Welcome to this edition of "From The Archive". In this recurring series, we open The Hockey News' vault and display some of the top Vancouver Canucks related articles from the past. Today's article comes from Volume 35, Issue 32, where The Hockey News wrote about the "The great towel-waving episode of the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs."

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Canucks Spurred By Towel-Waving Vancouver Fans, Volume 35, Issue 32, May 14, 1982

The great towel-waving episode of the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs appeared to be catching on with Vancouver hockey fans and if anything it seemed to be providing the Canucks with the incentive they needed to knock off Chicago in their Campbell Conference final series.

The Canucks split the first two games in Chicago and then came back home to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven conference final for the right to oppose the Wales Conference winner—either the New York Islanders or the Quebec Nordiques—in the Stanley Cup final.

The Canucks, fined $11,000 by the NHL for waving towels on the end of hockey sticks in protest over the officiating, were getting some unexpected support from their hometown fans, who were shelling out $4.95 each to purchase the specially marked towels to wave at the Black Hawks.

Following are the capsule reports of the Campbell Conference final series.

Game One: Jim Nill’s goal at 8:58 of the second overtime gave the Canucks a 2-1 victory and first blood in the Campbell Conference championship against the Black Hawks, but the real story once again was the goaltending of Vancouver’s Richard Brodeur.

The Canucks’ 5-7, 160-pound netminder stopped all but one of 47 shots hurled his way in bringing his playoff record this year to a sparkling eight wins against just one loss. Brodeur was particularly frustrating for Doug Wilson and Tom Lysiak, two of the Black Hawks’ leading scorers, who combined for 15 shots on the Vancouver goal and came away empty.

The only goal that got past Brodeur was a backhander rolled in by Terry Ruskowski in the first period which tied the contest at 1-1 at the 10:11 mark. And it remained that way for close to 79 minutes before either team could score again.

Thomas Gradin opened the game’s scoring at 8:02 of the first period when he put in a pass from Curt Fraser for his fourth score of the playoffs.

Ruskowski notched his first playoff goal after a great set-up by Rich Preston, who carried the puck out from the corner.

Brodeur kept the Black Hawks from ever gaining the lead and his mates finally got through against 39-year-old Tony Esposito, who was coming off a shutout in the series-clincher against St. Louis.

After Brodeur made another excellent stop off Wilson five minutes into the second overtime period, the Canucks got control in the Chicago end. Defenseman Harold Snepsts sent a shot which Esposito stopped but the rebound came to Nill, who was heading towards the goal. Nill flipped the puck into the top of the net and the Canucks had a win on the road.

In fact, it was the Canucks’ fourth consecutive playoff win on the road in as many tries.

Tue. April 27 VANCOUVER 2, CHICAGO 1

Game Two: A pair of third-period goals by Chicago’s Denis Savard put the lid on the Canucks’ comeback attempts and allowed the Black Hawks to stretch a 2-1 lead to a 4-1 victory which evened the Campbell Conference final series at one game each.

The game was a long, raucous affair with 188 minutes in penalties dished out by referee Bob Myers, who banished Canucks’ coach Roger Neilson and players Dave Williams and Gerry Minor to the dressing room when the trio placed white towels on the ends of hockey sticks in apparent disgust with Myers’ officiating.

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For the second game in succession in the series, the Black Hawks dominated first-period action, finally grabbing their first lead on a goal by Glen Sharpley at 18:28. Sharpley came up with the puck behind the Canuck goal, skated out front, and while two Vancouver defensemen concerned themselves with Ted Bulley, shot one at Richard Brodeur and then flipped in the rebound.

The Canucks exerted some pressure against Hawks’ goalie Murray Bannerman in the second period, outshooting Chicago 15-9, but the only goal of the period was scored by Hawks’ defenseman Doug Feamster who scored on a drive from the point.

In the third period, the Canucks climbed back into the contest when Stan Smyl blistered a 45-footer past Bannerman and into the net at 1:01 of the period.

Then Savard took over.

First, he circled behind the Vancouver net and slipped a shot past Brodeur while swinging around the defense at 4:42. Then with less than four minutes remaining, Savard finished off a tic-tac-toe passing play, shooting into the open side after relays by Bob Murray and Tom Lysiak.

Thu. April 29 VANCOUVER 1, CHICAGO 4

Game Three: Stan Smyl stepped out of the penalty box to score a breakaway goal which proved to be the game-winner as the Canucks held on for a 4-3 victory over Chicago to take a 2-1 lead in their Campbell Conference series.

Smyl scored at 2:05 of the third period to give the Canucks a 4-2 lead on a play which was initiated by the Black Hawks. The Hawks had controlled the play inside the Canucks’ zone for more than a minute, passing the puck although they weren’t able to shake free for any shots. Denis Savard sent the puck in around the boards behind the Vancouver net and the shot bounced off the boards and out to Smyl, who had just stepped out of the penalty box. Smyl broke in alone on Chicago’s Murray Bannerman and beat him with a shot to the far side.

Rick Paterson got the goal back for Chicago a little more than a minute later to cut the deficit to one, but it was the Canucks who enjoyed the better chances for the remainder of the period, outshooting Chicago, 14-8. Bannerman was forced to make key saves off Curt Fraser and Tiger Williams to keep the contest close.

Chicago opened the scoring at 10:18 as Glen Sharpley notched his fifth goal of the playoffs. Vancouver answered with a pair of goals, the first by Thomas Gradin, also his fifth of the playoffs, and the second by rookie defenseman Neil Belland, his first of the playoffs. The Hawks’ Doug Wilson tied the game before the period ended with his third of the playoffs, a blistering drive which Richard Brodeur partially stopped with his stick but couldn’t keep out of the net.

Fraser had the only goal of the middle period, a long slapshot which beat Bannerman at 10:03.

Black Hawks’ center Denis Savard was handed a gross misconduct after the game when he waited for van Hellemond and then swore and spat at the ref in the corridor outside the officials’ room. Savard was complaining about the Canucks’ clutch and grab tactics.

Sat. May 1 CHICAGO 3, VANCOUVER 4

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It's been over 30 years since the Detroit Red Wings, or any other NHL club for that matter, has played more than 82 regular season games.

Following the lockout that wiped out half of the 1994-95 campaign, NHL regular seasons have been set to 82 games (aside from another lockout shortened year in 2012-13, along with the interrupted 2019-20 season at the onset of COVID-19). 

Now, the NHL is reportedly not only going to return to an 84-game schedule, but will be pushing back the start of the season to late September. 

As indicated by NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, the 2026-27 NHL season will feature a return of an 84-game schedule and will begin weeks earlier than what has been a traditional early October starting dat

As reported before but now the NHL has started to put it together, the regular season will begin in late September for 2026-27 and Cup awarded mid June. Pre-season shortened and regular season extended to 84 games.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 3, 2025

It will mark just the second time since the 2007-08 season (Detroit's last Stanley Cup-winning season) that regular season play started in September; the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings faced one another at the 02 Arena in London, England to begin that campaign. 

Another notable change is the preseason schedule being cut in half, reduced from eight games to just four.

With the extra pair of regular season games, the Red Wings will now face every one of their Atlantic Division opponents no less than four times a season.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

The revised schedule and start dates are part of the NHL’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which takes effect next September.

During his media availability after Development Camp in early July, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman expressed his support for the scheduling changes.

“I think it’ll give more balance to divisional games,” Yzerman said. “I’m not exactly sure what the matrix is going to be as far as divisional games and what not, but it seemed to make sense to us.”

As for a potential downside to the reduced preseason schedule, Yzerman noted that it provides less time to evaluate the progression of younger players in NHL action.

“I think the four preseason games, it’s a bit of a challenge. You’re always weighing how many games your veteran players need to play," Yzerman said. "The guys that are really knocking on the door, the guys that you can consider call-ups and then those players that are here trying to push to make the team. It’s going to be hard to get everybody in a reasonable number of games with four. That’s the downside to it, but we’ll manage it.”

The last time the Red Wings played an 84-game schedule, in 1993–94, was still three seasons before their 1997 Stanley Cup victory.

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Mitch Marner is set to visit Scotiabank Arena as a visitor when his Vegas Golden Knights face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 23. Despite Leafs games on a Friday night usually being broadcast locally by rights-holders Sportsnet or TSN, a report indicates that the game will be free of Canadian geographical restrictions.

The news was first mentioned on the '32 Thoughts' podcast with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas. While discussing the player, Friedman stated, "I know that game this year, which by the way, we have now made a national game". He added, "I mean, that’s going to be a crazy night". Ironically, this detail emerged from a broader conversation in which Friedman expressed his belief that it would be best for Marner, the Maple Leafs, and the fans to move on from the ongoing drama surrounding his departure.

Marner departed the Maple Leafs organization after spending the first nine seasons of his NHL career with the club. The 2015 first-round draft pick and one of the most prolific offensive players in franchise history, he recorded 221 goals and 520 assists in 657 career regular-season games. However, his performance in the playoffs often came into question, leading to significant criticism from fans and analysts alike.

In a recent interview with Mark Masters of TSN, Marner explained his reasons for not returning to Toronto, citing concerns for his own safety. There is no doubt that the narrative will continue to be a hot topic until Marner finally plays those games against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Maple Leafs and Golden Knights completed a trade for Marner's rights on June 30 and the Golden Knights committed to Marner for eight years with an average annual value of $12 million per season.

For fans living in Canada outside the Maple Leafs’ traditional viewing region, this national broadcast will allow them to watch Marner's return to Scotiabank Arena without needing to subscribe to Sportsnet’s higher-tier streaming service, Sportsnet+ Premium.

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Gold team forward Brady Martin (44) skates with the puck during the Future Stars Game at the Ford Ice Center Bellevue in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, July 5, 2025. © Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As the Nashville Predators prepare for what they hope will be a much-improved season over 2024-25, general manager Barry Trotz is faced with the task of maintaining a veteran presence while also going younger.

It’s not an easy balance,particularly when the team is trying to get back to the playoffs following their summer free agent splash of 2024, when they signed veterans Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei. But with the additions of Brady Martin, Ryker Lee and others to the prospect pipeline from the 2025 NHL Draft, the future looks a lot brighter in Smashville.

In its 2025 Yearbook, The Hockey News ranked the Predators’ top 10 prospects, along with their estimated arrival times in the NHL. Let’s take a look.

1. Brady Martin

Pos C Age 18

2024-25 Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

No-nonsense pivot puts on his hard hat and goes to work. He’s a driver at both ends of the ice.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

2. Tanner Molendyk

Pos D Age 20

2024-25 Medicine Hat (WHL)

Put Tigers over the top in WHL and named Memorial Cup all-star. Beautiful skater and great mind.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

3. David Edstrom

Pos C Age 20

2024-25 Frolunda (Swe.)

Stats don’t wow, but his 200-foot game can’t be quantified. Has the frame to be net-front nuisance.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

4. Joakim Kemell

Pos RW Age 21

2024-25 Milwaukee (AHL)

Offensive numbers consistent but not overwhelming. He’s a shooter and knows how to find soft spots.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

5. Cameron Reid

Pos D Age 18

2024-25 Kitchener (OHL)

To maximize potential, he needs to bulk up. Skills – skating, stick and passing – of a new-age ‘D.’

Expected NHL Arrival ’28-29

6. Egor Surin

Pos C Age 19

2024-25 Yaroslavl (KHL)

Broke through to KHL club and became integral part of grind line en route to league title.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

7. Matthew Wood

Pos RW Age 20

2024-25 Minnesota (Big Ten)

Killer production after transfer to Minnesota. Pure quality to release. A physical presence, too.

Expected NHL Arrival ’25-26

8. Ryker Lee

Pos RW Age 18

2024-25 Madison (USHL)

What he lacks in mobility, he makes up for in offensive instincts. He’ll pay the price to score, too.

Expected NHL Arrival ’29-30

9. Jacob Rombach

Pos D Age 18

2024-25 Lincoln (USHL)

A 6-foot-6 frame is a great attribute, and he’s learned to use his size. Committed to sound defense.

Expected NHL Arrival ’30-31

10. Reid Schaefer

Pos LW Age 22

2024-25 Milwaukee (AHL)

Shoulder injury cut season short. Skilled playmaker seems set to take major step in development.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

EA SPORTS NHL 26 is officially live now for those who pre-ordered the Deluxe Edition of the game.

On top of the seven-day early access who who pre-ordered get a head start and receive multiple bonuses in Hockey Ultimate Team and World of Chel. 

These bonuses for Deluxe Edition include: an 83 overall HUT choice pack, 4600 NHL Points, a HUT NHL Player Pack, a HUT Icon Choice Pack (1 of 6, 85-86 overall), HUT Heroes Choice Pack (1 of 6, 83-84 overall), a World of Chel Vanity Set, and two World of Chel Battle Pass XP Boosts.

Those who are looking to try the game before purchasing can sign-up for one month of EA Play which will give them 10 hours of access. 

More on NHL 26 to come from The Hockey News this week. 

NHL 26's worldwide release is set for Sept. 12. It can be purchased here.

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.    

Easton Cowan has his mind set on making the Toronto Maple Leafs out of training camp.

The 20-year-old spoke with Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby during a meet and greet event at Team Town Sports in Whitby on Thursday. Cowan, who didn’t participate in the on-ice activities at Maple Leafs development camp, had a busy summer of training at EPIC (Elite Performance and Injury Centre) just outside London, Ontario.

He’s bigger and stronger, with his agent, Dave Maloney, adding that Cowan has reached 190 pounds and is six feet tall.

“It all went well,” the prospect told Hornby of his summer.

“I’ve been skating with the NHL guys who are all funneling back now. They’re all coming up to me to give congrats (for his London Knights winning the Memorial Cup) asking how my summer’s been. Little messages like that go a long way and I feel a little closer and comfortable around all of them.

“I’m feeling good out there, excited for camp.”

It’s been a whirlwind couple of months for Cowan. Nearly one year ago, he was cut from the Maple Leafs and loaned back to the OHL’s London Knights. Cowan could’ve taken that as a bad thing, however, he used it as fuel to help London win the Memorial Cup in the spring.

He added 29 goals and 69 points in 46 regular-season games, which also included an unofficial record-breaking point streak which ended at 65 games. Cowan also led in points during the OHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup, taking home the MVP honors at the Memorial Cup to cap off an incredible junior career.

During that time, Cowan kept in contact with Maple Leafs management. He even spoke with Toronto head coach Craig Berube, who Cowan says was in touch just like any of the team’s leadership.

“Management does a great job staying in touch with me throughout the year,” Cowan said. “I’ve heard from everyone. They’re all being positive, so I’m being positive. The coach (Craig Berube) is like the other management, staying in touch about little stuff to help a prospect make that jump easier.”

Now, though, there’s no more going back to the OHL for Cowan. It’s the NHL or AHL for the young forward. If he doesn’t make the Maple Leafs (and it'll be tough given all the new players Toronto has brought in), he’ll surely get loads of time and opportunity with the Toronto Marlies.

Though currently, he’s focused on the task at hand: making a strong impression at training camp.

“My mindset right now is to make the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Cowan said. “That’s my goal. We’re at an NHL camp and that’s where I’m at until further notice.

“This is definitely the most confident I’ve ever felt — faster, stronger, bigger. So that’s going to help me out a lot. I’ve put in the work this summer. Now, it’s just go out there and prove I can play.”

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Earlier this week, sports cards manufacturer Upper Deck and the NHLPA held their annual rookie showcase, and 2023 fifth overall pick David Reinbacher represented the Montreal Canadiens. Since being selected by the Habs, the 20-year-old’s path to the NHL has been challenging and plagued by injuries.

Last season, as he was getting ready to spend his first full season in North America, he sustained a serious knee injury in a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and just like that, he was ruled out for five months.

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It wasn’t a wasted season for the youngster, far from it. The Canadiens have become masters of keeping their players involved when injured, a testament to the significant number of injuries sustained by key players over recent years. The blueliner was involved in team meetings, video sessions, and spent valuable time learning to be a professional hockey player on this side of the pond.

At the showcase, when he was asked about his short-term future, the youngster showed maturity beyond his years:

It’s a long-term plan. The team management knows what it’s doing. I focus on myself and my own performance on the ice daily. I try to do what’s best to influence their decision. Of course, my objective is to make the roster now, but we’ll see what happens.

- Reinbacher  on his future.

David Savard’s retirement created a big hole on the right side of the Canadiens’ blueline, but the team wasted no time in acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, not just filling that hole, but getting an upgrade. That, and the team’s acquisition of Alex Carrier from the Nashville Predators, shows the organization wants to take its time bringing the young defenseman along.

They attempted to take a shortcut with Justin Barron after acquiring him from the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. Still, they ultimately had to end the experiment to gain more experience and stability on the blueline, electing to send him to Nashville.

Right now, it looks like the Canadiens already have their seven defensemen for the upcoming season with Carrier, Dobson, Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, and Jayden Struble. Still, the soon-to-be 21-year-old is not seeing that as an issue; he’s just planning on turning up to camp and playing his best. He adds:

I’m just happy to be able to play. We’ll see, I’m keeping a day-to-day approach. At the end of the camp, we’ll see where I’ll be.

While Reinbacher would like to make the lineup, he’s very lucid about the situation and willing to follow the plan the organization has for him. In other words, if he has to start the season with the Laval Rocket, you won’t see him feeling sorry for himself and taking time to get into gear. He’ll be ready to perform and give his team the best of himself, just like he did when he returned from injury for the end of the season and the playoffs.

While he had to be eased back into the competition last season and was getting some swelling in his surgically repaired knee, he’s now 100% healthy and eager to get back on the ice for the new season.

---

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Earlier this year, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they would introduce the Blackhawks Hall of Fame. This is an institution that will honor the most extraordinary players to don the Blackhawks sweater. 

The inaugural class will have 11 players elected. The first nine are the players who have their numbers retired by the franchise. That includes Glenn Hall, Pierre Pilote, and Keith Magnuson, Chris Chelios, Bobby Hull, Denis Savard, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito, and Marian Hossa.

The other two would be named via a fan, media, and alumni vote. On Friday, the results of that voting were revealed by the team. Duncan Keith was named from the “Modern Ballot” and Steve Larmer was named from the “Heritage Ballot”. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on XAs voted on by you, media, and alumni, Steve Larmer and Duncan Keith are going to the Blackhawks Hall of Fame‼️👏

“We are beyond proud to announce the inaugural Blackhawks Hall of Fame class will include Steve Larmer and Duncan Keith,” Blackhawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said. “The incredible participation we saw from Blackhawks fans, Alumni, and media is a testament to the lasting influence that each of these individuals have had on our storied franchise.”

Keith, Larmer, and the other 9 elected Blackhawks alumni will be honored on April 11th ahead of Chicago’s game vs the St. Louis Blues. There will be a pregame ceremony, activities, and experiences that honor their impact on the organization. 

Duncan Keith is the greatest defenseman in the history of the Chicago Blackhawks. Keith scored 106 goals and 540 assists for 646 points while playing a suffocating style of defense. 

His regular-season stats earned him two Norris Trophies and multiple trips to the All-Star Game. In the playoffs, Keith got even better. He anchored Chicago’s blue line to three Stanley Cups. One of the three runs saw him win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. During the NHL’s centennial season, Keith was named one of the league’s 100 all-time greatest players. 

“An anchor of three Stanley Cups, Duncan’s impact on the game of hockey is nothing short of astounding,” Wirtz said. “Through his elite playmaking, grit, and leadership both on and off the ice, Duncan helped shape a modern dynasty while cementing himself as one of the best to ever play.”

As for Larmer, he was a high-octane winger who played in 1006 NHL games, compiling 441 goals and 571 assists for 1012 points. His rookie season saw him score 43 goals and 47 assists for 90 points in 80 games, which was good enough for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. 

“One of the most prolific scorers the team has ever seen, Steve set the bar for what it means to be a Blackhawk,” Wirtz said. “From his remarkable production to his extraordinary Iron Man streak, Steve quietly laid the foundation for generations of future Blackhawks players and fans alike.”

Larmer played in the Stanley Cup Final with the Blackhawks in 1992, but they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Larmer, after 13 years with the Chicago Blackhawks, did play for the New York Rangers for two years. In the first of those two years, he finally got his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. 

Although he has a worthy resume, Larmer is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Keith, on the other hand, was elected with the class of 2025. Now, they will both be enshrined together as Chicago Blackhawks Hall of Famers forever. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

With NHL training camps opening in less than two weeks, there's little sign of progress in contract talks between the Anaheim Ducks and Mason McTavish.

The lack of a deal for McTavish has made the 22-year-old center the subject of trade conjecture throughout the off-season.

Ducks beat writer Eric Stephens of The Athletic reported on Aug. 21 that the club wanted to sign him and had exchanged contract proposals with the McTavish camp, but that hasn't stopped the speculation about his future in Anaheim.

Several teams believed to be in the market for a second-line center have been linked to McTavish. They include the Carolina Hurricanes, Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks. However, Stephens pointed out that the Ducks need the young center as much as the others.

The Hockey News' Patrick Present reported on Aug. 28 that there had been little information regarding McTavish's contract negotiations. According to Present, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman claimed the sticking point could be a difference of opinion over what the average annual salary should be.

RG.Org's James Murphy cited an NHL executive claiming there's no sign of an impasse between the Ducks and McTavish. He also stated that Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek has not let it be known that he's willing to entertain trade offers.

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Meanwhile, rumors abound in Montreal that the Canadiens are attempting to trade Carey Price's contract. The permanently sidelined 38-year-old goaltender is in the final year of his deal with a $10.5-million cap hit.

In actual salary for this season, Price will make $7.5 million, of which $5.5 million was paid out as a signing bonus. For rebuilding teams needing to stay above this season's salary-cap minimum of $70.6 million, taking on Price's cap hit could be a good deal, especially with insurance picking up most of the remaining $2 million of his actual salary.

The move would also free up valuable cap room for the Canadiens. GM Kent Hughes told Sportsnet's Eric Engels earlier this week his club is considering all options to create salary-cap flexibility.

Hughes admitted he'd move Price's contract if he can find a trade that makes sense for both teams. However, he also indicated that he's fine with keeping the future Hall of Fame candidate on LTIR this season.

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.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington landed on the NHL Network's top 10 goaltenders list heading into the 2025-26 season. 

The one-time Stanley Cup champion and 4 Nations Face-Off gold medalist ranked seventh in a list that features several outstanding goaltenders.

The 32-year-old recorded a .900 save percentage and a 2.69 goals against average in 56 games, but the Blues netminder took his game to another level when the Blues and Team Canada needed him most. Binnington was elite in February and March, propelling the Blues back into the playoff race and helping them secure a playoff spot.

With Team Canada, Binnington did what he does best: step up when the stakes are the highest. With several question marks surrounding coach Jon Cooper's decision to play Binnington, he proved his coach right and silenced the doubters. 

Binnington has essentially locked down the starter's role at the Olympics, but if he begins the 2025-26 season off slowly, it could change things. Binnington has shown he can handle a heavy workload, but maintaining the best version of himself will move him up these rankings.

"Binnington was again a steadying presence for the Blues last season, his third straight with at least 27 wins and 56 games played. He was 28-22-5 with a 2.69 GAA, his lowest since 2020-21 (2.65), and had a .900 save percentage with three shutouts. In the playoffs, he kept St. Louis in the series against the Presidents' Trophy winning Jets, including making 43 saves in a Game 7 loss. The 32-year-old, who won the Cup with the Blues in 2019, had a 13-game stretch from February through April in which he went 11-2-0 with a 2.00 GAA and .919 save percentage," said the NHL Network.

Ranking ahead of Binnington were  Winnipeg Jets' Connor Hellebuyck, Tampa Bay Lightning's Andrei Vasilevskiy, New York Rangers' Igor Shesterkin, Florida Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky,  Dallas Stars' Jake Oettinger, and New York Islanders' Ilya Sorokin. Finishing behind Binnington were Minnesota Wild's Filip Gustavsson, Los Angeles Kings' Darcy Kuemper, and Ottawa Senators' Linus Ullmark.

Expectations for the Blues have increased, and if they are to be successful, they'll need their star man in between the pipes to continue to elevate his game when called upon.

The Philadelphia Flyers added to their goalie depth this summer, signing Dan Vladar to a two-year, $6.7 million contract. However, even with this being the case, the Flyers still have their doubters when it comes to the goaltending position. 

In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Joe Yerdon ranked the Flyers' goalie tandem of Vladar, Samuel Ersson, and Ivan Fedotov 31st in the NHL. With this, the San Jose Sharks' goalie tandem (Yaroslav Askarov and Alex Nedeljkovic) was the only one rated worse than the Flyers on Yerdon's list. 

Teams ranked just ahead of the Flyers on Yerdon's list were the Pittsburgh Penguins (Tristan Jarry & Arturs Silovs), Chicago Blackhawks (Spencer Knight & Arvid Soderblom), and Seattle Kraken (Joey Daccord & Philipp Grubauer). 

Vladar, 28, spent this past season with the Calgary Flames, where he posted a 12-11-6 record, a 2.80 goals-against average, a .898 save percentage, and two shutouts. Overall, he has been a serviceable backup throughout his career and will be looking to provide the Flyers with more stability between the pipes. In 105 career NHL games over five seasons, he has posted a 49-34-16 record, a 2.99 goals-against average, and a .895 save percentage.

Ersson, 25, posted a 22-17-5 record in 47 games with the Flyers last season but also had a .883 save percentage and a 3.14 goals-against average. The 2018 fifth-round pick is entering his fourth season and will be looking to have that big breakout season for the Metropolitan Division club. In 110 games over three seasons, he has recorded a 51-39-12 record, a .888 save percentage, and a 2.98 goals-against average. 

As for Fedotov, he is still looking to prove that he can be a solid NHL goaltender. He had a tough first full season with the Flyers in 2024-25, recording a 6-13-4 record, a .880 save percentage, and a 3.15 goals-against average. However, he had success during his days in the KHL, and the Flyers will be hoping that he can translate some of it over to the NHL this season. 

It will be interesting to see if the Flyers' goaltending can be better than expected this upcoming season. If they are, it would help the Flyers' chances of being a more competitive team in the Eastern Conference. 

Recent Flyers News 

Flyers' Jett Luchanko No Longer Guelph Storm Captain: OHL Trade Coming?

Flyers Swap J.R. Avon for Tucker Robertson in Deal with Kraken 

Former Flyers Defenseman Still A Free Agent 

The United States Hockey Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday that former Senator Scott Gomez has been selected to its 2025 induction class. The two-time All-Star is best known for his time with the New Jersey Devils, but also played with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, and yes, for the briefest of time, the Ottawa Senators.

You'd be forgiven if you forgot that Gomez, now 45, ever played for the Senators. Gomez played 1079 games in the NHL, but only the final 13 came with the Senators at the end of the 2015-16 season.

The Sens needed a centre after Kyle Turris went down with an injury, and Gomez, who was playing in the AHL with the Hershey Bears, signed on here as an unrestricted free agent, joining his seventh NHL team in four years. At that point, Gomez's best days were behind him, and he put up just one assist in 13 games as a Senator. He hung up the blades at the end of that season. 

But Gomez had a fine career, putting up 181 goals and 756 points. He burst into the league, winning the Calder Trophy during his 1999-00 season after posting 70 points during his rookie season with the Devils.

He reached the 60-point mark on six occasions and was part of two Cup winners with the Devils, including the one that defeated Ottawa in seven games in the 2003 Conference Final.

Gomez becomes the first Alaskan added to the American Hall and never forgot his roots. In fact, during the last two labour stoppages, he played for his hometown Alaska Aces in the ECHL, and while the NHL was cancelled completely in 2004-05, Gomez was named the ECHL MVP.

After hockey, Gomez was an assistant coach for a couple of years with the New York Islanders. In 2020, he tried his hand at a light-hearted YouTube channel that features various skits about life in Alaska.

Today, Gomez is head coach of the USHL's Chicago Steel. 

By Steve Warne
This article was first published at The Hockey News-Ottawa

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Senators Still Own Formenton's NHL Rights – What's Next?
Our One-On-One With Drake Batherson
Senators Confirm Extension For Pinto Won't Happen Until After Season Starts
Staios: 'We're Not Dismissing That Yakemchuk Makes Our Team Out of Camp'
Ottawa Senators: Ranking The Six Best At Each Position

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Mo Brings The Mojo - Feb. 4 2022 - Vol. 75 Issue 11 - Matt Larkin

THE HOCKEY NEWS’ 2019 Draft Preview rated Seider 22nd in his class, well below projected stars such as Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko but also behind half a dozen players who still don’t take regular shifts in the NHL today. The scouting report complimented Seider’s 6-foot-4 frame and big shot but described him as an “intriguing but raw prospect” and qualified his strong play with Mannheim of the DEL with, “The German League is not the best league in Europe, but…”

Perhaps it was the German factor obscuring Seider’s top-prospect status. At the time, his nation had produced just 15 NHL defensemen, and only three had made sizable impacts: puck-mover Christian Ehrhoff, whom Seider looked up to; rugged Stanley Cup winner Dennis Seidenberg; and Uwe Krupp, who scored the Cup-clinching goal in overtime for the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. Seider also didn’t come from a rich bloodline of athletes. His parents ran a home for the elderly before quitting to move to Mannheim to support their son’s hockey dream when he was 13.

But the new Yzerman regime saw something in Seider anyway, and not just because he’d won DEL rookie of the year in 2018-19. They identified a caliber of two-way hockey sense that’s tough to teach. The Wings had a history of hitting home runs at the draft when going off the board, having selected seven-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom 53rd overall in 1989, a pick they settled on because of his preternatural hockey sense. Yzerman, Lidstrom’s longtime teammate, was transferring that logic to pick Seider, a kid who grew up watching Lidstrom’s games “every single night,” as Seider puts it.

To get drafted far earlier than expected and attract immediate Lidstrom comparisons could leave most teenagers trembling, but Seider viewed the surprise of going sixth overall as a positive. “Honestly, it was a shock for me, too,” he said. “Other than that, I was super proud being selected by an Original Six team, especially the Wings, with all the history, and from that moment, my life changed. My confidence grew, definitely. But I was not worried about the number that was in front of that pick. I wanted to make sure I made the team as soon as possible and had a good impact.”

No kidding. The way Seider played in the months following the selection, when he came to North America to play for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, he rapidly transformed from reach to steal. Shawn Horcoff, the Red Wings’ director of player development, explains that the team staff working on the North American side hadn’t seen much of Seider before he came over. He and coach Jeff Blashill refer to Seider’s Adler Mannheim stint as when he “played in the men’s league,” which almost makes it sound like a beer league. They were taken with his character and charismatic personality upon meeting him but didn’t yet understand how much potential Seider possessed.

I was super proud being selected by an Original Six team, especially the Wings, with all the history, and from that moment, my life changed

- – Moritz Seider

As Blashill remembers it, some of the rawness was as advertised in the early going as Seider learned how to make quicker decisions with the puck. But any doubts about his ceiling disappeared quickly. Horcoff began to envision the type of all-situations defender who could play 25-plus minutes a night. “It was apparent early the kind of tools that he had and the ability to play all aspects of the game,” Horcoff said. “So, as a development staff, it was pretty clear to us, ‘This kid’s got a chance,’ a guy that can impact an NHL hockey game at all levels.”

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Seider could hit. He could shoot. He could make a strong first pass. He skated very well for a big man. He shot right-handed. He showed leadership qualities. It wasn’t long before he became the Griffins’ top defenseman, and he captained Germany at the World Junior Championship in 2020, too.

By spring 2020, in The Hockey News’ Future Watch, a panel of active NHL scouts and executives graded Seider as the No. 6 NHL-affiliated prospect in the game, second only to Colorado’s Bowen Byram among blueliners. The perception changed from “Yzerman reached” to “Yzerman’s done it,” and with the shift came calls for Seider to jump to the NHL. Would he join Detroit’s blueline by 2020-21, or would the long-term tank mission withhold him?

The decision was taken out of Detroit’s hands when COVID-19 delayed the start of the 2020-21 AHL and NHL seasons. The Wings didn’t want to waste crucial development time bouncing Seider between the AHL, NHL and taxi squad, so they sent him to Rogle of the Swedish League. “It was really important to Steve Yzerman, as it should have been, that Moritz was playing and developing at such a young age,” Blashill said. “And the decision was made for him to go to Sweden and, once he did, that he was going to be there for the year. Could he have played (in the NHL)? Yeah, he could have played, but none of us thought that was the best thing for him. You need to make sure you’re doing what's best for these prospects and make sure they’re in situations where they can thrive and not just survive.”

More Red Wings: Exclusive: Red Wings Prospect Shai Buium Eyes NHL Roster Spot: “Make It a Hard Decision”

Seider did just that, dominating the SHL and winning defenseman of the year. Working in his favor that season was his attitude. He never viewed the Swedish assignment as an insult. He’s an optimist. Horcoff describes him as a happy guy with a contagious smile. As Blashill puts it, “You know when you’re in the room with him.”

He’s a thoughtful, social person who says his favorite thing to do outside hockey is “sit downtown in Mannheim and have a coffee with my friends, and we usually just chill there all afternoon and talk. Sometimes serious topics, sometimes not the best topics, but also some fun stuff.” He was perceptive enough to know a year in the SHL would help him. “Being patient is a big strength of mine, and I just needed time first, to grow as a hockey player, to be more mature on and off the ice and develop a more complete game at both ends of the ice.”

By 2021-22 training camp, there was virtually no doubt Seider, 20, would march right to the NHL. He did, and he won rookie of the month for October. By late January, he easily led rookie blueliners in scoring while averaging 22:30 of ice time, almost two minutes more than the closest rookie defensemen. He easily held the best shot-attempt share in 5-on-5 play among Red Wings D-men. As he develops confidence and joins the rush more, his offensive play has been slightly superior to his defensive play, but it’s coming around. “That balance of when to jump in the play, when to be the guy joining and when to be the guy not necessarily leading the rush is something we’ve worked on with him,” Blashill said. “But Moritz has a real good inner confidence to him. He’s got great self-belief that way. He’s able to handle coaching. It doesn’t affect him in a negative manner. He takes the information in, and he does what he thinks is best when he goes on the ice, and that’s what the best players do.”

The best players also lead, and Seider will do that – his own way. Teammates will follow him, but they’ll laugh along the way. The young man loves to dance. It’s somewhat of a trademark. And he does it with a purpose. “Whatever our DJ plays, I’ll vibe with, and I just want to make sure I feel good, get loose, don’t have any pressure,” he said. “If that transfers to the other guys and they feel good, even better. I wouldn’t say I have a strong voice, but I just try to make sure everyone is feeling good and get the most out of their game. If it’s just telling a joke or making someone laugh, that’s a great thing, too. I’m not running around and screaming in the locker room. I just try to lead by example on the ice and hope the guys will follow.” 

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In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Joe Yerdon ranked each team's goalie tandem heading into the 2025-26 season. The Chicago Blackhawks' tandem of Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom received a tough ranking, as they finished at the No. 29 spot. 

With this ranking, the Blackhawks only finished ahead of the San Jose Sharks (Yaroslav Askarov & Alex Nedeljkovic), Philadelphia Flyers (Samuel Ersson, Dan Vladar & Ivan Fedotov), and Pittsburgh Penguins (Tristan Jarry & Arturs Silovs). 

Teams ranked just ahead of the Blackhawks on Yerdon's list are the Seattle Kraken (Joey Daccord & Philipp Grubauer), Columbus Blue Jackets (Elvis Merzlikins & Jet Greaves), and Buffalo Sabres (Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon & Devon Levi).

Knight is a young goalie looking to prove that he can be a legitimate NHL starting goalie. In 15 games with the Blackhawks after being acquired from the Florida Panthers in the Seth Jones trade, Knight recorded a 5-8-2 record, a 3.18 goals-against average, and a .893 save percentage. In 95 games over four NHL seasons, the former first-rounder has recorded a 49-33-9 record, a .904 save percentage, and a 2.83 goals-against average. 

Soderblom, on the other hand, just landed a two-year, $5.5 million contract this summer after having the best season of his NHL career thus. In 33 games, he recorded a 10-18-7 record and set new career bests with a .898 save percentage and a 3.18 goals-against average. 

Overall, while the Blackhawks' goaltending may have some doubters heading into the new season, the potential for them to improve is certainly there. Knight has the tools to blossom into a high-impact goalie, while Soderblom should be able to build off his solid 2024-25 campaign. If both young goalies take steps forward in their development, they very well could move up other goalie rankings in the future.

Former Blackhawks Forward Signs With New TeamFor the second season in a row, former Chicago Blackhawks forward Tanner Kero will be playing overseas. 

Last month, former Montreal Canadiens blueliner Josh Gorges was appointed as an assistant coach with his junior team, the Kelowna Rockets. The gritty former defenseman gave an interview to The Gazette’s Stu Cowan, then spoke to RG.org’s Marco D’Amico. Since then, one part of that interview really stuck with me.

A defensive defenseman, Gorges didn’t get to score and celebrate that many goals in his career, but he says one memory that really endures with him is that improbable playoff run in 2009-2010. That was a fantastic time to be a Canadiens fan…

Canadiens' Goalie Tandem Receives New Ranking
Canadiens: A Preview Of The Second Line?
Canadiens: Important Dates For The Season Start

Back then, I still lived in London, England, and this was before I had started writing about the team professionally, and I was just a fan, but a really dedicated one. With the five-hour time difference between Montreal and London, the games would start at midnight on my side of the pond, but I couldn’t even entertain the idea of missing a second of those playoff games. So every other night, I would stay up until at least 3:00 AM to watch my team play.

Early on, it looked like I wasn’t going to do that for much longer, but as Gorges recalls, the Canadiens came back from the 3-1 hole they had dug for themselves in the first round against the Washington Capitals. They fought tooth and nail, but they got there, and when I heard Pierre Houde say, “C’est terminé! Direction Pittsburgh!” I had goosebumps, and it was then that I knew that for me, hockey was much more than a hobby.

The next morning, as I walked to the Upminster train station to make my way to work at the Crown Prosecution Service, I had Anakin Slayd’s “Feels like ‘93” playing out loud on my phone, and believe it or not, I met a couple of Canadiens’ fans on the 10-minute walk, and when the puck dropped on the second round, I wasn’t alone watching it in my couch, I had a couple of friends.

The series with the Pittsburgh Penguins was just as spectacular and irresistible as tired as I was, running on three or four hours of sleep a night on game nights, I didn’t miss a single minute of the action. By the time the Canadiens booked their ticket to the Conference Final against the Philadelphia Flyers, there was a real buzz for the team all the way to London.

Even though the Habs went on to lose that series 4-1, that playoff run left so many people with so many memories. Whether they were on the ice like Gorges, at the Bell Centre like the 21,000 fans who were lucky enough to attend in person, or anywhere else in the world rooting them on, its impact cannot be denied.

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