With the 34th overall pick of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected defenseman Xavier Villeneuve. When noting that many expected him to be selected in the first round, the Blackhawks were fortunate that he was still available for the taking once they were on the clock.
There is a lot to like Villeneuve's game. The 18-year-old blueliner has the potential to emerge as an impactful offensive defenseman at the NHL level. With this, he is exactly the kind of prospect that the Blackhawks need in their system right now.
If Villeneuve can tap into his full potential later down the road, it would be significant for the Blackhawks.
Villeneuve spent this past season in the QMJHL with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, where he posted six goals, 32 assists, and 38 points in 37 games. This was after he had 12 goals and 62 points in 61 games with the QMJHL club during the 2024-25 season. With this, he has shown a lot of promise as an offensive defenseman at the junior level, and Blackhawks fans should be excited about his future with the club because of it.
It will now be interesting to see how Villeneuve develops his game after being selected by the Blackhawks from here.
According to The Athletic’s Michael Russo, the NHL trade deadline has now officially been set for Monday, March 1. Usually, it is set on a Friday, and we had assumed it would be on March 5th, but this could be a game-changer for one former Montreal Canadiens. Brendan Gallagher’s 14-year tenure with the Habs came to an end after he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on June 29.
While the writing was on the wall for the respected winger, the divorce didn’t occur in an ideal manner, since the veteran didn’t get to play one last game on the Bell Centre ice to make his goodbyes. His last game came against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. He didn’t see the ice in the second round against the Buffalo Sabres or in the third round against the Carolina Hurricanes despite the Canadiens being unceremoniously dismissed by the champions in just five games.
The next time he steps on the Bell Centre ice, it will be in a Canucks uniform, or maybe not. Vancouver is only set to visit the Canadiens on March 6, after the trade deadline, and since Gallagher is in the last year of his contract, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that he could be traded to a contender before the deadline. If that potential team has already been to Montreal, it would mean Gallagher could miss his long-awaited homecoming.
However, the veteran still controls his destiny as his no-movement clause followed him to Vancouver, so he could block any trade if he wanted to. Speaking to the media at the end of the last season, Gallagher made it clear that he feels like he still has plenty left in the tank, and it sounded like he was even hoping to play beyond this season. Even if that were the case, though, would he want to pass up another chance to chase Lord Stanley’s mug? One has to wonder, after all; that’s what has motivated him to play the game for the last 14 years.
Even if he were to miss his date with Habs fans this season and not get to play another season in the NHL, there is no doubt that the Canadiens will hold a Brendan Gallagher night down the line to offer him the send-off he deserves, no matter how overdue it ends up being.
MONCTON, CANADA - APRIL 23: Bill Zonnon #9 of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada shoots as Tommy Bleyl #16 of the Moncton Wildcats defends during the third period at Avenir Centre on April 23, 2026 in Moncton, Canada. (Photo by Dale Preston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last season all four players we spotlighted as potential NHL debutees for 2025-26 ended up making their debut (gotta give some props for the Ben Kindel inclusion). Add in Jake Livanavage and Sergei Murashov and six players took rookie laps ahead of their first game last year, not counting goalie Taylor Gauthier who sat on the bench for a game serving as backup without actually playing.
Who could be up for a first career NHL game this season?
The pickens are slim in that area. The Ruck twins aren’t expected to make the monumental WHL to NHL leap that Kindel did, and since Murashov and Harrison Brunicke have already played in the big league, there aren’t too many young players with strong cases to make debuts right off the bat. It’s more of a reload year in terms of the new additions that will need some time.
There could be a few choices, let’s get at it.
Bill Zonnon
The 2025 first round pick made a splash by scoring a goal in each of his first three pro games in the AHL playoffs this spring to jump onto the scene and announce his arrival. Zonnon only turns 20 in October, he’s almost certain to spend the bulk – if not the entirety- of the 2026-27 season with Wilkes. The Penguins did bring in David Gustafsson to play in a Joona Koppanen type of swing role, and Tristan Broz is still around too, so it would take quite the confluence with the timing of injuries and excellent performance for Zonnon to get an opportunity at center. Never say never, it’s a long now 84-game schedule and wouldn’t be a complete shock to see Zonnon make his NHL debut sooner than later if he keeps on the same upward trajectory that he’s been on. 2026-27 might be one year too soon to feel confident about calling the shot before he really gets into the mix, but he’s certainly somewhere on the radar.
Oliver Okluliar
OK, get your Conor McGregor ‘who the fook is that guy’ out of the way first and we’ll continue. Okuliar was acquired over the summer, he’s a 26-year old forward who did well in the AHL in his lone season in 2024-25 (41 points in 69 games with Charlotte), did well last year in Sweden (29 points in 41 games with Skelleftea) and scored a goal for Slovakia in the 2026 Olympics. Okuliar is a physical winger that forechecks hard, has limited skating and skill but isn’t a stretch to imagine him fitting in for a fourth line role for a few games in the middle of the season when some other players on the team get banged up. That can be hard to imagine at this point with the Pens flush with forwards at the moment, but keep in mind that Pittsburgh used seven forwards in NHL games last year that started the season in AHL Wilkes-Barre. It doesn’t take a lot to see a game or two from players that start out very deep within the organization.
Mikhail Ilyin
Ilyin fits in the Zonnon category of feeling more comfortable to predict an NHL debut in 2027-28, but the 21-year old Russian has too much skill to ignore as a possibility. Ilyin has the playmaking chops that made him one of the most productive teenaged players in KHL history, and he acquitted himself well in the AHL playoffs with nine points in 15 games. He might require some patience and acclimation time to adjust to the North American style of game, but again from the note above, lots of AHL players get at least a look in the NHL within this organization over the course of a season. It’s not difficult to imagine a scenario where Ilyin excels in the AHL enough to merit an opportunity at some point during the 2026-27 campaign.
That’s about it for this year, players like Chase Pietila and Finn Harding could be considered extreme longshots, but considering the depth at their position (right handed defensemen) it would be tough to see them with a pathway to the NHL this season. Similarly, it would take three goalies injured or sick at the same time for Gauthier to work his way up to the backup spot so he doesn’t look likely to make an NHL appearance this year. Some might squint and see a possibility for Tanner Howe or Melvin Fernstrom, but that looks too remote at this point given where their games are at coming into the season.
With August just around the corner, the onset of NHL training camps is drawing nearer and nearer, which means time is beginning to dwindle for any kind of roster reshuffling prior to the 2026-27 season.
And, if general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins elect not to change anything up in the meantime, things will be quite interesting once the season gets underway.
The Penguins have been a relatively active team since the end of the 2025-26 season, as they have added a few players via trade and free agency. However, one area that they have decided to, pretty much, stand pat on is goaltending.
After Stuart Skinner departed in free agency, the Penguins extended goaltender Artūrs Šilovs to a one-year deal worth $2.8 million, but because Šilovs was already part of the tandem last season, that means that a spot is wide-open for a prospect to take.
As a reminder, for these purposes, we can't assume that any trades will be made. The Penguins have no shortage of prospect goaltending depth as is, since Sergei Murashov, Joel Blomqvist, Taylor Gauthier, and even youngster Gabrel D'Aigle are in the pipeline.
So, who will secure an NHL roster spot on opening night? And what should fans expect to see from the Penguins' goaltending situation this season?
Consistency wasn't exactly a hallmark for Šilovs during the 2025-26 regular season, as he would look like a legitimate NHL starting goaltender for stretches and completely lose his bearings during others. His most dominant stretch of the regular season came in a nine-game stretch after the turn of the new year, when he went 5-2-2 with a .934 save percentage.
So, it wasn't clear if he would be coming back or not. That is, until the playoffs happened.
After Skinner started the first three games of the Penguins' first-round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, the team needed a spark when buried 3-0 in the series. They switched things up and turned to Šilovs, who was, technically, still a rookie. And his three performances, especially in the decisive Game 6 in a 1-0 overtime win that sent the Flyers to the second round, are what earned him his stay in Pittsburgh, as he put up a .939 save percentage and sacrificed just five goals on 82 shots.
Even if neither Šilovs or Murashov are experienced NHL goaltenders, Šilovs's NHL experience last season and his proven ability to come up big on the biggest stages probably give him a slight nod over Murashov, at least to start the season. It might also help to ease Murashov's transition and give Šilovs an earned opportunity to get a legitimate starter's look.
However, it's important to note that head coach Dan Muse went with a 50-50 split the entire season when it came to his goaltenders in 2025-26, and they only really deviated from the alternating starts when the playoffs began. So, it would not be surprising in the least to see the same thing next season.
Then, there's the other half of the tandem, who happens to be the most highly touted goaltender in the Penguins' organization.
Of course, it should be said that it is no guarantee Murashov will make the NHL roster out of training camp. Anything could happen, and he has legitimate competition right on his heels in Blomqvist and Gauthier. If either of them show well, and Murashov shows poorly, they'll earn a spot.
However, the writing is on the wall for Murashov, and the organization thinks very highly of him. This was evidenced by Murashov's run of games in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs, when he backstopped the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins for all 15 games and put up a .931 save percentage with one shutout. He was magnificent in the postseason, and the organization certainly gave him the runway to keep it going.
So, it would be a surprise if Murashov isn't the other guy next to Šilovs. He did have a pedestrian five-game sample at the NHL level last season, when his video game AHL numbers in the first half of WBS's season earned him two brief late-fall call-ups and he finished with an .897 save percentage in those games.
But, he's shown dominance at every level of professional hockey, and it's time for him to make the jump full-time, even if that means being a 1B to Šilovs in the beginning. The Penguins believe he could be a franchise goaltender, and even if there are some growing pains next season, they are lined up to give him the opportunity to prove himself.
It's important not to rule out Blomqvist and Gauthier, either. D'Aigle will be entering his first full season of professional hockey, and his complicated situation with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL - who have the rights to him despite the Penguins breaking their affiliation with Wheeling and despite his signing of an NHL entry-level contract - makes it unlikely he'll see NHL ice next season.
As for Blomqvist, 24, it's pretty much go-time. Just as Murashov got his opportunity in 2025-26, Blomqvist got his the season prior, and two very different NHL stints with some injuries sprinkled in hindered his chances at playing in the NHL and, even, starting at the AHL level. With Murashov likely headed to the NHL, it should be a great battle between Blomqvist and Gauthier for playing time in the AHL, but Blomqvist needs to show this season that he is worthy of being part of the Penguins' plan moving forward.
Gauthier, 25, has also battled injuries for the past two training camps, which is - quite frankly - a bit of a shame. He has been dominant at the ECHL level for three straight seasons, never posting a save percentage below .923 and putting up a brilliant performance in this season's Kelly Cup Playoffs for Wheeling with a .922 save percentage and 9-6-2 record.
He earned himself an NHL entry-level contract to close out the 2025-26 season, and he signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract extension for $850,000 this season. Gauthier has had a limited AHL sample size, but he will put up a good fight and put himself in the conversation for first call-up, regardless of whether it's Murashov or Blomqvist in the NHL.
Future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane said that he wasn't sure what to expect when he joined the Detroit Red Wings in December 2023, especially after having spent most of his career with the rival Chicago Blackhawks.
Kane instantly became a fan favorite in the Motor City and was embraced by the fan base, not only routinely thrilling crowds at Little Caesars Arena but also providing timely offense; his 57 points ranked fifth overall on the team last season.
However, Kane decided against what would have been a third full campaign in Detroit, and instead returned to the Blackhawks with a two-year, $16 million contract, where he'll eventually wrap up his playing days.
But just because Kane no longer wears the Winged Wheel, it doesn't mean that he won't forever look back fondly upon his time playing in Detroit.
He posted a touching tribute on social media, thanking the Red Wings organization, the players, training and equipment staff, and the fans for embracing him.
"Thank you to Marian and Chris Ilitch, Steve Yzerman, all the coaches, players, trainers, equipment managers, and everyone within the organization for making Detroit a special place for me and my family over the past few seasons," Kane wrote.
Kane continued by thanking his longtime friend and teammate Alex DeBrincat, along with several of his now-former teammates before sending a special message to the fans of Hockeytown.
"Finally, to the fans—wow, what can I say? The support I felt over the last few seasons was unbelievable," Kane said. "I never expected that coming from Chicago. To score my 500th goal and 1,375th point at home at LCA, in front of you, was... perfect. Thank you for all your love. Sorry we couldn't get over the hump and get in the playoffs. That's all anyone wanted."
"It was truly an honor to be a Red Wing, and I enjoyed every minute of it. To be part of such a storied franchise and be welcomed with open arms is something my family and I will never forget. Thank you, Detroit!"
In the 189 games that Kane played with the Red Wings, he scored 57 goals with 106 assists.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Two games into his comeback, Mario Lemieux reached the 1,500-point mark. That’s right, he scored 750 points against Toronto and 750 more against Ottawa.
OK, it only seemed that way.
The real numbers are almost as scary. Lemieux, 35, returned to the NHL on more than 1,200 days' rest and began scoring at a rate that would net him 138 points in Pittsburgh’s remaining 46 games.
Normally, such projections are folly. With Lemieux, you just don’t know. He had three points against the Leafs, four against the Senators and two more against Washington for a total of three goals and six assists. In the Senators’ game, he became 10th player in NHL history to reach 1,500 career points.
“I’m a little bit surprised by the way I played after being off 3-1/2 years, but it was certainly my plan to go out and play well and play at a high level if I could,” Lemieux said.
High level? Lemieux soared like an eagle from his very first shift — and he didn’t even have his old burst yet.
“He’s getting better every day,” said Penguins’ defenseman Ian Moran. “That’s what’s scary”
It took Lemieux just 33 seconds to reacquaint himself with the scoresheet when the Leafs visited Mellon Arena Dec. 27 in one of the most anticipated games in NHL history. He assisted on Jaromir Jagr’s goal. But his impact in the dressing room hit home about a half-hour before that, as the Penguins anxiously awaited to take the ice with their Hall of Fame player-turned-owner-turned-player.
“We all tried to talk, but it was weird,” said defenseman Darius Kasparaitis. “I haven’t felt that nervous for many years.”
The Penguins waited while Lemieux’s retired No. 66 banner was lowered from the roof as his 4-year-old son, Austin, watched from the ice. When the team finally bolted from the runway, the biggest crowd of the season—a standing-room-only gathering of 17,148—roared. TV viewers all over North America watched intently. Lemieux’s return drew a bigger regional audience—about 180,000 households in the Pittsburgh market—than any regular season game in the history of the 22 Fox Sports Net affiliates. Nationally, ratings on ESPN (double the season average) and Hockey Night in Canada(up roughly 65 per cent) went through the roof.
Lemieux didn’t disappoint that night or three nights later when the Senators paid a visit. And he might have had his most impressive performance against the Capitals, who checked Lemieux tightly only to see him set up Jagr for the game-winner with 8:07 left. The Penguins won all three home games by a combined score of 13-5. Before his return, the Penguins had lost five consecutive home games, which was two short of tying a team futility record.
“The most amazing thing is he made everybody better, not just his line, but the whole team—instantly,” said veteran defenseman Jeff Norton. “It wasn’t a meeting. It wasn’t a hard practice. It was Mario’s presence. I haven’t seen anything like that.”
In many ways. Lemieux is the same player he always was, a step ahead of everyone while somehow slowing the game to his pace. But in other ways, this is a new Lemieux. He wears his helmet and shoulder pads at practice. He maintains a strict diet. And he boasts a much stronger upper body than he did in his first 12 NHL seasons.
“I’ve been doing a lot more weights than my early years,”
Lemieux said, “I feel a lot stronger on the puck.”
That can’t be good news for defenders, who showed Lemieux so much respect in his first two games you would have thought he was holding an AK-47 rather than a hockey stick. The few who dared touch him wound up flat on their fannies.
“I think it’s good I’m playing with him,” Kasparaitis said. “If I was playing against him, maybe I’d get abused.”
Lemieux worked minimally with weights earlier in his career, but he hit them hard when he got the comeback bug in November. He trained alternately with former Penguins’ teammate Jay Caufield and Pittsburgh-area back specialist and personal trainer Tom Plasko.
"From what Mario was all about to now, it’s a total turnaround,” Plasko says. “He has become dedicated. This guy has put 150 per cent into everything we’re doing.”
Lemieux’s conditioning paid off immediately, even though his leg strength wasn’t what he wanted it to be. He sat out most of the third period against the Leafs, but still averaged 22:52 of ice time in his first three games. That put him eighth in average ice time among NHL forwards. Three of Lemieux’s teammates were among the top six: Alexei Kovalev led the league at 24:46; Jagr was third at 23:56; and Martin Straka was sixth at 23:20. If things work out as Lemieux hopes, he might surpass them all.
“(Coach) Ivan (Hlinka) asked me a couple of times if I was tired and I felt pretty good,” Lemieux said. “The best way to get back into the game is to play. Sometimes, I’m going to feel a little tired at the end of the shifts, but that’s all conditioning and you have to go through that to get to the next level, which I intend to do pretty quickly. If I can keep playing 20-to-25 minutes a game and by the end of the year probably 30 minutes a game, that’s where I want to be.”
Lemieux’s impact could be seen everywhere, most notably in the rejuvenated play of linemates Jaromir Jagr and Jan Hrdina. Jagr had 10 points in Lemieux’s first three games. Hrdina continued to play mostly center while Lemieux played left wing, just as he had in his final season (1996-97) before retirement. Earlier this season, Hrdina was reluctant to shoot and was often guilty of forcing the puck to Jagr. Both things changed when Lemieux joined the crew.
And the power play? “I’ve never seen a power play with that many options,” said Leafs’ goaltender Curtis Joseph.
The power play might have Lemieux on the left wing boards and Jagr cruising the slot, or Jagr on the right wing boards with Lemieux looking for a shot. Kovalev works the right point with ne of the hardest shots in the game and a pair of talented forwards, Straka and Robert Lang, round out the unit.
“That’s the best I’ve seen our power play look in years,” said Pens’ GM Craig Patrick after Lemieux’s first game.
The unit went 3-for-11 in Lemieux’s first three games (27.2 percent). Prior to that, it clicked at a 16.2 percent rate.
The Penguins sold out the first two games of Lemieux’s return and are a good bet to sell out most of their remaining games. Tickets were selling briskly for his away games, too.
“This takes things up another notch,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. “It’s because what he’s doing transcends the Penguins; it transcends hockey.”
One of the most extraordinary aspects of Lemieux’s return, of course, is he remains the Penguins’ owner. But that hasn’t caused a ripple among his teammates or with Hlinka, who said simply, “He does n’t need a coach.”
“I’m back playing the game now,” Lemieux said. “I want to be treated like a player. That’s what I’ve been my whole career. Just the fact that I own the team doesn’t mean that people have to treat me differently, especially the players and the coaching staff.”
If Lemieux is able to stay away from the injuries that hampered him in his first 12 seasons, there is no telling what kind of numbers he might put up. It seemed certain he was only going to get better and stronger as he played more games.
“That was just a start,” Norton said. “He has looked better and better out there, skating-wise. A couple of times the other night he had the puck, beat a guy and lost it. Those things are going to come. As you’ve seen, those moves are usually completed and the puck’s in the net.”
The Senators and Leafs entered the offseason from very different places.
The Sens are coming off a 99-point season, ninth overall in the NHL, and a second straight playoff appearance. After it was over, they had an unexpected problem drop in their lap when captain Brady Tkachuk requested a trade.
Toronto, meanwhile, went from first to worst in the Atlantic with 78 points, won the draft lottery, replaced their head coach and GM, and went to work on a major roster overhaul.
Drake Batherson says it would be nice to get an extension done with the Sens this summer and hopes it happens.
The summer is far from over, but most of the heavy lifting has probably been done. So, which team had the better offseason, and more importantly, which one looks better heading into 2026-27?
Senators Trades
The Senators' offseason plans spun off the road in early May when Tkachuk officially decided he wanted to play with his brother, asked for a trade, and was eventually got one.
Ottawa received Florida's ninth and 25th picks in the 2026 draft, a 2027 second-round pick and a conditional 2029 first-rounder.
GM Steve Staios quickly flipped the ninth pick to San Jose for forwards William Eklund and prospects Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda.
Eklund is the key piece, the proven NHL commodity. He had 53 points last season and gives the Sens a young, established top-six winger who can help replace Tkachuk's offence. The additional hope is that the 23-year-old Eklund still hasn't hit his ceiling.
The Senators also acquired winger Andre Burakovsky from Chicago for a 2027 sixth-round pick and RFA goalie Samuel Ersson from Toronto for a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Senators Free Agent Signings
Ottawa's free-agent activity was much quieter as they basically took care of their own. Senators re-signed Ersson, veteran forwards Claude Giroux and Nick Cousins, defenseman Jordan Spence, and goalie Leevi Merilainen.
They also signed some depth free agents to two-way contracts: forwards Sammy Blais, Ryan Suzuki, Philip Tomasino, Philippe Daoust and defenseman Christian Kyrou.
Senators Free Agent Losses
The Sens turned the page on Lars Eller, Nick Jensen, Dennis Gilbert, Lassi Thomson, Arthur Kaliyev, Olle Lycksell, James Reimer, and Mads Sogaard, allowing all of them to walk into free agency.
The obvious question is whether Eklund and Burakovsky can make up enough of the offence lost with Tkachuk.
That said, when you factor in the intangibles like team chemistry, or how Tkachuk's vibe noticeably changed after last year's 4 Nations Face-off, it's more than fair to suggest his exit isn't all bad for the Sens.
Extreme Makeover: Toronto Edition
If the Sens' summer was about reacting to the Tkachuk Show leaving town, Toronto's offseason program might be labelled Extreme Makeover. The Leafs parted ways with head coach Craig Berube and GM Brad Treliving.
New general manager John Chayka, in the role of Ty Pennington, came in with major renovations after the Leafs' dismal 78-point season, starting with the hiring of Jim Hiller as his new head coach.
Leafs Trades: Additions
Praying to all the hockey gods that he's not a one-hit wonder, the Leafs acquired defenseman Darren Raddysh from Tampa Bay and signed him to an eight-year extension worth $8.5 million. In just his third full NHL season, the 30-year-old Raddysh erupted for 22 goals and 70 points last season. His previous best was 6 goals and 37 points.
Toronto then went back to Tampa for former Senator Nick Paul. They also acquired RFA defenseman Emil Andrae and RFA goalie Sam Ersson from Philadelphia. Ersson's rights were then flipped to Ottawa for almost nothing.
Leafs Trades: Substractions
The Leafs didn't make all those changes without saying goodbye to some talent in those deals: Along with Ersson, goalies Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby are also gone. So are defencemen Brandon Carlo and Simon Benoit, along with forward Nick Robertson.
First Overall Pick
Toronto's most intriguing addition didn't come through trade at all. After winning the draft lottery, the Leafs selected Gavin McKenna first overall. McKenna has the elite puck skills to be a superstar but it remains to be seen if he can reach that status right away.
Leafs Free Agent Signings
Toronto's biggest free-agent signing was goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who signed a three-year contract after seven seasons with Florida. Bobrovsky has been an elite goalie for years, but posted an unimpressive .877 save percentage last year. Was that because the Panthers were a bad team, ravaged by injury, or because age is setting in? Bob will turn 38 in September.
Toronto also signed Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Brandon Duhaime, and Zack MacEwen.
Leafs Free Agent Losses
The Leafs turned the page on Matias Maccelli and Calle Jarnkrok.
That's a lot of turnover. Toronto is betting heavily that an aging Bobrovsky won't repeat last year's performance and that Raddysh will.
And Then There's Alfie
This Battle of Ontario comparison has another layer that has nothing to do with the rosters.
Daniel Alfredsson left the Sens' coaching staff after three seasons and joined Toronto as an associate coach. Seeing him join the Leafs is beyond strange.
Verdict 1: Who had the better offseason?
Toronto, in a landslide.
The Sens did their best to recover from a situation they didn't create. Turning part of the Tkachuk return into William Eklund was solid and helped shore up the Sens future with picks and prospects that everyone agreed they needed.
For the second straight year, the club is maybe being a little cavalier with their backup goaltender situation. Linus Ullmark obviously needs a platoon situation in the regular season and the Sens are betting big that the newcomer, Ersson, a $2.2 million goalie, can be that co-number one for them.
Toronto, meanwhile, aggressively addressed several areas of its roster. Bobrovsky, Raddysh, Paul and Roslovic are significant NHL additions, while McKenna will probably become the most important player acquired by either team this summer.
Verdict 2: Who will be the better team this season?
Ottawa.
The Leafs will surely narrow the gap, but the Senators finished 21 points ahead of them last season, and that's a lot of ground to make up in one year.
Ottawa still has a core built around Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, Dylan Cozens, and Thomas Chabot, and has now added Eklund to that group. Unlike teams of the rebuild, the core is not only better, more experienced, and battled-tested, they're now well-insulated with higher-quality veterans.
The Leafs may have improved more this summer, but they still have to show that all those new pieces can completely transform the fifth-worst team in hockey. If they can't, the Buds may find themselves with a restless captain of their own next summer.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article first appeared at The Hockey News Ottawa. For full Senators coverage, check out one of The Hockey News headlines below.
A six-year contract extension worth $5.5M per year followed the initial trade for Pettersson, keeping the defenceman in Vancouver for what seemed like the foreseeable future. Pettersson had a full no-move clause for the first three years of the deal — one that he ultimately waived in order to go to New York.
The decision to waive, the defenceman explained to reporters in New York, was one that came about as a result of his familiarity with some of the team’s staff as well as the reputation of the franchise itself.
“Obviously, the Rangers being an Original Six, growing up idolizing that team and stuff like that,” he said. “It all happened very quickly, to be honest with you. But when I got the opportunity to come here, and with the history with some of the coaching staff that I have there, it was a great opportunity. I’m super excited.”
One specific member of the Rangers that Pettersson is familiar with is none-other than head coach Mike Sullivan, who he played under for seven seasons as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The defenceman explained why he’s happy to be playing under the long-time NHL head coach, citing the way he approaches the game.
“First off, as a person, I feel like me and Sully had a great relationship. He’s a straightforward kind of guy. You’re never really wondering what you should do or where you’re at or stuff like that... I love that about him. And system-wise, I feel like it tends to play into my playing style. I want to play a fast-paced style, like he wants to play, and pressure on puck. I feel like his system is so good, where you don’t have to overthink things out there. You’re playing off your instincts, and your instincts are what brought you to where you are.”
Mar 26, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Marcus Pettersson (29) shoots against the Los Angeles Kings in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Another familiar name for Pettersson, though the two never played together, is Rangers captain J.T. Miller. Miller was traded back to New York on the same day that Pettersson was acquired by Vancouver — on January 31, 2025.
“Some of my teammates in Vancouver talked about J.T. and how great of a person is, and they reached out and said, ‘You’re gonna love him and his family and stuff like that, and the competitiveness that [he] brings’.”
Now a member of the Rangers, Pettersson will close the chapter of his career that took place in Vancouver. While he did acknowledge that there were a lot of things to be learned from his time with the Canucks, as a whole, the defenceman is “grateful” for the experience.
“I have nothing but great things to say about Vancouver. My time there, even though it was short, I feel like I learned a lot, and I do feel like I want to bounce back from kind of a negative feeling from that. I’m super excited to join the Rangers, but I’m grateful for the Canucks, as well.”
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
When hundreds of Utah hockey fans traded their Vegas Golden Knights jerseys for Mammoth sweaters during last season's Stanley Cup Playoffs, many wondered what became of the pile of jerseys left behind.
Now, there's an answer—and it turned into something far more meaningful than simply being thrown into storage.
The jerseys collected during the Utah Mammoth's popular exchange event were donated to the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation, which then distributed them to nonprofits throughout the Las Vegas area, including HELP of Southern Nevada.
The nonprofit recently shared photos of youth and staff members wearing the donated jerseys while thanking everyone involved in giving them a second life.
"Those jerseys are being proudly worn by HELP youth and staff members, creating smiles and reminding us that sports have the power to bring communities together both on and off the ice."
HELP of Southern Nevada also expressed its appreciation to the Utah fans who surrendered their jerseys, the Mammoth organization for organizing the promotion, and the Golden Knights Foundation for ensuring the jerseys reached families and young people in the community.
"Your generosity is making a difference for local families and youth throughout Southern Nevada."
The jersey exchange took place before Game 3 of Utah's first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Golden Knights. Fans who brought in a Vegas jersey received a blank 2025-26 Mammoth home jersey at no cost, with hundred, according to The Salt Lake City Tribune, taking advantage of the promotion before the supply of replacement jerseys was exhausted.
What began as a lighthearted rivalry promotion ultimately produced a lasting impact, turning old Golden Knights jerseys into donations that continue to benefit families and youth across Southern Nevada.
And now other sports are beginning to follow suit. Earlier this month, NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar hosted an event where offered free T-shirts repping his No. 77 team to the first 77 fans who brought in shirts that supported active drivers for a free trade-in at his merch trailer.
The next chapter of Andrew Agozzino’s hockey career won’t take place on the ice.
Just days after announcing his retirement from professional hockey, the former Colorado Avalanche forward is staying with the Utah Mammoth organization, this time behind the bench. Utah announced Saturday that Agozzino has been named an assistant coach for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, allowing the longtime minor-league standout to transition directly into coaching.
Agozzino spent the past two seasons serving as an alternate captain in Tucson, where he totaled 82 points (39 goals, 43 assists) and 78 penalty minutes in 111 games. His leadership and experience made him a respected voice inside the Roadrunners’ locker room, qualities the organization will now lean on in a coaching role.
Although his NHL opportunities were limited, Agozzino appeared in two games with the Mammoth during the 2025-26 season, adding to a career that spanned eight NHL campaigns with Utah, the San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Avalanche.
The 5-foot-10, 187-pound forward finished his NHL career with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) and four penalty minutes across 53 games.
Agozzino’s greatest impact, however, came in the American Hockey League. A three-time AHL All-Star, he compiled an impressive 662 points on 284 goals and 378 assists while appearing in 847 career games over 15 seasons. His consistency and offensive production made him one of the league’s most recognizable veterans before ultimately deciding to hang up his skates.
Now, instead of leading from the ice, Agozzino will help develop the next generation of players from behind the bench as he begins the coaching phase of his hockey career.
We wish Agozzino success in his new role and given his history in the AHL, it would be appear on the surface that he’s the right man for the job.
The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures.
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago. Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.
Buffalo native Patrick Kane signs with the Chicago Blackhawks
Kekalainen ideally would like to make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six.
Someone who has yet to be signed, and has won a pair of Stanley Cups is veteran winger Vladimir Tarasenko. The 34-year-old has become a gun for hire since being dealt from the St. Louis Blues in 2023. The talented Russian scored 30 or more goals six times in 10 seasons with the Blues, after which he has played for New York, Ottawa, Florida, Detroit and Minnesota. In two of the last three seasons, with Ottawa/Florida and Minnesota, Tarasenko has scored 23 goals.
The veteran forward is not strong defensively, but still has the skill to play on a second power play unit or in the middle six. Tarasenko would not be the equal of Kane as a playmaker, but has more of an ability to put the puck in the net and in a pinch, can move up higher in the lineup and fit in on the top power play. His last two contracts have been short term (one year with Ottawa, two years with Detroit) with a cap hit of $4.75 to $5 million.
Still being unsigned at the end of July could mean that Tarasenko is open to a lesser amount or an performance bonus-based deal, which could be a better fit for the Sabres in their current cap situation.
David Reinbacher is a prospect whom the Montreal Canadiens are hoping will emerge as a very important part of their roster in the future. The 21-year-old defenseman has the potential to blossom into an impactful player, but he is still looking to make the jump to become a full-time NHLer.
Reinbacher showed promise last season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, posting five goals, 19 assists, 24 points, and a plus-18 rating in 57 games. This was after he was limited to only 10 games with Laval during the 2024-25 season due to injury, where he posted two goals and five points.
Reinbacher's solid play in the AHL this past season with Laval also helped him land his first call-up to Montreal's roster. In his first two career NHL games with the Habs, he recorded one assist, one hit, and two blocks. Overall, the youngster had a solid first look in the NHL, and he will now be looking to take a big step with his development in 2026-27.
It is clear that this upcoming season is a very important one for Reinbacher. The Canadiens will be hoping that he can continue to grow his game. If he does, it should open the door for him to receive more opportunities at the NHL level in 2026-27.
It will be interesting to see if Reinbacher can make the jump to the NHL level next season. The young blueliner has a lot of potential, and he is a big prospect to watch in 2026-27 because of it.
One of the newest members of the Florida Panthers is preparing for the upcoming NHL season in a unique way.
It’s not unheard of for Brady Tkachuk to work some non-hockey training into his offseason regimen.
The physical forward has been known to utilize MMA training to help sharpen his skills in the past, and this summer is no different.
Earlier this week, former UFC fighter Nick Cantone shared an image on social media from a workout session that included himself, Tkachuk and MMA fighters Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov.
Tkachuk can be seen wearing his gold medal from the 2026 Winter Olympics in the photo.
The hangout took place at Cantone’s gym, the Nicholas Scott Cantone Training Center, which is located in Brick Township, New Jersey.
In joining the Panthers, Tkachuk knew that he was going to be asked to play in a very aggressive and physically demanding system, so to see him gearing up and honing those skills when we’re still over a month from training camp is no surprise.
During his career, Tkachuk has never shied away from playing a tough game and going into the dirty areas of the ice.
NHL forwards who typically play a more physical game than others will average around three to four hits per game and generally are rare to turn down an opportunity to drop the gloves when challenged.
Through his eight seasons, all with Ottawa, Tkachuk has averaged 3.4 hits per game and racked up 821 career penalty minutes, which averages out to just over 100 per season. Of all those penalty minutes, 185 of them have come from his 37 fighting majors.
Now it’s worth noting that Tkachuk has been fighting less in recent years. He only fought three times last season, the lowest amount since his rookie campaign in 2018-19.
Compare that to 24-25, when he fought five times, or 23-24, when he dropped the gloves six times, or the season before that when he was called for eight fighting majors, or the 16 combined times he dropped the gloves in the three years before that, from the 19-20 season to 21-22.
Perhaps as he’s gotten older and more mature, Tkachuk is prioritizing his ice time a little differently and understands a player of his caliber is needed more on the ice than in the penalty box.
Regardless, Tkachuk continues to train in many different ways and focus on an abundance of areas that improve both his hockey and overall physicality.
We’ll see how that translates into the way he plays for the Panthers, arguably the most physical team in the league.
Photo caption: Jan 20, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Ottawa Senators left wingBradyTkachuk(7) and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman John Marino (6)fightduring the third period at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins won 6-4. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
Not everyone is sold on the Colorado Avalanche’s biggest offseason extension.
Just weeks after Colorado committed to veteran defenseman Brett Kulak with a five-year, $22.5 million contract carrying a $4.5 million average annual value, one prominent NHL publication has already labeled the deal among the league’s worst.
In its annual ranking of the NHL’s best and worst contracts, The Athletic placed Kulak’s extension at No. 8 on its list of the least favorable deals, pointing to concerns that the 32-year-old’s underlying performance has declined significantly despite earning a long-term commitment.
Kulak arrived in Colorado after the Olympic break in a trade that sent Samuel Girard and a second-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins. His offensive numbers were never going to jump off the page, but the veteran quickly carved out an important role on the Avalanche blue line. He stabilized the team’s top four, eventually settling in on the second pairing alongside Sam Malinski, and logged stretches next to Cale Makar on the top pair whenever Colorado needed him there.
The criticism, though, isn’t about his counting stats at all.
The Athletic built its case around Kulak’s underlying defensive metrics, especially his relative impact on expected goals at five-on-five. The outlet argues his numbers slid throughout the season, and that the decline showed up no matter which team he was skating for.
“His drop-off at five-on-five wasn’t exactly an isolated incident; it was consistent across three different playoff teams,” The Athletic wrote. “Kulak’s relative impact on xG was minus-0.48 in Edmonton, minus-0.14 in Pittsburgh, and a ghastly minus-1.2 in Colorado. In all three locales, his impact on goals was even worse.”
Where I Push Back
This is where I part ways with the analytics crowd — the writers who lean so heavily on the numbers that they lose sight of everything else happening on the ice. The Athletic zeroed in on one narrow slice of data here, when there are plenty of other indicators suggesting Kulak has actually been a net positive for this team.
There’s also a metric these rankings tend to overlook entirely: watching the game. Since Kulak joined the Avalanche, I’ve noticed — without needing a spreadsheet to tell me so — that there’s been a real stretch where he simply wasn’t on the ice for a goal against. For a defenseman, whose entire job description is keeping the other team from piling on his goaltender, that’s no small thing.
He backed it up in the playoffs, too. Kulak was effective for most of Colorado’s run and scored the game-winning goal that sent the Avalanche past the Minnesota Wild and into the Western Conference Final. Yes, his third-round performance dipped — but so did nearly everyone else’s on that roster. Singling him out doesn’t feel fair. Furthermore, Kulak is a pure defensive defenseman, so getting on his case for not having glamorous offensive prowess doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Analytics has its place. It’s a genuinely useful lens for evaluating performance, and I’m not arguing otherwise. But leaning on numbers alone leaves gaps, and those gaps matter. There’s still no substitute for actually watching the games — at least not in my book.
Unfortunately for the Detroit Red Wings, it's no longer "Showtime" in the Motor City.
Future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane, who had been with the club since signing as a UFA in December 2023, chose to return to the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he'd spent the bulk of his career and won three Stanley Cup rings.
Chicago paid handsomely to lure Kane back into the fold, signing him to a salary cap hit of $8 million for the next two seasons, which will likely be the last of his career.
While Kane ending his career where it began is a fitting conclusion, his departure leaves a significant void in the lineup of the Red Wings, who were considered a longshot to return to the playoffs next season even had he re-signed.
But just because the Kane era in Detroit is over, it doesn't mean that he won't look back fondly on his playing days wearing the Winged Wheel.
Kane, who spent time in the metro-Detroit area as a youth and was even hosted by the family of former Red Wings forward Pat Verbeek, spoke glowingly about how the organization and the fan base treated him.
“What can I say about Detroit? I know it’s a huge rival with Chicago, but it was an incredible place to play," Kane said during his introductory press conference with Chicago on Friday. "The fans were great to me, the team was great. Everyone kind of welcomed me with open arms and really embraced me while I was there. So, great, great experience.”
Kane, who is good friends with Alex DeBrincat, whom he played with in Chicago and Detroit, appreciated the chance for their young sons to continue their friendship with one another.
“I got to watch my son kind of grow up a little bit there and make some good friends with Archie DeBrincat, and they had a great relationship,” Kane said. “So, it was fun to watch that kind of evolve."
Unfortunately for the Red Wings and their fans, they never got to experience Stanley Cup Playoff hockey with Kane in the lineup. While Kane said upon re-signing with Detroit last year that he'd love to skate in playoff hockey at Little Caesars Arena, it wasn't meant to be.
The Red Wings now own the NHL's longest postseason drought at 10 years and counting. Captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade out of town, and GM Steve Yzerman recently stepped down from his role.
In April, Kane expressed interest in what would have been a third full season in Detroit, but it's likely those aforementioned developments played a role in his choosing to continue his career elsewhere.
And while he'll finish his career as a Blackhawk, he was happy to have played for the Red Wings.
“Obviously, we didn’t get to the playoffs, which is disappointing, but my experience there was great," Kane said of playing in Detroit.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
