Another member of the Cloutier family is rising through the ranks of organized hockey.
Kane Cloutier, son of former Vancouver Canucks goaltender Dan Cloutier, was selected with the first-overall pick in the 2026 OHL Draft on June 12. The forward, who will turn 16 on Sunday, was selected by the Oshawa Generals. Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares was present at the draft to announce Oshawa’s selection.
Cloutier spent the 2025–26 season with the U16 AAA Vaughan Kings of the GTHL, putting up 32 goals and 26 assists in 33 games played. Next season, he’ll join an Oshawa team that currently features forwards Cole Mazzoni, Mark Pape, and Brooks Rogowski.
Former NHLer and Canuck Dan Cloutier spent 10 seasons in the NHL, having been drafted 26th-overall by the New York Rangers in 1994 and also playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Canucks, and Los Angeles Kings.
In his five years with Vancouver, Cloutier put together an overall record of 109–68–24, registering a .906 SV% and 2.42 GAA. In four playoff runs with Vancouver, he won 10 of 25 games played in and posted a .872 SV% and 3.31 GAA.
After his playing career, Cloutier spent two seasons as the Barrie Colts’ goaltending coach before heading back to the Canucks. From 2012 to 2016, he served as a goaltending consultant for Vancouver before being elevated to goaltending coach for two seasons. He spent the 2018–19 season as Vancouver’s Director of Goaltending before heading back to Barrie to serve as the special assistant to the General Manager.
Photo Credit: @OshawaGeneralsOHL - Instagram
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In a bizarre bit of offseason NHL trade rumors, the Philadelphia Flyers may be willing to take on Darnell Nurse and his terrible contract if the Edmonton Oilers can make it reasonable for them. Nurse isn't the albatross worth targeting, though.
While Nurse, 31, may be an upgrade on defense at a certain price point that is well below his $9.25 million cap hit, there are many hoops to jump through to make such a trade worthwhile for the Flyers, and even the Oilers themselves.
The Oilers are not known for their strong defense or goaltending; Nurse plays a part in the former, and trade acquisition Tristan Jarry was meant to fix the latter.
Jarry, however, never fit well in Edmonton and as a result played the worst hockey of his career.
Should the Oilers be eager to rid themselves of Jarry and his $5.375 million cap hit in addition to Nurse, that's who the Flyers should really be after in a trade.
Jarry, 31, has two years remaining on his contract at that cap hit, and while he did just have an awful season in Edmonton, he was very solid in a handful of games for the Pittsburgh Penguins before being traded.
The Penguins, who were eliminated at the hands of the Flyers in the Stanley Cup playoffs in six games, owe their playoff appearance to Jarry, who went 9-3-1 in his first 13 starts with the team this season with a 2.66 GAA, .909 save percentage, and a shutout.
Of course, the 6-foot-4 goaltender is familiar with the Metropolitan Division and life in Pennsylvania, and Jarry also made his NHL debut while Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet was an assistant coach with the Penguins back in 2016-17.
The Flyers will be extending Dan Vladar this summer, but the backup position behind him largely remains a question mark.
Jarry, while unproven in the playoffs, has several years of proof of being a quality NHL goalie on his resume, and at his best, could give the Flyers a formidable 1-2 punch with Vladar.
The price (Sweetener? Future considerations?) could be prohibitive, as with Nurse, but the financial commitment from the Flyers is nearly half while still addressing a position of need.
One could also argue that Jarry, at his best, is better and more impactful than Nurse would be at his best. Even with a rough few years with Edmonton and Pittsburgh, which included a stint in the minors, Jarry still has a career .907 save percentage.
Additionally, unless the Flyers want to invest in Stuart Skinner or Sergei Bobrovsky at a similar price point--Skinner with a term that will almost certainly exceed Jarry's two years--this may be their best path forward at the goalie position.
If the Flyers want to deal with the Oilers and their host of bad contracts, they should consider all avenues, including Jarry.
The player they select with that pick could very well be a difference maker for the franchise, especially considering Matthew Knies was picked 57th overall in 2021.
The prospect and drafting experts have different opinions, but one player who can potentially be aligned with Toronto's 60th overall pick is left-shot center Thomas Vandenberg, projected by former scout, Sportsnet's Jason Bukula.
Vandenberg is listed higher on several other mock draft rankings, but for Bukula, he is slotted in at No. 59, around the time for the Maple Leafs to make their second pick of the 2026 draft.
Vandenberg is coming off his first OHL season, playing 59 games for the Ottawa 67s. The Nepean, Ont., native recorded 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points, finishing fifth on the team in points, and tied for third in goals.
In the OHL post-season, Vandenberg scored four goals and seven points in nine games, tying for second on the team in playoff tallies. The 67s swept the Kingston Frontenacs in the first round, but were eliminated in five games by the Barrie Colts in the following round.
After a solid rookie campaign in the Ontario League, Vandenberg is set to take his talents south of the border and into the NCAA after committing to Providence College for the 2026-27 season.
"Vandenberg is an equal parts shooter and playmaker," Bukula wrote, with Vandenberg's point totals from last season evidence of that. "He can be deployed up and down the lineup in a variety of roles. He’s one of the youngest prospects in the draft class." The 17-year-old was born on Sept. 8, 2008.
Before his time in the OHL, Vandenberg played for the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. In that 2024-25 campaign, he scored nine goals and nine assists for 18 points in 55 appearances. That provides further proof that he's equally productive as a scorer and playmaker, as Bukula suggested.
NHL Central Scouting has Vandenberg ranked as the 35th-best North American skater in the 2026 draft class. They also have him listed at 6-foot.
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Okuliar spent the 2025-26 season with the SHL's Skellefteå AIK. He appeared in 46 games, finishing with 15 goals and 29 points.
He also represented his home country of Slovakia in the 2026 Winter Olympics, compiling one goal and two points in six games. He then played for Slovakia in the 2026 World Championships, finishing with two goals and five points in seven games.
Pieniniemi's 2025-26 season got off to a rocky start when he refused to report to the Wheeling Nailers after training camp. He flew back to Finland instead and was suspended by the Penguins until he eventually reported to the Nailers.
He appeared in 26 games with the Nailers, finishing with six goals and 11 points. He also appeared in 11 games with the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, racking up one goal and three points in nine games.
If the Montreal Canadiens are looking to address their big organizational need, they’ll need to be willing to part with enticing young assets, and one of their prospects really fits that bill. 20-year-old right-shot defenseman Bryce Pickford just had a season for the ages in the WHL.
In 55 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers, the blueliner put up 83 points, including 45 goals. His numbers were so impressive that he has been nominated for both CHL defenseman of the year and player of the year. That’s not at all surprising given the fact that he won both awards in the WHL, but it still shows how exceptional a season he’s had. A third-round pick by the Canadiens at the latest draft, Pickford had impressed them so much by Christmas that they already signed him to an ELC.
Of course, success in the WHL doesn’t always translate to success in the NHL, but his stock is still quite high right now, and a rebuilding team that lacks a pure offensive defenseman may well be interested in his profile. The Canadiens themselves need a right-shot defenseman, but in an ideal world, they’d need one who’d be able to step in the NHL right now, and that’s not Pickford.
Dominating in the OHL, against younger players is one thing, but making the jump to the pro level is quite another. Generally speaking, defensemen need more time than forwards to reach their full potential, and as we’ve seen in these playoffs, the Canadiens’ window of contention has already started opening.
However, Kent Hughes has always been clear that he wants to build a perennial contender, not just a team that will have a great shot at winning the Cup once and then be taken apart. The contracts he’s been able to sign his players to reflect that reality. Hughes is not just about the now; he’s about the long-term as well. There’s a balance he’ll have to strike between getting the pieces that will move the needle in the right direction for his team now and planning for the future as well. He won’t make trades that will leave his prospect cupboard bare, but he won’t overly stockpile either.
Artemi Panarin already knows what Peter Laviolette wants — and now the Los Angeles Kings are betting that familiarity can help fix an offense that’s been stuck in neutral for years.
The Kings officially introduced Laviolette as the 32nd head coach in franchise history on Wednesday, handing the 61-year-old the job of reshaping a team that has not won a playoff series since its 2014 Stanley Cup run and was most recently swept by the Colorado Avalanche in a blunt reminder of how far it has fallen behind the NHL’s fastest contenders.
That series told the story in simple terms: five goals total, very little sustained pressure, and long stretches where Los Angeles simply couldn’t generate anything off the rush or in transition.
Known for early offensive spikes and aggressive, pace-driven systems, Laviolette has built a coaching career on unlocking scoring quickly — whether in Carolina, Philadelphia, Nashville, Washington, or most recently with the Rangers.
Across those stops, the results have followed a familiar rhythm: immediate jump in offense, playoff appearances, and at times deep runs, including a Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006 and additional trips to the Final in 2010 and 2017.
But the most relevant connection in Los Angeles might not be system-based — it’s personal.
Artemi Panarin already knows the ceiling Laviolette can unlock.
In New York, Panarin produced one of the best seasons of his career under Laviolette in 2023-24, finishing with 49 goals and 120 points — a top-five Hart Trophy finish and one of the most productive offensive years in Rangers history. He followed that with another strong season before eventually being traded to the Kings earlier this year.
Now, the two are reunited.
“He can change a game on any given night,” Laviolette said of Panarin. “I’m really excited to work with him again.”
Panarin’s arrival in Los Angeles has already shown early signs of impact. He finished the regular season with 27 points in 26 games after the trade and accounted for two of the Kings’ five goals in the playoff sweep against Colorado — one of the few players who consistently found space in an otherwise compressed series.
That production stands in sharp contrast to the broader offensive profile of the roster. The Kings finished 29th in the NHL with 225 goals and were outscored by 22 on the season, finishing 20th overall with 90 points — the lowest-ranked playoff qualifier in the field.
Laviolette made it clear this week that philosophical labels won’t dictate usage or responsibility.
“There’s not going to be two sets of plans for those that we consider offensive and those that we consider great defensive defensemen,” he said. “There will be one set of rules, one set of plans.”
The challenge, however, is structural. Unlike his time in New York, Laviolette won’t have an elite play-driving defenseman like Adam Fox to stabilize breakouts and ignite transition play. That places more pressure on a blue line that combined for just 23 goals and 110 assists in the regular season, then managed only a single point of offense in the postseason.
It also forces a broader identity shift — one the Kings have resisted for years.
Still, there is optimism inside the organization that Laviolette’s track record translates. He has guided teams to the playoffs in 11 of the past 14 seasons he finished behind an NHL bench and ranks seventh all-time in coaching wins with 846.
General manager Ken Holland pointed to that consistency when explaining the hire.
“You look at his resume, all the teams he’s been with, the impact he’s had in the first couple of years,” Holland said. “It’s a hard league to win in.”
For Los Angeles, the calculation is simple but risky: the structure has taken them as far as it can. Now they’re betting pace, aggression, and a system built to unleash scorers will take them further.
One miserable week doesn't erase six brilliant months, and Joe Sakic made it abundantly clear the Colorado Avalanche have no intention of confusing disappointment with disaster.
The Avalanche bulldozed the NHL on their way to the Presidents' Trophy, finishing as the league's highest-scoring team while allowing the fewest goals. For most of the season, they looked less like contenders and more like an inevitable champion.
Then came four games against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The sweep was ugly. It was frustrating. It was also, in Sakic's eyes, far too small a sample to justify detonating a roster built to compete for championships.
“We could panic and try and blow everything up and start all over,” Sakic told reporters. “But this team, what they’ve done over the course of the year, was pretty remarkable. Now, I want to give them an opportunity to try and do it again.”
That philosophy should shape every major decision the Avalanche make this summer.
You don't tear down a mansion because one toilet clogged.
For weeks, speculation has surrounded Colorado's unrestricted free agents, but Sakic's comments paint a much different picture than the one many fans expected.
If the general manager genuinely believes the Western Conference Final was little more than one terrible stretch against an elite opponent, there is little incentive to gut the supporting cast that helped produce a 121-point season.
That could mean a majority—if not all—of Colorado's unrestricted free agents return.
Nick Blankenburg proved to be a dependable seventh defenseman, Brent Burns showed he could still handle significant minutes at 41 years old, Brett Kulak brought stability to the blue line after arriving at the trade deadline, and Joel Kiviranta battled through multiple injuries to provide a steady, reliable presence even if the offensive production never fully materialized. Kiviranta also earned a spot on Finland's roster for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where he represented his country alongside fellow Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen and former Colorado star Mikko Rantanen.
Keeping that group intact would align far more closely with Sakic's public message than pursuing wholesale change.
The bigger question belongs to restricted free agent Jack Drury.
According to DNVR's AJ Haefele, Drury declined multiple contract offers from the Avalanche during the season. That naturally raises concerns about whether negotiations could become complicated, but it doesn't necessarily mean the two sides are headed for a breakup.
Negotiations often become a game of patience.
And Colorado has a compelling comparable.
As The Hockey News' Stefano Rubino recently noted, the Minnesota Wild signed veteran center Michael McCarron to a six-year contract carrying a $3.33 million average annual value. Drury is smaller, younger and brings a completely different skill set, but his value to Colorado extends far beyond the scoresheet.
His faceoff numbers routinely climb above 60 percent, making him one of the NHL's most dependable specialists. Whether protecting a one-goal lead late in the third period or creating an offensive-zone possession after an icing call, Drury consistently wins critical draws that tilt games.
Fourth-line centers rarely command massive contracts, but elite defensive centers who dominate the faceoff circle are considerably harder to replace than many realize.
Finding common ground should remain a priority.
None of this means the Avalanche will spend the offseason standing still.
Sakic acknowledged the organization will examine every avenue to improve the roster, including the trade market. Without an abundance of premium draft picks, player-for-player hockey trades may become Colorado's preferred method of creating flexibility.
Ross Colton remains an obvious candidate.
The 28-year-old enters the final season of his four-year, $16 million contract, and Colorado explored moving him before the trade deadline without finding a suitable partner. His postseason usage also raised eyebrows after he was scratched for the first two games against the Los Angeles Kings before eventually returning to the lineup.
Valeri Nichushkin's future is another conversation that refuses to disappear.
At his best, Nichushkin is one of hockey's most dominant power forwards, capable of controlling games with his size, puck protection and two-way play. He is also signed through 2030 with a $6.125 million annual cap hit.
The challenge isn't talent.
It's availability.
Nichushkin missed the final five games of Colorado's first-round series against Seattle in 2023 after leaving the team for what the organization described as personal reasons. A Seattle police report later revealed an intoxicated woman had been discovered in his hotel room before Game 3.
Months later, he entered Stage 1 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, which carries no disciplinary penalty but requires inpatient treatment.
After returning and producing nine goals in eight playoff games, Nichushkin suffered another setback, failed a drug test and entered Stage 3 of the program, resulting in a suspension without pay for a minimum of six months.
Since being reinstated, however, there have been no additional incidents, and by all accounts he has remained in good standing while returning to the lineup.
That reality makes any decision involving Nichushkin far more nuanced than simply measuring goals and assists.
The Avalanche certainly have options this summer, but Sakic's comments suggest evolution rather than revolution.
Colorado does not believe its championship window has slammed shut.
Instead, the organization views the season-ending stretch as an outlier that interrupted what was otherwise one of the strongest regular-season performances in franchise history. But as has been reported extensively, it wasn’t simply a bad week. There were underlying issues that were exposed and never fully corrected, and addressing those gaps will be a priority moving forward—whether that means adding a young left-shot defenseman via trade, or injecting more size and physicality up front.
If the man in charge truly holds that belief, it’s unlikely he will overhaul a roster that spent six months proving it belongs among the NHL’s elite.
The Stanley Cup is days from being awarded, the NHL combine has concluded, and in the weeks prior to the NHL Draft at the end of June, the rumor mill has been churning under the surface, as we may be on the precipice of an explosive summer or a disappointing one in terms of player movement. Two high-profile players (Dylan Larkin and Darnell Nurse) have already requested trades from the teams that drafted them, and indications suggest there may be more to come.
The Anaheim Ducks are notoriously quiet, especially at this time of the year, keeping their cards close to their chest. As a result, their name has only been mentioned in speculation, but, in a refreshing change of pace, that speculation has focused on significant potential moves.
It appeared as though Ducks’ current assistant coach, Jay Woodcroft, was a finalist for the head coaching vacancy with the rival Los Angeles Kings. NHL insider, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, reported on Sunday that the list of finalists included Peter Laviolette, and Laviolette was ultimately hired on Monday.
The only head coaching vacancies remaining in the NHL are with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers. The Leafs are reported to have made contact with former Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins and are uninterested in Woodcroft. Both are former head coaches of the Edmonton Oilers, and thus their names haven’t appeared in rumors regarding that vacancy.
However, another former Ducks head coach, Mike Babcock, is reported to be the frontrunner for the Edmonton job, pending an NHLPA investigation into reported wrongdoing during his time with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023.
Lastly, San Diego Gulls head coach Matt McIlvane has been announced as assistant coach for the Boston Bruins and head coach Marco Sturm. Sturm was the head coach of Germany’s national team during the 2018 Winter Olympics, with McIlvane serving as his assistant.
McIlvane will fill the vacancy left behind by Jay Leach, who was announced as head coach of the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack. The Gulls will now need to fill their head coaching vacancy, and Friedman suggested Gulls assistant coach Dave Manson may be in line for a promotion to the position.
Dylan Larkin
Following Larkin’s trade request from the Detroit Red Wings, he submitted an initial list of destinations he’d be willing to accept a trade to. The teams on the list have been in contention, with Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reporting them to be the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights. Various other reports have suggested the Tampa Bay Lightning and/or Dallas Stars are on the list.
Since reports of his three-team list arose, Larkin has been requested by Wings general manager Steve Yzerman to expand his list. If his list were to expand, St. James and others have suggested the Ducks may be on that second list.
Elliotte Friedman reported that he, “had not heard Anaheim, but I’ve had people say to me, ‘Anaheim is a team that could do it.’” He went on to speculate during “NHL Tonight” that, “If it’s the Ducks, maybe you get Mason McTavish and something.”
Mason McTavish
McTavish continues to be the name that the national media discusses from the Ducks roster in terms of potential availability for a trade. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun relayed on TSN Radio’s “Melnick in the Afternoon” on Wednesday that teams continue to call Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on his status.
“I really think there’s a chance he gets moved,” LeBrun said. “I think teams are obviously intrigued, given where he was drafted and his pedigree, but also concerned because they’re wondering what’s happening there. They want to know why the Ducks are taking so many calls on him.”
Auston Matthews
For the first time in Matthews’ career, the Toronto Maple Leafs failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2025-26. They are heading in a new direction, with a new front office, eventually a new coach, and the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
It had been reported that one of the Leafs’ goals, from ownership and the new front office, was to sell Matthews on a direction for the organization, and it would appear they have no intention of moving on from their captain in 2026.
However, that hasn’t stopped insiders like LeBrun from speculating on the matter. He reported the Ducks, along with the Kings and Utah Mammoth, had been keeping tabs on Toronto’s situation.
“So, unless something dramatic happens in the coming weeks, the Leafs captain will be back next season in Toronto,” LeBrun wrote in his “Rumblings” column on Wednesday. “That’ll be disappointing for a long list of teams that were keeping an eye on how things developed on the Matthews front, including the likes of the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Utah Mammoth.”
Mar 6, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Jack Drury (18) looks on during the game between the Stars and the Avalanche at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The month of June means time for preparations concerning the upcoming 2026-27 season. Now that both the Colorado Avalanche and their affiliate Colorado Eagles have seen their seasons conclude, action should heat up ahead of the new league year on July 1st.
One of the key decision points has to do with the depth of the organization, and specifically what to do about pending Restricted Free Agents as they are due qualifying offers by the end of the month, specifically June 29th. This year’s class is comprised of all forwards and is a larger than usual group for the organization to make a decision on.
One interesting wrinkle is that all of the following six players hold arbitration rights. Typically the Avalanche square away these files because they do not want to get into a negotiation where they don’t have all the leverage. The arbitration process could grant the players multi-year or one-way contracts especially if they have NHL experience, as several on this list do. We should see the Avalanche sign any of these players shortly if they are interested in keeping them as depth options, if not, a trade or simply a non-tendered qualifying offer might occur as the front office surely will want to limit their arbitration cases.
Avalanche Roster
Jack Drury is the clear headliner of this RFA group for Colorado. They would certainly like him to return but arbitration could prove costly. It’s quite telling there were rumors that Drury was already offered a contract extension near the trade deadline and he wasn’t interested in signing at that time. Drury had a solid first full season in Colorado with 27 points and 10 goals but didn’t quite stick on the third line as hoped. The lines of communication between both parties should be open again but how much can the Avalanche invest in a fourth line center when they already have Nicolas Roy on the books for $3 million next season? The Minnesota Wild’s recent signing of depth forward Michael McCarron to a six-year $3.3 million per year deal after scoring 17 points with a career high of 22 only inflates Drury’s comparables.
There’s several ways to interpret the 25-year-old Zakhar Bardakov’s tenure with the Avalanche. In his first year in the North America over the 2025-26 NHL season he dressed in 60 games, scored one goal and contributed nine assists, in an average of 7:12 minutes time on ice per game and held up well defensively with a 56.73% expected goals and 60.71% goal differential at even strength. Was he just another replaceable fourth line forward or is there enough encouraging results to bring him back? It wouldn’t take the Avalanche a lot of coin to retain Bardakov but after spending the entire postseason on in the press box it wouldn’t surprise if both parties wanted to move on.
Colorado Eagles
The safest best on a returnee from this list is Taylor Makar because of obvious familial reasons. He has taken a step forward in his first full season as a pro in his own right. The 25-year-old increased his production as the year went on and finished with 24 points in 52 regular season games and then six points in 17 playoff games. The Avalanche gave him 12 games as well, setting Makar up to spend more time in the NHL if they set their mind to it.
There should be a place in the NHL for Ivan Ivan but it might not be with the Avalanche. He was seen as more of an afterthought with nine games in the 2025-26 season after spending 40 games in the NHL the year prior. He had a good, and healthy, season in the AHL with 26 points in 66 games but really flourished in the postseason. Ivan’s 15 points in 17 games was second on the team and top five in the AHL, and without the benefit of any power play production. He lead the league with a +14 and took only one minor penalty in the postseason. Where Ivan goes from here should be very interesting.
SO NICE, YOU GOTTA SAY IT TWICE ✌️
Ivan Ivan wins it for the Eagles with just 50 seconds to play, shutting down the Wolves' late surge
Signed as a NCAA free agent two years ago, Chase Bradley hadn’t found his groove in the AHL until now. The 24-year-old posted only 23 points in 71 games last year, though 15 of those points were goals. He’s had injury troubles this year which limited Bradley to just 42 regular season games and 12 points. But this postseason was a different story as he scored five goals and five assists n 17 playoff games. With only two games of NHL experience, the Avalanche might move on but he got hot at the right time.
It was a tough season for 24-year-old Danil Gushchin after arriving in a trade from San Jose as he was limited to 49 regular season games and three in the playoffs mainly due to injury. He was productive when he was on the ice with 18 goals and 32 points. Despite spending the bulk of four seasons in the AHL, Gushchin is not yet a free agent and the Avalanche can retain his rights if they like for him to return.
Exceptions
At only 25-years old Matt Stienburg is not listed in the Eagles RFA category as he is a Group VI Unrestricted Free Agent because he didn’t meet the NHL games played requirement for the Avalanche to retain his rights. Other organizational depth players are entering the summer as with UFA status include forwards Jason Polin, Tye Felhaber, and Valtteri Puustinen.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 09: (L-R) Top NHL Draft Prospects Carson Carels, Caleb Malhotra, Keaton Verhoeff, Alberts Smits and Chase Reid pose together for a portrait during the NHL Draft Top Prospects Media Availability prior to Game Four of the Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
As we continue diving into draft prospects here at AATJ, we have exclusively covered forwards projected in the top 15, mostly focusing on players that should likely/potentially be available at 12. It shouldn’t be a secret why we have been focusing on forwards as our prospect cupboard up front is is about as barren as XGMTF’s head. However, Best Player available should ALWAYS be the mantra during the draft and 2026 has several defenseman projected to go early in the draft. So, today I am going to take a look at the left shot guys who couldn’t be more different.
Albert Smits
Smits has had one of the more remarkable paths to get here – and is projected to be the highest drafted Latvian player in NHL history assuming he goes before 14 (Zemgus Girgensons). He is a big boy at 6’3” 209lbs and plays every inch of that size. His journey started when he left Latvia in 2021 at age 13 (by himself) to play in Finland and has steadily progressed eventually playing in the pro league this past season. Where he really started getting recognition was at the WJC and more recently the Olympics this past February where he more than held his own against the best in the world.
Based on being a big, strong, 2-way defenseman from a “non-traditional” country, the most immediate comparable I’ve seen is Moritz Seider. So let’s take a look at some video to see if that holds up:
I honestly can see the comp – he has great 4-way mobility, good instincts and poise with the puck, and makes strong offensive reads. Defensively, his gaps are near perfect and he showed a good stick and closing speed. He’s also not afraid to get physical. In the shift by shift every puck touch was the correct decision. He joins the rush when he should and has a good sense of where he is in the zone and doesn’t get caught. His offense isn’t overly dynamic and may be more muted at the NHL level which is why he is ranked in the 5-9 range on most lists, but he is pro ready and there is not a lot to dislike about his game.
Carson Carels
Carels is a cattle farm kid from Cypress River, Manitoba (pop. 175) – just over the border from North Dakota and west of Winnipeg. He stands 6’2” 198 lbs and profiles as smooth skating transition monster with good physicality and a bit of a mean streak. He was drafted by and joined the Prince George Cougars of the WHL and has represented Canada at every national tournament for which he has been eligible. He had a massive breakout this past season putting up big numbers while wearing an ‘A’ for Prince George and is committed to North Dakota next season.
Carels is firmly in the top 10 draft projections across the board, projected as high as 3rd. Frankly the only thing putting some of the RHD ahead of him is just that, handedness. He is, in my opinion, the best defenseman in this draft class, does everything well and projects as a Jake Sanderson jack of all trades with good offense. Let’s take a look at the videotape:
That comp holds up, although I definitely see him needing a little more polish in his defensive game. He does have good gaps and a good stick and closed well in transition, but feel like that can improve a touch. That being said, I’m big believer in drafting for offense and skating and he has both in spades – which is similar to Sanderson’s profile in his draft year. Get used to this kid there is a very strong possibility he winds up across the river.
Xavier Villeneuve
Villeneuve has largely crept up rankings for two reasons: 1) Lane Hutson’s success and 2) a monster performance at the U18 WJC. He is 5’11” 162 lbs and profiles very similar to Hutson, and frankly Quinn Hughes, as a dynamic undersized, offensive defenseman. In a copycat league, teams and scouts now have their radars on high alert for guys like this so they don’t slip through the cracks again. He is committed to BU net season which will be eye opening if he can elevate at the next level. He tops out at as high as #5, but most lists have him mid-teens to low 20s.
Villeneuve isn’t just a WJC flash in the pan though, for 2 years he has put up PPG numbers in the QMJHL, so let’s dive into some video and see if this kid has got it:
OK so his highlight reel is disgusting, he has fantastic high-zone awareness and ability, creates space and spins off pressure like a certain brother we all know. He also flashed some great passing and elite puck skills, his edgework and skating are elite in his highlights. I can see the Hutson, Quinn (insert undersized great skating Dman here) comps, but like I was with Dageneis, I am skeptical of the QMJHL and how top prospects look there.
So, let’s look at a whole game:
He is definitely an offensive wizard, and basically created a chance every shift for himself or teammates. I love his poise in the zone with the puck. He wasn’t overtly physical but I was mildly surprised that he didn’t shy away from contact, he even laid a few cross checks – one in front of the net, one as the 3rd guy into a puck battle in the corner. His Defensive zone positioning and puck decisions could use some work, it wasn’t egregious, but he did drift a few times puck watching, leaving a back door guy. He also had a few bad clearing attempts that turned into turnovers, and a few times got caught heading up ice leaving a guy behind him.
My Thoughts
If I had to rank these guys, I would have Carels, Smits, and Villeneuve in that order as do most draft rankings. Turns out scouts know things. I spent the most time on Villeneuve because one really have to believe in someone of his stature to take a 1st round flier on him. I was also an undersized defenseman and I’m glad to see the short guy club’s lobbying has finally started paying dividends.
Smits seems the most pro ready as of this writing, simply since his defensive game is the most sound, but I see Carels as the long term best of the group. Unless something crazy happens I’d have to imagine Carels and Smits will be long gone by the time we get to 12. Also, as I mentioned in the opening the defense room seems full at the moment but you never know what it may look like in 2-3 years. Unfortunately, I just don’t think the Devils are in a position to take a risk on a 2-3 year project this draft.
What do you think gang, any interest in any of these guys? Anyone of them stand out? Do you agree with how I have them ranked? Let me know in the comments!
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski never seems to get the respect he deserves. Even after he was awarded the 2026 Norris Trophy, there were some media and fans who refused to give him his flowers.
On Friday, he was also named to the NHL's first team. Pretty good year for Werenski, yeah? Sadly, it wasn't enough for some voters. What were they watching? Or were they watching at all?
Also on Friday, the Professional Hockey Writers' Association President Stephen Whyno released the full ballots for all awards in what he called "the interest of transparency."
You can open Whyno's tweet below and open the document if you'd like.
For a ninth consecutive year, in the interest of transparency, @thePHWA is revealing all voters' NHL awards ballots. You can find them all here: https://t.co/BSg20ATCCi
Are you ready for some weird notes about the Norris voting?
Out of 198 ballots cast for the Norris Trophy, winner Zach Werenski was completely left off four voters' ballots.
Former NHL Goalie Jonathan Bernier, who is with Le Journal de Montréal, cast votes for Rasmus Dahlin, Moritz Seider, Miro Heiskanen, Cale Makar, and Lane Hutson in that order.
One SportsNet writer had Rasmus Dahlin, Cale Makar, Evan Bouchard, Jake Sanderson, and Moritz Seider on its ballot.
A Minneapolis newspaper had Cale Makar, Rasmus Dahlin, Evan Bouchard, Lane Hutson, and Quinn Hughes.
A Utah publication had Cale Makar, Miro Heiskanen, Rasmus Dahlin, Erik Karlsson, and Moritz Seider.
To be fair, it's their decision, but to completely leave off Werenski, who was widely considered the best overall NHL defenseman by hockey experts all over the globe, seems a bit weird.
Of the four ballots who omitted Werenski, only one of them voted for players who all made the playoffs.
Three of the ballots had the Red Wings' Moritz Seider, who also missed the playoffs, so it can't be that. So what was it?
In the end, the four votes didn't matter, as Werenski won it going away, but it would be interesting to hear the whys behind not even giving him a 5th-place vote.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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The Seattle Kraken announced Thursday that they had hired Pascal Vincent as assistant coach and Patrik Allvin as vice president and assistant general manager.
The two join a Kraken team that missed the playoffs last season, finishing 27th out of 32 teams.
Allvin joins the Kraken after serving as Vancouver Canucks general manager for four seasons. He previously made history as the first Swedish GM in the NHL. Now 51 years old, Allvin shared his thoughts on joining the Kraken with NHL.com.
"I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to join the Seattle Kraken organization," Allvin said in a press release. "There is a strong commitment to building a winning team and a passionate fan base, and I look forward to collaborating with (GM) Jason (Botterill) and the hockey operations staff as we continue building a club capable of sustained success.”
Seattle Kraken general manager Jason Botterill and Patrik Allvin are no strangers. The two worked together for a decade in Pittsburgh, winning three Stanley Cups together.
Botterill released a statement on the reunion and the reasoning behind the hire.
“Patrik is an excellent communicator in a team environment,” said Kraken general manager Jason Botterill. “He understands the importance of structure and a process in making decisions. You look at his experience evaluating talent in North America, Europe, amateur, pro, he’s had a lot of different titles over his career. He had success in Pittsburgh, winning three Stanley Cups, being a part of a group there [which included Botterill].”
Vincent, on the other hand, joins the Kraken from the Laval Rocket, the Montreal Canadiens’ American Hockey League affiliate.
Canadiens President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton released a statement on Vincent’s departure.
"We would like to sincerely thank Pascal for his work and contribution to the Rocket and wish him all the best in his next professional chapter in Seattle," said Gorton. "He was highly committed to our success and made valuable contributions over the past several years. A native of Laval, Pascal was greatly appreciated and respected by the players, his staff members, and the fans. We are grateful for his dedication, leadership, and hard work during his time with the Rocket."
Vincent has worked with several NHL and AHL teams in varying positions. In seven seasons as an NHL assistant coach, he worked with the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets.
In 2023-24, Vincent was promoted to head coach for the Blue Jackets.
Allvin summarized his thoughts on joining the Kraken to NHL.com.
“The practice facility is phenomenal, best in the league. The support of the Kraken in the city and region was evident every time I've been down there for games. As a visiting team, you can feel the fans’ energy and feel the identity of the team playing fast hockey.”
With the 2026 NHL Draft now just two weeks away, we are finally beginning to get an idea of what the Philadelphia Flyers might do with the 21st overall pick.
Much has been made of the Flyers' pursuit of high-end talent and a potential No. 1 center or defenseman, but the reality is, this late in the first round, that's quite unlikely.
A smaller, more dynamic defenseman like Xavier Villeneuve could be that for the Flyers, but that kind of selection has not been in the team's DNA under GM Danny Briere.
With the actual depth of the 2026 draft class looking questionable, all roads may, in fact, lead the Flyers to choosing yet another winger in the first round.
New draft intel from Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects indicates that this very well may be the case when it comes down to it.
"[Elton Hermansson], I had a little bee whisper that maybe [the Flyers] had a good chat with him at the combine. Maybe they like Hermansson," Robinson said on the "Called Up: The Prospects" podcast with fellow draft expert Chris Peters.
Now, Peters did have the Flyers picking a different winger in Adam Novotny at 21 when the duo did their full first-round mock draft on the podcast, but Hermansson offers a bit of a different profile.
The 6-foot-1 Swede is wildly skilled and already plays pro, having played 38 games for MoDo in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second-tier league, this past season. In those 38 games, Hermansson scored 11 goals, 10 assists, and 21 points.
"Looking for a high upside forward bet in the second half of the first round? Elton Hermansson could be just what the doctor ordered," an excerpt from his 2026 draft guide profile reads.
"Hermansson’s offensive skill level is impossible to miss, especially whenever he plays against his peers. He dominates the puck, consistently able to drive play and create quality chances for himself through his superior elusiveness and handling abilities."
The Flyers have no shortage of wingers with Porter Martone, Matvei Michkov, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Tyson Foerster, and the elderstatesmen Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett.
But, by the time Hermansson is ready to go full-time at the NHL level, Konecny and Tippett will be well into their 30s, and Foerster will be close to it.
So, if the value is there, and everything goes well in his development, the Swedish dynamo could be a natural replacement in the top-six for one of those three.
“Super talented kid. Very talented. He’s got a nose for the net. He can shoot the puck. He’s got shifty feet, maybe a touch knock-kneed, but it doesn’t affect the speed. I think he’s going to be a good offensive winger," an Eastern Conference executive said of Hermansson, as included in the Elite Prospects 2026 draft guide.
"I’m not sure what his player comp is in the NHL, but I like his odds to be a scoring top-six winger in the NHL. Another thing with Hermansson is that he’s not physical, but he’s also not shy to play through contact. Great kid, too.”
Hermansson will have to develop a "B-Game", as many coaches say, to ensure a successful NHL future, but there is enough talent there to justify the Flyers taking another player at the winger position with a premium draft pick.
His pro production, as well as his dominance in international junior hockey (12 points in seven World Junior games, 33 points in 18 total games for Sweden's U18s), will make Hermansson impossible to dismiss, even for a winger-heavy team like the Flyers.
The Columbus Blue Jackets should be looking to add to their forward depth this off-season. One player who the Blue Jackets should consider making a push for is Chicago Blackhawks forward Ilya Mikheyev.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported last month that the Blackhawks have made Mikheyev's signing rights available for trade. With Mikheyev being a solid top-nine forward who provides decent secondary scoring and strong defensive play, the Blue Jackets should consider pursuing him.
Mikheyev just had back-to-back solid campaigns with the Blackhawks. During the 2024-25 season with Chicago, he scored 20 goals and recorded 34 points. He followed that up this season by scoring 18 goals and setting a new career high with 36 points. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to provide the Blue Jackets with more offensive production if they brought him in.
Mikheyev has also recorded at least 31 points in four out of his last five seasons. The only time he did not over that span was in 2022-23 with the Vancouver Canucks when he had 28 points but only played in 46 games.
Mikheyev also provides plenty of value because of his strong penalty killing. He was a major part of the Blackhawks' penalty kill this season and could hold the same role if signed by the Blue Jackets.
While Mikheyev is not the flashiest of players, he would still be a solid pickup for a Blue Jackets club that is looking to be more competitive next season. On a two- to three-year contract, the 31-year-old forward could be a good value signing for the Blue Jackets to make.
In 427 career NHL games split between the Toronto Maple Leafs, Canucks, and Blackhawks, Mikheyev has recorded 98 goals, 103 assists, 201 points, and a plus-38 rating.
Next Up For Columbus: The NHL Draft is on June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where the CBJ will own pick #14.
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Pavelski has no experience as a head coach in the NHL or any sort of staffing role in the league since retiring as a player in July 2024, according to eliteprospects.com.
Before being picked for the Canadiens job, St-Louis' only coaching experience was for his son, Lucas, and his team, the Mid Fairfield Rangers, at the U-13 AAA level.
Since he was brought in by Montreal, the Habs have seen exponential growth with the players and as a team. St-Louis' history as a star player in the NHL allows him to truly connect with his players. The Canadiens' recent playoff run to the Eastern Conference final is an example of his influence and success with the Habs.
While plenty of other coaches are being considered by the Maple Leafs, it's clear that Toronto's brass is looking to be creative and explore new concepts.
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