The Arizona State University Sun Devils Hockey team picked up a commitment a month ago. It was recently drafted Minnesota Wild defenseman Justin Kipkie.

Kipkie, 20, was drafted with the 141st pick in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Wild. The defenseman was recently drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft as well.

Royals captain and Minnesota Wild draft pick Justin Kipkie is a Sun Devil 😈

Last season he recorded 62 points in 64 games to round out a WHL career that includes 147 points #BeTheTraditionpic.twitter.com/tR3sU2sUaw

— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) July 10, 2025

The 6-foot-4 defender recorded 12 goals, 50 assists and 62 points in 64 games as the captain of the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

He recorded 36 goals, 111 assists and 147 points in 206 career WHL games in four seasons with the Royals.

Recent Minnesota Wild Stories

Where Minnesota Wild's Brock Faber Ranks Among NHL DefensemenWe saw where the NHL ranked Minnesota Wild forwards Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov. The NHL Network has now put together a list of the top-20 defensemen.

- Wild Sign Jack Johnson To A PTO.

- Why The Minnesota Wild Signed Jack Johnson To A PTO.

- Wild's Marco Rossi Having A Big Offseason, Up 14 Pounds.

- Wild's Kirill Kaprizov Doing Offseason Training With Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin.

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Winnipeg Jets - Aug. 8 2025 - Vol. 79 Issue 01 - Jared Clinton

PREDICTION | 3RD IN CENTRAL

NOT ENOUGH CAN BE said about the importance of Cole Perfetti’s unforgettable Game 7 goal. If the Jets had flamed out in seven games to the St. Louis Blues, Winnipeg would have been seen as the latest in a long line of Presidents’ Trophy choke artists, and Connor Hellebuyck’s chaotic playoff performance would still be under the microscope.

Instead, Perfetti’s last-gasp tally – which allowed Adam Lowry to later net the overtime-winner – sees the Jets enter the campaign with a level of optimism. That Hellebuyck bounced back in the second round no doubt lifts the mood, too, as does the fact Winnipeg was one goal away from taking the Dallas Stars to a winner-takes-all affair. But the headline entering the campaign is Jonathan Toews’ NHL return with his hometown Jets. Toews brings championship pedigree to a team still learning what it takes to find that next gear in the post-season.

Jets Winger Named to NHL Network's Top-20 Wingers ListWinnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor has been named to the NHL Network's annual Top-20 list. 

OFFENSE

As ever, the onus is on Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor to carry the attack. The top-line duo combined for 80 goals last season and rank a respective 25th and 13th in goal output the past four seasons. Despite lacking name value, the Jets had among the deepest attacks, tying for tops in the NHL with eight forwards with 15-or-more goals. The wild card, of course, is Toews. He scored at a 23-goal pace during his most recent campaign, but that was 2022-23. How will the ravages of time impact his effectiveness? The Jets would be thrilled if the 37-year-old is a half-point-per-game contributor. That’s especially true given they will need Lowry’s production replaced. The captain is expected to be sidelined through October, if not longer.

DEFENSE

Winnipeg thrived last season defending as a five-man unit, finishing as a top-10 outfit when it came to limiting scoring and high-danger chances against at 5-on-5. The commitment to team defense is especially important given the back end doesn’t have an all-star caliber defender outside of Josh Morrissey. But could Dylan Samberg elevate further and solidify the back end? In his third full NHL season, Samberg cemented himself as a top-four rearguard and logged tough minutes. There were 62 defensive pairings to play at least 500 minutes together at 5-on-5 last season, and Samberg alongside partner Neal Pionk ranked fifth, with a 57.3 expected goals percentage.

Jets' Top Defenceman Earns Place on NHL Network's Top-20 ListWinnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey has been named to the NHL Network's annual Top-20 list. 

GOALTENDING

Does the Game 7 victory and second-round performance erase all doubt about Hellebuyck? Maybe not. But there is no goaltender who has proven himself to be better or more consistent than Hellebuyck across an 82-game season. His partnership with Eric Comrie – who was long a favorite of Jets’ brass before his breakthrough – has proven especially fruitful, too. Between Hellebuyck and Comrie, the crease is the Jets’ greatest strength.

SPECIAL TEAMS

To note the middling penalty kill was an improvement over the campaign prior is to damn it with faint praise, and it was hardly surprising that Winnipeg’s performance shorthanded played a role in its playoff demise. That the power play began firing blanks in the post-season, however, was unexpected. The PP led the league during the season and accounted for nearly 23 percent of their total offense. Being able to trot out the same unit – while adding Toews to the mix – should see that trend continue.

INTANGIBLES

Perfetti’s now-iconic goal was the continuation of a trend throughout the 2024-25 campaign, as Winnipeg scored 10 goals last season with the extra attacker and five goals in the final 90 seconds to either tie or win contests. It’s impossible to teach the never-say-die attitude that permeates through the dressing room.

Winnipeg Jets Reveal Promotional Schedule for 2025-26 SeasonThe Winnipeg Jets reveal the promotional schedule ahead of the 2025-26 season including cultural nights, epic giveaways and fun theme nights. 

ROOKIES

Brad Lambert and Nikita Chibrikov suffered through offensive regressions in the AHL, but the growth of their all-around games is of greatest importance to the Jets. Expect one or both to fight for bottom- or perhaps even middle-six minutes. Keep an eye, too, on Elias Salomonsson. The smooth-skating ‘D’ will force Winnipeg into a tough roster decision if he performs well in the pre-season.

X-FACTOR

Toews’ performance can have great bearing on their fate, but what defines the Jets’ ability to again fight for top spot in the Western Conference may be how Perfetti builds on an excellent playoff. He was one of the Jets’ best performers in the post-season. If that continues, it’s a boon to the entire lineup.

THE BRASS

Winnipeg’s continued presence as one of the NHL’s least-desirable destinations makes GM Kevin Cheveldayoff’s work all the more difficult. Despite the perception of the city, though, Cheveldayoff has done well to persuade players to stick around long term after they’ve arrived.

Jets Fantasy Hockey Outlook: Nyquist in Question, Hellebuyck Still Elite, Perfetti's Rising StockEarly Fantasy Hockey projections spotlight Cole Perfetti’s breakout potential, questions around Gustav Nyquist, and Connor Hellebuyck’s top goalie status. 

2024-25 NUMBERS

RECORD

56-22-4 (.707)

OVERTIME

11-3

SHOOTOUT

2-1

OVERALL

1st

OFFENSE

3.35 GPG (4th)

DEFENSE

2.32 GAA (1st)

POWER PLAY

28.9% (1st)

PENALTY KILL

79.4% (13th)

EXPECTED GF/60

2.56 (13th)

EXPECTED GA/60

2.33 (7th)

ICE TIME LEAD (F)

M. Scheifele (20:26)

ICE TIME LEAD (D)

J. Morrissey (24:23)

Winnipeg's Cole Perfetti Poised For Breakout Season in 2025Winnipeg Jets winger Cole Perfetti has the makings to produce a breakout season with new line additions and more minutes expected.

Fast FACTS

COACH

Scott Arniel

GM

Kevin Cheveldayoff

CAPTAIN

Adam Lowry

ARENA

Canada Life Centre

CAPACITY

15,225

AHL AFFILIATE

Manitoba Moose

ECHL AFFILIATE

Norfolk Admirals

Cup ODDS

14/1

Divisional Focus: Jets Look For Redemption When Battling Stars The Jets aim to win four crucial divisional games over the Dallas Stars next season

Future WATCH

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Brayden Yager

Pos C Age 20

2024-25 Lethbridge (WHL)

Goal-scorer’s ability to find open ice, settle in and unload a heavy shot. Captained Canada at WJC.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

2. Sascha Boumedienne

Pos D Age 18

2024-25 Boston Univ. (HE)

At his best when playing in transition. Concern comes, though, when he’s pinned in his own zone.

Expected NHL Arrival ’28-29

3. Brad Lambert

Pos C Age 21

2024-25 Manitoba (AHL)

No worries about sputtering offense in AHL last season. Rounding out his game is a big positive.

Expected NHL Arrival ’25-26

4. Nikita Chibrikov

Pos RW Age 22

2024-25 Manitoba (AHL)

A pest on the forecheck and has boundless energy. Projects as checking-line winger with upside.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

5. Colby Barlow

Pos LW Age 20

2024-25 Oshawa (OHL)

Big-league shot stands out, and fiery competitor never takes a shift off. Skating is biggest hurdle.

Expected NHL Arrival ’26-27

6. Elias Salomonsson

Pos D Age 21

2024-25 Manitoba (AHL)

Graceful skater can turn defense into offense in a heartbeat. His shot is an underrated asset.

Expected NHL Arrival ’27-28

7. Alfons Freij

Pos D Age 19

2024-25 Bjorkloven (Swe.2)

Strong first pass and joins the rush with ease. Playing in Sweden’s top tier will aid development.

Expected NHL Arrival ’28-29

8. Owen Martin

Pos C Age 18

2024-25 Spokane (WHL)

Positionally sound pivot relies on will over skill. Projects as bottom-six contributor long term.

Expected NHL Arrival ’30-31

9. Kevin He

Pos LW Age 19

2024-25 Niagara (OHL)

Never quits on a play. Will be first in on forecheck and battle in corners. Does small things well.

Expected NHL Arrival ’28-29

10. Kieron Walton

Pos C Age 19

2024-25 Sudbury (OHL)

At 6-foot-6, he blends massive frame with playmaker’s skill. Has to build on great OHL campaign.

Expected NHL Arrival ’29-30

The last 12 days were a good opportunity for NHL fans, bloggers and pundits to take a vacation. There has been no activity in the trade market since July 25, while none of the remaining notable RFAs signed new contracts or offer sheets from rival clubs. 

While nothing significant took place in the NHL’s trade and free-agent markets, there was plenty of chatter in the rumor mill. So, let's take this moment to catch up on some of the more notable speculation of the past week-and-a-half.

On Aug. 7, New Jersey Hockey Now's James Nichols suggestedDevils GM Tom Fitzgerald still has work to do over the remainder of the off-season. 

Nichols observed that the Devils have just over $6 million in salary cap space. He pointed out they must shed some salary to make room for Luke Hughes' new contract. The 21-year-old defenseman is an RFA coming off his entry-level contract and ineligible to receive an offer sheet from a rival club. 

According to Nichols, the Devils still need a second-line winger or a third-line center. He made the case for reacquiring Tyler Toffoli, but the winger holds a first-line spot on the San Jose Sharks alongside rising stars Macklin Celebrini and William Eklund. Signed through 2027-28, he's not going anywhere. 

Speaking of RFAs, Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks is eligible to sign an offer sheet. However, PuckPedia indicates the Ducks have over $20 million in cap space, so it's a safe bet that they will match any offer for the 22-year-old center.

The Hockey News’ Patrick Present cited multiple reports of McTavish wanting a long-term deal, while the Ducks prefer a bridge contract. Present argued that if McTavish received a long-term contract, it’s possible, based on his development so far, that he would outplay his average annual value in short order.

Any team interested in McTavish must go the trade route. According to James Murphy of RG.Org, the Detroit Red Wings are one club showing an interest in the Ducks center. The Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens are among the other teams reportedly “keeping tabs” on him. 

Murphy cited an NHL executive suggesting the relationship between Ducks GM Pat Verbeek and Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman could help to facilitate a deal. The pair were teammates with the Wings during their playing days, and Verbeek worked for Yzerman in the front offices of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Red Wings.

The Hockey News’ Jake Tye wrote the Red Wings could use a big swing to add someone to the first-line left-wing spot alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. McTavish can play at center or the left wing.

Nevertheless, Verbeek is known for driving a hard bargain. He'll likely want a good young roster player or a top prospect as part of any return for McTavish. 

As for the Canadiens' rumored interest in McTavish, Murphy's colleague, Marco D'Amico, reported that sources claim they're unwilling to part with top prospects David Reinbacher and Michael Hage in their pursuit of an experienced second-line center. 

If Reinbacher and Hage are off the table, it's doubtful they can come up with a suitable offer for McTavish to tempt Verbeek. The Hockey News’ Karine Hains said it would take core pieces already on the Habs’ roster to part with and not just futures, so a deal seems unlikely at this point.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

I wasn't a big on video games as a kid, but I loved hockey in almost an unhealthy way. 

I didn't play any of the NHL games growing up because we didn't have an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation 3, mainly because my sister and I were more interested in our Nintendo Wii. 

Since that console entered our household in Christmas of 2007, we could not get enough of it. Three years later, Christmas 2010, the biggest ask on my list to Santa was a copy of EA NHL Slapshot. 

It was the first EA NHL game released specifically for the Wii and had a plastic hockey stick you'd put the Wii remote and nunchuck into when you played. I'm not exaggerating when I say I was glued to this game.

It wasn't complex, which was the nice part. You just really picked what mode you wanted to play the game on, either PeeWee to Pro, Stanley Cup Final, Season or just play now. That's what I wanted out of the game, merely just to pick it up and play with no pressure. 

The peak of my playing time came in middle school. I played occasionally in high school and would rediscover the game from time to time while home from college or visiting my family.

Having a little more free time recently, I asked my parents to bring the family Wii and the game to Nashville. In addition to re-experiencing the joy of the NHL Slapshot, I thought it would be fitting to play a season as the 2009-10 Nashville Predators. 

To the best of my abilities, I'm going to try to detail the journey of this team from puck drop to a potential Stanley Cup Championship. 

Disclaimer: I am not a God at this game. Even as a kid, I was still playing on the "pro" mode, which is still the third-highest setting. Now, I'm playing this season on the "All-Star" mode, which is the second-highest setting. I want to enjoy this experience too, so playing this game on "Superstar" would not be enjoyable at all. I'm also playing three-minute periods 

Another disclaimer: I'm also going to try to record one game per story. The cord that connects the Wii to the TV is broken, so there's no color (for now). Again, I'm probably a little above average at this game, so please don't judge me. If you see jump cuts it means I was swearing and had to cut it out cause I doubt The Hockey News wants videos of me cussing at a 15 year old game.  

Roster 

*Numbers included are players EA rating 

Shea Weber, D, 84

Jason Arnott, C, 84 

JP Dumont, RW, 83 

David Legwand, C, 82 

Steve Sullivan, LW, 82 

Ryan Suter, D, 82 

Pekka Rinne, G, 82 

Dan Ellis, G, 81 

Dan Hamhuis, D, 81

Martin Erat, RW, 81 

Patric Hornqvist, RW, 80

Denis Grebeshkov, D, 79 

Joel Ward, RW, 78

Colin Wilson, C, 78 

Jordan Tootoo, RW, 77 

Cody Franson, D, 77 

Marcel Goc, C, 77 

Jerred Smithson, C, 76 

Francis Bouillon, D, 76

Dustin Boyd, C, 76 

Kevin Klein, D, 75 

Nick Spaling, C, 74 

Wade Belak, RW, 74 

Gm. 1: Nashville 2, Dallas 1 OT 

The season got off to a rocky start when I selected the wrong mode for my remote. I accidentally said I was playing with the "stick" when I wasn't, so every time I lifted the Wii remote, the game thought I was taking a slapshot. 

It was a blessing in disguise as Dan Hamhuis scored off a slap shot from the point to give the Predators a 1-0 lead in the first. 

Things didn't really heat up until the third period when Brendan Morrow put away a pass from Brad Richards to tie the game, 1-1, with less than a minute left in the third period. However, Dallas couldn't stay disciplined as Trevor Daley took a elbowing penalty with 27 seconds left.

Nashville couldn't get it done in regulation, but started overtime on the power play. Since the game thought every shot I took was a slapshot, the Predators couldn't convert. 

However, a pass from Shea Weber allowed Patric Hornqvist to split the defenseman to put the puck past Marty Turco for the game-winning goal and a 2-1 season-opening victory. 

Gm. 2: Nashville 4, Colorado 1 

The offense opened up a bit for the Predators home opener. 

A Steve Sullivan wrister put Nashville up 1-0 late in the first period. Marcel Goc scored off a Shea Weber pass in the second period to bump the lead to 2-0. 

Colorado had a push back in the second period, and Peter Muller got ahead of the defense and beat Pekka Rinne to cut the lead in half, 2-1. 

However, Nashville responded quickly. Jason Arnott had the puck poked away by an Avalanche defenseman, but he was able to get the puck back and score to give the Predators a two-goal lead back, 3-1. 

Erat put the game on ice in the third period, walking across the slot and backhanding it into the net for a 4-1 lead. Arnott and Colin Wilson got the assists. 

We could also be without defenseman Kevin Klein for a bit as he left this game injured. 

Gm. 3: Nashville 3, Buffalo 1 

The Predators get off to a slow start in the first period, but find their offense early on in the second. 

After two glorious opportunities, one of which you can hear me yell my frustration, David Legwand catches a long pass from Denis Grebeshkov up the middle of the ice. Legwand creates some space at the top of the right circle and goes bar down for a 1-0 lead. 

Nashville could've had a lead going into the locker room, but I checked out. With 0.7 seconds left, Derek Roy put in a rebound off a Thomas Vanek shot to tie the game. Jump cut in the video cause I swore. 

The Predators got the lead back in the third as Shea Weber scored, with assists from Ryan Suter and Marcel Goc. In the final minute, inbetween the tops of the circles, Steve Sullivan scored and beat Ryan Miller on the crossbar to cement a 3-1 win. 

Gm. 4: Nashville 4, Edmonton 2 

This is where I'm realizing I may need to up the skill level, simulate games or give myself a stipulation. 

A little over two minutes into the game, the Oilers strike first as Alex Hemsky pulls the defense to the left side of the ice, leaving Dustin Penner wide open for the goal and a 1-0 Edmonton lead. 

Nashville responds with a breakaway goal from David Legwand off a pass from Dan Hamhuis on the left side. Before the period is over, Steve Sullivan backhands it in for Nashville's first lead of the night, 2-1. 

The Predators kept their foot on the gas in the second period as Legwand scored his second goal of the night off a Hamhuis shot, 3-1. In the final two minutes of the period, Colin Wilson broke free and scored on a breakaway to bump the lead to 4-1. 

Edmonton got one last lick in as Tom Gilbert scored on a breakaway due to one of the Predators players missing a check for a 4-2 final. 

You had to be there to know that it actually happened – two tragedies at one Rangers training camp in Kitchener, Ontario. The pair of overlooked stories are here for you to read right now.

The Maven was there – September 13, 1968 – and saw it all. Fred Shero, then the club's Buffalo Bisons AHL minor league coach, had launched the morning workout.

Both Rangers and minor leaguers began a leisurely skate in a wide circle at center ice. One of them was Wayne Larkin, 29, a solid minor league forward who figured this would be his last chance to crack the Rangers lineup; longshot as it was.

Another longshot was a goalie out of Ohio University who, logically speaking, had no business being there. After all, when would a kid from Brooklyn ever make it as a Ranger goalie? Never, that's when!

But this handsome lad from the Manhattan Beach roller hockey ranks was there nonetheless. His name was Al Albert, kid brother of Marv Albert who would emerge as one of the greatest sportscasters in the world. Tagging along was the youngest Albert, Steve, who someday also would make very positive broadcast as well as literary history.

Then, it happened.

One of the skaters collapsed to the ice for no apparent reason. "Who's the joker?" someone wondered, figuring there was a prankster in the skating circle.

But the hulk, Wayne Larkin, didn't move. Coach Bernie Geoffrion, watching from the stands, sensed big trouble and dashed to the ice on a beeline to the fallen forward.

We watched in collective anguish as Geoffrion repeatedly pounded Larkin's chest, desperate to keep him alive. Meanwhile the S.O.S. had gone out and soon an ambulance arrived and Larkin was moved to a hospital. 

Steve Albert, who had been sitting in the stands with brother Marv and coach Geoffrion, never forgot the scene. Now – a good 57 years later – he recalled the incident in his book, "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Broadcast Booth."

The Larkin episode is the only un-funny thing in 278 pages of one of the best sports books I ever read. 

One of the funniest – as in strange – was the sight of brother Al on the same ice as Hall of Fame Ranger goalie Ed Giacomin.

The Founding Of The Rangers Fan Club, 1950In the spring of 1950, the fourth place Rangers startled the hockey world by reaching the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Final before losing to Detroit in double-overtime.

"It was quite a rush to see Al wearing a Rangers uniform, skating around with all those players (Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, plus)," wrote author Steve. "My brother was a local kid from Brooklyn, which was unheard of; him being there with the NHL guys."

It was a rush for The Maven as well and, quite frankly, I feared for Al's life once Vic Hadfield unloaded one of his 100 mph shots. I tried imagining whether Middle Brother Al was as nervous for his life as I was.

What I saw was un-real. It was as if Al Albert was doing a 100 percent impersonation of an NHL goalie. Stoic as the Statue of Liberty, he turned away shot after shot and, better still, he made it look as if he was a Jewish Giacomin.

Geoffrion was stunned to the very core. When the workout ended, he pumped Al's hand and blurted "You, you, you, you good!"

(In his book, humorist Steve quipped: "To this day, Al has never washed that hand!")

But it wasn't that Al Albert impressed that one day. He did it again – and again. Meanwhile, The Maven is musing what a fantastic story this is gonna be. I dreamed up a potential headline: BROOKLYN KID BEATS OUT GIACOMIN FOR RANGERS JOB.

Then came the crusher. While imagining the possibility of more wonderful Al Albert stories,  I searched for my new hero and when I found him, I was crushed by what I saw and  heard.

There was Al, closing his suitcase, getting ready to leave. "What's this about?"  I wondered.

Then, he spilled the beans. The Vietnam War was on and he had been drafted by Uncle Sam. "Sorry, but I gotta report to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri," he said

Or, as Stevie put it in his book: "The dream was over. He got to wear that Rangers uniform for only a few days."

EPILOGUE: Following his Army stint, Al was invited by Rangers GM Emile Francis to play for the Rangers farm team in Toledo. But something had come over Al during his GI experience.

"Al realized that an NHL career would be more likely in the broadcast booth," Steve concluded in his book.

And so it was and I can vouch for that. For one season Al was play-by-play guy for the 

New Jersey Devils and guess who was his sidekick? Me, The Maven.

Need I tell you – on a stack of pucks if necessary – that I believed Al Albert was as good a hockey play-by-play guy as Marv of whom there was  never anyone better as a Rangers voice.

Here's yet another "Can You Believe?" During the 1979-80 season I worked alongside Steve Albert who expertly handled 

Islanders play-by-play – in the first year of the Dynasty.  A WORD OF GRATITUDE: Thank you Alida and Max Albert. It was all in the kids' genes!

This has been the busiest summer of Pat Verbeek’s four offseasons as the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks. He gave the roster a significant facelift, shipping out long-time pieces Trevor Zegras and John Gibson while acquiring four players set to fill important roles on the depth chart.

Along with new faces on the ice, a largely new coaching staff will play a crucial role in the upcoming and pivotal season for the Ducks franchise. Verbeek’s contract is coming to an end, and playoffs have been the stated mandate from both Verbeek and ownership alike.

Poll: Was Beckett Sennecke a Good Pick at Third Overall in 2024?

Poll: Who is the Anaheim Ducks' Number One Defenseman of the Future?

Focusing on the depth chart, Chris Kreider, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Poehling, and Petr Mrazek are all expected to elevate and insulate the Ducks’ young core while impacting games on a nightly basis in their designated roles.

Chris Kreider

Chris Kreider (34), along with former New York Rangers captain and current Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba, was part of a widely publicized and now notorious memo from Rangers GM Chris Drury stating the pair's availability for trade.

The Ducks parted with prospect Carey Terrance and a 2025 third-round pick (Artyom Gonchar) to acquire Kreider and a 2025 fourth-round pick (Elijah Neuenschwander).

Following his three best seasons from a goalscoring perspective from 2022 through 2024, where he totaled 52, 36, and 39 goals, respectively, he only managed 22 goals in 2024-25 and added just eight assists for 30 points in 68 games, his lowest points-per-game average in his 13-year NHL career.

Much of his poor season may be attributed to a slew of injuries, including back spasms, a broken hand, and a bout with vertigo; injuries he admittedly shouldn’t have attempted to play through.

Kreider’s speed, tenacity, and net front skill are all components that the Ducks have lacked during the latter stages of their rebuild, and he seems like a seamless fit anywhere on the left side of the Ducks' top nine.

He has two years remaining on his contract, which carries a $6.5 million AAV and a 15-team NMC.

Mikael Granlund

After failing to make a splash during the 2024 free agency period, the Ducks signed Mikael Granlund (33) to a three-year contract, carrying an AAV of $7 million and a full no-trade clause in year one that decreases to a 15-team NTC in year two and a ten-team NTC in year three.

One of Granlund’s most notable strengths is his versatility. He can play up and down the lineup, in every forward position, and features often on both special teams units.

He’s eclipsed the 60-point mark in three of the last four seasons despite playing for four different organizations, including scoring 105 (27-78=105) points in 121 games for a lowly San Jose Sharks team from 2023 to 2025.

Though analytics call into question his defensive prowess, he is a 200-foot contributor who displays disruptive and proper defensive tendencies while providing above-average hockey IQ and creativity on the offensive end.

Ryan Poehling

Perhaps the most controversial trade of Verbeek’s tenure in the Ducks' front office was trading Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Ryan Poehling (26), a 2025 second-round pick (Eric Nilson), and a 2026 fourth-round pick.

Poehling fits the role and the Ducks' need for a prototypical bottom-six center. He’s struggled to replicate the offensive production at the NHL level that made him a successful NCAA player a St. Cloud State University and AHL player for the Laval Rocket.

He’s a straight-line, defensively impactful, forechecking center who kills penalties and has shown a higher degree of transition offense than his archetype would dictate. 2024-25, his fourth full season in the NHL, yielded his highest offensive output, as he scored 31 points (12-19=31) in 68 games for the Flyers.

Poehling’s contract has one year remaining at a $1.9 million AAV, after which, he will become a UFA.

Petr Mrazek

Petr Mrazek (33) was acquired along with a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick in exchange for John Gibson.

The Ducks have made the awaited transition and handed their crease over to one of the best young goaltenders in the NHL, Lukas Dostal. Gibson’s departure, after two seasons of deploying a tandem, meant the team needed a viable backup for Dostal.

They have Ville Husso on the roster as well, but he’s proven more volatile than once hoped or expected, so the team now has insurance in the form of Mrazek, an unquestionable NHL-caliber goaltender.

To this point in his career, Mrazek has played for five NHL organizations in his 11 years in the league. He’s won 184 games and has started 397, posting a career .906 SV% and 26 shutouts.

His performances have been unpredictable in the past few seasons, but the hope is that in a role where he’s the clear and designated backup to a fellow Czech countryman (Dostal), he will capitalize on the opportunity to find consistency in a contract year.

Mrazek has one year remaining on his deal that carries an AAV of $4.25 million.

Poll: When Will the Anaheim Ducks Make the Playoffs?

Poll: How Would You Grade the Job GM Pat Verbeek has Done so Far?

Poll: How Would You Grade the Anaheim Ducks Rebrand?

Russian defenseman Nikolai Goldobin, 29, has been claimed off KHL waivers by SKA St. Petersburg, the KHL website announced on Monday. He had been waived by Spartak Moscow, the club for which he’d played the past two seasons.

Born in Moscow, Goldobin went overseas at age 16 to play junior hockey for the OHL’s Sarnia Sting. He became a first-round pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, selected 27th overall.

Goldobin spent most of the 2014-15 season playing in Finland for HIFK Helsinki before signing with the Sharks late in the season and moving to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.

Between 2015 and 2019, Goldobin played 125 NHL games for the Sharks and Vancouver Canucks, recording 46 points and 24 penalty minutes. In February 2017, he was traded from San Jose to Vancouver for Danish winger Jannik Hansen.

Ex-Canuck Nikita Tryamkin Signs 3-Year Contract Extension In KHL Russian defenseman Nikita Tryamkin, 30, has signed a three-year contract extension with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg that will run through the end of the 2027-28 season, the KHL club announced recently.

Goldobin has spent the past five seasons in the KHL playing for CSKA Moscow, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Spartak, recording 277 points in 339 regular-season and playoff games.

A perennial powerhouse in the KHL, last season SKA finished a disappointing seventh in the Western Conference and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs despite a star-studded lineup that included Ivan Demidov, Alexander Nikishin, Mikhail Grigorenko, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Arseni Gritsyuk, Nikita Zaitsev and Tony DeAngelo.

Heading into 2025-26, only Zaitsev remains from that group. The team has replaced coach Roman Rotenberg with Igor Larionov and added center Igor Larionov Jr. and North Americans Rocco Grimaldi Trevor Murphy, Brennan Menell and Joey Blandisi, who have some NHL experience.

Alexander Burmistrov & Adam Clendening Latest To Sign With Chinese KHL Team Ever since a major rebranding a week ago, the Shanghai Dragons have hired a high-profile head coach and signed 14 new players, including several ex-NHLers. On Saturday, five new signings were announced, including Russian center Alexander Burmistrov and the re-signing of American defenseman Adam Clendening. Rocco Grimaldi Will Play For Igor Larionov In KHL American forward Rocco Grimaldi, 32, has signed a two-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg, the KHL announced on Wednesday.

A few days ago, former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price was honoured when a statue of the netminder in action, carved in wood with a chainsaw, was gifted to the city of Williams Lake by the district of Chetwynd.

The work of art, titled “The Goalie,” depicts the Habs goaltender in action with his glove hand extended. The unveiling took place at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex. While Price himself was unable to attend, his parents, Linda and Jerry Price, were in attendance to speak on his behalf.

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Through his father, the Canadiens’ winningest goaltender said that for someone who doesn’t like to be the center of attention, it feels funny to have a statue of themselves, but also expressed how proud he was to be from the Cariboo Chilcotin and acknowledged the fact that the people helped to shape the man he became.

Chief Kukpi7 Willie Sellers, who was also in attendance, mentioned that watching Price play in the finals when he was in junior hockey was one of his fondest hockey memories. He also credits Price for inspiring him to pick up the pads again, even if it wasn’t at the same level as the Canadiens’ netminder.

Jeffrey Samudsocky of JMS Wood Sculpture is the artist who gave life to the statue, and this is one of the many statues that the District of Chetwynd has donated to other communities as a recognition of their partnership and to encourage collaboration.

There’s no denying that Price has been an inspiration to many First Nation youth during his NHL career, not only because of his performance on the ice but also because of the way he handled adversity. He fought his way through many injuries and setbacks to come back to play and wasn’t afraid to seek help from the NHL and NHLPA Player Assistance program when he felt he needed it because of substance abuse.

Unfortunately, after overcoming all that and winning the Bill Masterton Trophy, the all-star netminder only went on to play five more NHL games, winning the last one of his career, a 10-2 triumph over a watered-down version of the Florida Panthers who were resting some players in the previous game of the regular season.

Carey Price has been immortalized with a chainsaw-carved wood statue in Williams Lake, BC where he played minor hockey 🔥👏

(via @WLTribune) pic.twitter.com/mRBPlUSRIx

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) August 17, 2025

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The newest team in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) is the Shanghai Dragons.

The franchise is entering its first season under the Dragons name, but the club itself isn’t brand new. Previously known as Kunlun Red Star, the team spent eight seasons in the KHL before announcing a rebrand.

During their time as Kunlun, the club reached the postseason only once, in their inaugural 2016-17 season, where they lost in the Conference Quarterfinals. They have not returned to the playoffs since.

The Dragons plan to move their home games back to China in the future, but for now, they are building their roster and will play out of St. Petersburg, Russia.

Their roster features one former New Jersey Devil, one Devils draft pick who never signed, and several other players with NHL ties.

• Nikita Popugaev: Drafted 98th overall by the Devils in 2017, Popugaev never signed with the team and has spent most of his career overseas. Now 26, he announced he will be suiting up for the Dragons this season.
• Nick Merkley: Selected 30th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, Merkley played four games with the Devils in 2019-20 and 27 games in 2020-21. He registered two points in his first season and 10 points in his second. The 27-year-old now joins the Dragons as another Devils connection.
• Austin Wong: Drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 2018, Wong was never signed but will be making history as part of the Dragons’ inaugural roster. The 24-year-old forward brings additional North American experience.

In addition to players, the Dragons hired a familiar NHL face behind the bench: Gerard Gallant, former head coach of the New York Rangers. Gallant, who has also coached the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights, will lead the Dragons as their first-ever head coach.

As of now, the roster includes:

• 5 Canadian players
• 4 American players
• 4 Russian players
• 1 Slovakian player

Collectively, the roster of 14 skaters brings 387 NHL games of experience.

The Shanghai Dragons will look to end the franchise’s playoff drought and make their first postseason appearance since 2016, this time under a new name, new leadership, and a roster built on international and NHL experience.

Pittsburgh Penguins training camp is only about a month away from starting, and a lot of eyes will be on the defensemen since the Penguins aren't expected to be a strong defensive team this year. 

There will be some good battles on the left side, but fans shouldn't forget about the right side, either. The Penguins made a couple of moves to try and change things up on that side earlier in the offseason, and could still make another if teams get more aggressive trying to pursue Erik Karlsson. However, as of August 17, he is still a Pittsburgh Penguin. 

Here's a look at the options the Penguins have on the right side going into this upcoming season.

Erik Karlsson

Karlsson is expected to get the top-pairing minutes on the right side for the 2025-26 season, assuming he doesn't get dealt before training camp, and for good reason. Despite his many critics, he can still move the puck up the ice with authority and generate a lot of offense. He was tied for fifth among all defensemen in 5v5 points last season with 33. 

He gives a lot back defensively, which isn't surprising given he hasn't been good defensively in a long time. The Penguins got him to push the pace of play, and that's precisely what he will do this upcoming season.

There's hope that a new coaching staff can get a bit more out of him than Mike Sullivan and Co. did these last two seasons. Karlsson has two years left on his contract and a full no-move clause. 

Kris Letang

The 2025-26 season will be Letang's 20th season in the NHL, all with the Penguins. He's the best franchise defenseman in the history of the franchise and still has three years left on his contract at $6.1 million per season. 

Letang had a rough go of things last season. His offense deteriorated, and he wasn't much better in his end. Despite being 38, he still wants to prove he can play at a higher level than he did last year and has been training his butt off all offseason. 

He may have to accept a slightly lesser role for next season since Karlsson can do more offensively. Letang's time on ice per game last season was 23:31, and if the Penguins can shorten it by two or three minutes, it will be mutually beneficial for them and the player. 

Connor Clifton

The Penguins acquired Clifton during the second day of the 2025 NHL Draft on June 28, along with the No. 39 overall pick, for defenseman Conor Timmins and forward prospect Isaac Belliveau. 

Clifton will try to win that bottom-pairing spot after going through a tough season last year with the Buffalo Sabres. Clifton told reporters after the trade in July that he felt he "lost himself" and is stoked to be a Penguin. 

"I feel like I kind of lost myself. The change of scenery, I got that call that I'm going to be a Pittsburgh Penguin, and I was really excited for the change. I want to get back to my old self, and how I play, and the impact that I have on the game. It was a couple of mental battles… but, you just try to simplify and be who you are, I guess," Clifton told reporters during a media session in July. 

Clifton spent the last two seasons with the Sabres after spending the first five years of his career with the Boston Bruins. He has one year left on his contract.

What Will The Penguins' Left Side Look Like In 2025-26?When training camp opens for the Pittsburgh Penguins one month from now - and with more youth talent in the organization than there has been in a long while - there will be a lot of positional battles on pretty much every front.

Matt Dumba

Dumba got traded to the Penguins along with a 2028 second-round pick on July 10. The Dallas Stars were in salary cap hell, and the Penguins were happy to help out since they're not trying to contend this year. 

Like Clifton, Dumba has a year left on his contract and needs a significant bounce-back after being a healthy scratch throughout the entire playoffs for the Stars. He was limited to 63 games during the regular season, compiling one goal and 10 points. 

Harrison Brunicke (maybe)

Brunicke was very close to making the Penguins' opening night roster last year before he was sent back to the WHL at the end of training camp. He did a lot of good things, but the Penguins believed he was best suited to continue developing at the junior level. 

The Penguins may have a surplus of defensemen on the right side right now, but that's not going to stop Brunicke from going out there and trying to win a full-time roster spot.

It could be similar to what happened in 2019 when John Marino came out of nowhere to win a roster spot after an excellent training camp. It's not a guarantee, but Brunicke may give the Penguins' decision-makers quite a bit to think about again in September.

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Now that we are in the middle of August, most of the players who hit the market as unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed to new contracts. Although this is the case, there are still some interesting players who have not been signed yet. Among them is former St. Louis Blues forward Klim Kostin. 

Kostin is coming off a tough season with the San Jose Sharks, as he recorded one goal, six assists, and a minus-6 rating in 35 games. However, when noting that is still just 26 years old and has had past success at the NHL level, it would not be particularly surprising if he landed a professional tryout (PTO) before training camp or even a contract for the season from an NHL club. 

Kostin demonstrated during the 2022-23 season with the Edmonton Oilers hat he has the potential to provide decent offensive production and plenty of grit when playing at his best. During that campaign, the 6-foot-4 forward recorded career highs with 11 goals, 10 assists, 21 points, and 157 hits in 57 games. Perhaps this could help lead to a team giving him a shot.

Kostin was selected by the Blues in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft with the 31st overall pick. In 46 games over three seasons with St. Louis from 2019-20 to 2021-22, he posted five goals, 11 points, 105 hits, and a minus-3 rating. His time with the Blues ended ahead of the 2022-23 season when he was traded to the Oilers in exchange for defenseman Dmitri Samorukov. 

Blues Goalie Named As Potential Target For OilersAllen Mitchell discussed five potential targets for the Edmonton Oilers in a recent article for The Athletic, and a St. Louis Blues goalie prospect made the cut - Colten Ellis. 

Now that we are in the middle of August, we are going to start seeing teams around the NHL invite players to training camp on professional tryouts (PTOs). While the Montreal Canadiens have had a busy off-season, it would be understandable if they brought in a player or two on a PTO to create more friendly competition at camp. 

When looking at the Canadiens' current roster, it is fair to argue that they could benefit by adding to their forward depth. Because of this, one player who could be worth taking a shot on with a PTO is forward Victor Olofsson.

After Jack Roslovic, Olofsson is arguably the top unrestricted free agent (UFA) forward left. When looking at the season he just had with the Vegas Golden Knights, he could be a decent player for the Canadiens to take a gamble on if they are on the hunt for more secondary scoring. In 56 games this past season with Vegas, he recorded 15 goals, 14 assist, 29 points, and a plus-17 rating. 

Olofsson has also shown several times during his career that he can produce solid offense. The former Buffalo Sabres forward has scored 20 goals and recorded 40 points three different times in his career. This includes scoring 28 goals with Buffalo in 2022-23 and posting 49 points in 2021-22.

Ultimately, bringing in Olofsson on a PTO would give the Canadiens a backup plan to consider if they end up feeling that some of their younger players need a bit more time before making the jump to the NHL level. If he earned a contract for the season, he could be a nice pickup for the Canadiens' bottom six on a one-year deal. 

Canadiens: Montembeault’s Big DayOn Saturday, August 16, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault got married to his girlfriend of seven years, Daryanne Ayotte. They met at the Festival du Blé d’Inde in St-Celestin in 2018, and while she initially had reservations about dating a hockey player, she eventually agreed. This weekend, the couple took the plunge and said yes to spending their life together.

The Buffalo Sabres' pursuit of its first Stanley Cup playoff appearance in 15 years means that there's no room for error for them, at any time of the season.  A prolonged losing streak can and will knock down any team's post-season hopes, but the Sabres are particularly desperate, so Buffalo fans will be watching each and every game in the hope the Sabres can secure a playoff spot.

That's where THN.com's "Know Your Enemy" series comes in. For a while now, we've been examining Buffalo's chances against teams in the Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central divisions. And this past week, we turned our attention to Pacific Division teams. Today, we're focused on the Los Angeles Kings, who once again lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual Western Conference-champion Edmonton Oilers.

The Kings have a solid group of players, and although Holland made a slew of changes, the core in L.A. hasn't changed. And though the Kings and Sabres split their season series last year, Buffalo needs to aim higher than that this coming season.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. LOS ANGELES KINGS

NEW KINGS PLAYERS: Joel Armia, RW; Corey Perry, RW; Cody Ceci, D; Brian Dumoulin, D; Anton Forsberg, G

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-1-0, Kings 1-1-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  January 29 at Buffalo; March 21 at Los Angeles 

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  Both games the Sabres and Kings played against each other last season were close games;  Buffalo dropped the first game in early October -- the Sabres' third game of the regular-season -- by a 3-1 score, and then, in late November, Buffalo blanked L.A. by a 1-0 score. 

In that second game, No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned aside all 23 Kings shots he faced for the shutout win. Luukkonen didn't play in the first Kings/Sabres game, so that should factor into the game-plan of Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff when he's looking at assignments for the games against L.A. this coming year.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: High-Octane Oilers Will Be More Than A Handful For BuffaloThe Buffalo Sabres are a 14-year reclamation project, and losing so consistently is currently the norm for the franchise. But every year brings some hope that things will change for the better, and the Sabres will have 82 opportunities to show they're an improved team that's finally going to make it into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Otherwise, the Kings have more or less stayed the same. Even though they suffered a huge blow with the departure of veteran defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to the New York Rangers, to soften the blow, Holland brough in experienced hands in former Dallas Stars blueliner Cody Ceci and former New Jersey Devil Brian Dumoulin. And up front, Los Angeles signed former Montreal Canadien fan favorite Joel Armia, as well as longtime abrasive winger and Cup-winner Corey Perry.

That said, the key for the Kings still revolves around a mix of young and old -- center Quinton Byfield being the young, and center Anze Kopitar being the old; defenseman Brandt Clarke being the young, and blueliner Drew Doughty being the old.

Meanwhile, the Kings also made what could be their best pickup in the form of longtime Ottawa Senators goalie Anton Forsberg. And the way things may develop, the Sabres could see Forsberg in one of the two games Buffalo and Los Angeles will play against each other this season.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Is Buffalo Better Than Rebuilding Flames?The Buffalo Sabres were a major disappointment last season, and the 13 other seasons before that which ended without any Stanley Cup playoff action. The Sabres have been one of the NHL's worst teams, and they're now in a position where they desperately need to get into the post-season. Fans are exhausted with all the losing, and they won't be going on much longer as the same group if they miss the playoffs again next year.

Thus, the Sabres are bound to have their hands full with the Kings this year. And the way the schedule-maker has mapped it out, Buffalo and Los Angeles may be significantly-different teams from the teams that play their first game in late January and the second game they square off in on March 21. That's because the league's trade deadline will be taking place between those two dates.

We're not suggesting either or both teams are guaranteed to make a slew of moves, but by the time the trade deadline arrives, the Kings could be desperately working to fend off other Pacific teams challenging them for home-ice advantage, and the Sabres could be desperately working just to get into the playoffs.

If either of those things come to pass, Holland and Sabres counterpart Kevyn Adams may be pressured to add at least one high-level talent, and the second game between the Sabres and Kings could have an entirely different dynamic.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Should Sabres Throttle Ducks Again Next Year?The Buffalo Sabres have failed in one consistent way in recent years -- namely, that they haven't played Stanley Cup playoff hockey in nearly a decade-and-a-half. Thus, there's an inordinate amount of pressure on the Sabres to be a playoff team this year. And as we've seen in the NHL's overtime/shootout era, teams can make or miss the playoffs by only one or two standings points, so it's not an exaggeration to say that just about every game is going to be important to Buffalo's playoff hopes.

In any case, the games between Buffalo and Los Angeles should make for very entertaining hockey. Both teams have exciting performers, both teams have playoff aspirations, and both teams may make serious changes next summer if things don't go well for them this year. The Kings and Sabres will be fighting for every standings point they can get, and that means making the most of this series.