The St. Louis Blues have plenty of depth in their prospect. The one knock they’ve received from analysts around the NHL is that it lacks a true superstar or franchise-altering prospect.

The criticism is fair, but the Blues have plenty of prospects with NHL projections, and several have become NHL regulars. Since the 2020 NHL draft, the Blues have watched Jake Neighbours (2020), Zach Bolduc (2021), Jimmy Snuggerud (2022), and Dalibor Dvorsky (2023) become NHL regulars.

In the 2025-26 season, the Blues saw Snuggerud and Dvorsky become not only full-time NHL players but also important pieces of the team’s success. 

Heading towards the 2026-27 season, there are five Blues prospects who can compete for a roster spot out of training camp. Whether they make the Day 1 roster or their performance puts them on the radar to earn a call-up as the season goes along, a strong training camp and pre-season performance will go a long way.

Otto Stenberg, LW

Otto Stenberg earned his first call-up to the NHL this past season and showed plenty of traits that could help him start next season in the NHL. 

The 21-year-old didn’t light it up offensively, scoring three goals and 10 points in 32 games, but he demonstrated his high compete level, battling for pucks and mixing it up physically despite boasting just a 5-foot-11, 188-pound frame.

Stenberg has all the traits of a reliable two-way middle-six winger. If he can improve his production, there could be a role on the second line, but for now, Stenberg has shown that he could be a difference maker on the third line very soon.

Stenberg isn’t a lock to make the opening night roster after the additions of Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish, as well as the extension for Jonatan Berggren, but a strong camp could turn heads. 

Maddox Dagenais Brings Size To A Blues Prospect That Needs It In The Center Ice PositionWith the 16th overall pick, the St. Louis Blues selected 6-foot-4 power forward Maddox Dagenais, adding a play style the Blues need in the NHL and in their prospect pool.

Theo Lindstein, D

Theo Lindstein’s season was fairly similar to Stenberg’s. Lindstein played fewer games than Stenberg but looked very comfortable in his action. In 17 games, Lindstein was stapled to veteran defenseman Colton Parayko’s left side, scoring two goals and four points while averaging 15:46 of ice time. 

The 21-year-old is also not a lock to make the roster despite his strong performance last season. With the trade for Brandon Carlo, the right side of the defense is set. On the left, Philip Broberg and Cam Fowler are likely to fill in the top four roles, leaving Lindstein and Tyler Tucker to battle it out for the final spot on the third pairing.

Lindstein plays a solid all-around game, but Tucker brings a 6-foot-1, 204-pound frame and a level of physicality that Lindstein doesn’t offer. 

Justin Carbonneau, RW

Prior to the moves the Blues made, it looked like there was an avenue for Justin Carbonneau to compete for a roster spot, but that has likely changed. 

The 19-year-old is almost guaranteed to start the season in the AHL, but with a strong training camp and AHL campaign, Carbonneau could work his way up the depth chart and serve as one of the top call-up candidates. 

Carbonneau is a powerful skater who mixes it up physically whenever the opportunity arises. Offensively, Carbonneau has developed into a high-end goal scorer, as in his most recent QMJHL season, he notched 51 goals in 60 games. His balanced offensive game and his physical approach should help him adapt to the AHL rather quickly. 

What Recently Acquired Connor McMichael Will Bring To The St. Louis Blues What will the recently acquired 25-year-old center/winger Connor McMichael bring to the St. Louis Blues?

Adam Jiricek, D

Adam Jiricek will also follow a similar path to Carbonneau. Prior to the Carlo trade, there was a path for Jiricek to compete for a roster spot, but that ship has likely sailed.

The 20-year-old will start the season in the AHL as he continues to develop his game. Jiricek has shown that he is a true, two-way defenseman. In the OHL, Jiricek showcased his offensive game, scoring 19 goals and 59 points in 55 games. With Czechia at the world juniors, Jiricek was a shutdown defenseman who scored timely goals. 

With his 6-foot-2 frame, solid skating, puck-moving abilities, and offensive instincts, Jiricek should thrive early in the AHL season and truly put his name on coach Jim Montgomery’s radar. 

Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, LW/C

You’d be hard-pressed to find a player more deserving of regular NHL action than Aleksanteri Kaskimaki. 

Kaskimaki is a hard-working, two-way forward with the versatility to play on the wing or as a center. Last season, Kaskimaki skated on the top line, scoring 20 goals and 44 points in 64 games.

Kaskimaki may not be a first-line forward in the NHL, but he can be an effective bottom-six player on a successful team. With the fourth line projected to look like Ross Johnston, Pius Suter, and Alexey Toropchenko, Kaskimaki has an uphill battle to make the NHL roster on Day 1.

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. 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 or creating your own post in our community forum.

Now that most of the big (relatively speaking) names are off the free agency board, Bleacher Report has released its latest NHL Power Rankings, and some may be surprised to find the Montreal Canadiens in third place. The only teams ahead of the Habs are the Stanley Cup Champions Carolina Hurricanes and perennial contenders Colorado Avalanche.

While the article acknowledges that it might not have looked like Montreal has been very busy this offseason, it goes on to praise the two impact signings Kent Hughes has made: the contract extensions of Ivan Demidov and Jakub Dobes. It adds that the two players are vital to their core and that signing extensions early to keep offer sheets at bay is huge. There’s little doubt that Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek would agree.

Friedman Praised Canadiens’ Front Office In Latest 32 Thoughts Episode
Canadiens: What’s Holding Up The Bolduc And Xhekaj Signings?
Canadiens Have Reportedly Signed KHL Right-Shot Defenseman

The fact that the Sainte-Flanelle failed to sign a free agent in what was a largely underwhelming crop of players shouldn’t be seen as a failure on the part of the Canadiens, even if Hughes has failed to make an impact signing on the free market since his arrival at the helm.

Even if it’s not a very exciting approach, betting on organic growth has served the Habs well since the start of the Hughes, Jeff Gorton and Martin St-Louis era in Montreal. One of the best examples of that, without a doubt, is the progress in Nick Suzuki’s game. Not only has the pivot established himself as a real first-line center, putting an end to years of debate amongst pundits, but he’s improved across the board. In the last five years, his point production has gone from 61 to 66 to 77 to 89 to 101, and he’s also gained respect across all markets as a top defensive forward, as evidenced by his Frank J. Selke win.

His linemates have also experienced similar growth; Cole Caufield’s production has improved from 43 points to 64 (projected over 82 games since he put up 36 points in 46 games because of a shoulder injury), then to 65, 70, and 88. This past year, he even scored 51 goals, becoming the first Hab to reach the 50-goal mark since Stephane Richer. Caufield’s growth isn’t just about the numbers, though; it’s about the fact that he’s become a much more threatening player from everywhere in the offensive zone. The league cannot just worry about taking away the one-timer from the flank option; the sniper has other plays in his playbook.

As for Juraj Slafkovsky, he has gone from 51 points to 73 points, but he’s also started playing a much grittier game. He has accepted that he can best serve his team by bringing speed and physicality to the top line and retrieving the puck in deep and feeding it to his linemates. Even better, he’s wised up to the fact that once that’s done, his work isn’t over; he’s learned to then get to the busy areas and pick up the “garbage goals” on the doorstep, scoring 30 goals in a season for the first time in his career.

Lane Hutson has gone from a fantastic 66-point rookie season to an even more impressive 78-point sophomore year. The blueliner has doubled his goal production, going from six to 12 thanks to increased confidence in his own shot. He tested goaltenders over 30 more times this past season, and his shooting percentage has gone from 6.7% to 9.7%. With the work he has put in ahead of practices, working on his shot for ages with Adam Nicholas and Ivan Demidov, it’s hardly surprising.

Speaking of the young Russian, his first season in the NHL was a resounding success, and he did so while playing alongside two players who aren’t top-six players on a Cup-contending team. If Montreal can get some reinforcement on its second line ahead of the season, Demidov’s production could explode. Even if they don’t, having a year of NHL hockey under his belt will only make him more effective, and that should result in increased production as well.

Given how young the Canadiens are and the upward trajectory of their best players, it’s hardly surprising that the Habs brass feels content to bet on their continued progression. Besides, while the salary cap is forecast to rise in the foreseeable future, that growth won’t last forever, and sooner or later, teams throwing big contracts to free agents will run out of cap space. The Canadiens will be right there with both cap space and money to spend, since Hughes has managed to sign his core to team-friendly deals and has even found a way not to pay Kirby Dach $4 million, even if that was the qualifying offer he was due. 

By then, the Habs are also hoping that their winning record and culture will have made Montreal a destination of choice for free agents. Make no mistake, the Canadiens are not inactive; they’re just playing the long game, and the rest of the league knows it, even if it’s not always evident to fans.

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.  

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.

The Chicago Blackhawks have a lot invested in their top forward, Connor Bedard. They selected him with the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft with the expectation that he would be their franchise cornerstone. 

Now, Bedard is three years into his NHL career, and there are many things that must be sorted out. For one, he hurt his shoulder during a summer practice, and there is still no update from the team on his status. 

Two, he is a restricted free agent with no contract going into 2026-27. There is no way to know if the injury is going to impact that, or if there will be news on it before training camp begins in September. 

A rumor has also swirled that the Philadelphia Flyers actually sent an offer sheet to Connor Bedard before Leo Carlsson signed his offer sheet for five years and $18 million per, but Bedard declined to sign it. That, however, is not confirmed and nothing more than a rumor at this point. 

If that were true, it would be a great sign that he is loyal to the Chicago Blackhawks organization under any circumstances. 

On Tuesday, new Blackhawks forward Cole Smith spoke to the local media for the first time, and he said something about Bedard that also speaks to his dedication to being a loyal leader on the team. 

"(Bedard) sent me a text, which is pretty cool from a young guy," Smith said of his new teammate. "(I'm) looking forward to meeting him, seeing what makes him tick."

The fact that Bedard was willing to quickly send a text message to new Blackhawks teammates shows leadership and a desire to make these guys comfortable. He has no obligation to do so, especially being a 20-year-old currently sitting with no contract. 

Moves like this not only make it clear that he wants to be a member of the organization that drafted him, but also that he wants to be the captain. He wore an "A" full-time after the trade deadline, and his actions support that decision. It may become a "C" once the pen hits the paper. 

During the 2025-26 season, Bedard had 30 goals and 45 assists for 75 points in 69 games played. He also looked like a player who was faster and stronger for most of the campaign. His mid-season shoulder injury slowed him down a tad, but there is no denying that he is blossoming into one of the elite centers in the game. 

Part of his getting better has to do with the training that he puts in during the off-season. He avoided the World Championships with Canada twice now in favor of preparing for the upcoming NHL season.

He hurt his shoulder (again) this time around, but it was all in an attempt to get better. He clearly wants to be elite. Every other player is more likely to put in the necessary work to improve if the team's best player is doing the same thing. 

With Bedard's skill comes a bit of leadership responsibility, and he is warming to the task in a big way. At this point, there is no reason to question his desire to be a great leader on and off the ice for the Chicago Blackhawks. 

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

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 on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

After the bulk of their available salary cap space was allocated on July first on the contracts for Jaden Schwartz and Noah Juulsen, the Colorado Avalanche subsequently made a group of other signings to fill out their organizational depth. The Colorado Eagles lost a lot of their 2025-26 roster and these contracts will go a long way to add that veterans base back and to give the Avalanche new tweener options to look at.

Clearly, the depth from the Minnesota Wild was a target as two forwards who have spent time in their organization were brought into the fold by Colorado. First up, Vinnie Hinostroza was inked to a two-year two-way contract. A former sixth round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012, Hinostroza was most recently a part of the Florida Panthers organization after getting acquired at the trade deadline. The right shot center has been part of multiple teams in his career including stints in the AHL and should be utilized as depth for both the Avalanche and Eagles.

Adam Beckman is another forward who recently played for the Wild, though he was drafted to them in the third round of the 2019 draft. The last two seasons the left wing was a part of the Bridgeport Islanders and last played in the NHL in the 2023-24 season. After losing Alex Barre-Boulet to the San Jose Sharks in free agency, the Colorado Eagles add a 30 goal scorer to help boost their offense.

Moving to the blueline, the Eagles add some youthful experience in the signing of left shot defenseman Domenick Fensore. He was originally a Carolina Hurricanes third round pick in 2019. The Hurricanes didn’t give him much of an opportunity with only three career NHL games played. Fensore’s size at 5-foot-9 might be some of the reason but he’s been a productive defenseman for the Chicago Wolves over the last three seasons. After losing defensemen Jack Ahcan and Jacob MacDonald in free agency, the Eagles need a new quarterback for their power play.

The Avalanche also inked Christian Wolanin to help their back end. He is also a left shot defenseman but with size at 6-foot-2. Originally a fifth round pick by the Ottawa Senators in 2015, Wolanin has enjoyed a long pro career most recently on an AHL contract with the Providence Bruins. No doubt the Avalanche were interested in Wolanin from when he won the Calder Cup with the Abbotsford Canucks where he also scored 124 points over three seasons with the team. Christian is also the son of former Avalanche and Stanley Cup champion Craig Wolanin.

Who else would you like to see added? Let us know in the comments!

The NHL announced on Tuesday that the upcoming 2026-27 season schedule will be released on July 16, which means Calgary Flames fans will finally get a chance to see who will visit the Scotiabank Saddledome for the final time. 

Looking back at the last ten schedules and seeing who the Flames began the season against, and who skated first at the Saddledome, history suggests the Flames will host an American team for what will be the final season in the Dome. 

2025-26 - St. Louis

Last year, the Flames began the season on the road in Edmonton on Oct. 8, facing the Oilers before bolting to Vancouver to visit the Canucks on Oct. 9. Two nights later, they hosted the St. Louis Blues for the home opener, which they lost 4-2. Calgary began their year 5-13-3 before their first win streak in November.

2024-25 - Philadelphia

In 2024-25, the Flames opened the campaign on a four-game win streak, going 5-4-1 in their first ten games. Once again, they began on the road, in Vancouver, in a classic 6-5 overtime victory. Three nights later, the Philadelphia Flyers came to the Saddledome for the home opener, which Calgary won 6-3.

2023-24 - Winnipeg

On Oct. 11, 2023, the Flames welcomed the Winnipeg Jets to the Dome to kick off the 2023-24 season, earning a 5-3 win. Meanwhile, in their first ten games, Calgary stumbled to a 2-7-1 record. 

2022-23 - Colorado

The Flames followed up their most recent playoff appearance by opening the season with nine of their first ten games at home, including the season opener on Oct. 13, 2022, a 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Despite starting 5-1-0, a seven-game winless streak dropped them to 5-6-2 after 13 games. 

2021-22 - Anaheim

To begin their match to the Pacific Division title win in 2021-22, the Flames began the year on the road in Edmonton with a 5-2 loss, before falling to the Anaheim Ducks on home ice on Oct. 18. Then, they rattled off six consecutive wins for their second-longest streak of the campaign. 

2020-21 - Vancouver

During the 2020-21 season, which began in mid-January, the Flames were part of the Canadian Division and remained within the country for the entire season. They played their opener in Winnipeg, suffering a 4-3 overtime loss, before sweeping the Canucks in a two-game set at the Saddledome.

2019-20 - Vancouver

Before COVID halted the NHL season after roughly 70 games, Calgary began the 2019-20 campaign in Colorado, falling to the Avalanche 5-3. Two nights later, at their home opener, they shut out the Canucks 3-0.

2018-19 - Vancouver

En route to a 50-25-7 record, the Flames dropped their season opener to the Canucks in Vancouver by a 5-2 score on Oct. 3, 2018. However, three nights later at the Saddledome, they picked up a 7-4 victory over the Canucks. Surprisingly, the club went 5-5-0 in their first ten games before winning the Pacific Division title in the spring.

2017-18 - Winnipeg

To begin the 2017-18 season, Calgary was shut out by the Oilers 3-0 at Rogers Place on Oct. 4, 2017, but bounced back in their Saddledome opener three nights later, earning a 6-3 win over the Jets. 

2016-17 - Edmonton

The Flames began their 2016-17 season with a home-and-home set against the Oilers, resulting in two losses. On Oct. 12, 2016, Edmonton roughed up Calgary 7-4 at home, before defeating them at the Saddledome two nights later on Oct. 14, by a 5-3 score. Multi-game losing streaks gave the Flames a 5-10-1 record through 16 games. 

Who do you want to see the Flames play in the final Saddledome home opener? It makes sense that it's Edmonton for nostalgia, but history will say Vancouver is the other logical choice. However, maybe the NHL has a different plan in mind, bringing in a legend like Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby or an up-and-coming star like San Jose's Macklin Celebrini. Let us know what you think in the comments. 

The Winnipeg Jets' newest offseason additions officially have their numbers.

The club revealed the jersey numbers for five new players this week, giving fans another glimpse of what the roster will look like heading into training camp. While not every newcomer is guaranteed to crack Winnipeg's opening-night lineup, each now has an official sweater number for the 2026-27 season.

Here's how the numbers shake out:

• Stuart Skinner — No. 74
• Mario Ferraro — No. 38
• Henry Thrun — No. 8
• Noah Gregor — No. 73
• Jack St. Ivany — No. 6

Of the group, Skinner and Ferraro are expected to have the biggest impact after joining Winnipeg as unrestricted free agents.

Skinner signed a two-year contract with the Jets after splitting last season between the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old has appeared in more than 200 NHL games and helped Edmonton reach the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons.

His jersey choice also makes a little bit of Jets history. Skinner becomes the first player ever to wear No. 74 since the franchise relocated to Winnipeg in 2011, giving the veteran goaltender a number all his own.

Ferraro, meanwhile, will wear No. 38 after signing a three-year contract with Winnipeg. The left-shot defenceman arrives after spending the first seven seasons of his NHL career with the San Jose Sharks, where he appeared in 490 games.

The number was most recently worn by Logan Shaw and Paul Postma, making Ferraro the latest player to don No. 38 for the Jets.

The remaining newcomers each inherit numbers with their own Jets history attached.

Thrun selected No. 8, a sweater most recently worn by Saku Mäenalanen and Sami Niku. The number is perhaps best remembered from Jacob Trouba's seven seasons with the organization before his 2019 trade to the New York Rangers.

Gregor will wear No. 73, following Brandon Tanev, Parker Ford and Tyler Toffoli as recent Jets to sport the number, while St. Ivany takes over No. 6, most recently worn by Colin Miller after also being worn by Cameron Schilling and Alexander Burmistrov during the Jets 2.0 era.

Whether all five players suit up for Winnipeg this season remains to be seen. Skinner and Ferraro are expected to fill regular NHL roles, while Thrun, Gregor and St. Ivany will look to earn opportunities during training camp.

For now, though, Winnipeg's newest additions officially have names, numbers and a little piece of franchise history attached to each sweater.

The Buffalo Sabres have had an eventful off-season, but they should not be done making moves yet. After losing Alex Tuch this summer, they should be looking to add another impactful winger to their roster to replace him.

One way that the Sabres could look to address this need is through the free agent market. When looking at the remaining unrestricted free agents (UFAs), Anthony Mantha stands out as a prime potential option for the Sabres to consider. 

It is surprising that Mantha has still not been signed at this point in the off-season. The 31-year-old forward just had a strong 2025-26 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, setting new career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists, and 64 points in 81 games. With numbers like these, he could be a strong pickup for Buffalo's forward group if signed.

If the Sabres signed Mantha, he would have the potential to slot nicely in their top nine. Furthermore, he would be an obvious option for the Sabres' power play because of his offensive ability. 

On a short-term deal, a player like Mantha could make a lot of sense for a Sabres club on the rise. It will be interesting to see if Buffalo makes a push for him this off-season because of it. 

Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Sergei Murashov certainly demonstrated plenty of promise this past season. In 38 AHL appearances with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he posted a 24-9-4 record, a .919 save percentage, a 2.20 goals-against average, and four shutouts.

Murashov also appeared in his first five career NHL games last season with Pittsburgh, where he recorded an .897 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average. He also recorded a 21-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 16. 

With this, Murashov has undoubtedly given fans plenty to be excited about when it comes to his future with the club. Now, he is heading into the 2026-27 season as one of their top breakout candidates to watch. 

With Stuart Skinner leaving the Penguins and signing with the Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh now has an open goalie spot on their roster. With that, Murashov has a golden opportunity in front him to try and prove that he is ready to be a full-time NHL goalie. 

When looking at how well Murashov has performed in the AHL, it is clear that he has plenty of potential. It will be interesting to see if he can take another big step in his development next season and become a key part of the Penguins' roster in the process. 

One of the prospects that turned heads at the Penguins’ summer development camp for his standout play on the ice was 2026 third round pick Pierce Mbuyi. Mbuyi was all over the place creating offense at the 3v3 scrimmages, the perfect venue for a player with his creativity and skill to stand out. It was a great first impression from a player drafted 86th overall at the 2026 draft.

“Pierce is an underdog. He had 74 points this year, and we did a lot of work on him in the past couple of weeks. He’s dealt with some things in his lifetime that you don’t want people at that age to deal with. So, we see the look in his eyes, and we’ve got a lot of belief in the person.” —Wes Clark

Clark was referencing Mbuyi’s mother passing away from cancer in 2021.

“If I had a bad game I could just talk to her about the game . . . my mom would just let me tell her what I think. She didn’t know much about hockey, she just always wanted to help out and do her thing,” Mbuyi said. “Everything I do is for my mom. With everything I do, I try to make her proud.”

Mbuyi made himself into a pro prospect despite the immeasurable personal loss. He was drafted seventh overall in the OHL draft and has continued on his journey with the most recent step of being selected by an NHL team. After two successful seasons in the OHL, Mbuyi is off to State College in 2026-27 to continue the next step of his career in Pennsylvania.

“I was always just a hard worker. A grinder. When I dropped down to my age group I had a pretty good year, but it was my bantam year when I kind of took off and started scoring,” Mbuyi said. “I don’t know what happened. I got some hands overnight.”

“I was just really determined. For me it wasn’t even about the points, it was just about working my ass off and getting seen, you know? Make an impact,” Mbuyi said.

There were plenty of scouting eyes and models that liked Mbuyi higher than the 86th overall pick that he ended up being drafted at. Here’s a smattering of the input they found and shared about the player.

One reason Mbuyi stuck around until the third round was his size. At only 163 pounds, he’s got a long way to go physically to mold himself into a pro level player. His upside, as seen above, is evident. The reason the Penguins liked him was on display at prospects camp for the way he thinks the game and the skill he has to pull it off.

From Josh Yohe at The Athletic:

There is one other person that everyone I speak with in the organization is excited about. His name is Pierce Mbuyi.

The Penguins genuinely did not expect him to still be available in the third round. Though Mbuyi is undersized, the Penguins love his skill, hockey IQ and competitive spirit. They think they got a steal.

Time will tell, of course. But this is as excited as I’ve heard people about a third-round pick in a long time.

To that, some of us are old enough to remember 2019 third round pick Nathan Legare, who carried even more hype early after draft day, though we digress.

Pal Jesse Marshall did a wonderful deep dive into Mbuyi, complete with a 13-minute video package breaking down some highlights that make this a special prospect.

Mbuyi’s best asset and his calling card are his one-timers. As a rookie last season, he led the entire OHL in power-play goals, scoring 19 from his favorite spot on the ice: the half-wall. As an opponent, when you see Mbuyi sitting in that spot with his stick loaded up over his head, you had better close on him immediately. Mbuyi scored many brute-force goals this year and did a great job opening space for himself, stalking open ice, and finding the right space for his teammates to get him the puck. He generates great velocity and accuracy from that position.

This isn’t just standing around in the same spot with his stick loaded, waiting to strike. Mbuyi manipulates opponents with his decision making. Most of the time, he does this via deferential passing. Mbuyi will pick his spot, load his stick up, and get ready to rip his lethal one-timer. Upon receiving the puck, if Mbuyi doesn’t have a lane, he just makes a touch-pass. The touch-pass inherently forces the defenseman to re-position himself to account for the puck movement. As the defenseman re-positions himself, so does Mbuyi. He re-loads his stick in a slightly different spot than the one he was just in, and when his teammate passes back to him, he has more time and space than he had on the initial retrieval.

Much of Jesse’s scouting report about Mbuyi was on full display in Pittsburgh last week. He is a shifty skater, strong at controlling the puck and has a knack for scoring goals and setting them up, making things happen nearly every time he went out on the ice. A successful debut at his first pro development camp will make Mbuyi a player to monitor for how he develops moving into a new realm in the NCAA ranks.

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is no stranger to making a trade. And as we enter the dog days of summer, with the NHL’s 2026 free agent frenzy having died down, Dubas likely remains open to strengthening his roster—in the short and long term—via trade.

While we wait to see if Dubas takes another home-run swing, let us reexamine the larger trades he’s made during his tenure and see how those transactions have shaped the franchise as of July 2026.

The Erik Karlsson trade: One more time…

The Erik Karlsson trade will be remembered by Penguins fans not only for what it brought to Pittsburgh, but also for what it allowed the Penguins to shed thanks to the ill-fated Ron Hextall regime.

In August 2023, two months after he was hired, Dubas would make the defining acquisition of his Penguins tenure (thus far) by trading for the reigning Norris Trophy winner, Erik Karlsson, in a massive three-team trade with the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens.

Dubas swung for the fences by bringing in Karlsson, giving Sidney Crosby and company one last legitimate chance at trying to compete for a championship.

The Penguins acquired Erik Karlsson, forwards Rem Pitlick and Dillon Hamaliuk, plus the San Jose Sharks’ 2026 third-round draft pick. The Penguins just used that 2026 third-round pick (86th overall) to draft forward Pierce Mbuyi.

Pittsburgh also used the trade to unload Jeff Petry, Casey DeSmith, Jan Rutta and Mikael Granlund while San Jose retained $1.5 million annually on Karlsson’s contract. The Penguins had to part with a 2024 first round pick plus a 2025 second rounder to get it done.

Was the trade worth it?

For the most part, I say yes.

It allowed Pittsburgh to shed the contracts Hextall had handed out while giving the Penguins one of the NHL’s premier offensive defensemen. Around the league, there have been worse players than Karlsson traded for a lot more in recent days for only costing one first and one second round pick.

As a member of the black and gold, Karlsson has largely been as advertised. In 239 career games, the future Hockey Hall of Famer has notched 37 goals and 138 assists for 175 points. He was also one of the heroes of Pittsburgh’s playoff push last season.

The trade didn’t produce a Stanley Cup, and I think most can agree that the “championship window” is shut. Still, it also didn’t prevent Dubas from pivoting toward a younger roster once it became clear the Penguins weren’t true contenders any longer.

The Jake Guentzel trade: A new era begins

The Karlsson trade did not yield a Stanley Cup for the Penguins, and Dubas was now going to flex his muscles to begin what he was surely hired to do in the first place: prepare for life after Sidney Crosby.

It wasn’t all that popular at the time, but in March 2024, this current hybrid rebuild was kick-started when star winger Jake Guentzel was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes along with AHL defenseman Ty Smith in exchange for NHL forward Michael Bunting, three prospects (Vasiliy Ponomarev, Ville Koivunen, and Cruz Lucius), and two draft picks, which ultimately turned into promising defensive prospect Harrison Brunicke.

As for the three prospects received in the trade, this was more of a quantity-over-quality approach, as Dubas began to rebuild Pittsburgh’s thin prospect pool.

As of July 2026, Ponomarev is out of the NHL picture, currently in the middle of a three-year contract with Avangard Omsk of the KHL.

Lucius wrapped up the 2025-26 season with the Arizona State Sun Devils, playing in 36 games and registering an impressive 15 goals and 46 points. In April 2026, it was announced that Lucius would not sign a professional contract with the Penguins. He stands to become a free agent on Aug. 15, 2026.

During glimpses at the NHL level, Koivunen has looked like a fringe player with decent-to-impressive underlying statistics. He is rather dominant in the American Hockey League, however. Will he ever be able to put it all together to earn a permanent spot in an NHL lineup? The clock is ticking.

Brunicke, meanwhile, looks primed to earn an NHL roster spot, perhaps as soon as this season, after getting some more seasoning between the WHL and AHL.

This trade still feels somewhat incomplete, depending on what the future holds for Koivunen and Brunicke, with the 20-year-old blue liner indirectly becoming the crown jewel of the Guentzel trade.

The Marcus Pettersson trade: One last gift from Jim Rutherford

Defenseman Marcus Pettersson had become a dependable player on Pittsburgh’s back end, but with him eligible for an extension and Pittsburgh ultimately not clinching a playoff spot by the end of the 2024-25 season, he was shipped out west to the executive who originally brought him to Pittsburgh: Jim Rutherford and the Vancouver Canucks.

On Jan. 31, 2025, Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor were traded to the Canucks for forward Danton Heinen and defenseman Vincent Desharnais.

Pittsburgh also received forward prospect Melvin Fernstrom and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, which Vancouver had acquired earlier in the day in the trade that sent forward J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers.

The first-round pick acquired from Vancouver eventually became two first-round selections after Dubas traded down with Philadelphia during the 2025 draft. Those choices wound up producing Bill Zonnon and Will Horcoff, significantly expanding Pittsburgh’s prospect pipeline.

Whether Zonnon or Horcoff become impactful NHL players remains to be seen, but the trade exemplified Dubas’ willingness to prioritize organizational depth—something he’s already developed a reputation for.

The Michael Bunting trade: Twins and 2C Tommy Novak

Michael Bunting, we hardly knew ye.

The Penguins traded Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round draft pick to the Nashville Predators on March 6, 2025, for forward Tommy Novak and veteran defenseman Luke Schenn.

Schenn, wanting to play for a playoff team, was then flipped two days later to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft (more on that below) and a fourth-round pick in the 2027 draft.

Novak has since become a top-nine fixture for the Penguins. Last season, he centered one of Pittsburgh’s more dynamic forward trios, using his playmaking to set up scoring threats Egor Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin.

Novak, Malkin, and Chinakhov figure to build on that chemistry heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

Back to that Schenn-Winnipeg trade. That 2026 second-rounder would end up completing the twin set for the Penguins, as they drafted forward Markus Ruck with the 39th overall pick after drafting twin brother Liam with the 22nd overall pick some 12 hours prior.

Incomplete and/or inconclusive trades

I have lumped a few players into this section for different reasons, mainly due to incomplete or inconclusive trade grades since these players were recently acquired.

Robertson: Not that one — The Penguins acquired forward Nick Robertson, brother of Dallas Stars forward Jason, from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2028 fourth-round draft pick on July 1. The trade reunites Robertson with Dubas, who previously drafted him while in Toronto.

Robertson represents another familiar reclamation project for Dubas, who surely believes there is still untapped offensive upside.

Hendrix Lapierre: An interesting logjam — The Penguins acquired forward Hendrix Lapierre from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Shortly after the trade, Pittsburgh signed Lapierre to a two-year contract worth $1.3 million annually.

The acquisition also fits Dubas’ recent trend of targeting former first-round picks (see Chinakhov, Egor) whose development has stalled elsewhere.

He figures to fight for a spot among the other young forwards at Pittsburgh’s disposal for a bottom-six role.

Kaedan Korczak: One defenseman for another — The Penguins made an interesting move when they traded arguably their best left-handed defenseman last season, Parker Wotherspoon, to the Vegas Golden Knights for right-handed defenseman Kaedan Korczak. Pittsburgh will also retain half of Wotherspoon’s salary.

The left side of Pittsburgh’s defensive depth chart looks bare, while the right side figures to include Karlsson and Kris Letang at a minimum. Throw in Korczak, the budding Brunicke, and the recently signed Trevor van Riemsdyk, and you have another positional logjam.

It’s only July 8, so there is plenty of time for Dubas to sort out a proper roster before training camp.

David Gustafsson: Respectable AHL depth — The Penguins traded defenseman Jack St. Ivany to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for forward David Gustafsson. Gustafsson has spent his career as a tweener for the Jets and their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. He figures to earn the bulk of his playing time for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins following an impressive 2025-26 season for the Baby Penguins.

Rickard Rakell: Will he stay or will he go? — We end this long exercise by looking at top-line winger Rickard Rakell. His name has routinely come up in trade rumors over the last two seasons as Dubas has reshaped the Penguins in his vision, namely getting younger. At 33 years old and signed to a $5 million AAV through the 2027-28 season, Rakell remains one of the roster’s most valuable veterans, both on the ice and as a potential trade asset.

—

Looking back, Dubas’ philosophy has become clear. He has consistently prioritized flexibility, younger talent, and the maximization of asset value.

Some bets, like the Karlsson trade, were immediate swings at maintaining contention. Others, including the Guentzel and Pettersson deals, were investments for the future.

The verdict on many of those moves won’t be known for years. Yet, Dubas has fundamentally reshaped nearly every part of Pittsburgh’s roster in the three-plus years he’s been here, with no signs of slowing down as he works to build Pittsburgh into a perennial contender once again.

Early Bruins lineup projection: Where will Peterka, Borgen play? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins have a better roster right now than they did last season. But whether it’s good enough to compete in a loaded Atlantic Division remains to be seen.

There are reasons to be optimistic, though.

The JJ Peterka addition — which cost the Bruins two first-round picks — provides much-needed speed and skill to the top-six forward group. James Hagens’ first full NHL season will be another fascinating storyline to watch. The No. 7 pick from the 2025 NHL Draft has top-six center potential.

Did the B’s overpay for Will Borgen? Probably, but the ex-New York Rangers defenseman is an upgrade over Andrew Peeke on the right side of the blue line.

And the Bruins still have one of the league’s best goalies in Jeremy Swayman.

How will the Bruins configure their lines and pairings on Opening Night in October? Let’s look at an early roster projection.

Forwards

The biggest offseason addition at forward was JJ Peterka — a speedy top-six wing who has scored 25-plus goals each of the last three seasons.

He should be able to hit the 30-goal mark for the first time if he plays alongside an elite playmaker in Pastrnak, who tallied a career-high 71 assists last season.

Pavel Zacha could center the Peterka-Pastrnak tandem, but Minten would be a good fit, too. The Bruins outscored opponents 22-7 during the 288 5-on-5 minutes that Minten and Pastrnak played together last season, per Natural Stat Trick. Minten scored a career-high 17 goals last year and could go up another level offensively next to Pastrnak.

Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt had remarkable chemistry last season, and along with Viktor Arvidsson, they formed one of the most productive lines in the league. Arvidsson is gone, but Morgan Geekie is pretty good in his own right. Geekie scored 33 goals in 2024-25 and then posted a career-high 39 goals last season. Critics constantly point at his high shooting percentage (22 percent last season), but we now have more than one season of him shooting above a 20 percent rate. He’s a legit goal scorer.

The third line is an interesting one. James Hagens is the team’s top prospect and immensely skilled offensively. Putting him next to a center in Elias Lindholm who understands the defensive aspects of the game and wins faceoffs consistently would help ease Hagens’ transition to the NHL. Marat Khustnutdinov has been a nice development win for the Bruins and his speed would be a nice fit next to Hagens.

The fourth line is pretty straightforward. Tanner Jeannot, Mark Kastelic and Sean Kuraly played well enough together last season.

But this is one area where a younger player such as Alex Steeves or Matt Poitras could enter the mix based on how well they perform in training camp and the preseason. It’s time for Poitras to prove he can be a consistent NHL player.

Defensemen

The Bruins have too many players for six spots. A trade or another kind of move needs to be made to clear this logjam.

Connor Clifton was signed to a two-year deal in free agency, and he should replace Andrew Peeke as the third-pairing defenseman on the right side.

The Bruins gave up a second- and third-round pick to acquire Will Borgen from the Rangers last week. He is more of a defensive defenseman and doesn’t solve the Bruins’ need for more scoring from the blue line. But he does bring a physical element to the ice and should kill penalties, too.

Jonathan Aspirot is not your typical first-pairing defenseman, but he did find success next to McAvoy last season. The B’s outscored opponents 28-22 during the 490 5-on-5 minutes Aspirot and McAvoy played together last season, and that was with this duo starting just 41 percent of its shifts in the offensive zone.

Mason Lohrei is entering the final season of his two-year bridge deal. He is a talented offensive player and a good skater, but is he trustworthy enough in the defensive zone? He shouldn’t lack motivation in a contract year.

Jordan Harris was brought back on a one-year, one-way deal. Similar to Lohrei, Harris was a healthy scratch for multiple games against the Sabres in the first round of the 2026 playoffs.

Goaltenders

Starter: Jeremy Swayman

Backup: Michael DiPietro

The most encouraging development for the Bruins last season was Jeremy Swayman returning to the elite form we saw from him in the 2024 playoffs and before. Swayman ranked No. 2 in goals saved above expected and wins above replacement for goalies in the regular season, which helped him become a Vezina Trophy finalist. He then played really well against the Sabres in the first round of the playoffs.

The departure of Joonas Korpisalo, who was traded to the Rangers last week, opens up the backup job, and Michael DiPietro is the clear favorite to win that role. DiPietro played fantastic for the AHL’s Providence Bruins last season. He led the league in wins (30), GAA (1.90) and save percentage (.930).

The Bruins do a better job than most, if not all teams when it comes to developing goalies. A Swayman-DiPietro tandem has the potential to be one of the NHL’s best next season.

For many Calgarians, the first sign that something had changed wasn’t a headline or a push notification. It was silence.

On Tuesday morning, listeners who tuned to Sportsnet 960 The Fan expecting the usual mix of Flames discussion, breaking news, and debate were met with static. The station that had served as Calgary’s sports soundtrack for decades had gone dark.

The closure came as part of a broader restructuring by Rogers Sports & Media, which announced it would shut down several radio stations and media outlets across the country, including Sportsnet 960 and 660 News in Calgary.

What happened?

Rogers is closing Sportsnet 960 The Fan and 660 News in Calgary as part of a national restructuring.

The shutdown was announced Tuesday and affects multiple radio stations in Calgary, Vancouver, Halifax, and Kitchener.

In a statement provided to FlamesNation, Rogers said:

“After a thorough review of our radio stations across the country, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to close Sportsnet 960 and 660 News in Calgary. We are grateful to our listeners and to our team for their contributions to the local community.”

The cuts extend beyond Calgary. Six stations in four markets are being affected, including outlets in Vancouver, Halifax, and Kitchener.

Apparently, even the Flames were caught off guard.

According to CTV Calgary, the Calgary Flames were “blindsided” by the news. The team’s vice-president of communications Sean Kelso said the organization learned of the closure as the announcement became public.

That detail underscores how deeply The Fan 960 had become woven into the franchise’s day-to-day identity. The station carried Flames games, hosted postgame shows, and served as a regular platform for players, coaches, executives, and fans. For many listeners, it was less a media outlet than a community gathering place.

Sean Kelso, VP of Communications for the Flames said the team was "blindsided" by the Fan 960 news today.

It's wild that Rogers wouldn't let the Flames know that this was happening despite having the radio rights for the 2026-27 season.

Story courtesy of CTV News Calgary pic.twitter.com/pOHGMFGf7B

— Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) July 8, 2026

More than a frequency

The loss lands at a curious moment for hockey in Calgary.

Interest in the Flames has been trending upward, a new arena project remains on the horizon, and the organization is trying to build momentum around a younger core. Yet the city’s primary sports-talk station has disappeared just as demand for local hockey conversation remains strong.

That is what makes this story larger than a business decision. Sports radio has never simply been about scores. It is where fans process trades, argue about line combinations, celebrate playoff wins, and vent after losses. It is where generations learned the voices of Calgary hockey.

For many listeners, names such as Peter Maher, Mike Richards, Rob Kerr, Peter Loubardias, and Pat Steinberg became part of the rhythm of daily life over the years.

For some, those broadcasts even shaped careers. The Fan 960 was often a first classroom for aspiring journalists, broadcasters, and storytellers who learned the language of hockey through hours spent listening in cars, kitchens, and arenas.

What comes next?

Rogers’ decision reflects the economic pressures facing traditional radio across North America, where audiences and advertising dollars have increasingly shifted to podcasts, streaming, and digital platforms. The business logic may be clear. The emotional impact is harder to measure.

Calgary still has talented hockey voices, independent outlets, and a passionate fan base. The conversation around the Flames will continue online, on podcasts, and through new platforms. But something meaningful was lost when 960 went silent.

For decades, turning the dial to 960 was a habit that connected the city to its hockey team. On Tuesday, many listeners reached for that familiar signal and found only static.

Sometimes the end of an era is announced with a press release. Sometimes it arrives as a hiss through the speakers on the drive to work.

For Calgary sports fans, this was the latter.

The San Jose Sharks were one of the busiest teams to start out the month of July. While their moves have been met with a considerable amount of criticism from fans and experts alike, the message that Mike Grier was trying to send is clear. The Sharks are ready to move out of the rebuilding phase, and they want to win.

The first major move by the Sharks in free agency was the most unexpected one. Most expected the team's priority on July 1 to be solving their blue line, not adding more middle-six forwards to an already noticeable logjam. A half hour into free agency, though, insider Elliotte Friedman broke the news that the Sharks' first piece of business was signing 31-year-old winger Mason Marchment, the son of long-time Sharks scout Bryan Marchment. 

Marchment does help address the Sharks' need for depth goal-scoring, as they only had three players on the roster surpass the 20-goal threshold last season, but it does put the team in a strange bind, which we'll discuss more in detail at a later date. 

The more notable additions came later in the day, addressing the Sharks' defensive group. First, the Sharks signed former New York Rangers captain and Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba to a four-year deal worth $33 million with an average annual value of $8.25 million. While it is a steep price to pay for an aging defenseman, as we’ve seen in recent months, $8 million isn’t what it used to be around the NHL. Trouba’s deal is currently the 29th highest cap hit for a defenseman, but once a multitude of young, high-end defensemen start signing their second or third contracts, he’ll have a run-of-the-mill deal for a second-pairing defenseman by the time his new contract expires.

The Sharks were then done with big-name free agent signings, with no disrespect meant to Eric Comrie, who will likely compete for the Sharks’ backup goalie job when training camp comes around. As a result, Grier turned his attention to the trade market. After months of rumors and speculation linking the Sharks to either Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Reilly or Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, Grier opted to pull the trigger and acquire the latter. 

Nurse, despite public opinion, is a serviceable second-pairing defenseman who often is the brunt of considerable criticism due to his high cap hit. It is true that he carries the 11th highest average annual value amongst NHL defensemen, and it is certainly fair that he has not lived up to his $9.25 million cap hit since signing his current contract back in 2021. At that time, he seemed to be on the same trajectory as players like Cale Makar, Zach Werenski, and others, but of course, that never came to fruition. If Nurse had a $6 million, or even $7 million, cap hit, he likely wouldn’t be constantly scrutinized. With that being said, there’s a certain amount of expectations that come with a cap hit that nears eight figures.

The Sharks didn’t add superstars in free agency this summer, and they still drastically lack a true number one defenseman, or even a number two for that matter. Despite that, the Sharks now have a total of three, arguably four depending on your view of Michael Kesselring, legitimate top-four defensemen. Last season, it could’ve been argued they had just one, Dmitry Orlov. If you take salary out of the equation, it’s hard to back an argument that the Sharks’ current defensive corps of Nurse, Trouba, Orlov, and Kesselring isn’t a dramatic improvement over last year’s group that included John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, Shakir Mukhamadullin, and Mario Ferraro. 

While many have their opinions, both positive and negative, regarding the Sharks’ moves this summer, it’s hard to dispute that Mike Grier’s message to the NHL has been received loud and clear.

The Pittsburgh Penguins had a member of their front office poached by another team on Tuesday.

Vukie Mpofu, who served as the Penguins' director of hockey operations and legal affairs for the past three seasons, left the organization to be an assistant general manager of the Nashville Predators. 

He will work alongside Predators general manager Chris MacFarland and help with everything, including salary cap compliance, contract negotiations, scouting, and player acquisitions. 

Welcome to Smashville, Vukie! 👋

We've hired Vukie Mpofu as Assistant General Manager.

Full details » https://t.co/SKqeZhr28bpic.twitter.com/H8g9WoWK0g

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 7, 2026

“We are very pleased that Vukie has elected to join the Predators hockey operations staff as Assistant General Manager,” Predators GM Chris MacFarland said in a statement. 

This is a significant loss for the Penguins' front office, as Mpofu handled the salary cap situation and player contract negotiations. Dubas hired Mpofu from the Los Angeles Kings in 2023, shortly after he arrived in Pittsburgh.

It remains to be seen if Dubas hires anyone to replace Mpofu.

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