Full Look At The Hurricanes' Preseason Schedule

James Guillory-Imagn Images

With the start of training camp just around the corner, here's a full look at the Carolina Hurricanes' preseason schedule. 

The Hurricanes are set to play six preseason games.  

Monday: September 22: Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. Lenovo Center

Wednesday: September 24: Florida Panthers, 6 p.m. Lenovo Center

Friday: September 26 at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. Amalie Arena

Sunday: September 28 Nashville Predators, 7 p.m. Lenovo Center

Monday: September 29 at Florida Panthers, 6 p.m. Amerant Bank Arena

Saturday October 4 at Nashville Predators, 4 p.m. Bridgestone Arena

Red Wings Collapse Late, Fall 6-5 to Stars in Chaotic Game 2 of Prospect Showcase

The Detroit Red Wings surrendered a two-goal lead late in the third period, falling 6-5 to the Dallas Stars in a chaotic Game 2 of the 2025 NHL Prospect Games, marked by multiple lead changes. 

The Detroit Red Wings fall 6-5 to the Dallas Stars in the second game of the 2025 NHL Prospect Showcase. The game was eventful with multiple lead changes and some prospects stood out with impact performances in a high-scoring affair. 

Detroit's offense was coming off a stellar 6-2 win over the Stars in the first game of the showcase, highlighted by goals from some of the Red Wings top prospects in Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Shai Buium, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Amadeus Lombardi. Game two of the showcase saw more standout performances for Buium and Lombardi as Buium scored once again and Lombardi contributed three key assists on the Red Wings first and fifth goals scored by Buium and Becher respectively. 

Red Wings Scoring Stats: 

Amadeus Lombardi - 3A

Carson Bantle - 1G, 1A

Nate Danielson - 1G

Shai Buium - 1G

Liam Kilfoil - 1G

Ondrej Becher - 1G

Alexandre Doucet - 1A

Justice Christensen - 1A

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard - 1A

Axel Sandin-Pellikka - 1A

Vincent Collard - 1A

Will Murphy - 1A

Exclusive: Red Wings Prospect Emmitt Finnie Talks NHL Aspirations, Bond with Nate DanielsonExclusive: Red Wings Prospect Emmitt Finnie Talks NHL Aspirations, Bond with Nate DanielsonRed Wings breakout prospect Emmitt Finnie breaks down off-season plans, future goals and growing up with fellow prospect Nate Danielson in an exclusive interview with The Hockey News.

The ice was tilted from the start for Dallas as in the first 36 seconds, the Stars jumped on a turnover by Brandsegg-Nygard and converted it into a quick early goal.

The Stars maintained pressure for the start of the first period and capitalized on another costly error. Detroit 2024 third round pick Ondrej Becher dished the puck into the middle of the Red Wings end to an unprepared Wyatt Kennedy, a free agent invitee, who turns the puck over as the Stars rush in and score another quick goal. 

Detroit needed their established players to start making an impact and it started with Lombardi. The Red Wings 2022 fourth round pick passed the puck into the slot, with the help of a couple lucky bounces, to Griffins forward Carson Bantle, who makes a heads up play and moves the puck behind to a wide open Buium, who fires off a one-timer for Detroit's first goal of the game. 

Bantle showcased his talents as a steady netfront presence on the Red Wings second goal as he used his large 6-foot-5 frame in front of the Stars goaltender and was in the perfect spot when a blueline shot from Lombardi hits the post and bounces right to him for an easy goal. 

The game was tied but with several free agent invites looking to make their mark, Liam Kilfoil made his after entering the Stars zone on a fastbreak one-on-two opportunity. He speeds his way past the Stars defender and provides himself enough space for a backhand shot that goes off the crossbar and in for a highlight reel goal.  

One of the player every Red Wings fan was looking out for 2023 ninth overall pick Nate Danielson. The 20-year-old center added to the Red Wings scoring frenzy by showing off his high-end shooting ability as he entered the Stars end by cutting through a Stars winger and defender before firing off a top shelf shot from the high slot. 

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The Red Wings felt in control but the game started to slip when entering the third period with the Stars on the man advantage. Detroit got the penalty late in the second and allowed Dallas to go into the intermission with a play in mind and it led to a quick goal to start the third. The Stars battled to keep the puck in the Red Wings end and turned away a breakout attempt while turning it into a quick two-on-one in the Detroit end. A quick cross zone pass into a one-timer helped Dallas cut the lead to one. 

Danielson helped extended the lead back to two by making a smart play in the Dallas end by drawing a Stars defender low into the zone before turning and dishing the puck to Becher, who makes up for his mistake on the first Dallas goal by putting the Red Wings up 5-3 in the middle of the third. 

Things got worrisome when minutes later, the Stars quickly responded by crashing the net. Recent 2025 third round pick goaltender Michal Pradel had the crease for Detroit and couldn't find the puck as a Stars winger corralled the loose puck in the chaos to cut the lead back to one. 

The Red Wings were on the heels and it showed in the middle of the third. The offense was caught deep in the Dallas zone, and the Stars quickly capitalized by scooping up an errant puck near the blue line, sparking a fast-break opportunity. With no Detroit forward in sight, Dallas enters the Red Wings zone on a four-on-two with a few quick passes and a quick shot from the face off dot leading to the Stars game-tying goal at 5-5 with time still left in the period. 

Detroit was running out of steam due to the sustained pressure from Dallas towards the end of the period with the Stars finishing the group in the final minutes. A Stars forward worked the puck low with two Red Wings on his tail. He quickly fires a puck into the slot where an uncovered Stars winger grabs the puck with three Red Wings watching as he fires a quick one-timer for the go-ahead goal. 

The game highlighted issues with both teams' young prospects, particularly their struggles to maintain offensive pressure and effectively break down sustained momentum from the opposition. Both sides had trouble executing clean breakouts, often failing to shake off the opposing forecheck. This prevented them from getting fresh legs on the ice and forcing the other team to reset from their own end, instead allowing rushes to restart from the neutral zone or even deep in the offensive zone.

For the Red Wings, several prospects particularly struggled with their breakout ability in the final stretch. They were unable to relieve the relentless pressure from the Stars, which ultimately proved costly. After holding a two-goal lead heading into the third period, Detroit’s young roster couldn’t withstand the momentum shift, leading to a come-from-behind win for Dallas.

The two-game Prospect Showcase offered fans a sneak peek at some of the rising talent in the Red Wings system, just ahead of Training Camp kicking off this Thursday in Traverse City. The event gave supporters a chance to get familiar with young players, who will be competing for roster spots in the upcoming season.

Could 2026 Be the Year the Red Wings Bring a Superstar Home?Could 2026 Be the Year the Red Wings Bring a Superstar Home?Few things weigh more on the minds of Detroit Red Wings fans when reflecting on the final years of former general manager Ken Holland’s tenure (along with director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright) than the decision to draft Filip Zadina sixth overall in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft. 

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Avery Hayes, Tristan Broz Shine In Penguins Prospects OT Loss

The Pittsburgh Penguins' prospects erased a 2-0 deficit against the Columbus Blue Jackets' prospects on Sunday but ultimately fell 5-4 in overtime. The Penguins had a 4-3 lead late in the third period before the Blue Jackets tied it and then won the game two minutes into the 3-on-3 overtime.Ā 

There was a lot of emotion on both sides, including three fights and plenty of other skirmishes. Penguins defenseman Quinn Beauchesne was involved in his second fight in two days and isn't afraid to get chippy when the situation calls for it.Ā 

Despite the loss, there were some players who had some strong individual performances and are trying to ride that momentum into training camp, which starts on September 18. Let's examine some of those performances and what they could mean.Ā 

Avery Hayes

Hayes has been the star of the Prospects Challenge once again this year. He scored two goals in the 5-4 loss to the Blue Jackets and now has three goals in two games. He's been everywhere in the offensive zone and is getting chances on an every shift basis.Ā 

He looks like he's too good for this tournament, which is a good sign for the Penguins since Hayes was one of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's best players in the AHL last season, finishing with 23 goals and 42 points in 60 games. It was his best season in the AHL, and if he has a good camp, he could be a strong call-up option during the regular season.Ā 

Tristan Broz

Outside of Hayes, Broz was the most noticeable player on the ice. He scored a goal and added two assists in this contest, and looks like he has his confidence back. Broz faced a lot of adversity last season with the WBS Penguins since he battledĀ mononucleosisĀ for several weeks.

It took him some time to find his game again, but he eventually did, ending the season with two goals and nine points in his final 10 games before finishing the playoffs with one goal and three points in two games.Ā 

He's been one of the best prospects for the Penguins at this tournament and is gunning for an NHL roster spot at training camp.Ā 

Gabriel D'Aigle

D'Aigle was a standout in the first game against the Boston Bruins and rode that momentum into Sunday's game. He played the entire game, and despite giving up five goals, he made a lot of big saves, especially in the third period.Ā 

There was a sequence with a little over eight minutes left where he made a flurry of saves and showcased his mobility in the crease. He made the saves near the left post before allowing the game-tying and game-winning goal.Ā 

Since he played the whole game on Sunday, it's likely that Sergei Murashov will get the entire game on Monday.Ā 

Speaking of Monday's game, the Penguins will play the Buffalo Sabres' prospects at Noon ET. Fans will be able to stream the game on the Penguins' website.Ā 


Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tabĀ  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!Ā Ā 

Blackhawks Lose Final Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase Game To Wild

Ahead of the game, the Blackhawks confirmed that Sam Rinzel, Oliver Moore, and Artyom Levshunov would miss the final game in an effort to prepare for NHL training camp.Ā 

Ryan Greene and Ryan Gagnier scored goals for the Blackhawks, and they were tied 2-2 toward the end of regulation. With 1:01 remaining in the third period, however, Wild prospect Rasmus Kumpalainen scored to make it 3-2 Wild. They hung on for the win.Ā 

With the loss, the Blackhawks ended the event 1-1-0. The Wild went 1-1-1 and the Blues went 1-0-1. It turned out to be the year of parity at the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase.Ā 

Now that they’re done with the showcase, these prospects will return to their respective camps. Some of them will be at NHL camps, some will be headed to the AHL, and then others will find their way to Major Junior.Ā 

There were a handful of players who stood out above the rest. Nick Lardis, Marek Vanacker, and Taige Harding, amongst others, all had standout performances.Ā If some of these guys can carry that momentum into their camps, they could play prominent roles on whatever teams they play for.

AJ Spellacy, who has been an incredibly standout player all camp long, has been a bull during games. For precautionary reasons, however, he was held out of the third period in this loss to the Wild. We will see how this impacts his next camp, if at all.Ā 

All in all, this is a great experience for everyone involved. All of these prospects had their chance to get ahead in rookie camp, play competitive games, and be ready for the next stage of the season.Ā 

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Flyers Trade Ivan Fedotov: Top Takeaways and Observations from Surprise Deal

(Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers are officially done with the Ivan Fedotov experiment, but Sunday's trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets comes with pros and cons.

For now, the Flyers are $3.275 million lighter on the salary cap, which, for all intents and purposes, was the main draw of the trade for Philadelphia.

Now, the Flyers won't have to concern themselves with balancing the salary cap when needing to call up injured players if necessary, which was prudent for Tyson Foerster and his situation earlier this summer, for example.

By extension, it's now a two-man net in Philadelphia.

The writing was on the wall for Fedotov once the Flyers brought in Dan Vladar from Calgary on July 1, thought it was unclear at the time if the hulking Russian was AHL-bound or a trade candidate because of his salary.

Clearly, based on Sunday's trade with the Blue Jackets, the Flyers weren't willing to risk losing Fedotov to waivers, and the Blue Jackets were willing to pay a minor cost to jump the line.

Flyers GM Danny Briere said previously that, over a full season, teams often need more than just their two goalies, and adding competition at the position was paramount in acting on that philosophy.

Report: Carter Hart Will Choose New NHL Team Soon, Flyers Reunion UnlikelyReport: Carter Hart Will Choose New NHL Team Soon, Flyers Reunion UnlikelyAccording to a report, former Flyers goalie Carter Hart is nearing a return to the NHL, but that return isn't expected to be in Philadelphia.

That competition now really only applies to incumbent starter Sam Ersson, who is going to have to fend off Vladar for starts all season long.

As for the AHL, the Flyers have only two serious options in Aleksei Kolosov, whom Keith Jones warned the public not to write off, and Carson Bjarnason - two top-100 picks who are the Flyers' homegrown talents at the position.

It should be telling that Kolosov is already in Philadelphia and participating in informal skates with his teammates.

As long as Kolosov and Bjarnason remain healthy, the Flyers are all-in on developing their youth in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this season, which starts with the goalies and extends out to other prospects like Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey.

That's a philosophical shift even from just a year ago, when the Flyers had Eetu Makiniemi (a free agent addition) and Cal Petersen under contract with Kolosov and Fedotov in the fold.

Speaking of Bjarnason and the Phantoms, I didn't think Bjarnason had a bad rookie camp, but he wasn't great, either.

Fedotov was part of the Flyers up until Sunday, so it was plausible that Bjarnason could have been sent to the ECHL Reading Royals to play consistently while Fedotov and Kolosov platooned for the Phantoms.

Flyers Prospects Shine in Rookie Camp Day 1, Challenged to 'Make an Impression'Flyers Prospects Shine in Rookie Camp Day 1, Challenged to 'Make an Impression'The Philadelphia Flyers prospects took the ice Thursday to kick off rookie camp, with the top dogs gaining a big head-start and leading the way.

Obviously, the Flyers didn't view that as something was necessary, and jettisoning Fedotov allows them to get Bjarnason in right away while benefitting the NHL roster at the same time.

I would still expect Kolosov to get the lion's share of starts in Allentown, but Bjarnason needs to and will play his portion of games, too.

All in all, the Fedotov deal was a rather clear slam dunk for the Flyers, who cleared a mammoth cap hit off their books and still got a positive asset in return.

Fedotov, of course, went through a lot to make his dream come true in the NHL with the Flyers, and I wish him all the best in Columbus going forward.

He's a talented player with a big personality that matches his size, and he's a nice guy by all accounts.

Now, he and the Flyers will move onto new chapters.

Could Sabres Have Interest In Former Devils Forward?

The Buffalo Sabres open training camp later this week, with only a few changes to the roster that finished second-last in the Eastern Conference and a dozen points out of the final wildcard spot. The club will have a healthy Josh Norris centering one of the top two lines, and added depth forwards Josh Doan, Justin Danforth, defensemen Michael Kesselring, Conor Timmins, and goalie Alex Lyon,Ā  but have unanswered questions about an injury to goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and no certain of who will replace the offense of departed winger JJ Peterka.

GM Kevyn Adams seems to be relying on the internal improvement of youngsters Zach Benson, Jack Quinn, and Jiri Kulich to pick up the slack for Peterka’s 68-point output, and as they have done the last few season, the club enters the season with a sizable chunk of unused salary cap room. This could once again be the Sabres operating under their own budget, or it could be that they are holding space in reserve to add players during the season before the March 6th trade deadline if they are in the playoff mix.Ā Ā Ā 

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Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson CrouseĀ 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

One bit of news that might be a factor in Adams making a move sooner is last week’s determination from the NHL that the five Hockey Canada players (Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube, and Cal Foote) who were suspended indefinitely pending the results of their trial. The players are now eligible to sign an NHL contract on October 15 and play NHL games by December 1.

With the Sabres having six goaltenders on NHL contracts, it is unlikely that they would have interest in Hart or be a destination that the former Flyer would choose to go to, but Buffalo could have interest in either Dube and McLeod. The former Flames forward had consecutive 18-goal seasons in 2022 and 2023 before struggling prior to being suspended. McLeod (the older brother of the Sabres Ryan) played for Lindy Ruff his entire four-year stint in New Jersey and was enjoying his best offensive season (10 goals in 45 games) prior to be suspended by the league.

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Young Up-And-Comer-Kulich Has Golden Chance To Assert Himself As Rising Star For Sabres

Jiri Kulich (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres are facing a massive amount of pressure as they try to end the team's 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought. And every Sabres player will have to contribute something positive to the cause, or the lack of playoff games in Buffalo could continue. 

In that regard, this is the latest file for THN.com's Sabres site's series projecting the expectations for each Buffalo player in 2025-26. In this file, we're focusing on second-year NHL center Jiri Kulich. The 21-year-old showed promise in his first year as a Sabre last year, but more will be expected of Kulich as he begins the year on Buffalo's third line.

But we're here to ask you -- what do you think expectations for Kulich should look like in '25-26? You can let us know with a comment below. And while you're doing that, you can always feel free to register as a Sabres community member on THN.com and heighten your connection to Buffalo with news and views on the Sabres every day. Your voice counts, and we want to hear it.

Takeaways From Maple Leafs' Win Over Canadiens At Prospect Showdown

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospects had a better result after losing their first game of the Prospect Showdown in Montreal to the Ottawa Senators.

Toronto opted for an 11-forward and seven defensemen lineup for Sunday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens. Easton Cowan was among the players not in the lineup for game two as he prepares for Maple Leafs training camp beginning next week.

Ryan Kirwan and Luke Haymes each found the back of the net for Toronto. Both had a goal in their first game against the Senators on Saturday. Ryan Tverberg scored the Maple Leafs’ third goal, off a pass from Jacob Quillan. Tverberg added an empty-netter, giving Toronto the 4-1 win.

Vyacheslav Peksa stopped 36 of 37 shots, giving the prospects something to be happy about as they head home.Ā 

Despite the split weekend, there were a bunch of players who stood out. Here are a few of my takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ second game of the Prospect Showdown:

Landon Sim brings the bang

The AHL-signed forward was quite engaged in Toronto’s first game against Ottawa, and upped the energy against Montreal.Ā 

Sim fought twice during the pair of games this weekend and was a part of a couple of extended shifts in Montreal’s zone. I didn’t have many expectations for the forward coming into the tournament as a Marlies-signed player, but he caught my eye a lot.

He had a shift in the offensive zone midway through the second period, where he worked tirelessly for the puck. Sim threw his body around, too, which will obviously bode well for how his teammates see him ahead of his first pro season.

After 12 goals and 15 points in 17 games with the OHL’s London Knights during the playoffs in the spring, Sim appears to be an intriguing project for the Maple Leafs’ development staff entering the 2025-26 season.

Luke Haymes’ consistency

Haymes added more points to his total before heading back to Toronto for Maple Leafs training camp next week.

The 22-year-old tallied another two points (a goal, as mentioned) and an assist on Kirwan’s first-period goal. After he won the faceoff, Maple Leafs 2025 fifth-round pick Harry Nansi fed Kirwan the puck, and he wired a shot into the back of the net.

It feels as though Haymes’ play rose along with the competition. He did it in the AHL — scoring two goals and six points in his first nine games of pro — and he’s done it again at the prospect tournament.

Haymes finished with two goals and two assists, making him one of the top-producing Maple Leafs prospects, alongside Kirwan, at the Prospect Showdown this weekend.

Vyacheslav Peksa's great first game back

After struggling in his first season of North American hockey in 2023-24 with the Newfoundland Growlers, Peksa appeared to find his footing with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones this past season.

The 23-year-old Russian-born goaltender had 12 wins and a .904 save percentage through 32 games with Cincinnati. He also had a cup of coffee in the AHL with the Marlies, registering an .878 save percentage in two AHL games.

There was excitement when the goaltender first came to Canada, following a career season with Bars Kazan of the VHL (Russia’s version of the AHL). A strong showing against the Canadiens’ prospects on Sunday, which included several great stops, should set him up to be confident heading into Maple Leafs training camp before likely heading back to the ECHL for his third season.

The other takeaways

- Harry Nansi utilized his size and playmaking ability in what was his only game of the Prospect Showdown. He, of course, had an assist on Kirwan’s goal, but also found Tyler Hopkins later in the game for a scoring chance. He appears to be a more confident player since watching him at development camp earlier this summer.

- Miroslav Holinka had another strong showing in game two. The forward was on the top line with Quillan and Tverberg, and had plenty of opportunity to showcase his hands and puck protection. He began the play on Quillan’s goal, keeping the puck away from Adam Engstrom, before dishing it up to the point. Holinka is a fascinating project for Toronto, and could be someone who sees the NHL in the future.

- Quillan and Kirwan had strong games again. Quillan, of course, had a strong back half of the year with the Marlies, which likely gave him confidence coming into prospect camp. The confidence definitely went up a notch after these two games, just in time for him to try and impress Toronto’s coaching staff at training camp. Kirwan, similar to a few of the other prospects mentioned, could be an interesting prospect to keep an eye on.

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Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Exciting Young Center Kulich Has Good Chance To Be Special NHLer For Buffalo

Jiri Kulich (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

We’re about to kick off the NHL’s 2025-26 season, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re moving through our player-by-player series in which we analyze every Buffalo players’ expectations this coming season.

We began this series by looking at the Sabres’ goalies and defensemen, and their third line – including today’s focus: center Jiri Kulich – looks like a bit of a dog’s breakfast of up-and-coming talent (Kulich and left winger Jack Quinn) and gritty, low-scoring right winger Jordan Greenway. So the expectations on Kulich should be reasonable as to what he can accomplish. But here’s our best guess as to what is reasonable for Kulich in ā€˜25-26:

Player Name: Jiri Kulich

Position: Center

Age: 21

2024-25 Key Statistics: 62 games, 15 goals, 24 points, 14:48 average time on ice

2025-26 Salary:$886,666

2025-26 Expectations: Kulich is entering his sophomore NHL season, and while his first year wasn’t worthy of the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie-of-the-year, the 21-year-old Czechia native did get to the 15-goal mark – with all the goals coming at even-strength – in very limited minutes in only 62 games. That’s something to build on this coming season, but Kulich is going to be starting the year centering Buffalo’s third line.

We can see Kulich and Quinn having success on offense. Greenway – a tougher player who doesn’t contribute many goals or assists – is another story. So it’s going to be on Quinn and Kulich to generate offense for the Sabres and start to challenge upper-tier Sabres players for playing time on the line above them in Buffalo.

That said, Kulich has only dipped his toe in hockey’s top league. He’s nowhere close to his prime, but a season in which Kulich produced, say, 20-25 goals and 30-40-point next season would be considered an enormous success. 

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Young Winger Quinn Must Make Most Of His OpportunitiesSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Young Winger Quinn Must Make Most Of His OpportunitiesThe NHL’s 2025-26 season has just about arrived, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re continuing our player-by-player series in which we break down the expectations for each Buffalo player in the coming season.

So long as he’s able to get near those areas, Kulich’s status as a Sabre isn’t going to be challenged no matter how Buffalo does in the standings. He’s young, he’s not making very much money (less than $867,000 per year), and he’s under team financial control for this year, next year and his RFA years after that. 

Thus, Kulich will likely survive any change in Sabres coaching or administration. He needs to put forth at least as many points as he did last year, but he also needs to make Buffalo’s third line a legitimate danger. That’s what the Sabres are going to need to be a playoff team.

Unfortunately, making the third line an above-average group has been a tall task for many Sabres players before him, but Kulich can’t be properly judged until there’s a decent sample size to judge him by. And that means he deserves the benefit of the doubt entering his sophomore season. But make no mistake – there’s pressure there for Kulich to take a step forward in ā€˜25-26. If he reacts positively to it, the pressure on Buffalo’s top two lines will diminish, and it will take some of the heat off their defense as well.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Staying Healthy A Key Concern For Rugged Winger GreenwaySabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Staying Healthy A Key Concern For Rugged Winger GreenwayThe Buffalo Sabres need all hands on deck if they're to end their `14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought. And that means everyone on the roster is going to have to pull their weight. What will expectations for every Sabres player look like? That's the focus of THN.com's Sabres site series.

Kulich could be a big-time member of a Sabres renaissance. By the end of last season, he was centering a line with Buffalo’s top scorer, star winger Tage Thompson. But Kulich’s two-way game is what’s most encouraging about his game, and if he’s effective at both ends of the ice, the Sabres are going to have a good shot at ending their playoff drought and giving Buffalonians a team to take pride in again. 

Former Stars Coach DeBoer Backtracks, Defends Goalie Oettinger After Public Criticism

The Dallas Stars have been one of the NHL’s better teams in the past three regular seasons, finishing either first or second in the highly competitive Central Division. But ultimate playoff success has eluded the Stars in the past three years, as they’ve lost in the Stanley Cup playoffs’ Western Conference final for three years running.

Still, it was a notable shock the way veteran Dallas coach Peter DeBoer handled his public relations with the media, as he made particular criticism of Stars No. 1 goalie Jake Oettinger after he pulled Oettinger in the deciding game of the Western final in favor of backup Casey DeSmith. DeBoer’s criticism of Oettinger may have accelerated DeBoer’s eventual parting of ways with the Stars by a handful of weeks, because the bottom line is that DeBoer’s teams haven’t been able to get over the competitive hump. So, unless DeBoer got to the Stanley Cup, his job security in Dallas could’ve been and probably was going to be jeopardized.

DeBoer did damage control Sunday in an NHL.com interview in which he took accountability for the way he went after Oettinger. And he defended his relationship with Oettinger in his first public comments since the Stars fired him just one week after his Game 5 comments.

ā€œI know the stories immediately came out that I’m hard on goalies,ā€ DeBoer told Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com. ā€œBut the fact is, I only pulled (Oettinger) once in 57 games in the regular season. That’s a fact.

ā€œThe first 30 seconds of that (Game 5) timeout was me blasting our team and, if I could have, I would have blasted myself and our coaches too. I mean, you're mad and disappointed in that moment, at everything, at the team, at the start, at the goalie, at yourself, at everybody. Why are we in this spot? You know, we have this opportunity and we're in this spot. So, it's a scattergun of anger, of bitterness.

ā€œAnd it was made out to be about Jake Oettinger. But that wasn't the case. I love Jake Oettinger, and Jake and I met after the season ended. He knows how much respect I have for him as a goalie and even more as a person and a family man. And you know, I've said repeatedly throughout our playoff run, we would have never even gotten that far without Jake.ā€

DeBoer’s words aside, it’s his reputation as a solid coach with a lot of regular-season success that is going to make him a frontrunner option for teams that fire their bench boss either during the 2025-26 season, or next summer. The coaching wheel spins faster than ever, and teams will look at DeBoer’s 1,261 games of NHL coaching experience – and the 662 wins and 814 games in which he got the game to overtime and beyond – and see a viable choice to hire him for what would be his sixth NHL team.

DeBoer does still have hockey responsibilities, as he’s an assistant coach for Team Canada’s team at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. Not having an NHL job leaves DeBoer more time to focus on those responsibilities, but it won’t be long before DeBoer is a candidate for an NHL job opening. And when he does get hired again, the only test he has left is to find a way to win a conference final and earn his first Cup.

Peter DeBoer (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

If he can’t do that, DeBoer is likely to bounce around between jobs again. But as the 2025-26 season looms large on the horizon, DeBoer has time to reset his focus and find a team that will give him a good shot at making it to the Cup final and winning it all once they get there. You never know when your next shot may be your last shot, but DeBoer is almost certain to get another shot sooner or later, and he’s got to make the most of the opportunity or face future job insecurity with his next gig.

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Could 2026 Be the Year the Red Wings Bring a Superstar Home?

Few things weigh more on the minds of Detroit Red Wings fans when reflecting on the final years of former general manager Ken Holland’s tenure (along with director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright) than the decision to draft Filip Zadina sixth overall in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft.Ā 

Immediately after Zadina was drafted, the Vancouver Canucks selected Quinn Hughes - a local product who starred at the University of Michigan just 40 minutes from downtown Detroit - with the very next pick. Hughes has since become the Canucks’ captain and a Norris Trophy–winning defenseman.Ā 

Zadina never lived up to the hype. He appeared in 190 games for the Red Wings, totaling 28 goals and 40 assists. In July 2023, Zadina and Detroit mutually parted ways with the termination of the remainder of his contract, after which he signed with the San Jose Sharks.Ā 

After scoring 13 goals in 72 games in his first and only season with the Sharks, Zadina departed the NHL and signed with HC Davos of the Swiss National League, effectively signaling an end to his NHL career.Ā 

Meanwhile, at just 25 years old, Hughes has already become the Canucks’ franchise leader in assists by a defenseman, and his 405 career points are tied for the most by a blue liner in team history.Ā 

Could there soon be a chance to correct that clear mistake from the 2018 Draft?Ā 

According to recent comments from NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast, Hughes and the Canucks may be approaching a crossroads in their relationship.

"It is very clear the way that Quinn sets this out, and that is that he wants to see improvement on this hockey team," Friedman said. "He wants to win. And two years ago, I don't even think this would be a debate, as Vancouver was taking Edmonton to Game 7 of the second round."Ā 

"But because of the year that they had last year, we're now in the uncertainty zone," Friedman continued. "This is an enormous season in Vancouver. And I think that Quinn, a lot of what he's going to do is going to be determined by how this year goes."Ā 

BookmarkĀ The Hockey News Detroit Red WingsĀ team site to stay connected to theĀ latest news,Ā game-dayĀ coverage, andĀ player features.Ā 

The podcast, which was hosted atĀ US NHL Media Tour in Las Vegas, then featured an appearance from Hughes himself.Ā 

When asked about what the future could hold for him in Vancouver, with whom he still has two seasons left on his current contract, his response was telling.

ā€œI mean, I’ll answer that with my actions next summer," he said.Ā 

The Red Wings boast numerous trading chips in terms of prospects and draft selections. General manager Steve Yzerman confirmed that while there was consideration of using the 13th overall pick in the 2025 Draft as trade bait to land a bigger fish, he decided against it.Ā 

An acquisition of Hughes by Yzerman next offseason would go a long way toward elevating the Red Wings into the upper echelon of the highly competitive Atlantic Division.

While the opportunity to play alongside his brothers Jack and Luke with the New Jersey Devils will be a major factor in Quinn’s decision, the chance to play in Michigan, where his parents still live and where he attended college, could be an equally strong draw.

Ben Chiarot, who carries a $4.75 million cap hit and has often been paired with Moritz Seider, is entering the final year of his contract and is unlikely to receive an extension from the Red Wings. The same can be said about Justin Holl, who is also entering the final year of his deal.Ā 

Erik Gustafsson, signed last offseason to a two-year deal, also isn’t expected to be brought back once his contract expires. The future of Jacob Bernard-Docker, signed in July to a one-year deal, remains up in the air beyond this season.Ā 

Hughes has two years remaining on his contract ($7.85 million cap hit), which means that if the Red Wings were to acquire him, he would soon be in need of a new deal.Ā 

Additionally, Simon Edvinsson is going to need a new deal as he'll be eligible for restricted free agency. Prospect Axel-Sandin Pellikka could also be ready by next offseason to make the jump into the NHL.Ā 

Imagine a top defensive pairing of Seider and Hughes, along with a second pairing of Edvinsson and Sandin-Pellikka. That alone would be enough to make Red Wings fans salivate.Ā 

Yzerman didn't make a major splash this offseason - but could next summer be the time?Ā 

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Capitals Assistant Coach Mitch Love Placed On Team-Imposed Leave Amid Pending NHL Investigation

As reported by Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love has been placed on a team-imposed leave, amid pending results of an investigation by the NHL.

The reason for the league’s investigation has not been provided. Additionally, the Capitals’ organization will not comment on the matter until the NHL concludes its investigation, they announced on Sunday.

Love is coming off his second season as an NHL coach and has been an assistant for the Capitals for two years. With Love’s assistance, alongside head coach Spencer Carbery, the team made back-to-back runs to the post-season. Furthermore, the Caps clinched the Eastern Conference last season. 

Before his days in the NHL, Love was a head coach in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers and the Stockton Heat (before they became Wranglers). In 2022-23, he led the Wranglers to the Pacific Division final, and the year before that, he took the Heat to the Western Conference final, one round shy of the Calder Cup final.

Love has also experienced the World Junior Championship from behind the bench. In 2019-20 and 2020-21, Love was one of the assistant coaches for Team Canada, who finished with a gold and silver medal, respectively.

The 41-year-old has also spent several years in the WHL, as an assistant with the Everett Silvertips for seven seasons, before becoming the head coach of the Saskatoon Blades for three seasons following his Silvertips tenure.

Earlier in the off-season, Love was considered a top candidate for several head coaching jobs, including for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins.

Mitch Love (Candice Ward - Calgary Wranglers)

Love also played five seasons in the AHL for the Lowell Lock Monsters, Albany River Rats, Lake Erie Monsters, Houston Aeros and the Peoria Rivermen during the mid-to-late 2000s. He recorded 808 penalty minutes in 278 minor league appearances.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

The Penguins' 'Rebuild' May Not Be What You Think It Is

<span style=Dec 28, 2024; Elmont, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) talks to right wing Bryan Rust (17) during the third period against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images" />

Another day, another story, another post about the state of the Pittsburgh Penguins

While it's fair to speculate about the state of a team that has missed the postseason for three consecutive seasons, a lot of speculation seems to have groupthink attached to it. Many just assume that GM and POHO Kyle Dubas and his Penguins are engaging in a long-term, tear-it-to-the-studs project that is going to take years and years to complete. 

To be clear, let's examine the reality of the Penguins' situation: They are not anywhere close to the top playoff teams in the league, and it is going to take quite a lot of turnover in order for them to get back to that point. Typically, these kinds of turnarounds do indeed take some time.

But whether or not folks think Dubas's potential plan is the right one, they also must consider the evidence in this scenario. If you investigate the Penguins' rebuild rhetoric for "what we know" kind of information, you might just come away with a much different conclusion than that of what the masses - fans, media, and talking heads - seem to presume about the state and length of the rebuild. 

For better or for worse, there are plenty of evidence-based factors pointing to the idea that Dubas is still not gunning solely for a long-term rebuild - or, at least, not the four- to seven-year plan that fans and many media members seem to think this is. Again, the Penguins have already missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, and up to 10 years is a heck of a long time to remain non-competitive.

So, maybe this is delusional, or maybe this is just reading into everything that has transpired since the Penguins traded Jake Guentzel at the 2024 trade deadline. Here are five reasons why the Penguins are not just attempting to rebuild for the long haul - but why they're also aiming to make the playoffs again in 2026-27.


Dubas has repeatedly said they are trying to get this done as expeditiously as possible

Credit: Kelsey Surmacz - The Hockey News

Yes, there is a such thing as GM-speak. No GM is going to come out and say flatly, "Yes, we're going to be terrible for a spell."

But it's not just about what Dubas has said regarding the rebuild. It's about how he has said things and the context surrounding what he has said. 

Yes, he has mentioned on several occasions that he doesn't want to put a timeline on the rebulid, and for good reason. The latest example of this was at new head coach Dan Muse's introductory presser.

'I Couldn't Be More Excited To Get Started Here': 3 Takeaways From Dan Muse's Introductory Press Conference As Penguins' Head Coach'I Couldn't Be More Excited To Get Started Here': 3 Takeaways From Dan Muse's Introductory Press Conference As Penguins' Head CoachOn Wednesday, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas formally introduced Dan Muse as the 23rd head coach in franchise history at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.

But, during Dubas's post-season press conference, he did mention that the Penguins were moving into the execution phase of their rebuild and that "we have to execute our butts off." While this little tidbit is interesting enough on its own, there are two other things he said that were, perhaps, even more interesting - and telling.

When asked about whether or not he thought the worst times were behind the team and if the team had already hit "rock bottom," he was a bit cryptic at first. But he, eventually, gave a rather telling response:

"When I look today, maybe we had less points than we had last year... but I feel like we're slightly better-positioned as we move ahead because of the younger players here," Dubas said in April. "So, I don't think I can sit here and try to give you an exact answer, but in my mind, when I look back on the previous two years, I think the previous March more represented that than now. We have our own younger players that have come up and performed well, and I'm more optimistic going into next year than I was this year organizationally. The results are going to be what they're going to be, but I feel we're closer to where we want to get back to now than last year."

And when asked about pulling lessons from the season the Washington Capitals had, he said:

"There's two paths to go down. You can go into the mass teardown rebuild and hope you get lucky with the lottery and hope that all this happens... but you can hope in one hand and s--- in the other and see which one fills up first."

'We Have To Stick To A Very Concise Plan And Then Execute Our Butts Off': Dubas Clarifies Penguins' Summer Plans'We Have To Stick To A Very Concise Plan And Then Execute Our Butts Off': Dubas Clarifies Penguins' Summer PlansTo close out the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke with the Pittsburgh media on Monday.

By suggesting that the organization thinks that the worst days are probably behind them, why would that indicate that the Penguins are only going the long-term route? Because, if they were, that statement would most certainly not be true. There would be much darker, worse days ahead for this team and the on-ice product. And he just about shot down the idea of a long-term rebuild with the second comment.

And let's not forget what Dubas said on The GM Show with Josh Getzoff around the turn of the new year before Marcus Pettersson was traded, either: He talked at length about not all rebuilds being "binary" and that the Penguins' situation is much more gray than either-or.

"The way that we're going will continue to be clear to everybody," Dubas said. "Which is, we're trying to return the team to being a contender as soon as possible. How are we going to do that? We have to add younger NHL players, we have to add prospects, and we have to add future capital and draft picks to the mix.

"So, my view of it is that we should be able to accomplish that and still be able to maintain our spot in the playoff race and push for it. I know that isn't met with the most open understanding at times, and I understand why... people want it to be binary. They want it to be, 'Are you in contention now, or are you rebuilding now?' And the in-between is where it tends to get a little bit ambiguous. I think we kind of like it that way as well because it keeps our cards closer to our chest."

This point will be hashed out in the next segment. But this quote alone suggests that they are not planning for their next playoff appearance to be years away. There is more than one plan being executed at once.


This may be a 'two-window' rebuild... which is entirely reasonable and possible

Credit: Randy Feere - Medicine Hat Tigers/WHL Images

In today's NHL, there is a such thing as simultaneously rebuilding for the short-term and the long-term.

And when you look at the scope of everything Dubas and the Penguins have done over the last two years, that seems to be exactly what is happening. 

Yes, it's going to take a little bit of lottery luck. It's no secret that Dubas doesn't plan for the Penguins to be overly competitive in 2025-26 - he has said that it would be "an accomplishment" for the team to make the playoffs - and it's highly likely that the organization is, in a way, banking on either drafting high to begin with or the lottery ball falling their way in 2026.

If the Penguins can get that franchise-changing talent - a No. 1 center or No. 1 defenseman by need - early on in next year's draft and, presumably, a player who can help them at the NHL level immediately? That very much changes both their short- and long-term outlook. 

Penguins GM Kyle Dubas Has A Plan - And He Knows What He's DoingPenguins GM Kyle Dubas Has A Plan - And He Knows What He's DoingFor GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins, a new organizational direction is clear - if you've been paying attention

Plus, the Penguins already drafted three players in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, and they have a ton of picks in the second and third rounds over the next several drafts. Some of those higher picks can help more immediately, while some others will help farther down the road. 

The Penguins don't necessarily have to give up any - or, at least, not many - assets in order to acquire enough talent to gun for the playoffs in 2026-27. They already have a lot of complementary young talent, and Sidney Crosby is still playing at an otherwordly level. And the best thing is that, if they do make the playoffs in 2027, they wouldn't necessarily be mortgaging their long-term future.

All rebuilds entail hitting on scouting and development as well as hitting some luck. It may not be the best strategy for the Penguins to bank on the luck of the 2026 lottery ball, but if they do strike some luck, the short-term window works. And it can work in congruence with the Penguins also building for the long-term because of the draft capital and the assets they have already targeted and kept and continue to target and keep. 

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

The Penguins target near-NHL-ready talent and already have promising complementary pieces

Credit: Charles LeClaire - Imagn Images

It isn't a coincidence that Dubas has very clearly leaned toward targeting more NHL-ready talent in his trade dealings rather than gunning for top-tier draft capital. 

Yes, he made out on the Marcus Pettersson deal by getting that New York Rangers' conditional first-round pick, and he also made sure to get forward Melvin Fernstrom - SHL Rookie of the Year last season - as part of that return in addition to the first. But him getting the first in that trade has been the exception. 

In the Guentzel trade, the main piece was Ville Koivunen, who has already shown he belongs at the NHL level. They also managed to turn that second-round pick into Harrison Brunicke - a potential top-pairing defenseman not far from NHL minutes - as part of that trade tree.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Defenseman Exceeds Expectations, Eyes NHL Roster SpotTop-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Defenseman Exceeds Expectations, Eyes NHL Roster SpotHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

Dubas traded Brayden Yager - still a couple of years away from making any kind of impact at the NHL level - for Rutger McGroarty, who is, like Koivunen, seemingly NHL-ready. And, this summer, he traded for 24-year-old goaltender Arturs Silovs, who just went on an astounding, wildly impressive Calder Cup run with the Abbotsford Canucks and could be an upgrade in net. 

He has also targeted younger players in need of change - see Philip Tomasino, Connor Dewar, and Tommy Novak - who can fill valuable bottom-six roles on a contending team. 

Yes, they have also acquired or simply still have veteran players on expiring contracts to, hopefully, be flipped at the deadline. See Matt Dumba, Connor Clifton, Anthony Mantha, Danton Heinen, Kevin Hayes, and Noel Acciari. But notice how each of those players have contracts expiring at the end of the 2025-26 season - not the 2026-27 season. 

The Penguins may sell big again at the deadline - but they might not be selling who you think they'll be selling. And they'll have a ton of flexibility heading into 2026-27.


Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell - especially Rakell - are still here for a reason

Credit: Charles LeClaire - Imagn Images

If you're fully sold on the long-term rebuild and find yourself wondering why both Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are still on this roster, you're certainly not alone. 

But you also have to ask yourself why it could be this way. And that may lead you to view this situation in different light.

Sure, Rust has no trade protection, he is in high demand, and he is a key part of that locker room. But let's focus on Rakell. If the Penguins were fully rebuilding, why wouldn't Dubas have traded 31-year-old Rakell at peak value prior to the 2025 deadline? 

With 2025-26 Season Just Around The Corner, Penguins’ Path Is UnclearWith 2025-26 Season Just Around The Corner, Penguins’ Path Is UnclearThe 2025-26 NHL season will be a pivotal one for many teams.

Well, the deadline came and went, and Rakell was still on this roster. It will surely happen this summer, then, when teams will miss out on top free agents and pay up, they said. And guess what?

He's still on this roster.

Folks are still saying that Dubas is playing the waiting game and being patient. Well... being patient for what, exactly? Rakell had a career season last year, and even if he comes close, it's a big ask of him to replicate that. Dubas waiting also risks Rakell having a poor start to the season or getting injured, both of which would hurt his trade value.

Dubas isn't stupid. He is well-aware that the window for Rakell's maximum value may likely have already passed. So why play a waiting game? If you're rebuilding long-term, you get the most you can get for good veteran players and move on, right?

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

Yes. But that's not what's happening here. It's probably true that Rakell's value will never be higher than it was at the deadline and this summer. And - you guessed it - he's still here.

There's a reason Dubas is hesitant to move both Rust and Rakell, and no, it's not just nostalgia. Again, Dubas is smart. The most plausible reason is that he truly sees a scenario in which Rust and Rakell can still help the team win within the three years they both have left on their contracts, and that's why he's setting his price almost unattainably high. 

If that's the case, that means he sees an opportunity for the team to make the playoffs sooner than four to seven years from now. Keeping them doesn't necessarily jeopardize the team's future if they keep all of their assets otherwise because having both young talent and talented veterans like Rust and Rakell is better than having only one of those things for a playoff run.


Crosby's contract extension counts for something

Credit: Charles LeClaire - Imagn Images

Now this is the big one, isn't it?

All of Pittsburgh was a little shaken on Tuesday when Sidney Crosby's longtime agent, Pat Brisson, made some rather interesting comments at the NHL media tour about Crosby's future with the Penguins and if he would ever consider leaving Pittsburgh.

ā€œWell, it’s a reality,ā€ Brisson told Pierre LeBrun in an interview for The Athletic.  ā€œFirst of all, he’s been so consistent for 20 years. He had another great year last season. He just keeps going. The comparison is Tom Brady. We want Sidney to hopefully be in the playoffs every year. We want him to hopefully win another Cup or two. So each year the team that he’s playing for fails to make the playoffs, it creates a lot of speculation. In reality, he’s not getting any younger. We’re here to support him. It’s the beginning of the season here. Let’s see how things are going. Hopefully they have a great season and the speculation will go away.ā€

He added: "Let’s put it this way, it’s always a possibility, you know? It’s been three years they haven’t made the playoffs. It all depends on how Sid is going to be and how the team is going to do. I maintain the same position that I do believe that he should be playing playoff hockey every year. In my opinion.ā€

'It’s Always A Possibility, You Know?': Agent Weighs In On Crosby's Future'It’s Always A Possibility, You Know?': Agent Weighs In On Crosby's FutureThe Pittsburgh Penguins have Sidney Crosby locked up for the next two seasons, but that hasn't stopped some of the national media from discussing him leaving the franchise. 

Some will say that Brisson was simply trying to apply pressure on the Penguins to "change up the plan" for Crosby. Some will suggest that there is obviously something amiss either with Crosby and his relationship with the Penguins or with Brisson and Crosby as far as messaging is concerned. 

But what if it's neither, really? What if there's no plan to "change up" because the plan isn't what people assume it is in the first place? What if Brisson and Crosby are already privy to something about Dubas's plan and potential timeline that the general public is not?

The comments were spicy, yes, but they were also realistic. And so was Crosby's two-year contract extension when it was signed last season. If folks are to believe that Crosby is the ultimate winner and that he is very unhappy with the Penguins losing hockey games and missing playoff berths, why sign the thing in the first place?

Crosby knew where the team was likely headed. He knew the undertaking. It is reasonable to suggest that Crosby could simply be getting cold feet after-the-fact, but Crosby isn't stupid, either. And neither is Brisson, who simply wants to see his best client win again. And - again - neither is Dubas.

NHL Rumor Roundup: Crosby Addresses Trade Rumors, Quinn Hughes Reacts To Brother's CommentsNHL Rumor Roundup: Crosby Addresses Trade Rumors, Quinn Hughes Reacts To Brother's CommentsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are rebuilding their roster, even though management won't admit it. Forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell and defenseman Erik Karlsson have been frequently mentioned as trade candidates throughout the off-season.

Sidney Crosby is as competitive as they come. He is a winner. So, if he genuinely believed at the time of his signing last fall that he would never have another shot at the playoffs with the Penguins, there's a decent chance he would not have re-signed in the first place. 

Maybe Dubas could get Crosby to understand that there is a process, and that it might take a couple of years. Perhaps Crosby knew that last season would likely be a bust, and maybe even that 2025-26 would probably be a bust, even with young talent starting to populate the roster.

But 2026-27? His next contract year? That screams "prove it." The Penguins will likely have some young talent with seasoning already on the roster in Koivunen, McGroarty, and Owen Pickering, at least. They'll have more than $50 milliion in free cap space to spend however they want to with some huge names set to hit the market. They could have a top-tier draft pick. And they could still have good veterans like Rakell and Rust on the roster.

Pittsburgh Penguins' 2025-26 Season Preview - Community PostPittsburgh Penguins' 2025-26 Season Preview - Community PostFor the first time in a decade, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have a different coach than Mike Sullivan, who led the team to consecutive championships in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Realistically, the Penguins can have a "prove it" year in 2026-27 without sacrificing the future much. If they rise to greater heights, they could set themselves up to compete in the short- and long-term, even if there is a small gap between those windows. If they falter, they would have the evidence to show Crosby they tried, and he can make career decisions accordingly. And they wouldn't really be worse off for trying.

Yes, the Penguins are in a rebuild. But - given the evidence of what's been said, done, and not done - there's a pretty good chance that it's not the rebuild you think it is. 


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Dare To Dream: How Lightning Star Brandon Hagel Broke Through Closed Doors To Become Great

By Jared Clinton, Features writer 

The puck had only just dropped in the round-robin meeting between Canada and the U.S. at the 4 Nations Face-Off, and there was Brandon Hagel, mitts off, fists cocked, standing toe-to-toe with Matthew Tkachuk. And in that moment, any thoughts about Tampa Bay drifted free from Jon Cooper’s mind.

As Cooper watched on, the Lightning bench boss could have been concerned about Tampa’s second-highest scorer. He could have been chewing his hand off worrying about Hagel getting dinged up in what some had decried as a meaningless mid-season cash grab disguised as an international competition. Against a backdrop of political agitation and in his then-role as coach of Canada’s club, though, it was all Cooper could do to contain his own emotions. ā€œWhen we were in it,ā€ he said, ā€œit was all flag waving.ā€

For his part, Hagel never had any intention of becoming the on-ice avatar for a nation. Even with a fistful of NHL scraps under his belt and several dustups in major junior, Hagel insisted fighting isn’t part of his game, at least not really. He wasn’t even thinking about fighting until he lined up across from Tkachuk. But when the offer came, Hagel was all too happy to oblige. Then, in the 45 seconds that followed, from the clutching and grabbing on through the first flurry of punches and all the way to his arm-raising, crowd-pumping cries after the combatants were separated, Hagel etched his way into the memory of hockey-mad Canadians the world over. ā€œHe had the weight of 20,000 people in that Bell Centre on his shoulders, and he fought like it,ā€ Cooper said. ā€œI’ve told ā€˜Hags,’ ā€˜If nobody knew you going into this tournament, pretty sure you won’t have to buy a beer in this country for quite some time now.ā€™ā€

Hagel puts it another way: ā€œIt’ll probably be one of the biggest moments in my life.ā€

And one made bigger, perhaps, by virtue of the number of times it seemed that it was the exact type of moment that would never come.

Like any number of talented kids from Western Canada, Hagel viewed the WHL bantam draft as a rite of passage. In some ways, even, the draft had its way of feeling less like one step toward achieving the NHL dream than it did the dream itself. The major-junior circuit has been the breeding ground for a great many big-league stars, and whether you’re growing up in a Prairie town or west of the Rockies, if you’re among the best players in your age group, it’s seen as the most-direct route to The Show.

Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off game. (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

That’s why it was just about all Hagel could think about as his draft year drew near. There was chatter about peers starting to find advisors and agents. There was a personal desire to follow in the footsteps of friends and competitors who had made the leap to ā€˜The Dub.’ And there was a foreboding sense that everything – his entire future – hinged on taking that next step. It made the 2013 WHL draft feel not just important but monumental.

So, when it came and went without Hagel’s name getting called, he felt as though the ground beneath his feet had suddenly disappeared. He was 15, sitting in class and starting to question his NHL dream. ā€œIt has the feeling that it’s slipping away,ā€ he said.

"He had the weight of 20,000 people in that Bell Centre on his shoulders, and he fought like it."
- Jon Cooper

There was nothing for Hagel to do, really, other than get back to work. For him, that took the form of another two seasons in the same Fort Saskatchewan Rangers system in which he’d been playing during his WHL draft year and then a brief turn with the AJHL’s Whitecourt Wolverines. And it was in Whitecourt, only a few games into 2015-16, where he caught the eye of Red Deer Rebels scouts. That opened the door for him to practice with the Rebels, where he turned coach-GM-owner Brent Sutter’s head and earned a spot on the roster.

While Hagel was not a standout, his first season in Red Deer saw him assert himself as a possible NHL-caliber talent. He finished with 47 points in 72 games, and his performance gave him enough cachet that the Buffalo Sabres decided to take a flyer. He was scooped up with the 159th overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft.

Now, if this were about almost any other top NHL scorer, you could chart the pathway from there: he would’ve headed off to Sabres camp, landed on the radar of Buffalo’s higher-ups, eventually earned an AHL spot, turned that into an NHL opportunity and gone on to cement himself as a lineup regular. But that wasn’t the case. Over the next two off-seasons, Hagel spent time in upstate New York in hopes he would ingratiate himself to the organization and earn an entry-level contract. Instead, after Hagel wrapped up his third season with the Rebels, the Sabres relinquished his rights.

The first phone call Hagel remembers receiving after Buffalo gave him the news was from Sutter. ā€œHe basically said, ā€˜I am going to do everything I can to try and get you to that next level. You just have to continue putting your head down and try to get better and try to get yourself there,ā€™ā€ Hagel said.

That didn’t stop him from feeling, though, that he was reliving the WHL draft nightmare all over again. As a 20-year-old entering his fourth WHL campaign, there was a cold, creeping feeling of doubt. He felt like an unfortunate reality was beginning to set in – that a life in hockey wasn’t going be in the cards. So, Hagel gave himself an ultimatum. ā€œIf this isn’t going to work, I need to go to school,ā€ he said. ā€œThat was my assumption, that I’d give it to Christmas.ā€

With that in his mind, Hagel started to think about his future. While putting in some serious off-season work, he made time to sign up to head back to school. If hockey wasn’t going to work out, he wanted to improve his grades so he could go to college. But when he got back to Red Deer to start 2018-19, he looked like a different player. The season prior, before Buffalo had let him walk, his offense was inconsistent. Now, seemingly out of nowhere, he was uncontainable. He had 10 points through his first five games and was pushing 20 by his 10th. And by his 15th game, he was tied for third in WHL scoring, with 28 points. Hagel’s hard work was shining through.

"It’ll probably be one of the biggest moments in my life."
- Brandon Hagel on his fight at the 4 Nations

More importantly, NHL clubs were circling. Now, his self-imposed deadline didn’t seem so worrisome. And by the end of October 2018, days after his fifth three-point game of the WHL season, Hagel put pen to paper on a three-year, entry-level deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Sutter had encouraged him, pressed him to work even harder and told Hagel he could still make his NHL dream come true. ā€œI couldn’t give more credit, and I give a lot of credit, to Brent Sutter,ā€ Hagel said. ā€œHe was the best thing that’s probably ever happened to me in hockey.ā€

Brandon Hagel (Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)
"Brent Sutter was the best thing that’s probably ever happened to me in hockey." 
- Brandon Hagel

If the pandemic didn’t nearly shutter one NHL campaign and change the landscape of another, it’s worth wondering how enamored the Lightning would have become with Hagel. The 2020-21 season brought with it a temporary divisional realignment that made Chicago and Tampa – normally in opposite conferences – regular foes. Eight times the Blackhawks squared off with the Lightning that season, and it was during the third of those meetings, the first for which a rookie Hagel was in the lineup, that Cooper couldn’t shake him. ā€œI just remember I was like, ā€˜Who is this kid, whose name I don’t know, who is flying all over the place and being a pest?ā€™ā€ Cooper said. ā€œIt’s like, ā€˜Oh my God, this kid is always involved.ā€™ā€

Cooper was all too familiar with Hagel by season’s end, as was the Lightning front office. What they had seen was soon apparent to the rest of the NHL, too. During his sophomore season, Hagel worked his way up Chicago’s lineup, and as the trade deadline approached, with the Blackhawks in full rebuild mode, there were rumblings he was a sought-after trade chip. Hagel, though, didn’t think anything of it. ā€œA couple days before, the (Blackhawks) coach at the time (Derek King) came out and said something along the lines of, ā€˜If we trade Hagel, I don’t know what type of rebuild we’re doing here,ā€™ā€ Hagel said. ā€œRumors were going around, questions were being asked, and in my mind, I don’t think I’m going anywhere.ā€

Then came the news. On a road trip to Minnesota, Hagel was pulled aside by a Chicago staff member and sent to meet with the Hawks’ brass. He was told he’d been traded, learning soon thereafter his destination was Tampa Bay. Initially, he couldn’t believe it. His head was ā€œin a blender.ā€ But disbelief soon became a realization: he was going to get an opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup with the back-to-back champions.

Brandon Hagel (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

It wasn’t long, however, before his elation dissipated. On the bottom-feeding Blackhawks, Hagel was seeing big minutes. He was proving himself a capable top-six player. But a similar role with the Lightning was blocked by Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos and a cadre of veteran talent on a Cup-contending club. ā€œI’m coming over from Chicago, I have 21 goals already, and there’s still however many games,ā€ Hagel said. ā€œI’ve been playing 18 minutes a game when I was in Chicago, and now I’m playing 12 or 13.ā€

Frustration was setting in. Hagel had been used to working his way up the lineup, not slipping helplessly down it. But Cooper preached patience.

So, Hagel did as he’d done prior: he put his head down and went to work. The result, as always, was a breakthrough. Against the New York Rangers in the third round of the 2022 post-season, Hagel landed on a line with Alex Killorn and Anthony Cirelli. It was a defensive role, and he bought in. Ultimately, Hagel played an important part in helping the Lightning to a third-straight Cup final, and while the Bolts left empty-handed, Hagel’s commitment to doing the little things well wasn’t lost on Cooper.

Brandon Hagel (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

Indeed, Hagel’s work ethic and attitude were the very things that landed him on the wing alongside Kucherov and Point just two games into the following season. It wasn’t some dalliance with the Lightning top six, either. Hagel became a fixture of the unit, authoring a breakout 30-goal, 64-point campaign. ā€œEveryone thinks, ā€˜Oh, just throw me on the line, and I’ll get points and be able to do this.’ But that’s not how it works,ā€ Cooper said. ā€œThese guys, they think the game at such a high level, they play the game at such an incredibly fast pace. That it’s why it’s hard to play with really, really good players. Good players also want guys who are going to do some of the work that they’re not going to do.ā€

That, Cooper said, is Hagel. But it’s not just what he brings to the attack or his ability to thrive alongside elite talents that have led Hagel from being an overlooked 15-year-old to a role player for Team Canada in best-on-best play. From where Cooper is standing, it’s because everything that has been thrown at Hagel, whether an off-ice obstacle, grind-line minutes or the chance to skate in the top six, has been an opportunity he’s accepted, learned from and used to build a bigger, stronger, better foundation for the rest of his game. In his earliest moments with the Lightning, Cooper said, Hagel kept taking bites of the apple. And once he was ready, bit by bit, as with his entire career, the bites just kept getting bigger.

ā€œThe cycle just continues,ā€ Cooper said. ā€œLate draft pick. Sixth-rounder. And it’s just never being given a chance. It’s always that a door keeps shutting in his face, and he keeps opening it. It shuts in his face again, and he walks through again, everywhere he’s gone. When you have that much fight in a player, and you watch what he’s done in his career, probably not that surprised at what he’s doing now.ā€


This article appeared in our 2025 Yearbook and Fantasy Guide. This issue features team reports for all 32 NHL teams heading into the 2025-26 season, including an analysis of their offense, defense and goaltending, as well as our prediction for where we think they will finish in the league standings. We also include features on Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson and more. In addition, we take a look at the top skaters and goaltenders ahead of the coming season.

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