent defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sissons to Vegas, was introduced to local media at a press conference on Thursday. 

Hague signed a 4-year, $22 million contract, with an annual hit of $5.5 million. 

"I've always heard nothing but great things about here [Nashville]," Hague said. "Talking to the guys, too, it just seems like just a great place to live and a great place to play." 

In the press conference, Hague talked about how he came from an "active" defensive system in Vegas and how he'd like to be more offensively involved in Nashville. 

"I think there's more to give [in my game] offensively," Hague said. "In juniors, I was an offensive guy, and when I came into the NHL, there's a heavy focus on defending in this league. You're not going to make it anywhere if you do that." 

"Now, I want to round out my game a little bit more with those offensive instincts I had in juniors, but not lose that defensive part." 

During the 2017-18 season, Hague's final junior season with the Mississauga Steelheads, he scored 78 points, complemented by 105 penalty minutes. Since coming to the NHL, he has yet to surpass 17 points in a single season. 

Last year with the Golden Knights, Hague had 12 points in 68 games, but was part of an offensively active defensive corps. Vegas' defensemen had 173 points, led by Shea Theodore with 57 points. Nashville had 133 defensive points, led by Roman Josi with 38 points. 

"In Vegas, we talked about playing as five all over the ice," Hague said. "Our whole system is a unit. You're never man-on-man. If one guy got beat, you kind of had to beat us in layers...We always had a lot of success playing that way, and we always seemed to click." 

The defense was a significant focus for the Predators in the offseason, specifically addressing its issues, according to general manager Barry Trotz. Trotz said having a more offensively involved defense will help fix the gap at center.

Similar to what defensemen Nick Perbix said in his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Hague also believed last season was a "fluke" for the Predators.

"I think everybody had a lot higher expectations with the summer they had in free agency," Hague said. 

Hague did add that the attitude of having something to prove following a disappointing season has paid off for him in the past. The year before Vegas won the 2023 Stanley Cup, it had missed the playoffs by three points. 

It was the Predators that got the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. 

"We were very hungry and felt like we had something to prove that next year," Hague said. "That's a powerful feeling in the locker room if everybody can buy in. Having something to prove can take a team a long way." 

Not everyone is a stranger to Hague in Nashville. He is reunited with former Golden Knight Jonathan Marchessault. The pair played together for five seasons and have become close friends off the ice as well. 

"Marshy [Marchessault] is a really good friend. He always makes me laugh," Hague said. "I can't wait to reconnect with them [Marchessault's family]. We got pretty close in Vegas over the years, and lived down the street from them. It'll be good to see him, Alex and the kids." 

The 2024-25 NHL season was a true breakout campaign for Detroit Red Wings rookie Marco Kasper, who showed tremendous promise and all of the signs of being an effective impact player for years to come. 

Thanks to his impressive first foray into the NHL, he's being recognized by being named the 2024-25 Red Wings Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Media (DSM).

Kasper the Friendly ROTY. 👻

More » https://t.co/nGdvj2ra8lpic.twitter.com/LUnlvylAKj

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 10, 2025

Kasper, whom the Red Wings drafted with the eighth overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, began the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins but was called up to the Red Wings in late October, and remained with the club for the remainder of the campaign.

Kasper ultimately played in 77 games, scoring 19 goals with 18 assists. His first NHL goal was scored on November 15 against the Anaheim Ducks and goaltender John Gibson, who is now his teammate in Detroit after being acquired in a recent trade. 

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But it was Kasper's second half of the season that was extremely encouraging. In the 42 games that he played spanning from January 10 through the end of the season in April, Kasper's 17 goals were first among all NHL rookies. His 29 even-strength points were tied for first among all rookies, and his 30 points were good for fifth overall.

“I mean, I’m always giving my best to get better, but I know it’s going to be hard next year,” Kasper said after the season ended. “You know, it’s, I mean, I personally feel like I had a pretty good year, but it’s going to be really hard to come back and do just like that and even improve what I want."

Tic-tac-GOAL!

Marco Kasper's 13th of the season. #LGRWpic.twitter.com/RdEpZw4sJa

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 16, 2025

Kasper, who also later played for Austria in the 2025 World Championship, also said that he's going to spend the summer focusing on improving himself physically. 

“Obviously, I always talk about I’m trying to get better every day. It’s really hard, but it’s something I’m going to focus on this summer," he said. "Just whenever I’m in the gym, when I’m just maybe watching some playoff games, that’s where we’re going to go and everybody’s going to have to improve for us to get there. And so it’s going to be an important summer.”

Under coach Todd McLellan, who took over the head coaching duties on December 26, Kasper would routinely center Detroit's second line flanked by Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat, a line that will likely be intact heading into next season. 

At only 20 years old, the sky is the limit for Kasper moving forward. 

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Samuel Montembeault is heading into next season as the Montreal Canadiens' clear starting goalie. The 28-year-old is coming off a solid 2024-25 campaign, as he posted a 31-24-7 record, a .902 save percentage, a 2.82 goals-against average, and four shutouts in 62 games. With this, he was certainly a reason why the Canadiens made the playoffs for the first time since 2021. 

Yet, when it comes to the Canadiens' backup goalie position, that is where things get more interesting. With the team signing Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year, $1.15 million contract, there will now be a goalie battle to watch between him and Jakub Dobes at training camp for the backup spot. 

Kahkonen, 28, spent most of this season down in the American Hockey League (AHL). In 36 regular-season games split between the Colorado Eagles, Manitoba Moose, and Charlotte Checkers, he had a 14-20-1 record, a .894 save percentage, and a 2.91 goals-against average. He also played in 18 playoff games for the Checkers this spring, where he had a 12-6 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 2.18 goals-against average. 

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Canadiens Have Three Of The Top 10 Point Scorers Of The 2019 Draft

Although Kahkonen appeared in just one NHL game this past season, he has a good amount of experience as a backup at the NHL level. In 140 career games over six seasons split between the Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche, he has posted a 49-68-15 record, a .898 save percentage, and a 3.34 goals-against average. Thus, if the Canadiens want more experience for the backup role and to let Dobes develop his game more in the AHL, they could start the year with Kahkonen. 

However, Dobes demonstrated plenty of promise during his first NHL action this season with the Canadiens. In 16 games with Montreal on the year, he posted a 7-4-3 record, a .909 save percentage, a 2.74 goals-against average, and one shutout.  He also performed well while in the AHL with the Laval Rocket this campaign, recording a 9-3-1 record, a .910 save percentage, and a 2.44 goals-against average in 14 games. 

It is fair to argue that Dobes has a good shot at winning the Canadiens' backup goalie spot. Yet, with the Canadiens bringing in an experienced goalie like Kahkonen, Dobes will need to earn the role with a strong training camp. 

Photo Credit: © Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

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Isaac Howard bet on himself by forcing a trade to the Edmonton Oilers, but it comes with a catch.

The Tampa Bay Lightning first-rounder may have landed a dream job on Connor McDavid’s or Leon Draisaitl’s wing next season with the Oilers. But if Howard, who won the Hobey Baker Award as the top men’s college hockey player, didn’t already have a bullseye on his back, he certainly does now. 

Chances are, like Rutger McGroarty and Cutter Gauthier, he’s probably OK with that. 

When you’re a young, elite hockey player, the world can be your oyster. You have the power of top-level performance to build your brand. You have people who’ve scouted you from an early age, telling you how great you are. And more often than not, you wind up believing in the hype about yourself.

Now, some elite young players wind up doing what most young players do – they accept hockey’s draft system, go wherever they’re told to go and build a career from there. 

But over the years, there have been some top youngsters who defied the system and negotiated their way to a team and a town where they felt they were a better fit than the club that drafted them.

Of course, some famous examples in modern history are Eric Lindros, who refused to play in Quebec City, orchestrating a trade to the Philadelphia Flyers. More recently, star defenseman Adam Fox first told the Calgary Flames he wouldn’t sign with them after they drafted him. After the Flames dealt him to the Carolina Hurricanes, Fox didn’t sign there, either. Before his draft rights expired, the Hurricanes moved him to where he wanted to be, the New York Rangers, where he’s played ever since.

In the past couple of years, top forward prospects Gauthier and McGroarty leveraged their way out of Philadelphia and Winnipeg, respectively. Gauthier forced a trade to the Anaheim Ducks, while McGroarty got moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

With all that in mind, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that another young up-and-comer has forced his way away from the team that drafted him. Howard didn’t come to terms with the Lightning, which selected him 31st overall pick in 2022. The Lightning traded him to the Oilers in exchange for OHL prospect Sam O’Reilly.

In his introductory press availability, Howard said the usual boilerplate things about being happy with his new team. But make no mistake – he will now face scrutiny as he tries to make the jump from the NCAA to the NHL without needing to play in the AHL. Like it or not, when you use the system to your advantage in a way most players do not, the spotlight on you will be prolonged and intense. 

So far in their careers, McGroarty and Gauthier haven’t exactly set the league on fire. McGroarty spent most of his first professional season in the AHL, posting 14 goals and 39 points in 60 games this past season. In a brief stint with the NHL’s Penguins, McGroarty generated only one goal and three points in eight games. His adaptation to hockey’s top league will still take some time, but he’s got a promising future.

Gauthier has been more successful thus far, playing a full 82 games with the Ducks in his initial NHL season and generating 20 goals and 44 points. Gauthier has had more opportunity than some of his peers, but he’s taken some of the heat off himself by being so productive as a rookie.

Now, the same spotlight will hang hard on Howard. 

The belief in Edmonton is that the 21-year-old is NHL-ready and will be in the lineup when the 2025-26 season begins. Playing alongside McDavid and Draisaitl will no doubt help Howard’s acclimation to the NHL, but playing on a team that wants a Stanley Cup championship means there’s little room for error.

It may not be fair in that regard, but by orchestrating a trade to a place he wants to play, Howard has opened himself up for criticism, not only from Lightning fans who may feel cheated but from hockey gatekeepers who always bristle when a young player dictates where they want to play.

If Howard can thrive as an Oiler, Edmonton management will be more than happy to make him a cornerstone part of the organization. While Howard will likely face a lifetime of jeering from Tampa fans – the same way McGroarty and Gauthier will always hear it from Jets and Flyers fans, respectively – this won’t be the last time we see a player break up the hockey food chain and make it clear they’re not going to be swayed when it comes to playing where they want to play.

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The Philadelphia Flyers didn't make too many additions to the roster this offseason, but they did enough to shake up the organizational depth chart for the time being.

And with that, the team's pace should change at least a little bit this season.

New head coach Rick Tocchet will get to iterate his own version of these Flyers, and the newcomers will breathe some life into a stagnant roster that saw very little turnover from 2023-24 to 2024-25.

The most notable offseason departures in 2024 were those of veterans Cam Atkinson and Marc Staal, as well as reserve goalie Felix Sandstrom

By adding Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak, the Flyers hope to address and smooth over the holes left by Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost, who went to the Calgary Flames in a January trade earlier this year.

Note that the following depth chart is not necessarily how I see or believe the lines will play out, but more where I think players fall in terms of ice time based on their roles, pecking order in the event of injury, etc.

Additionally, we will assume that Tyson Foerster, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Noah Juulsen are all healthy.

3 Flyers Prospects Named to World Junior Summer Showcase RostersWith only two rosters revealed so far, the Philadelphia Flyers are already set to be well represented at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase later this month.

Forwards

Tyson Foerster - Trevor Zegras - Matvei Michkov

Owen Tippett - Sean Couturier - Travis Konecny

Alex Bump - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink

Nikita Grebenkin - Christian Dvorak - Garnet Hathaway

Extras:

Nick Deslauriers - Rodrigo Abols - Porter Martone

Karsen Dorwart - Jett Luchanko - Anthony Richard

Denver Barkey - Jacob Gaucher - Lane Pederson

Massimo Rizzo - J.R. Avon - Devin Kaplan

Rationale

Tyson Foerster, when healthy, is going to play a ton of 5-on-5 minutes, and his role should expand on the penalty kill, too.

I don't know where the caution came from with Trevor Zegras, but he is definitely an NHL center, and a talented one. The biggest question is going to be how far his defense can come, because the playmaking, scoring, and invariable power play boost will keep him on the ice regardless.

Flyers Development Camp 2025 Scrimmage Winners, Notes, and ObservationsIf the Philadelphia Flyers have one thing to look forward to in the coming months, it's the continued development of their standout prospects.

A small note on Owen Tippett: his speed and long reach would be dangerous assets to have on the penalty kill a la Travis Konecny. Can Tocchet and the Flyers make him into something more than a high-priced, volume-shooting power forward?

I don't believe Alex Bump, who's a favorite to make the roster out of camp, will play on a checking line with Noah Cates, but 14-15 minutes a night to start him off in the NHL would be ideal.

As for Nikita Grebenkin, if he makes the roster, I'd expect 12 or so minutes a night with potential for PP2 ice time.

Diving into the extras, where Jett Luchanko falls depends a lot on his training camp, but if the Flyers suffer a rash of injuries, I could see him being re-called from the OHL in the event of an emergency over a bit part AHL player.

Ditto for Denver Barkey and Devin Kaplan, who may not be the first line of defense but could still see NHL ice under certain circumstances.

At this point in the rebuild, I don't see how it would benefit the Flyers to play veterans and journeymen over some of the prospects who are now turning pro.

Defense

Travis Sanheim - Rasmus Ristolainen

Where Did These Former Flyers End Up in NHL Free Agency?Between their additions and subtractions, the Philadelphia Flyers have been well-represented in NHL free agency this year.

Cam York - Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seeler - Noah Juulsen

Egor Zamula - Helge Grans

Emil Andrae - Oliver Bonk

Hunter McDonald - Ethan Samson

Dennis Gilbert - Adam Ginning

Ty Murchison

Rationale

Travis Sanheim, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Cam York are all going to play the bulk of the even strength and penalty kill minutes, and Nick Seeler and Noah Juulsen will each factor in on the man disadvantage, too.

The biggest question will be who plays the power play. 

Jamie Drysdale was the Flyers' No. 1 option by a comfortable margin on the power play last year and was on the ice for 15 goals for. Ristolainen, Sanheim, Emil Andrae, and Egor Zamula were on the ice for a combined 17 goals for, for reference.

Sanheim and Andrae, who each played 50 minutes on the man advantage, out-scored opponents by a combined 10-1, with the two leading all Flyers defensemen in goals for percentage on the power play, per Natural Stat Trick.

The issue is that Andrae might not make the roster, which opens the door for someone like York to take on more responsibility and actually showcase all his talents.

York ranked sixth amongst Flyers defensemen in power play ice time last season, playing just 9:36 in 66 games.

I expect Helge Grans to challenge for a roster spot for as long as Ristolainen is out after making his NHL debut last season. In the event of further injury, Andrae and prospect Oliver Bonk should top the list of re-call options.

Goalies

Dan Vladar

Sam Ersson

Flyers' Porter Martone Sets Sights on Early NHL DebutJust one day into on-ice activities at development camp, the hype around top Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone is already growing.

Aleksei Kolosov

Ivan Fedotov

Carson Bjarnason

Rationale

No surprises here. Top free agency addition Dan Vladar will be tasked with keeping Sam Ersson fresh, which has proven challenging over the last two seasons.

There's no reason for Aleksei Kolosov to not return given the situation with Dinamo Minsk, and he has more long-term upside than Ivan Fedotov if he can show the Flyers some consistency at the AHL and/or NHL levels.

Carson Bjarnason, who is just now turning pro, is the break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option. I think the Flyers would trade for a stopgap before throwing him to the wolves.

At the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Chicago Blackhawks traded defenseman Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for goaltender Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 first-round pick. The move was entirely understandable, as Jones wanted the opportunity to play for a contender, and the Blackhawks are still rebuilding. 

The Blackhawks landing Knight in this trade was certainly nice, as the 2019 first-round pick has the tools to emerge as an impactful starting goaltender at the NHL level. Now, with the 24-year-old entering his first full season as the Blackhawks' likely No. 1 goalie, the potential for him to hit a new level is undoubtedly there. 

Throughout his time with the Panthers, Knight demonstrated good promise as Florida's backup behind star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. In 80 games over four seasons with the Panthers, Knight had a 44-25-7 record, a 2.76 goals-against average, and a .906 save percentage. This included a 12-8-1 record, a .907 save percentage, and a 2.40 goals-against average in 23 games with the Panthers this past season before being traded to Chicago. 

Knight had mixed results with the Blackhawks following the trade, as he posted a 5-8-2 record, a .893 save percentage, and a 3.18 goals-against average. However, now that he has settled in with the Blackhawks, it would not be all that surprising to see his numbers improve next season.

Overall, with the Blackhawks being a team on the rise, bringing in a promising young goalie like Knight is undoubtedly a good thing. If he taps more into his potential, he could very well be the Blackhawks' long-term answer between the pipes. It will be fascinating to see if he takes a big step forward in his development next season from here. 

NHL Trade Rumors: 3 Blackhawks Who Could Be MovedThe Chicago Blackhawks could be a team to watch when it comes to the trade market. With the club still building up their roster, it would be understandable if they moved out some pieces who they do not view as long-term parts of their roster. 

Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Chicago Blackhawks' 2025 third overall pick, Anton Frondell, compares his game to Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.

Currently, Barkov is the best two-way forward in the NHL and is trending to one of the best two-way forwards of all time. With three Selke Trophies under his name at just 29 years old, there is no reason why Barkov shouldn't hear his name said alongside Patrice Bergeron and Pavel Datsyuk, among others. 

Coupled with his outstanding defensive game is his astonishing offensive game. Throughout his 13-year career, Barkov has scored 286 goals and 782 points in 804 games, a 0.97 points per game rate. He's also set a career-high of 39 goals and 96 points.

While Frondell isn't saying he will become Barkov, comparing your play style to a future Hall of Fame center does put lofty expectations on yourself. 

“I compare myself to [Aleksander] Barkov in Florida,” Frondell said when asked about his game.

After Matthew Schaefer went first overall to the New York Islanders and Michael Misa went second overall to the San Jose Sharks, the Blackhawks likely cheered when selecting Frondell, both the best player available at third overall and a perfect stylistic fit. With Connor Bedard projected as the team's No.1 center, and Frank Nazar blossoming as an ultra-skilled forward, the Blackhawks need a bigger, two-way center who would complement Bedard and Nazar's game, which Frondell does to a tee. 

Listed at just under 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, the 18-year-old will take on the tough defensive matchups at even strength, allowing Bedard or Nazar to focus on producing offensively, similarly to what Barkov does for Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk. Frondell can most certainly hold his own offensively, possessing one of, if not the best, shots in the 2025 draft class, combined with strong skating mechanics and silky hands. 

The Trångsund, SWE native played a crucial role in helping Djurgårdens IF achieve promotion back into the SHL, Sweden's top professional league, scoring 11 goals and 25 points in a 29-game injury-riddled season. The initial inclination was that Frondell would head back to Sweden for the upcoming season, but after a strong development camp and a proclamation of striving to make the team out of training camp, Frondell will be provided the opportunity to do so, and the current makeup of the Blackhawks roster could allow him to do so. 

If Frondell does work hard to emulate what makes Barkov so great, his offensive creativity, defensive fortitude, understanding of how to use his body, his high hockey IQ and overall tremendous leadership and selflessness, Frondell could go on to have a stellar NHL career. But saying so is a lot easier than doing it.

Anton Frondell Would Fit In On 2025-26 Chicago Blackhawks With the 3rd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Swedish forward Anton Frondell. This came after the New York Islanders selected Matthew Schaefer and the San Jose Sharks took Michael Misa.

The video of ex-NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky getting into a fight at a golf course in Alberta has taken over the hockey community by storm.

Former NHL player Drew Shore, alongside Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos, discussed the viral clip in the July 9 episode of The Big Show.

“I don’t think (Tarnasky) is the guy you want to get drunk and start lipping off to on the golf course,” Shore said.

Video footage captured Tarnasky, 40, and an unidentified golfer at the Alberta Springs Golf Resort near Red Deer, Alta., having an argument that escalated into a physical altercation. There was reportedly some frustration coming from Tarnasky’s group with how long the group in front of him was taking to tee their shot.

A golfer from the other group eventually confronted the former enforcer. Tarnasky threw him into the pond and punched him five times, yelling “bang” with every punch.

“Imagine that guy walking into the clubhouse at the end of his round,” Shore said. “You’re just playing golf, people are coming in, and the guy comes in, clothes are soaking wet, black eye, bruised cheek. That’s a very tough one to explain to someone.”

Tarnasky played 245 NHL games and accumulated 297 penalty minutes in his career. He played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers between 2005 and 2010. He played for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 pre-season and New York Rangers in the 2014 pre-season.

In addition, he recorded over 800 more penalty minutes across nine seasons in the AHL and one in the KHL.

"If anyone has an old Nick Tarnasky jersey lying around, this would be a great week to dust it off and wear it again," EA Sports NHL 25 play-by-play voice James Cybulski posted on X.

Painter Travis Chapman painted the altercation and shared it to social media on Wednesday, getting nearly 1-million views and and 12,000 likes on X.

Added former NHL defenseman Marc Methot: "People don’t realize how dangerous some of these guys are. They can throw, but more importantly, they can eat punches when they have to. Tarnasky wasn’t even trying."

Before the video went viral on social media, another former NHL D-man, Mike Commodore, mentioned Tarnasky on X.

"Alberta Springs, I heard you guys have the greatest Member/Marshall In Western Canada…Nick Tarnasky…runs a tight ship. Very hands on," he wrote.

The Red Deer Minor Hockey Association said it’s conducting an internal investigation, despite the RCMP having concluded its investigation into the altercation. 

Tarnasky is a coach for the Red Deer Minor Hockey U-17 AAA team. On May 7, the organization announced he’d be returning behind the bench for the 2025-26 season. 

"We are aware of a video circulating on social media involving a coach with Red Deer Minor Hockey," RDMHA said in a statement.

"At this time, given that we understand the matter is being reviewed by local policing authorities and we are conducting our own internal investigation into the alleged incident, we will have no further comments."

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