The NHL’s 2025-26 regular season is just about here, and on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re almost done with our player-by-player series in which we analyze expectations for each Buffalo player this coming season.

We’ve moved through Buffalo’s goalies, blueliners, and most of the top-four lines of forwards. And in this file, we’re examining the expectations for right forward Tyson Kozak. The 22-year-old only broke into the NHL this past season, so Sabres fans should be cautious in what they expect him to do in ‘25-26. But let’s get to our breakdown of what Kozak can be counted on to deliver this year:

Player Name: Tyson Kozak

Position: Center

Age: 22

2024-25 Key Statistics: 21 games, three goals, five points, 10:29 average time on ice

2025-26 Salary:$775,000

2025-26 Expectations: Kozak was a seventh-round pick (193rd overall) in 2021, so it’s a minor miracle and a major credit to him that he’s risen through the ranks and is likely to start the season on Buffalo’s NHL roster. He’s spent the majority of the past two seasons with the Sabres’ American League affiliate in Rochester, N.Y., averaging 42 games, six goals and 12 points per season. So this is not someone who is suddenly going to experience a points surge at the NHL level.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Can First-Year Sabre Live Up To Expectations For His Star NHL Dad?The NHL’s 2025-26 regular season is almost upon us, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re close to the end of our player-by-player series in which we break down the expectations for every Sabres player during this coming season.

While Kozak will probably be in the press box as a healthy scratch, an injury, trade or underperforming player will open up a spot for Kozak to be a night-in, night-out player for Buffalo. And yes, there’s still a possibility he’s sent back to Rochester this year. 

Certainly, Kozak’s modest salary this season – he’s actually taking a pay cut on a three-year contract – makes him easier for Buffalo’s management to keep around at the NHL level. But imagining he’s any more than a fourth-liner is imagining that many things will have to go wrong for the players above Kozak on the Sabres’ depth chart.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Fourth-Liner Malenstyn May Be Entering Final Season In BuffaloWe’re almost at the start of the NHL’s 2025-26 regular season, and on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re nearing the conclusion of our exclusive player-by-player series in which we break down the expectations for each Sabres player this coming season.

Kozak barely got 10 minutes a night from Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff last season, so it’s difficult to envision that number suddenly surges to even 14 or 15 minutes a night is a serious stretch. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Kozak isn’t going to be a physical menace or a net-front presence for the Sabres. He’s got Father Time on his side right now, but that doesn’t mean he’lll be a needle-mover in any regard. 

The Sabres have more than their share of fourth-line talents and young prospects, so the competition Kozak is facing is going to challenge him to either step up or step out of the way. He’s likely to get opportunities to prove himself a capable NHLer, but Kozak is on the clock at the same time. He needs to assert himself as being worthy of playing in hockey’s top league, or he’ll be an AHLer for many years to come.

Seattle Kraken center Berkly Catton has two options: make the NHL roster out of camp, or return to the Spokane Chiefs in the WHL.

If it were up to the 19-year-old, he wouldn't play a game in the WHL ever again.

But that's not how it works. Catton must impress the Kraken coaching staff throughout training camp and the pre-season, and then he'll have nine games to prove he deserves to stay in the NHL. So far, Catton is off to a good start. 

"I’ve liked them. And I think Catton has looked good," said coach Lane Lambert when referring to Catton's line, which features Jared McCann and captain Jordan Eberle. 

The adjustment to the NHL game is different, but Catton is staying true to his game and playing with a new level of intensity. 

"I think it's a lot different," said Catton when adjusting to the NHL game. "I'm not going to go into a battle with Larsson and outmuscle him. If anything, I have to be quicker or try to get the puck before him, little things like that."

Catton also attributes his early success in training camp to his linemates. Saying their veteran presence, combined with their skill, has made the transition easier than he expected. 

"Helps when I'm on a line with two really good players. They always make plays and stuff, and even communicate with me about where I need to be. It's been great playing with them, and they've shown me a lot in two days. It's pretty cool playing on a line with Jordan Eberle and McCann, so I'm just cherishing that. I think they are really smart hockey players, and I have an ability to make plays too, and in two days, I think we have good chemistry. It's been fun."

The first step for Catton is to impress in the upcoming pre-season games so he can earn his nine-game call-up. If he can do so in both, he could very well spend the 2025-26 season in the NHL.

Kraken's Berkly Catton Entering Camp Stronger And More ConfidentBerkly Catton is entering his second rookie camp and training with the Seattle Kraken, but this time around, his intentions are greater, hoping to earn a roster spot. 

NHL training camps are off and running, and no podcast could be happier about it than The Hockey Show!

Not only is the new season basically here, but there are also plenty of interesting storylines to follow regarding several of the league’s top players and teams.

While discussing the biggest stories happening around the NHL, The Hockey Show hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork welcomed insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period on the show this week.

Among the topics they got into were Kirill Kaprizov’s contract situation in Minnesota, the future of Connor McDavid in Edmonton and where goaltender Carter Hart may end up now that he is allowed to sign with an NHL team.

They also discussed whether Sidney Crosby could be traded by Pittsburgh to a Stanley Cup contender at some point, and L.A. Kings legend Anze Kopitar announcing that this season will be his last in the league.

This week’s wins and fails included a durag appearance in a preseason game, a goalie scoring on himself during a prospect showcase and the Islanders players finally being able to grow out their facial hair.

You can check out the full episode and interview in the videos below:

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Prepare For Launch - Jan. 25 2016 - Vol. 69 Issue 10 - Tim Campbell

THE FIRST GLANCE AT THE 2015-16 salary cap accounting holds something of a double take near its bottom. Is that really the Winnipeg Jets racing the likes the Arizona and Nashville to the salary floor?

The answer is yes, temporarily, and mostly by design.

The Jets are on track to go into the off-season with the most available cap space of 30 teams, all of which may be needed to solve issues that grow more urgent with each passing game.

Winnipeg may not have the most prominent pending free agents come July 1 – hello, Steven Stamkos, Eric Staal, Anze Kopitar and David Backes – but its combined list of those in the final years of contracts is the stickiest of situations.

Captain Andrew Ladd and Dman Dustin Byfuglien head the list. Both are UFAs on July 1 if they can’t find an extension with Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.

Shrinking NHL Pre-Season Could Present Opportunity For AHLThe NHL's recent CBA changes could lead to a longer AHL pre-season, following the NHL cutting down on exhibition games. 

And coming out of their entry-level deals are defenseman Jacob Trouba and centers Mark Scheifele and Adam Lowry. Goalie Michael Hutchinson is also an RFA.

After their first playoff berth since the 2011 relocation (and their first as a franchise since 2007), the team opted to give roster spots to young players (Nikolaj Ehlers, Andrew Copp, even Alex Burmistrov) instead of bringing in older free agents, allowing Cheveldayoff to orchestrate this enviable amount of cap space. But does he have enough to satisfy everyone?

The answer appears to be no, unless he can realize some extraordinary hometown discounts. That’s not likely to happen or even be proposed.

The Jets reside in the NHL’s smallest market yet are solidly a middle-revenue team and have said repeatedly they will spend at the appropriate time. That time is upon them, but when it comes to the inevitable choices, they won’t be easy.

Fitting the puzzle together almost surely starts with Ladd and Byfuglien, two clear leaders in the room.

Ladd, who just turned 30, is coming out of a five-year, $22-million deal that was good value for the Jets. He was their leading scorer last season and has given the team nothing but 20-plus goal years plus leadership. Ladd is seeking a healthy raise and reportedly six years in likely his last big chance at a major contract score.

Byfuglien, who turns 31 in March, is also coming out of a five-year deal, his worth $26 million and paying him $6 million in this final season. That contract was also good value for the team, given the big man’s in-game impact, especially once he got past conditioning issues in earlier Winnipeg seasons. His ask is reportedly eight years and $55 million.

Exclusive: Dale Hawerchuk’s Heartfelt Reflections on Winnipeg, Shared Before His PassingThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Five-and-a-half months after the negotiation window opened, however, no extensions had been agreed upon. Only a few dribs of information had emerged as Cheveldayoff has held fast to his policy of refraining from comment, whether on proposal, progress or pothole.

Neither veteran appears to be unaffordable, but the matter of longer terms does seem to be of issue, including some serious skepticism that a big commitment to Byfuglien through age 39 would be wise.

If agreements aren’t possible by the Feb. 29 trade deadline, expect Cheveldayoff to simply deal, since the Jets are in no position – given their consensus unattractiveness to free agents – to let either walk.

The Jets' approach seemed to be that a lot of effort can still go into the two months prior to the trade deadline.

Another element to the picture is some history.

As former GM of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, Cheveldayoff was a member of the Atlanta Thrashers family long enough to know how waiting too long resulted in a costly outcome for the franchise when it finally traded Ilya Kovalchuk in early 2010. He will be mindful of making the same error, especially since such mistakes have ramifications that ripple long into the future.

If all of that didn’t inject enough uncertainty into the Jets’ situation, then the Trouba situation will.

The 2012 first-rounder, who turns 22 in February, has reportedly put a big proposal on the table for the max eight years and more than $56 million. It appears to have been a non-starter for Winnipeg, due to the price or Trouba’s shaky start to the season, or both, and so the sides have reportedly decided to adjourn the matter to the off-season.

Former Jets Goaltender Expected To Miss Significant Time Once AgainFormer Winnipeg Jets backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit faces another lengthy absence with new injury.

If no bridge deal is found for Trouba, his raise will be substantial, possibly enough to make either Ladd or Byfuglien impossible to fit.

The math is fuzzy at this stage because none of the deals was yet done and the league’s cap for 2016-17 is not concrete. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said at the December GM meetings that the new number is projected to “be somewhere between where it is now and up $3 million, in that range.”

Could Trouba be moved? The interest would be high, but that scenario seems less likely than Ladd or Byfuglien given Trouba’s age and upside.

Beyond the trio, whose starting-point proposals totaled more than $152 million in commitments, Scheifele and Lowry in particular are poster players for the Jets draft-and-develop scheme. They both have earned raises, in bridge deals or not. Their increases figure to be less jolting in terms of headlines, but given their ages (22), both are integral figures in the culture and blueprint that Cheveldayoff is trying to execute.

The outcomes for Cheveldayoff and his pending free agents are very difficult to predict. The only easy call is that you won’t find the Jets in the race to the salary floor come next fall.

BULL OR BEAR MARKET?

Of the top 10 impending UFAs based on their 2015-16 cap hits, we see three getting pay bumps this summer, while the rest take a shave or get the same

Early Takeaways From Jets Training Camp: Groups, Players To Watch, Position BattlesBreaking down the early takeaways of Winnipeg Jets Training Camp including storylines from each group, position battles to watch and prospects to keep an eye on.

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- After three training camp practices, the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars kick off the preseason slate with the first matchup on Saturday at 6 p.m. from American Airlines Center in Dallas (stlblues.com, blues app, ESPN+, 101 ESPN).

“Once you get into game action, it’s a big difference,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “Practice is set up, you know what the drill is you know what the purpose is. And we expect them to execute. If they’re not executing what we’re giving them, that’s a real fire alarm for us. But the in-games, now we see instincts, and now we see the guys that can make plays offensively, guys that are getting what we want in the structure without the puck.”

The Blues will get their first looks from a number of players, including defenseman Logan Mailloux, acquired from the Montreal Canadiens on July 1 for Zack Bolduc.

Mailloux will be paired on defense with Philip Broberg as the featured unit for the visitors as well as quarterback the first power play unit.

“I’m excited; he skates extremely well,” Mailloux said of Broberg. “It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to, kind of get out there, play with him and feel it out.

“I’m ready to get going here tonight. It’s always good to get back after it after the summer, especially a new place, so I’m excited. … I’m focused on getting here, making an impact, whatever way that is.”

Montgomery said they want to get Malloux running so they can process what information to relay after seeing him in games since this will be his Blues debut.

“We’ve got to get him up and running, we’ve got to get him playing in our systems so we can give him feedback and start doing video with him,” Montgomery said. “So then the things that we like, ‘This is what we like, this is what you’re doing, and here’s areas that we want to do this in our structure.’”

- - -

The featured Blues line will include 2023 first-round pick Dalibor Dvorsky centering a line with 2020 first-round pick Dylan Holloway and 2025 first-rounder Justin Carbonneau.

It’s a continuation of early camp where the younger first-round picks get looks with older, more established NHL players.

“It’s an opportunity for them to play with a high-end player in the NHL and see if they can think and play at the same pace as him,” Montgomery said.

- - -

Defenseman Theo Lindstein, also a 2023 first-round pick (No. 29) will make his Blues debut as well and be paired with Matthew Kessel.

Montgomery’s thoughts seem to be a little mixed through the first three days.

“Really poised with the puck,” the coach said. “Kind of plays the game in a rocking chair. We’d like to see a little more playing on his toes, killing plays defensively.”

- - -

The Blues held their first scrimmage of the preseason prior to the game group going on the ice, and it finished 1-0 for Team White over Team Blue on a goal by defenseman Michael Buchinger.

The teams played a 30-minute game.

Montgomery said there was plenty to like.

“Really liked the pace, and I saw players making plays offensively and defensively, especially defensively,” Montgomery said. “That’s the hardest part of your game to get down because guys are skating all summer and they’re all skating and playing with the puck and trying to make plays offensively. But defensively getting the structure back in, getting back on pucks, I was really happy with.”

As for any players that stood out?

“I thought [Dylan] Peterson and [Jakub] Stancl of non-(roster players) that played last year, they jumped out,” Montgomery said. “I think of the vets, [Jimmy] Snuggerud caught my eye quite a bit, [Pius Suter] caught my eye a bit, [Nick] Bjugstad, especially in the defensive end doing good stuff.”

There was one instance where Mathieu Joseph getting in the way and blocking a shot from the left point drew stick taps and cheers from teammates of the White team.

“Guys are already sacrificing, playing to a Blues identity that we think is our blue collar work ethic,” Montgomery said. “I’m glad you brought him up because I thought he was really good out there today.”

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Dylan Holloway-Dalibor Dvorsky-Justin Carbonneau

Alexey Toropchenko-Nathan Walker-Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Simon Robertsson-Matthew Peca-Nikita Susuev

Antoine Dorion-Adam Jecho-Matt Luff

Philip Broberg-Logan Mailloux

Theo Lindstein-Matthew Kessel

Lukas Fischer-Will McIsaac

Jordan Binnington is projected to start in goal; Colten Ellis is projected to be the backup.

- - -

Stars Projected Lineup:

Adam Erne-Radek Faksa-Nathan Bastian

Colin Blackwell-Sam Steel-Mavrik Bourque

Oskar Back-Justin Hyrckowian-Kole Lind

Emil Hemming-Antonio Stranges-Arttu Hyry

Vladislav Kolyachonok-Nils Lundkvist

Trey Taylor-Alexander Petrovic

Kyle Capobianco-Gavin White

Remi Poirier is projected to start in goal; Antoine Bibeau is projected to be the backup.

Nick Bjugstad Is Healthy, Feeling Good About Getting Back To Past Numbers For Blues MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- For Nick Bjugstad, last season was one to forget for the newly-signed St. Louis Blues veteran center. News And Notes From Day 2 Of St. Louis Blues Training Camp MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Day 2 of St. Louis Blues training camp found coach Jim Montgomery a little more boisterous – and animated – towards his players. Former Blues Defenseman Remains Without A Contract; Isn't Forcing ItFormer St. Louis Blues defenseman Ryan Suter is still without a contract, but the longtime NHLer isn't forcing a deal. Young Rising Blues Forward: "I Want To Be A Top Player In This League One Day" MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Don’t mistake Dylan Holloway the wrong way. The St. Louis Blues forward is beyond grateful to be healthy and skating 100 percent for the first time since what turned out to be an ugly injury that derailed a fantastic first season in the Gateway City.

After three days, forward prospect Nikita Grebenkin has been the one constant in Philadelphia Flyers training camp, flashing his intriguing potential at seemingly every turn.

During Saturday's scrimmage session, Grebenkin, 22, was again paired with veteran center Sean Couturier and fellow Russian Matvei Michkov.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick has the puck skills to play ball with Michkov, and he's got the size and snarl to play a complementary power forward's game, especially down low.

Grebenkin's ability to protect and hold onto pucks is something that's stood out to Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet so far as he continues to make an earnest push for an NHL roster spot.

"I'm really close with Craig Berube, he had him in Toronto, and he said [Grebenkin's] a really sticky guy down low, comes up with loose pucks half-ice down," Tocchet said of Grebenkin Saturday. "I see that. There's some flashes out there, even the rookie camp.

"He's gonna have to be the same way, be a real good hockey player down low, because that's his gift, right? I've heard his skating isn't that great. I don't think it's that bad. I saw him in the neutral zone skating, so I don't think he's a bad skater at all. He can get up and down the ice, but I like his half-ice game around the net.

"Can he get those greasy goals for us? Can he complement other types of players? That's another thing. There's a lot to like about the kid, for sure."

And, again, it's only training camp and right out of rookie camp, but it's hard to imagine Grebenkin doing much more than he already has so far to insert himself into NHL roster conversations.

Flyers' Nikita Grebenkin Receives Mystery Advice from Alexander Ovechkin Ahead of NHL PushNikita Grebenkin is gearing up for his push to make the Philadelphia Flyers out of training camp this fall, and he's gotten some advice from Washington Capitals star and NHL legend Alexander Ovechkin on how to do it.

It should say a lot that Grebenkin is getting lots of burn next to Couturier and Michkov, who played with each other extensively for the Flyers already last season.

The defensive game will ultimately be the golden question, but Grebenkin is more experienced than Michkov at the professional level. Whether that puts him further ahead or means he has more bad habits to undo remains to be seen.

One advantage Grebenkin does have over players like Jett Luchanko and Alex Bump, for example, is that he's better suited to a bottom-six, chip and chase, grind and cycle game, given his size, attitude, and style of play.

Right now, the 22-year-old should be earmarked for a role with the Flyers, perhaps as the fourth-line left wing, but nothing is set in stone until the dust settles next month.

After a third consecutive season of missing the playoffs, the long offseason was a grueling one for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Players were eager to get back in action, and some knew they were going to have to come into training camp this season with a purpose.  

And one of those players is forward Philip Tomasino, who was brought back on a one-year deal this summer.

"I feel great. Really happy to be back, and really excited for this year," Tomasino said. "I think it's a great opportunity for all of us, but especially for myself."

He added: "I feel like I'm ready to take that next step in my game, and I'm really looking forward to this year."

Tomasino, 24, was acquired from the Nashville Predators last November, and - while he got off to a hot start - it was a season of a good amount of ups and a few downs. The 6-foot, 187-pound forward - drafted 24th overall by the Predators in 2019 - registered 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games with Pittsburgh after putting up just one point in 11 games with Nashville last season. He was a healthy scratch at one point later on in the season, but he also saw time in the top-six alongside Evgeni Malkin and displayed some chemistry with the future Hall-of-Fame center. 

However, with the emergence of top prospects Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty - who is currently out indefinitely with an upper-body injury - as well as the free agent signing of Anthony Mantha, it's going to be a battle for Tomasino to assert himself in a top-six role. Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are all but guaranteed to flank Malkin and Sidney Crosby, and there are already precious few roster spots to begin with to go along with a crowded training camp roster. 

But, for Tomasino, all of that is just noise. He understands that there is a ton of competition in training camp this season and that no roster spot is safe or secure. But he's not letting that deter him from focusing on his own goals and what he needs to do to prove himself to the organization and a new coaching staff.

Penguins' Training Camp: Observations From Day TwoGroup B kicked off day two of Pittsburgh Penguins training camp on Friday, and we got to see some systems work for the first time. 

"There is competition. But, regardless of wherever you are, there's competition everywhere," Tomasino said. "It's the best thing in the world. So, for me, I'm not focused on anyone else.

"Right now, I'm just focused on what I can do every day to be the best version of myself and just go out there and compete as hard as I can because I know I can play, and I know I can help this team win from the start of the year to the end. It's always good to have competition, but I'm just focused on everything I can do to push myself to reach that next step for me."

And for him, that next step is showing that he be a part of the picture in returning this team back to contention. Tomasino is happy to be in Pittsburgh, and he wants to make the most of the opportunity he was given with that contract this summer. 

"Overall, I'm just really happy with how the process played out.," Tomasino said. "It's another opportunity for me to prove myself to everyone here. I'm just really grateful for this opportunity, and I'm definitely going to try to make the most out of it.

"There's no other place I'd rather be."

'The Young Guys Are Coming': 3 Observations From Dubas's Pre-Season Press ConferenceOn Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2025 training camp with a few words from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. 

---

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

With Luke Evangelista absent from the first few days of Nashville Predators training camp due to ongoing contract negotiations, a gap has opened up on the wing. 

Evangelista is forecasted to skate with Fedor Svechkov at center and Steven Stamkos at right wing. Over the past few days, Milwaukee Admirals forward and Predators 2022 first-round pick Joakim Kemell has taken over the role. 

"They're great players," Kemell said on playing with Svechkov and Stamkos. "Stammer [Stamkos] was one of those players I looked up to as a kid and I've known Fedor [Svechkov] well. I've known him a little more as a center.

He made the jump over to North America in 2022 and has spent the last three seasons with the Admirals. Kemell made his NHL debut with the Predators last season, playing in two games. 

In the AHL, he's averaged 21 points a season, scoring 40 points in 65 games last year and earning a bid to the AHL All-Star game. Kemell had a breakout season with the Admirals, hinting that it could be his time to make the jump to the NHL. 

At training camp, Kemell's main focus remains to showcase his game and the skills he's picked up over the last few seasons. 

"I want to showcase my strengths: shooting and skating," Kemell said. "I like to score and I have an ability to find the free ice in the o-zone." 

The ability to make space on the ice is something that Kemell had to adjust to from playing in Finland to North America. A more physical game and a smaller rink forced Kemell to alter his game and find ways to generate his own opportunities. 

"I learned in Milwaukee that you have a lot more time and space than you think," Kemell said. "It's just about trying to find the lane and shooting quick." 

If things go awry with Evangelista, or even if they don't, could Kemell be a regular on the Predators roster? 

General Manager Barry Trotz expressed confidence in Kemell's game on the first day of training camp on Thursday, saying that Kemell has "made great strides" over the last few seasons.

Considering the Predators have been trying Kemell on the pseudo-second line, if things click in the preseason, Kemell could be frequenting Nashville more often. 

No matter what the future holds for Kemell, he has the utmost confidence coming into this season. When asked if he had nerves coming into this season, Kemell responded, "Not too much." 

"This is what I do for my job," Kemell said. "Of course, every player has their own pressure in their head, which comes from yourself. But I don't care about the pressure. I just try to do my best every single day." 

 

The Chicago Blackhawks are entering the 2025-26 season with plenty of exciting young players to watch. Among them is defenseman Wyatt Kaiser, as the 23-year-old blueliner undoubtedly has the potential to hit a new level for the Central Division club. 

It was a long off-season of contract negotiations for Kaiser, as he did not sign his new two-year, $3.4 million ($1.7 million AAV) contract until earlier this week. Yet, now that he has landed his contract, the left-shot defenseman is ready to shine. 

In what was a tough 2024-25 season for the Blackhawks, Kaiser was one of their bright spots. In 57 games on the year, the Andover, Minnesota native recorded four goals, eight points, 93 blocks, and an even plus/minus rating. He also showed signs of clear improvement as the campaign rolled on, and he will be looking to build off that in 2025-26. 

When looking at the Blackhawks' roster, Kaiser has the potential to cement himself as a key part of their blueline. He is also still only 98 games into his NHL career, so there is no question that he still has the potential to improve further. 

It will now be interesting to see what kind of season Kaiser has from here, but it is hard not to feel optimistic about his future in Chicago.  

Mathis Preston, RW/LW, Spokane (WHL)

The craftiness that Preston plays with is matched by his deceptiveness and intensity. When he is at the top of his game, he always manages to be the most impressive player on the ice. Preston is always making excellent decisions with the puck, setting teammates up for grade A chances around the net. He loves to get to the slot himself and create chances for himself as well. The upside is certainly there, but Preston is a 5-foot-10 winger, and that might hold him outside of the first-overall pick conversation.

Challengers To The Throne: Stenberg Leads List Of Players Who Could Challenge McKenna For First Overall At 2026 NHL DraftWith a new NHL season less than a month away, a new draft season begins, and the 2026 draft class is an exciting one. Gavin McKenna has been on the radar of NHL teams and hockey fans for a few years now, torching the WHL and asserting himself as one of the top players for Canada at various events such as the World Junior Championship and the World Under-18s.

Drop a comment and share your perspective. 

EAST MEADOW, NY -- After finishing the 2024-25 NHL regular season 31st on the power play (12/6%) and penalty kill (72.2%), New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche elected to relieve John MacLean and Tommy Albelin of their duties. 

Darche, in tandem with head coach Patrick Roy, hired Ray Bennett, the Colorado Avalanche's power-play coach, and Bob Boughner, the Detroit Red Wings penalty-kill coach. 

Bennett & Boughner Join Islanders As Assistant CoachesThe Islanders have their coaching staff.

On Saturday, the Islanders practiced special teams for the first time, as there will be an added emphasis on these two units at training camp.

“I feel like [we] should have spent more time on the PK and power play in training camp,” Roy said last November when both units were struggling. “I’ll take part of the blame on this because maybe I could have put more emphasis on the power play and PK during the training camp, but here we are.”

There were three different variations of power-play units who hit the ice:

#Isles PP: QB-LW-RW-B-Net

PP1: DeAngelo-Barzal-Drouin-Horvat-Lee

PP2: Schaefer-Shabanov-Duclair-Pageau-Palmieri
PP2: Boqvist-Shabanov-Duclair-Holmstrom-Tsyplakov

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) September 20, 2025

As for the penalty kill, there were different variations as well, with some guys playing on both special-teams units. 

#Isles PK1: Pageau-Holmstrom-Pelech-Pulock

PK2: Horvat-Palmieri-Romanov-Mayfield

Pk3: Cizikas-MacLean-Schaefer-George

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) September 20, 2025

If the Islanders are going to get back into the playoffs after missing a season ago, both special teams units will need to improve.

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Training camp is still in its earliest phases for the 2025-26 Anaheim Ducks, who will begin preseason games on Sunday when they’ll take on their rival Los Angeles Kings, in Ontario, CA.

Barring injury, the majority of the Ducks' opening night roster seems somewhat set between players with experience, pedigree, and/or lacking waiver exemption.

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Still, there are some lineup spots up for grabs between a relatively inexperienced blueline and a vacancy left in the top nine of the forward group due to Mason McTavish’s ongoing contract negotiations that are keeping him from participating in camp.

The most glaring position battle to focus on at Ducks camp is on the right side of the blueline, where three players of similar age and draft pedigree will be vying for regular playing time: Drew Helleson, Ian Moore, and Tristan Luneau.

Drew Helleson

Helleson (24) has the inside track, as he’s the oldest and has the most professional experience, with 153 games of AHL action over two-plus years with the San Diego Gulls on top of 59 career games in the NHL, where he spent most of the 2024-25 season.

“I think that’s a good way to look at it. You don’t want to be too comfortable,” Helleson said when asked about having to potentially compete for regular ice. “You want to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward out there and try to play as good as you can. There are a lot of guys; it’s a competitive position. So, just keep playing as good as you can; that’s all you can really do.”

Helleson provides a stable brand of defense and has the capability of killing penalties at the NHL level. Early in camp, he’s been paired with long-time friend and 2024-25 breakout star defenseman Jackson LaCombe, who elevated his offensive involvement and activations last season.

His spot next to LaCombe, the team’s current number-one defenseman, is a good early sign for Helleson, and he could be a quality long-term fit next to LaCombe, as their styles complement each other well and they fill in gaps in each other’s games.

Helleson was also awarded the opportunity to change his jersey number from his high rookie number (43) to a lower one (14).

“I always liked the number four, but obviously I’d never wear it after Cam wore it, with what he did here,” Helleson said of the number switch. “I was just kind of hoping to get a four in there and maybe a little lower number. That’s all I was looking for.”

Tristan Luneau

Luneau (21) had an extremely successful rookie campaign in the AHL with the Gulls in 2024-25, earning All-Rookie honors while scoring 52 points (9-43=52) in 59 games, and after coming off a significant knee injury that sidelined him for the majority of the 2023-24 season.

Luneau had made the Ducks’ opening night roster out of camp in each of the previous two seasons, but has only totaled 13 NHL games between those stints.

“It’s the same mindset. You’re always trying to make a name for yourself and trying to learn the ways on how to defend like a pro,” Luneau said of his mindset and trying to make the team again out of camp. “It’s a little tougher for a defenseman to be reliable on both sides of the ice. That’s still the main focus.”

Luneau’s game is the most dynamic, and he’s the most offensively talented of the group he is in with Moore and Helleson. However, that makes his skill set the most redundant, by default, if he were to be paired with one of the dynamic left-shot defensemen currently on the roster: LaCombe, Olen Zellweger, or Pavel Mintyukov.

To this point in camp, he’s been paired with Moore, perhaps indicating they’re the two players who are most vying for the role of “seventh defenseman” when opening night comes.

Ian Moore

Moore (23) had a long road to professional hockey since he’d been drafted in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft, which included a season in the USHL during the ECAC Covid-canceled 2020-21 season, followed by four full seasons playing NCAA hockey.

Moore captained the 2023-24 and 2024-25 iterations of Harvard’s teams before making the jump to the professional ranks, where he scored five points (1-4=5) in nine games for the Gulls and played the final three games of the season for the Ducks, where he tallied his first career assist.

“Just trying to do my best, just trying to do the things that I know I can do well. Play to my strengths,” Moore said, with a more wide-eyed approach to training camp. “And just trying to enjoy it as well. This is my first experience at training camp, so it’s been a lot of fun, and I’m just trying to soak it all in, but work every day.”

For having the least amount of NHL experience among the three, Moore is relatively polished and can use his outstanding four-way mobility and powerful stride to impact plays on both sides of the puck and in all three zones.

Between these three right-shot defensemen and the plethora of talent they’d project to be paired with on the left, the Ducks have an embarrassment of riches on their present and future bluelines.

This will be one of the most entertaining and intriguing battles to monitor as camp rosters thin out and the landscape of the team becomes clearer.

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4 Questions for Anaheim Ducks Training Camp

Longtime Los Angeles Kings star center and captain Anze Kopitar revealed this week what many presumed was coming sooner than later – namely, that the 2025-26 NHL season would be the final season in what will be a 20-year NHL career. As we’ll explore below, Kopitar is clearly headed straight to the Hockey Hall of Fame when he’s finished playing, and he’ll be rightfully regarded as one of the greatest Kings of all time and as an iconic contributor at the highest levels of the sport.

The 38-year-old Kopitar enters the 2025-26 campaign with 1,454 games of regular-season NHL experience with the Kings, posting 838 assists and 1,278 points in that span. Equally importantly, Kopitar has played 103 Stanley Cup playoff games, generating 62 assists and 89 points in the post-season while leading L.A. to two Cup wins. And those are just Kopitar’s team achievements.

Indeed, as an individual, Kopitar was just as decorated: he played in five NHL all-star games, he twice won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward, won three Lady Byng Trophies as the league’s most gentlemanly player, and he won the Mark Messier Leadership Award recognizing individuals as superior leaders within their sport and as contributing members of society. 

All things considered, Kopitar has been one of the most consequential competitors of his generation. But as the start of this final season looms, people are wondering what they can expect out of Kopitar, and specifically, whether he’s going to be part of a Kings team that can go deep in the playoffs. 

There’s good news and bad news on that front. The good news is that Los Angeles has enough depth and skill to be a virtual lock to make the post-season. The Kings have retooled on the fly this summer, with new GM Ken Holland coming in and making a slew of veteran additions. Expectations are high for them. And given that Kopitar has scored at least 21 goals and 67 points in each of the past three seasons, it's fair to presume he's still going to get his share of offense this year.

However, whether the Kings are a legitimate Cup threat is another story altogether. Los Angeles has failed to get out of the first round of the playoffs since 2013-14 – the season in which L.A. won its most recent Cup. And with Pacific Division powerhouses Edmonton and Vegas looking like solid bets to go far this year, L.A. is going to be in tough to break the streak of first-round futility and do some real damage in the 2026 post-season.

So, there’s a good chance Kopitar’s final year will end in disappointment and heartbreak. But Kopitar wouldn’t be the first star to have difficulty replicating their greatest successes year in and year out. And if he winds up with his career ending unceremoniously, Kopitar would go out the way most NHL icons go out – humbled as a competitor, but grateful for what they were able to do with the opportunities they did get along the way.

So while this year will be Kopitar’s final year, we get the next 10 months or so to celebrate what will end up regarded as one of the most decorated and successful careers of his generation. Kopitar is already regarded as an all-time great and the best-ever Slovenian player. 

And even if his NHL days end in a way he wouldn’t choose them to end, Kopitar is still on the fast track to get into the Hockey Hall of Fame and stand out as a Kings legend that all L.A. fans can take pride in.

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After two on-ice sessions, the Toronto Maple Leafs are already running into some early injury trouble. Before the club hit the ice at Ford Performance Centre for Day 3, the Leafs announced that forward Nicolas Roy (lower-body), defenseman Simon Benoit (upper-body), and goaltender Joseph Woll (illness) would be out.

The following Maple Leafs players will be absent from today’s practice:

D Simon Benoit (upper body)
F Nicolas Roy (lower body)
G Joseph Woll (illness)

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) September 20, 2025

No further update was provided as players hit the ice. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube is expected to address the players missing in action at the end of Saturday's session, which is set to include the first scrimmage at training camp.

Benoit is no stranger to sustaining upper-body injuries at Leafs camp. After signing with Toronto in 2023, he suffered from back spasms for most of camp and eventually started his season with the Toronto Marlies. He later earned an everyday spot on the Leafs' third defensive pair, which he occupies today. Given his history, this new injury could potentially affect his roster spot, especially with the increased competition.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Simon Benoit Is Their Unlikely Hero: How He Earned His RoleIf you told Toronto Maple Leafs fans their sixth- or seventh-best defenseman would be significantly responsible for two straight overtime goals in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, you would’ve been asked to immediately take a sobriety test. 

Roy, acquired in the sign-and-trade that sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights, sustained an upper-body injury last season that limited him to 71 games.

Report: Maple Leafs And Golden Knights Discussing Mitch Marner Sign And Trade, Could Include Nic RoyThe Mitch Marner sweepstakes could end before free agency begins.

Joseph Woll was a full participant in practice on Friday, as were Roy and Benoit. The latter two players join forward Max Domi, who is also on the shelf with a lower-body injury he sustained before camp began. Domi has been working on the ice individually with the development staff, but there is no timetable for his return.

To be updated...

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As NHL training camps opened this week, the Ottawa Senators are returning with largely the same roster that earned the club's first playoff appearance since 2017. Obviously, the brain-trust, led by GM Steve Staios, feels that salvation lies within and that the key to getting this group to the next level is in the untapped potential of its existing roster.

Unlike previous seasons, this appears to be strictly a training camp rather than a tryout. Does that mean that players on the cusp have nothing to shoot for? Of course not. However, barring injuries, the roster would seem to be set.

That said, there are some interesting story lines as the team hits the ice at the Bell Sensplex. Here are five:

1) The Crease

Obviously, Linus Ullmark will lead the charge in goal. The Senators, however, come to camp with two other goalies who are on one-way contracts.

Staios has all but officially declared Leevi Merilainen will be the backup, but head coach Travis Green had a different view this week.

“There's competition for every position on the team, so if it's Leevi, we'll see,” Green told the media.

One can’t forget that 24-year-old Mads Sogaard is also on a one-way deal, and if he figures it out in camp and gives Merilainen a run for that backup position, what then? Merilainen is still waiver-exempt, and from an asset management perspective, carrying Sogaard into the season could be an option – but only if his performance warrants it.

The contention has long been that bigger goalies take longer to develop. Ben Bishop was drafted in 2005 and didn’t emerge as a full-time NHLer until 2012. Before the Sens expose Sogaard to the waiver wire, they want to be good and sure he isn’t another Bishop in the making.

2) The Blueline

Everyone from last spring's playoff run is still in the fold, and they've been joined by right-shot defenseman Jordan Spence.

If the health of Nick Jensen and the development curve of Carter Yakemchuk were clearer, would Spence have been acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the offseason? Spence certainly wasn't expensive. Effectively, Staios got him by moving back two spots in the first round – a smooth piece of business.

Jensen performed above expectations last season until suffering a hip injury, which curtailed his play. Yakemchuk made a nice impression at this year's rookie camp against the Leafs. However, Yak's 2024-25 junior season left something to be desired, with his impressive offensive production declining. Staios suggested this week that it was a result of being asked to focus more on defensive awareness.

Eyes will be on Spence and Yakemchuk at camp this year while Jensen continues his rehabilitation. Could Yakemchuk make a case to break camp and get his first NHL action?

Head coach Travis Green has said, “Carter Yakemchuk will dictate where he plays”.

3) Tyler Boucher

It’s no secret that Boucher’s time with the Senators organization has been underwhelming, largely due to being injury-prone. However, even in large strings of games without injury, Boucher hasn't yet looked like the top 10 pick that the Senators used on him in 2021.

That said, it was noticed by many when he picked up a goal against the Leafs in rookie camp.

As his last entry-level contract season, could this be the year that things fall into place for Boucher, or will he become one of those kernels that never pop?

A good training camp would be a nice start, even if he starts the season in Belleville.

4) Stephen Halliday

Halliday led the offensively-challenged Baby Sens in scoring last season. He was even rewarded with a couple of call-ups, but they never actually led to playing in his first NHL game.

Like Yakemchuk, he made a splash in rookie camp, and it remains to be seen if he can elevate his game and become one of the depth forwards that the team leans on for inevitable injury backfills.

With a 6’4” 212 lb frame, size and compete aren’t Halliday’s issue. Foot speed will likely be something he will need to overcome at the NHL level.

A minus 20 in the AHL will also get people’s attention. If you are going to be a depth player, the coach needs to believe you can at least handle your own end of the rink. Offensive production becomes a bonus.

Barring injury, Halliday will likely start in Belleville this season. That said, he will likely get a good look playing with NHLers to see if he can fit in.

5) Lassi Thomson

The former 1st round draft pick in 2019 led the Malmo Red Hawks in scoring as a defenseman in the Swedish Elite league and had an impressive playoff as well.

Could this kernel still pop? If Yakemchuk isn’t ready and Jensen starts the season on the injured list, the door may be open for Thomson to grab a spot and show he can get the job done.

His frame puts him at a disadvantage to play bottom-pairing minutes. However, no one foresaw what Nicklas Matinpalo became last season.

Good news stories start with an opportunity and Thomson may be in the right place at the right time.

Although this may be more training camp than tryout, there are still potential surprises that could emerge before the opening-day roster is finalized.

By Pat Maguire

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