Devils Training Camp 2025–26: Key Storylines to Watch

The New Jersey Devils open training camp for the 2025–26 season later today.

With puck drop on the new season just weeks away, several players stand out, some entering the organization for the first time, others looking to build on strong campaigns.

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Prospect Challenge Standouts

The Devils’ prospects competed in the annual Prospect Challenge in Buffalo, New York, beginning September 10. They finished the tournament with a 2–1 record, showing promise across the roster. A handful of players made a strong impression heading into camp.

Defenseman Seamus Casey played in just one game before sitting out, preserving his energy for the season ahead. The move wasn’t surprising given his NHL experience last year and his impressive showing in camp. Casey is pushing for a full-time roster spot with the Devils this season.

Forwards Tag Bertuzzi and Mikael Diotte both collected three points in the tournament. While cracking the NHL roster may be unlikely, their performances earned them attention heading into camp.

Another player to watch is Shane Lachance, acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in March 2025 as part of the three-team deal that sent Trent Frederic out of New Jersey. The 21-year-old defenseman, a sixth-round pick in 2021, spent the past two seasons at Boston University. In Buffalo, he played two games and collected three points. At 6-foot-5 with strong two-way play, Lachance has drawn notice heading into camp. 

From BU to Buffalo: Lachance Impresses Ahead of Devils Training CampThe New Jersey Devils’ prospects wrapped up three games at the 2025 NHL Prospect Challenge in Buffalo this past week, finishing the tournament with a 2–1 record.

Lenni Hämeenaho also impressed. The 20-year-old winger, listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, contributed in both of the Devils’ victories. Drafted 58th overall in 2023, Hämeenaho has spent recent seasons playing professionally in Finland. He will hit the ice today aiming to push for NHL minutes.

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Three Devils Named to NHL Network’s Top 50

NHL Network released its list of the league’s top 50 players, and three Devils cracked the top 45. 

2 Devils Stars Ranked Among NHL's Best PlayersIt is no secret that the New Jersey Devils have two star centers leading their forward group in Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. Both players are major difference-makers, and they have now been rewarded because of it. 

• Jesper Bratt ranked 45th, ahead of stars such as Alex Ovechkin and Brady Tkachuk. Bratt, 27, is coming off an 88-point season in 81 games and was also ranked 12th on NHL Network’s list of the league’s top 20 wingers. Drafted 162nd overall in 2016, Bratt is entering the third year of his eight-year, $63 million contract.

New Jersey Devils Player Earns High Praise in NHL Network’s Winger RankingsNew Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt has been ranked the 12th-best winger in the NHL right now by NHL Network.

• Nico Hischier landed at 40th overall. The 26-year-old captain was also recognized as one of the NHL’s top 20 centers. Last season, he scored a career-high 35 goals with 69 points in 75 games, showcasing not just offensive touch but also defensive reliability and leadership.

Nico Hischier Represents Devils at NHL/NHLPA European Player Media TourThe NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour is underway this week in Milan, Italy, bringing together 26 NHL stars for an international showcase. Representing the New Jersey Devils and his home country of Switzerland was none other than Devils captain Nico Hischier.

• Jack Hughes ranked 31st after recording 27 goals and 43 assists for 70 points in 62 games during the 2024–25 season. If healthy, the 24-year-old remains the cornerstone of the Devils’ playoff hopes.

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Injury Watch: Jonathan Kovacevic

Defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic will not be ready for training camp following season-ending surgery on May 8.

Kovacevic became a key part of New Jersey’s blue line last year, appearing in 81 games and setting career highs with 16 assists and 17 points. Acquired in June 2024 in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick, he signed a five-year, $20 million extension with the Devils in March 2025.

His eventual return is highly anticipated, though his timeline remains uncertain. 

Johnathan Kovacevic Injury Leaves Opening on Devils’ Blue LineJohnathan Kovacevic is one of the key names in the New Jersey Devils organization as the 2025-26 season approaches. On July 2, the team announced that the defenseman would miss part of the regular season due to knee surgery performed on May 8. Team reporter Amanda Stein confirmed that he will also miss training camp.

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Luke Hughes Contract Situation

One notable absence today will be Luke Hughes, who remains unsigned. The restricted free agent was expected to finalize a deal before training camp, but negotiations continue. With less than a month until the season opener, New Jersey still has time, but the clock is ticking.

Pittsburgh Penguins' training camp is officially only two days away, and there will be many storylines to watch this year.

There will be legitimate battles to keep an eye on for every positional group. There is a new coaching staff in town that will implement some foreign systems and act as fresh sets of eyes on everyone at camp. 

And there will be a few dark horse prospect candidates to watch out for, too. 

Of course, most eyes will be on higher-profile prospects such as Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty, Owen Pickering, and Harrison Brunicke. But there are a few others who should push for NHL roster spots as well right out of the gate.

Here are four of them.

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Filip Hallander

Many people are focusing the forward discussion on Koivunen and McGroarty, and rightfully so. Both players made an impression at the end of the 2024-25 season.

But Hallander, 24, also made quite the impression last season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Hallander was originally selected by the Penguins in the second round (58th overall) of the 2018 draft. After an underwhelming two AHL seasons with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) from 2021-23, the organization non-tendered him as a restricted free agent, and he opted to play in the SHL.

In 2024-25 - his second season after initially departing the Penguins' organization - he took home the SHL's Forward of the Year honors by registering 26 goals and 53 points in 51 games with Timra HK. His season with Timra earned him a second chance with the Penguins, and they signed him to a two-year NHL contract. 

Between Hallander finding his footing as far as production and his strong two-way game as a center, he should push pretty heavily for a roster spot. As with every other player on this list, it will be an uphill climb. But if he performs anything like he did last season, he will make decisions very difficult for Penguins' brass.

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Emil Pieniniemi

It has been mentioned several times over that the left defensive battle this season is as wide-open as they come.

Of course, new signees in Parker Wotherspoon and Alexander Alexeyev were brought in to be part of that battle. Carryovers from the roster last season in Ryan Shea and Ryan Graves will likely have inside tracks to roster spots. Pickering had a 25-game NHL stint last season and is well-positioned to grab a roster spot with a good camp.

But don't count out Pieniniemi, either. 

The 20-year-old blueliner hailing from Kuopio, Finland put together an impressive season with the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL last season - his first on North American soil. He recorded 10 goals and 60 points in 60 games and four goals and 10 points in 11 playoff games, and he finished seventh in scoring among OHL defensemen.

His ability to run a power play, his physicality, his skating ability, and two-way prowess make him an intriguing prospect with upside. With a good camp, his name should be in consideration for an NHL roster spot as much as guys like Pickering and Alexeyev.

And with a good start to his professional career in the AHL, don't be surprised to see him at some point this season, even if he doesn't break camp.

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Avery Hayes

Hayes was just covered by us earlier Tuesday, and for good reason. Between dominating Prospects Challenges and scoring big goals in big moments, he seems to have a few things figured out. 

Hayes, 22, put up 23 goals and 42 points in 60 AHL games last season and earned himself a two-year entry-level NHL contract as a result. Undrafted, the WBS Penguins originally signed him to a two-year AHL deal prior to his 2023-24 campaign, which was marred with injuries and inconsistency.

But ever since the 2024 Prospects Challenge, Hayes has done nothing but impress. He is an effective player in all three zones, is feisty, forechecks well, drives the net... and he can finish. He scored four goals in three Prospects Challenge games this year, and he looked out of place in the best way during the event.

Out of all the names on this list, Hayes could very well make the biggest push. His game seems translatable to the NHL level, and he is someone who has the ability to fight his way up a lineup and into heavier minutes. His work ethic is hard to top, and he plays the game the right way.

Don't count this guy out in terms of breaking camp. He's been that good for the Penguins this past year.

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Tristan Broz

It may be a stretch to call Broz, 22, a "dark horse" at this point, and that's only because he has grown so much and impressed in all facets even though he faced a fair amount of adversity last season.

Despite missing nearly two months of the 2024-2025 season with mononucleosis, the young American forward grew into the center position and established himself as a reliable two-way forward. He had two goals and nine points in the final 10 games of the season as well as a goal and three points in two playoff games, and - even with his setback - he still recorded 19 goals and 37 points in 59 games during his first season in professional hockey.

But his ability on both ends of the ice is really what stands out about Broz. He is a smart, responsible player in all three zones, he has the ability to disrupt plays and excel in transition, and - like Hayes - he can put the puck in the back of the net. 

Because of Broz's setback, starting the season in the AHL certainly wouldn't hurt him, and there is still a lot of room for him to grow. But a lot of the details are already ironed out for him, and he plays a very mature game - something that may give him a leg-up if he shows well in training camp.

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The 2024-25 NHL season was the second in the Detroit Red Wings tenure of Farmington Hills, Mich. native Alex DeBrincat, whom the Red Wings acquired from the Ottawa Senators in 2023. 

His first season with the club began with a torrid scoring pace, as DeBrincat lit the lamp nine times in his first 10 games in a Detroit uniform. However, his scoring pace cooled off considerably, especially down the stretch.

He managed only two goals over 28 combined games in January and March, finishing the season with 27 tallies. Thankfully, his scoring rebounded significantly in his second campaign.

DeBrincat recorded 39 goals for the Red Wings in the 2024-25 season, his highest total since netting 41 with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021-22. He also contributed 31 assists for 70 points, marking his best overall output since that same season in Chicago.

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Like many of his teammates, DeBrincat acknowledged the positive impact that the coaching change in late December from Derek Lalonde to Todd McLellan made on the Red Wings, and he expects a full campaign of McLellan behind the bench to pay dividends in the long run. 

“I think it’s a big difference,” DeBrincat said after the Red Wings cleaned out their dressing room on April 19. “I’ve been through a couple coaching changes midseason, and I think when you’re able to get that full training camp, he gets to implement his systems, and we just get to have the message right from Day 1. It’s a big difference. I think it’ll be good for us to get that training camp with him under our belts, and obviously we’re comfortable with him now, we know what to expect, and there’s going to be no surprises come September.”

Along with his former Blackhawks teammate Patrick Kane, DeBrincat seemed to find a groove playing on the team's second forward line centered by rookie Marco Kasper, a line that will likely remain intact heading into the upcoming season. 

Red Wings Players To Watch In 2025-26: Marco Kasper When Steve Yzerman returned to the Detroit Red Wings in April 2019 to take over the role of general manager, he didn’t have much to work with in terms of enticing prospects, but since then he has built one of the most highly regarded prospect pools in the NHL. 

For the Red Wings to bring Stanley Cup Playoff hockey to Little Caesars Arena for the first time in the venue's existence next spring, they'll need DeBrincat to duplicate his performance of last season and remain a constant threat to appear on the scoresheet. 

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Hockey is officially back as the Vancouver Canucks are about to begin their 2025 Training Camp. This year's training camp will take place in Penticton from September 18-21. Overall, there are many questions heading into training camp, including which prospects have the most to gain with a strong performance.

Before diving into this question, we must establish who counts as a prospect. For this article, a prospect is a player under the age of 22 who spent the majority of last season in a junior league. This means that players like Kirill Kudryavtsev, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, defenceman Elias Pettersson and Ty Young do not count for this exercise. 

Defenceman Tom Willander

All eyes will be on Tom Willander when training camp opens on September 18. After wrapping up a successful NCAA career, the 2023 first-round pick has signed with the organization and will be in contention for an NHL roster spot. Even if Willander starts the season in the AHL, it is more likely than not that he gets a call up at some point during the season. 

The big question surrounding Willander is how he will look when going against NHL players. He has developed into a can't-miss prospect, but doesn't yet have experience playing pro players on a consistent basis. If Willander steps up and demonstrates that he can win battles while developing chemistry with other members of the Canucks top six, it will go a long way in showing that he is ready to skip the AHL and head straight to the NHL. 

Left Winger Vilmer Alriksson

Vilmer Alriksson was one of Vancouver's best players at the 2025 Prospects Showcase against the Seattle Kraken. The 2024 fourth-rounder showcased his physicality while also proving that he has a speed element to his game. A prospect who is already signed by the Canucks, Alriksson could be a difference maker in the AHL throughout the year. 

While Alriksson isn't quite ready for the NHL, he could be in consideration for a call-up during the season. One way to at least plant the seed of interest in the organization is by having a strong training camp and pre-season in front of Vancouver's coaching staff. If the 6'6" 234 lbs forward can stand out like he did during the 2024 pre-season and build momentum heading into the year, it might not be long before Alriksson makes his NHL debut. 

Defenceman Sawyer Mynio

Another AHL rookie to keep an eye on this season is Sawyer Mynio. The 2023 third-rounder recently wrapped up his junior career in the WHL and is projected to be a key part of the Abbotsford Canucks blue line in 2025-26. A mobile defenceman who can win puck battles consistently, Mynio is an intriguing prospect with a bright future. 

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As for this year's training camp, it will be interesting to see who the coaching staff partners Mynio with. At the 2025 Prospects Showcase, he was paired with Kudryavtsev on the team's second pairing. If he is once again paired with the 21-year-old, it could be an indicator that Manny Malhotra and his staff have big plans for Mynio this year. 

Center Riley Patterson

As for a prospect to watch who will be headed back to junior, that is Riley Patterson. The 19-year-old was a standout at the 2025 Prospects Showcase, scoring one goal and recording two primary assists over the two games. Originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 draft, Patterson will be joining the Niagara Ice Dogs in the OHL this year after being traded from the Barrie Colts. 

There will be some pressure on Patterson to perform this season, as Niagara gave up six draft picks to acquire him. The Ice Dogs are also projected to have a strong season, with one of the reasons being their acquisition of Patterson. Ultimately, a strong training camp will go a long way in ensuring that Patterson can build some momentum before heading back to the OHL.   

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Laurent Brossoit missed the entirety of the 2024-25 season due to a knee injury. Now, based on a new update, the 6-foot-3 goaltender is set to miss more time.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times' Ben Pope, Brossoit remains injured and will likely be out "a lot longer" than the start of training camp.

Laurent Brossoit and Ty Henry are injured to begin camp (and likely a lot longer than that) for the Blackhawks. Wyatt Kaiser is on the roster despite not having a contract as of now. https://t.co/m0toYr5fTd

— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) September 16, 2025

The Blackhawks signed Brossoit to a two-year, $6.6 million contract during the 2024 NHL off-season, which comes with a $3.3 million average annual value (AAV). However, due to his injury trouble, Brossoit still has not made his debut for the Blackhawks. 

Brossoit last played during the 2023-24 season with the Winnipeg Jets, where he had a strong year. In 23 appearances with the Jets that campaign, he posted a 15-5-2 record, a 2.00 goals-against average, and a .927 save percentage. This was after he recorded a 7-0-3 record, a .927 save percentage, and a 2.17 goals-against average in 11 appearances for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23. 

With Brossoit still not being good to go, the Blackhawks will likely continue to roll with Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom as their goalie tandem. Here's to hoping that Brossoit can return early on during the season, as he would be a good veteran mentor for the Blackhawks' two young goalies to have around. 

The NHL’s 2025-26 season is about to begin, and on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re approaching the end of our player-by-player series in which we analyze every Sabres player’s expectations for the coming season.

We’ve broken down the Sabres’ goalies, defensemen, and most of Buffalo’s group of forwards. And in today’s file, we’re examining Justin Danforth. The veteran winger left the Columbus Blue Jackets to sign with the Sabres for the ‘25-26 and 2026-7 campaigns, and below, you’ll find expectations on Danforth this coming season:

Player Name: Justin Danforth

Position: Right Winger

Age: 32

2024-25 Key Statistics: 61 games, nine goals, 21 points, 14:23 average time on ice

2025-26 Salary:$1.8 million

2025-26 Expectations: Since his pro hockey career began in 2017, Danforth has bounced between the American League, ECHL, Europe and NHL, only finding a long-lasting NHL job as a member of the Blue Jackets in the past few seasons. And to this day, Danforth’s career-high in goals is 10, a number which he got to in 45 games of the ‘21-22 season, then matched in 71 games in 2023-24. 

Danforth got close to that career-high last season, posting nine goals and 21 points in 61 games with Columbus. And he made a career-best $1.1-million last year – a total he surely could’ve improved upon had he chosen to head back to Europe this fall. Instead, the 32-year-old got a two-year contract from the Sabres, at nearly double his salary from last year.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Buffalo Hoping Center Krebs Will Emerge As Key CogThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is just about upon is, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re near the end of our player-by-player series in which we break down each Buffalo player’s expectations for the coming year.

That said, Danforth will begin the 2025-26 season firmly entrenched on Buffalo’s fourth line, and it’s difficult to envision him rising up the depth chart anytime soon. With due respect to Danforth, who deserves credit for scratching and clawing to carve out an NHL career for himself, he simply doesn’t have the experience or reputation that would persuade you he can do anything other than barely get to double-digits in goals and 20-25 points in a single season.

Injuries to the Sabres’ group of forwards could afford Danforth more opportunities on the third line. But Buffalo management undoubtedly would prefer their younger players make the most of their chances, and that would almost certainly mean Danforth is going to be well down the Sabres’ list of secondary scoring options in the short-and-long-term picture.

Listed at 5-foot-9, Danforth is an undersized, undrafted winger at the NHL level. He’s not going to overwhelm opponents with skill, size or intuition. He’s not going to be a negative influence on the Sabres’ performance this coming year, but he’s also not going to do any of the heavy lifting required to carry this Buffalo team past the finish line and end the Sabres’ 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Exciting Young Center Kulich Has Good Chance To Be Special NHLer For BuffaloWe’re about to kick off the NHL’s 2025-26 season, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re moving through our player-by-player series in which we analyze every Buffalo players’ expectations this coming season.

Thus, we have to measure our expectations for Danforth. He got a decent contract out of Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams, and good for him for doing so. And if he can get to the 15-goal, 30-point mark, the Sabres will be thrilled.

But imagining Danforth will be on highlight reels and near the top of Buffalo’s list of top scorers is dreaming in technicolor. Danforth is a fringe component of the Sabres, and his expectations should be constructed accordingly.

Abbotsford Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra will be staying with the organization for the next couple of seasons. On Tuesday, GM Patrik Allvin announced that the Canucks have picked up Malhotra's option for the 2026-27 season. This will keep Malhotra in Abbotsford for the next two seasons, where he can continue to help develop Vancouver's top prospects. 

In the press release, Allvin said, "Since joining our organization, Manny has done a great job teaching, communicating with, and developing our players in the American Hockey League. His work ethic, passion, and partnership with our NHL staff was a big reason why our group in Abbotsford won a Calder Cup, and why the players we called up to Vancouver during the season fit into our system so well. We are extremely happy to have Manny extend his time with the hockey club."

Malhotra had a year to remember during his first season as an AHL head coach. The Canucks set a new franchise record for wins with 44 and points 92. After a successful regular season, Malhotra led Abbotsford to their first Finals appearance, where they defeated Charlotte Checkers to win the 2025 Calder Cup. 

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On top of having success in the AHL, Malhotra helped prepare players for when they were called up to the NHL. This includes defenceman Elias Pettersson and Max Sasson, who each played at least 25 games in Vancouver last season. Other players that made their NHL debuts in 2024-25 after staring in the AHL include Ty Muller, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Nikita Tolopilo. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

The Florida Panthers have officially announced the start of their 2025 Training Camp.

All the fun will begin on Thursday at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale.

Florida will hold three days of multi-group practice sessions in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, Friday and Saturday ahead of Sunday’s preseason-opening doubleheader against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville.

Select camp practices will be open to the public, but no dates have been announced yet. For the latest info on open practices, click here.

There are a total of 72 players on Florida’s initial camp roster: 42 forwards, 23 defensemen and seven goaltenders.

You can check out the full camp roster in the images below:

Additionally, the Panthers announced details for their 2025 Training Camp Fan Fest.

It will take place on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. at the Baptist Health IcePlex.

In addition to being able to see the Panthers practicing on the ice, there will be fun games and activities for fans, as well as opportunities to see Stanley C. Panther, Viktor E. Ratt and the Panthers Dance Team.

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The Buffalo Sabres 2025-26 training camp will begin on Wednesday, with media availabilities for GM Kevyn Adams and head coach Lindy Ruff, and physicals for the players. On-ice work will commence on Thursday, in advance of the opening of their six-game exhibition schedule next Monday in Columbus. The club unveiled their roster for camp on Tuesday, consisting of 61 players. 

The roster includes players on NHL deals, AHL contracts who played in the NHL, in the AHL for Rochester, or the ECHL for Jacksonville, as well as a number of unsigned prospects. 

Forwards (32) - 6 Zach Benson, 59 Matteo Costantini, 15 Justin Danforth, 91 Josh Doan, 44 Josh Dunne, 45 Riley Fiddler-Schultz, 55 Mason Geertsen, 12 Jordan Greenway, 94 Konsta Helenius, 95 Jagger Joshua, 41 Tyler Kopff, 48 Tyson Kozak, 19 Peyton Krebs, 20 Jiri Kulich, 52 Trevor Kuntar, 13 Jake Leschyshyn, 29 Beck Malenstyn, 71 Ryan McLeod, 49 Carson Meyer, 54 Olivier Nadeau, 79 Viktor Neuchev, 9 Josh Norris, 86 Noah Ostlund, 22 Jack Quinn, 63 Isak Rosen, 81 Redmond Savage, 67 Graham Slaggert, 72 Tage Thompson,, 89 Alex Tuch, 92 Anton Wahlberg, 42 Brendan Warren, 17 Jason Zucker

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Defensemen (21) - 93 David Bedkowski, 75 Isaac Belliveau, 43 Simon-Pier Brunet, 78 Jacob Bryson, 4 Bowen Byram, 26 Rasmus Dahlin, 36 Aidan Fulp, 33 Ryan Johnson, 28 Zac Jones, 8 Michael Kesselring, 76 Vsevolod Komarov, 46 Noah Laaouan, 37 Noah Laberge, 73 Zach Metsa, 57 Radim Mrtka, 74 Nikita Novikov, 25 Owen Power, 3 Jack Rathbone, 23 Mattias Samuelsson, 21 Conor Timmins, 56 Peter Tischke

Goaltenders (8) - 40 Alexandar Georgiev, 35 Ryerson Leenders, 50 Topias Leinonen, 27 Devon Levi, 1 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, 34 Alex Lyon, 47 Samuel Meloche, 32 Scott Ratzlaff

The club also announced that four 2025 draft picks (fourth-rounder Matous Kucharcik, sixth-rounder Ashton Schultz, and seventh-rounders Melvin Novotny, and Ryan Rucinski) were sent back to their respective USHL clubs, while free agent defenseman Luke Dragusica was returned to the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads. 

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As contract negotiations between Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild continue, an interesting development is occurring.

One NHL insider hinted on Tuesday that it will be Kaprizov, and not Connor McDavid, that pushes the salary cap ceiling higher in the NHL this summer. 

Kaprizov’s camp has already turned down the richest contract in NHL history. Seravalli questioned why in a recent segment for Bleacher Report. He then noted,  “Who’s going to be that guy that steps up to push the envelope and move it forward for NHL players? It’s probably not going to be Connor McDavid, so it could be someone like [Kaprizov].”

After Kirill Kaprizov reportedly rejected an 8-year, $128 million extension with the Wild, contract discussions are at a standstill 👀

(w/ @frank_seravalli) pic.twitter.com/VRc7Fp6nz4

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 16, 2025

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The NHL’s rising salary cap is a leverage point for Kaprizov, who is also using comments from Wild owner Craig Leopold against the organization. Leopold was public in his saying that no team would or could pay Kaprizov more than the Wild. It appears the superstar is holding them to it.

Meanwhile, McDavid is taking his time with his extension, but no one believes this is about money for the captain of the Edmonton Oilers.

In fact, some believe McDavid will opt for a shorter-term deal, one that doesn't set a new record for the total overall value of an extension. Meanwhile, Kaprizov is rumored to be open to an eight-year extension, but he wants better than a record-setting deal. He wants something that maintains strong value as the cap increases exponentially.

Insiders like Seravalli are suggesting Kaprizov could emerge as the next player to push the financial boundaries set by the league's highest-paid players. 

McDavid will remain the game’s top player, but in Minnesota, the Wild are about to pay for how valued Kaprizov is in that market. He is trying to negotiate terms that reflect his elite performance, the league’s financial growth, and what he's worth in the Minnesota market. The standstill between the two sides is his trying to structure and maximize his value.

For McDavid, he's looking at winning and what it's going to take for the Oilers to be competitive. That means taking a little less. 

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When looking back at the past three prospects challenges for the Pittsburgh Penguins - all of which they have won - there is a common denominator.

And his name is Avery Hayes. 

Hayes, 22, continues to impress the organization after being signed to a two-year AHL contract prior to the 2023-24 season. Undrafted, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound right wing registered 23 goals and 42 points in 60 AHL games last season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), which earned him a two-year entry-level contract with the Penguins this offseason.

And he's been the standout at the past three Prospects Challenges for the Penguins, which includes four goals in three games this time around. 

“I always believed in myself. I always had kind of that confidence about myself," Hayes told Penguins' team reporter Michelle Crechiolo. "But it’s just nice knowing I'm going to be here for a couple more years, hopefully longer."

And if Hayes keeps up what he's doing, his NHL future may not be too far away.

It will certainly be an uphill climb for Hayes to make the NHL roster out of training camp, as there will be a lot of young and veteran forwards competing for few spots on the roster. Forwards like Ville Koivunen, Tristan Broz, Filip Hallander, and Rutger McGroarty - currently on the shelf with an undisclosed injury - will also be vying for the same spots.

But - despite being a bit undersized - Hayes's all-around game makes him an intriguing player. He's good in all three zones, can play in all situations, and isn't afraid to drive the net. He's also a good forechecker.

Some - such as Jesse Marshall of Elite Prospects - have compared him to Penguins' top-six forward Bryan Rust, who has a similar skillset and work ethic, started as a fourth-liner at the NHL level, and worked his way up to the top line - and has now put together six straight seasons of 20 or more goals.

Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) on X@pensroadwarrior Agree, I’d even argue there are similarities in play style

Hayes is certainly a player to watch during training camp this season. Even if he doesn't crack the NHL roster initially, don't be surprised to see him skating with the Penguins sometime this season.

There are too many great teams in the NHL for all of them to exceed or match expectations.

Some squads just end up being shockingly disappointing to their fans.

Last season, the Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers were just that, missing the playoffs when getting that far was initially a no-brainer.

It’s only natural for a handful of teams to fall short of their pre-season goals, whether that’s being a top team in the NHL, a playoff team or a bubble team.

Here are three NHL teams that could surprise everyone next season – in a bad way.

Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings have been a respectable regular-season team, finishing in the top three of the Pacific Division for the last four campaigns. However, they can't get past the first round of the playoffs and the Edmonton Oilers.

This off-season was a great opportunity for the Kings and new GM Ken Holland to leapfrog the Oilers in terms of their roster.

However, there’s a strong belief that Los Angeles didn’t do that, adding D-men Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin, goaltender Anton Forsberg and right wingers Joel Armia and Corey Perry. The team already received a blow as Perry has been ruled out for six to eight weeks following knee surgery.

Add that loss to an aging Kings team, where their core players like captain Anze Kopitar, D-man Drew Doughty and starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper are 35 or older. Los Angeles has plenty of young players who could counter that, but it isn’t a sure thing to expect this team to improve drastically from last year.

Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals blew expectations out of the water last season in Spencer Carbery’s second year as their coach. They led the Eastern Conference with 111 points, which were 20 points more than the season before.

Captain Alexander Ovechkin’s historic goals record chase not only highlighted their campaign by energized it.

Even Carbery said the chase gave his team “a boost and energy at times down the stretch.” With that, he believed his players made an extra effort to help push Ovechkin to the record, which, in the end, took a lot out of his players.

While the Capitals are still in a position to be a playoff contender with the likes of Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, goaltender Logan Thompson, rookie Ryan Leonard and many more crucial pieces of the roster, they likely won’t be the powerhouse they were last season.

BetMGM set the over/under for the Capitals' regular-season points total this season at 96.5. Their odds of getting more than that are at 1.91 (-110), while the odds for the under are at 1.83. (-120).

Florida Panthers

It could be considered a controversial take to say the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions won’t meet expectations next season. After all, they have the best odds of winning the Stanley Cup this season at 7.00 (+600) on BetMGM.

However, the Florida Panthers have reached the Stanley Cup final for three straight seasons. They won’t be able to recreate that success at some point.

The biggest concern for this impressive team would be its health. Florida has played more hockey than anyone else over the last three years, and the team hasn’t changed much aside from a couple of trade deadline acquisitions.

It’s already known that Matthew Tkachuk will be missing a chunk of this season with a torn adductor and sports hernia injury. It’s a significant loss to be without a star player and leader like Tkachuk, which could affect the start of the Panthers’ campaign.

The underperforming may not stop when the regular season is over, either. Ever since the Tampa Bay Lightning went to the Cup final for three straight years, they haven’t been able to get past the first round of the playoffs or clinch their division.

Could their Florida state counterparts face a similar situation next season?

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EAST MEADOW, NY --  Defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson is a fierce competitor whose physicality is something that New York Islanders fans are going to fall in love with. On the final day of rookie camp, the No. 18 overall pick showcased that physicality with an open-ice hit on 2025 fourth-round pick and No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 CHL Import Draft, Tomas Poletin. 

The hit -- Aitcheson definitely held up a bit -- sent Poletin to the ice.

After the skate, I caught up with Aitcheson to get his thoughts on being able to be more physical as camp has progressed, his excitement for NHL training camp to begin, and more in this Q & A:

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Stefen Rosner: We saw some physical play today. I know I’ve asked you about hitting before, but how excited are you for main camp when you can really show that side of your game?

Kashawn Aitcheson: "Yeah, of course. It’s still camp, so you’re not trying to hurt anyone, but I’m definitely super excited to play in more real situations and games — with physicality, guys competing for jobs. This week was a lot of skill work: keeping your head up, making plays, always moving your feet. Main camp is when it gets real."

Stefen Rosner: With training camp coming up against NHL players, how excited are you? You’re a first-round pick, and while you’ve said you’ll be going back to juniors, there’s still a lot you can prove and showcase.

Kashawn Aitcheson: "Yeah, obviously, I’m going back to juniors, but whenever you’re here, the goal is to try to make the team and push for that kind of spot. You want to learn from the players who are already there, ask questions to the staff, and just soak everything in."

Stefen Rosner: You’ve never been through an NHL training camp before, but you are going to learn a lot about the NHL game and realize that some things you can get away with in juniors won't fly at the NHL level. How do you plan to balance that, going back to juniors and not developing habits that may work there in order to develop your game for the NHL level, not necessarily for the OHL?

Kashawn Aitcheson: "I think it’s about doing a lot of video with coaches, talking with development staff, and making sure you’re always focusing on ways to improve for the NHL level. You can’t just assume you’ll make the team next year. You have to keep looking for things to get better at — that’s what keeps the bad habits away."

Stefen Rosner: Are you excited to go back to Barrie and talk with your teammates about your camp experience?

Kashawn Aitcheson: "Yeah, for sure. We’ve got quite a few guys from Barrie at camps around the NHL, so it’ll be good to talk to all the boys, see how they did, and maybe bring some of the stuff I learned here back with me."

Stefen Rosner: Are you someone who watches a lot of hockey? Do you plan to watch a ton of Isles hockey?

Kashawn Aitcheson: "Yeah, I try to watch as many games as I can. I’ll definitely be keeping tabs and watching 100%.