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Top 50 - Detroit Red Wings - Sept. 25 2017 - Collector's Edition Issue - Ken Campbell

CONSIDER THIS. Only four players in NHL history have played more than 1,500 games, while doing so all for the same franchise. And three of them – Alex Delvecchio, Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom – did it with the Detroit Red Wings. (Shane Doan is the other.) The Wings have had some of the game’s greatest individual talents and they stuck around for a very long time. Detroit has won the majority of its 11 Stanley Cups in three clusters, two in the 1930s, the dynasty of the 1950s and the one that came along more than 40 years later. It should come as no surprise the players on those teams dominate the list of top players.

Red Wings’ Alleged Interest in Former Norris Trophy Winner Refuses to Go AwayWhile the Detroit Red Wings were among the more active teams in free agency this summer, none of their acquisitions can realistically be considered a major addition. 

1 GORDIE HOWE

POS | RW YEARS | 1946-71 GP | 1,687 G | 786 A | 1,023 P | 1,809

WHEN YOU’RE THIS great, they call you Mister. And Howe, who was just as well known as ‘Mr. Hockey,’ earned every bit of the enormous respect he received, both from the fans whom he treated like royalty and opponents whom he treated like an annoyance.

No player in the history of the game better combined the artistry and brute physicality of hockey better than Howe. The rare feat of a goal, assist and a fight in the same game is named after him. But so are numerous schools and a $48-million bridge that will link Canada to the United States at the Windsor-Detroit border. You don’t garner that kind of respect unless you’re one of the most durable and consistently brilliant athletes in the annals of professional sports. Howe scored at least 20 goals for 22 straight years in the NHL. He scored more points in the NHL after he turned 30 than he did before. When he was 41, he scored three more goals than years he had spent on Earth. There has never been anyone better in Detroit, and there very likely never will.

2 NICKLAS LIDSTROM

POS | D YEARS | 1991-2012 GP | 1,564 G | 264 A | 878 P | 1,142

IF GORDIE HOWE is the epitome of enduring excellence for the Red Wings at forward, Lidstrom is his equal on the blueline. And like Howe, Lidstrom was more dominant in his 30s than he was in his 20s. It’s hard to believe he didn’t win his first Norris Trophy until he was 31 – after three straight runner-up finishes – but it’s easy to believe he was good enough to win six more after that.

There have been better defensemen in NHL history – not many, mind you – but there were none who played with the steadiness and poise Lidstrom did for as long as he did. The Red Wings won their Cups largely on the strength of their uber-talented forwards, but it was Lidstrom who started many of the plays by getting the puck out of danger and up to those forwards.

3 STEVE YZERMAN

POS | C YEARS | 1983-2006 GP | 1,514 G | 692 A | 1,063 P | 1,755

MARK MESSIER IS regarded as the greatest leader the game has ever seen, but not far behind him on that list is Yzerman. Like Howe and Lidstrom, Yzerman enjoyed a long career that was defined by a sustained level of superior play and the respect he garnered from teammates and opponents. It’s a testament to Yzerman that the No. 19 has evolved into one of the most revered numbers in the game.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Yzerman’s career was how he seamlessly made the transition from one of the league’s most brilliant offensive talents to one of the greatest two-way players. And as dominant as Howe was, it bears mentioning Yzerman finished only 54 points behind Howe in Detroit, despite playing 173 fewer games.

4 TERRY SAWCHUK

POS | G YEARS | 1950-55, 1957-64, 1968-69 RECORD | 351-243-132 GAA | 2.44 SP | n/a

Regarded by many as the greatest goalie ever, Sawchuk is also one of the game’s most prominent tragic figures. At the top of most Detroit goaltending categories, he backstopped the Wings to three Stanley Cups in the 1950s.

5 TED LINDSAY

POS | LW YEARS | 1944-57, 1964-65 GP | 862 G | 335 A | 393 P | 728

Again with the respect. The NHLPA changed the name of the trophy it gives to the player-voted MVP from that of a prime minister to Lindsay. ‘Terrible’ Ted Lindsay to opponents, he was anything but for the Red Wings.

6 RED KELLY

POS | D YEARS | 1947-60 GP | 846 G | 162 A | 310 P | 472

Before becoming one of the greatest two-way centers in history in Toronto, Kelly was an alltime great on the blueline in Detroit. A huge factor in their four-Cup ’50s dynasty, Kelly inspired and won the first-ever Norris Trophy in 1954.

7 SERGEI FEDOROV

POS | C YEARS | 1990-2003 GP | 908 G | 400 A | 554 P | 954

He was as outstanding offensively as he was in his own end. Won three Cups, a Hart, a Pearson and two Selkes.

8 ALEX DELVECCHIO

POS | C YEARS | 1951-74 GP | 1,549 G | 456 A | 825 P | 1,281

Known for durability and gentlemanly play, he never seemed to mind being stuck in Howe’s shadow.

9 SID ABEL

POS | C YEARS | 1938-52 GP | 570 G | 184 A | 279 P | 463

‘The Production Line’ pivot won the Hart in 1948-49. ‘Old Bootnose’ is one of seven Wings with retired numbers.

10 PAVEL DATSYUK

POS | C YEARS | 2001-16 GP | 953 G | 314 A | 604 P | 918

‘The Magic Man’ was a highlight reel whose attention to detail and defense kept him from putting up huge stats.

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11 MARCEL PRONOVOST

POS | D YEARS | 1950-65 GP | 983 G | 80 A | 217 P | 297

A blueline stalwart on the Wings’ 1950s dynasty, he was compared to Eddie Shore. Played in Cup final eight times.

12 EBBIE GOODFELLOW

POS | C YEARS | 1929-43 GP | 557 G | 134 A | 190 P | 324

Equally adept at forward and defense, he led Detroit to three Cups and was the first Wing to win the Hart Trophy.

13 HENRIK ZETTERBERG

POS | LW YEARS | 2002-PRESENT GP | 1,000 G | 326 A | 578 P | 904

The last active link to their most recent dynasty. Yet another player who always excelled at both ends of the ice.

14 NORM ULLMAN

POS | C YEARS | 1955-68 GP | 875 G | 324 A | 434 P | 758

An adept stickhandler and forechecker. Led the Wings in goals three times in the 1960s, with Howe in the lineup.

15 JACK STEWART

POS | D YEARS | 1938-50 GP | 502 G | 30 A | 79 P | 109

Earned nickname ‘Black Jack’ for his penchant for hitting hard and clean. Two Cups, three-time first-team all-star.

16 SYD HOWE

POS | LW YEARS | 1935-46 GP | 513 G | 188 A | 247 P | 435

No relation to Gordie, but he also made his mark as an offensive player and won three Stanley Cups in Detroit.

17 BRENDAN SHANAHAN

POS | LW YEARS | 1996-2006 GP | 716 G | 309 A | 324 P | 633

Nine years in Detroit, scored 30-plus goals seven times and recorded 100 or more PIMs eight times.

18 BILL QUACKENBUSH

POS | D YEARS | 1942-49 GP | 313 G | 40 A | 89 P | 129

One of the cleanest players of all-time, he was the first defenseman in NHL history to win the Lady Byng Trophy.

19 HERBIE LEWIS

POS | LW YEARS | 1928-39 GP | 483 G | 148 A | 161 P | 309

One of the fastest skaters in the early era, he also played for Detroit under the Cougars and Falcons monikers.

20 LARRY AURIE

POS | RW YEARS | 1927-39 GP | 489 G | 147 A | 129 P | 276

A heart-and-soul player with talent, he was a huge factor in franchise’s first two Stanley Cup titles in 1936 and ’37.

21 CHRIS OSGOOD

POS | G YEARS | 1993-2001, 2005-11 RECORD | 317-149-75 GAA | 2.49 SP | .905

Sits second only to Sawchuk in games played, minutes, wins and shutouts. Was No. 1 man on two Cup winners.

22 KRIS DRAPER

POS | C YEARS | 1993-2011 GP | 1,137 G | 158 A | 203 P | 361

Unheralded contributor to the Wings’ most recent Cup dynasty, he won the Selke and centered ‘The Grind Line.’

23 SLAVA KOZLOV

POS | LW YEARS | 1991-2001 GP | 607 G | 202 A | 213 P | 415

A key but lesser-known member of ‘The Russian Five,’ he won two Cups with solid play and production.

24 GARY BERGMAN

POS | D YEARS | 1964-73, 1974-75 GP | 706 G | 60 A | 243 P | 303

Never won a Cup in Detroit but was a steady blueline presence on teams that struggled after the 1950s dynasty.

25 ROGER CROZIER

POS | G YEARS | 1963-70 RECORD | 131-121-41 GAA | 2.93 SP | .903

First goalie to win Conn Smythe Trophy and first player to do so on a losing team. He also won the Calder Trophy.

3 Red Wings Prospects That Could Make NHL Debut This SeasonExploring three Detroit Red Wings prospects that could make the jump to the NHL in the 2025-26 season.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

26 TOMAS HOLMSTROM

LW, 1996-2012; 1,026-243-287-530

One of six with 4 Cups and 1,000 GP as Wing

27 MARTY PAVELICH

LW, 1947-57; 634-93-159-252

Rocket Richard’s shadow retired in his prime

28 HARRY LUMLEY

G, 1943-50; 163-105-56, 2.75

Debuted as Wing at 17, led NHL in wins twice

29 CHRIS CHELIOS

D, 1999-2009; 578-21-131-152

Became Wing at 37, first-team all-star at 40

30 REED LARSON

D, 1977-86; 708-188-382-570

Six 20-goal years, top 10 in shots six times

31 VLADIMIR KONSTANTINOV

D, 1991-97; 446-47-128-175

Fearless hitter was plus-185 in six seasons

32 JOHN OGRODNICK

LW, 1980-87, ’92-93; 558-265-281-546

First-team star had 176 goals in 4-year span

33 NIKLAS KRONWALL

D, 2003-present; 795-76-302-378

Big banger NHL-best plus-16 in ’08 Cup run

34 NORMIE SMITH

G, 1934-45; 76-71-31, 2.26

Retro 1936 playoff MVP had 92-save shutout

35 MICKEY REDMOND

RW, 1971-76; 317-177-133-310

Third ever with back-to-back 50-goal years

36 NICK LIBETT

LW, 1968-79; 861-217-250-467

Two-way ironman scored 20-plus six times

37 IGOR LARIONOV

C, 1995-2000, ’00-03; 539-89-308-397

Was oldest player to score in Cup final at 41

38 MARCEL DIONNE

C, 1971-75; 309-139-227-366

Detroit’s career leader in points per game

39 GERARD GALLANT

LW, 1985-93; 563-207-260-467

30-plus goals, 200-plus PIMs 4 years in row

40 BRUCE MACGREGOR

C, 1961-71; 673-151-184-335

Speedster fourth in NHL goals in 1966-67

41 JIMMY HOWARD

G, 2006-present; 199-124-54, 2.43, .915

Calder runner-up top 10 in wins, SP 4 times

42 WARREN GODFREY

D, 1955-62, ’63-68; 528-23-77-100

Steady blueliner wore 8 numbers in Detroit

43 JOHAN FRANZEN

LW, 2005-present; 602-187-183-370

GWG beast led NHL in playoff goals in ’08

44 BOB PROBERT

LW, 1985-94; 474-114-145-259

29 goals, sixth-highest PIMs ever in 1987-88

45 KIRK MALTBY

RW, 1996-2010; 908-107-115-222

‘Grind Line’ pillar 5th in playoff GP for Wings

46 STEVE CHIASSON

D, 1986-94; 461-67-200-267

QB’d power play and battled in the alleys

47 MIKE VERNON

G, 1994-97; 53-24-14, 2.40, .898

Won Smythe and 30 of 42 playoff games

48 PAUL COFFEY

D, 1993-96; 231-46-193-239

Norris winner 5th in Wings’ points per game

49 MUD BRUNETEAU

RW, 1935-46; 411-139-138-277

Three-time champ ended longest NHL game

50 DARREN MCCARTY

RW, 1993-2004, ’08-09; 659-120-155-275

One of 3 Wings with 4 rings and 1,000 PIMs

Red Wings Blue-Chip Prospect Enters Make or Break Season For ELCFormer Red Wings second round pick Dylan James enters crucial last season with University of North Dakota. 

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If the Bell Centre was pretty tame for the first game of the Prospect Showdown with a low attendance for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators game, it was absolutely electric for the evening game featuring the Montreal Canadiens and the Winnipeg Jets. Straight from the moment the starting lineup was announced, it felt like a regular-season night in the Mecca of hockey.

While the Canadiens had a talented roster on the ice, the players still came out ready for a physical game, throwing hits whenever they had the opportunity. Even Ivan Demidov joined in; he leaned into a hit he saw coming and stayed up after impact. The hit of the night, however, belonged to Owen Protz, who ran Kieron Walton over like a train would have.

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Much like in Brossard, Demidov’s talent was once again apparent; his stickhandling is second to none, and he was the source of the first goal of the game when he brought the puck to the net, and Florian Xhekaj reaped the reward of his hard work. Oliver Kapanen also had an assist on the play.

PROTZ 🚂#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/7dPYnlmXoc

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 13, 2025

Like any player of that caliber, though, Demidov must be careful not to try to do too much. On the Canadiens’ first power play, he tried to be too cute, attempting to fool two Jets and losing possession; that wasn’t a regular occurrence, however.

The first power play unit featuring the top line of Xhekaj, Kapanen, and Demidov, joined by Owen Beck and David Reinbacher, had fantastic puck movement, moving the Winnipeg penalty killers from side to side, and twice they nearly realized a perfect play. Still, it ended up being a tic-tac-stop with Domenic Divincentiis denying them. After 20 minutes, it was 1-0 Montreal, and shots were 14-7 for Pascal Vincent’s men.

The Jets’ goaltender was powerless when Montreal got back on the power play in the second frame, and Kapanen completed the tic-tac-toe started by Demidov and Reinbacher with a powerful one-timer. The Austrian played a solid game and didn’t pass on a single opportunity to join the attack.

While the Canadiens’ defensemen struggled to get out of their zone at times, it wasn’t when the Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom pairing was on the ice. The former fifth-overall pick had a great game offensively, although at times defensively, he did look a bit rusty, but that’s to be expected from someone who missed so many games last season.

After Vincent sent Mikus Vecvanags in goal in relief of Jacob Fowler, who had not given up a single goal, the Jets quickly struck twice through Danny Zhilkin on the power play and then Chase Yoder on a breakaway to tie up the score at 2-2 even though the Canadiens had a 22-12 edge in shots at the time.

The second frame ended in a 2-2 tie, and Tyler Thorpe tried to start something up with a rival after the whistle, but he only managed to buy himself a front row seat to the first two minutes of the third frame.

Winnipeg seemed to have more energy in the third frame and battled hard to take a 3-2 lead with less than four minutes left in the game, but Demidov was not about to let his team lose in that manner. In his next shift, he got a nice feed from Oliver Kapanen and took off on a breakaway. Even with the kind of night Divincentiis was having, he was powerless against the Russian’s silky hands, and the Bell Centre erupted in a deafening cheer when he tied it up at 3-3.

IVAN DEMIDOV EST BEL ET BIEN RÉVEILLÉ

CAN CONFIRM IVAN DEMIDOV IS AWAKE

WPG 3, MTL 3#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/dvVt44FIs6

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 14, 2025

The Jets weren’t done, though, and Zhilkin found a way to score his second of the game to steal the win despite the Canadiens dominating 41-25 in shots. In the end, the result matters very little at this stage, but what does matter is just how dominant Demidov was. After the game, Vincent raved about him:

The goal he scored, as well as his overall offensive contributions on the ice…I've seen it in practice for two days, but to see what he can do on the ice at such high speed is truly impressive. But I spoke about it earlier, it’s his passion, his desire to be the difference maker. […] Every time you send him on the ice, you have the feeling something’s going to happen, and it does. We had a lot of scoring chances tonight, and he’s part of that in the vast majority. What he can do on the ice isn’t luck; it’s a guy who has worked on his game. He’s still very young, and he’ll get even better, but you get an idea of the kind of difference maker you can have on each of his shifts. For a coach, it’s fun to have.

- Vincent on Demidov

The Bell Centre crowd also shone brightly tonight, on September 13, for a meaningless game in a prospect tournament, the building was absolutely rocking. In the last period, the wave went around the arena many times, and it got so loud that it actually reminded me of the atmosphere from last year’s playoffs race, which is quite something given the circumstances. Asked to comment on that, Vincent explained:

It's amazing, it’s hard to describe…I’m 53 years old, I’m an older man, and I feel the energy from those people, and I can only imagine, and I’ve been in the NHL for years, in the playoffs. I feel, and for some guys, unfortunately, it’s the only time they’re going to wear an NHL jersey, just to experience that is a story you’re going to tell your kids and grandkids. At the same time, for us, I feel like we can evaluate players on how they react when they are on the big stage. So there are a lot of components to it.

- Vincent on the Bell Centre atmosphere

The Canadiens’ prospects will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they’ll take on the Maple Leafs at 3:00 PM and if the game is as spectacular as tonight’s the fans will be going home happy.

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Flyers trade Fedotov to Blue Jackets for draft pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

With a crowded goalie picture, the Flyers traded Ivan Fedotov to the Blue Jackets on Sunday for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.

The Flyers have Samuel Ersson and Dan Vladar as their goaltending tandem, with 2021 third-rounder Aleksei Kolosov and 2023 second-rounder Carson Bjarnason projected to compete at AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.

Fedotov, who turns 29 years old in November, was in the final year of a two-year, $6.5 million contract, so the Flyers cleared around $3.25 million in cap space.

The 6-foot-7 Russian struggled last season in his first full NHL campaign. He battled some early bumps and also went about a month without playing when he was relegated to No. 3 on the depth chart.

He finished the season 6-13-4 with a 3.15 goals-against average and an .880 save percentage. Ersson, Fedotov and Kolosov combined for an .872 save percentage, the worst mark in the NHL, which prompted general manager Danny Briere to add Vladar this offseason on a two-year deal.

“He has a chance to become our No. 1, depending on how he plays, how our other guys play,” Briere said in July. “And one thing at the end of the year, when I met with our group of goalies, I told them, ‘You have to be ready at training camp.’ I said, ‘This wasn’t good enough last season, we’re probably going to go out and bring in some reinforcements, and you’re going to be in a battle, all of you guys.’ So it was really clear right from the get-go.”

Fedotov had to take a long and remarkable journey to the Flyers after being selected in the seventh round of the 2015 draft. He arrived suddenly in March 2024 and ended up playing parts of two seasons for the club.

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization. 

Ville Koivunen easily could have taken this spot, and it was even further evidenced by his toying with everyone else during the Penguins' first exhibition game at the 2025 Prospects Challenge. Rutger McGroarty could have slotted here, too, and that would have been a pretty safe choice considering his common place at the top of most Penguins' prospects lists.

Maybe this is too bold, maybe it isn't. But Harrison Brunicke has done nothing but impress so far in his short tenure as part of the Penguins' organization to the point that it seems like I'm running out of things to say. 

So, without further ado, here he is at the top of my list as the Penguins' No. 1 prospect.

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#1: D Harrison Brunicke

There are so many things to like about how Brunicke plays the game.

Selected in the second round (44th overall) by the Penguins in 2024, Brunicke, 19, was the final return piece of the blockbuster deal that sent Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes prior to the 2024 NHL trade deadline. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound blueliner - coming into the draft - was known for his ability to shut down the opposition, and his two-way upside was intriguing. 

Then, there was training camp in 2024. Barely anyone prior to training camp gave Brunicke a second thought after the draft, and he quickly began to get people's attention. Only 18 at the time - and a few months removed from the draft - Brunicke put on such an impressive training camp that the Penguins kept him through to the end, as he nearly made the team out of camp and earned at least a nine-game trial.

And one year later, drafting Brunicke in round two - which, the pick used on him was originally a conditional first - is looking like a steal. 

When looking at the raw numbers, nothing jumps out like crazy. Brunicke had five goals and 31 points in 40 games last season for the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL - he missed a huge chunk of the season due to a broken wrist - and he got the call to the AHL after his junior season and put up two points in 10 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). 

Bruno with an absolute SNIPEEE pic.twitter.com/IxuZ3gHR81

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) April 26, 2025

But a lot of it is about the process for Brunicke. Even if the points aren't piling up yet, his skating is top-notch, his ability to evade defenders is elite, he is great in his own zone and on the penalty kill, he defends well one-on-one, he excels in transition, he plays with some edge, and he dominates the offensive blue line like clockwork. Brunicke's a very cerebral player, too, as his reads are excellent in all three zones and he knows how to find the open man with a first pass.

What is most impressive about the blueliner from South Africa, though, is the way he skates with the puck. Brunicke explodes in transition and glides effortlessly as he takes the puck end-to-end, blowing by opponents and creating scoring chances off the rush. It's easy to see how his skating is miles above pretty much everyone around him, and it's the best quality of his game.

The Penguins' organization is wildly impressed by Brunicke, and when asked about his growth this past year, there has been no hesitation from anyone to speak glowingly about him. In fact, when I asked WBS head coach Kirk MacDonald about Brunicke's growth from the beginning of his AHL stint to the end of it - when he recorded a goal and two points in two playoff games and played in the top-four for WBS over some guys who had spent the entire season there - he started his response before I could even finish my question.

“Huge,” MacDonald said. “Honestly, it was. Credit to him, he figured it out quick. Came in initially, and - you know, he had junior habits where you can just skate by people and hold on to the puck for a long time - I thought he did a really good job with the last couple of regular season games and the playoff stint. He was moving pucks quick, jumping into the rush… that goal he scored in the playoffs was outstanding. The less he does in certain areas, the more he accomplishes just by making a really good first pass, activating and jumping in the rush."

Penguins' Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos also didn't hesitate to praise Brunicke's growth and ability to apply constructive feedback immediately. 

"I think he took the constructive criticism and was able to apply it right away,” Kostopoulos said. “If you watched his games in Wilkes-Barre, there was growth, but it took off. It was impressive how he grew into the games in the playoffs. He looked very confident for a young kid. 

“So, we’re really excited about his potential that he’s got to be a really good two-way defender with offensive upside.”

The NHL and NHLPA is still pushing for the CBA's new CHL-AHL rule this season, which would allow one 19-year-old CHL player per season to play in the AHL on loan. If the rule gets pushed through this year, there is no doubt that Brunicke would - more than likely - be the beneficiary, as he's clearly outgrown junior hockey and is ready for the AHL.

For One Penguins' Top Prospect, New AHL-CHL Rule Could Prove CrucialOn Tuesday, the NHL released its transition schedule for the new rules under the Collective Bargaining Agreement that is set to take full effect during the 2026-27 season. 

But if it doesn't take effect - and Brunicke manages to have an even more impressive training camp than he did last season - the Penguins will have some tough decisions to make. They already have Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Matt Dumba, and Connor Clifton on the right side, and it would certainly take a lot for Brunicke to assert himself into a starting NHL role. But, if he wouldn't crack the NHL roster, he would need to be sent back to Kamloops, where he'll have to remain until the end of his junior season - and which risks stunting his development and opening the door for him to lean on bad, high-risk habits. 

Brunicke has made it clear that his goal is to stay in the NHL this time around. The Penguins desperately need top-end talent on the blue line in their system, and Brunicke is the one with the most promise. If he develops to his potential, he could be a top-pairing defenseman, should be a top-four defenseman, and might see a floor as an effective bottom-pair blueliner. 

Regardless, Brunicke has certainly proven himself in his short time with the Penguins and fills a dire positional need for the team - and he only figures to get better. His upside, intrigue, and sharp growth over the last year is what earned him the No. 1 spot on our Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025 list. 

Now, let's see if he can earn a spot on the NHL roster come training camp.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Biggest Piece In Guentzel Trade Proving HimselfHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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The complete Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025 list:

- No. 1: D Harrison Brunicke
- No. 2: F Ville Koivunen
- No. 3: F Rutger McGroarty
- No. 4: F Ben Kindel
- No. 5: G Sergei Murashov
- No. 6: D Owen Pickering
- No. 7: F Tanner Howe
- No. 8: G Arturs Silovs
- No. 9: G Joel Blomqvist
- No. 10: F Tristan Broz
- No. 11: F Will Horcoff
- No. 12: F Mikhail Ilyin
- No. 13 F Filip Hallander
- No. 14: F Bill Zonnon
- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

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Bob Goodenow, the former leader of the NHL Players' Association, has died at 72 years old.

The NHLPA announced Goodenow's sudden passing Saturday evening. No cause of death was given.

Goodenow led NHL players during the 1994-95 and 2004-05 lockouts, when they opposed the implementation of a salary cap.

"The modern NHLPA, and the work it has done to improve the quality of life for thousands of players past and present, is a direct result of the foundation that Bob Goodenow built," the association said in a statement. "His impact on the game of hockey is lasting and profound."

The NHLPA is deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of former NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow.

Full statement: https://t.co/TNQFtPyDSEpic.twitter.com/zjyDpuUutG

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) September 13, 2025

Goodenow joined the NHLPA in 1990 as its deputy executive director. Before that, he captained Harvard's hockey team and later played professionally for the Flint Generals in the now-defunct IHL. He then graduated from the University of Detroit Law School and became a player agent.

He became the NHLPA's second-ever executive director in 1992 after Alan Eagleson, who held the role since 1967, resigned due to allegations of fraud. Goodenow held the position for 13 years.

Goodenow tirelessly worked to educate the players and build trust in the NHLPA's work, the association said.

"During his tenure, Bob was relentless in the fight for players’ rights," the NHLPA said. "He negotiated landmark gains in salary, free agency, pension and health benefits, and he led the players in taking control of their name, image and likeness rights in 1992.

"He also helped to establish pioneering programs, such as player salary disclosure, the second medical opinion program for players, the agent certification program, and he worked with the NHL to implement the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program for players and their families."

Goodenow also grew the staff of the NHLPA from three to more than 50 employees, built licensing and sponsorship programs, co-founded NHLPA Goals & Dreams where players donate complete sets of new hockey equipment and resources to grassroots programs and, with the NHL, launched the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 and brought NHL players to the Olympics for the first times in 1998 and 2002.

In October 1994, Goodenow led the players union in the beginning of a lockout as the NHL and team owners wanted a luxury tax on salaries that exceeded the average.

The lockout lasted until Jan. 11, 1995, for a total of 103 days. A rookie salary cap was introduced, but there was no luxury tax or overall salary cap. The 1994-95 regular season was shortened to 48 games as a result of the lockout.

When that collective bargaining agreement ended in 2004, the NHL wanted a salary cap, while the NHLPA offered a luxury tax, a five percent rollback in salaries and revenue sharing, among other proposals.

With no agreement in time, another lockout began in 2004 and ended up wiping out the full season, meaning the Stanley Cup wouldn't be awarded for the first year since 1919.

In July 2005, the 10-month lockout ended, with some key additions being the salary cap, NHL team revenue sharing, a 24 percent player salary rollback and a gradual decrease to the age a player needed to be to become a UFA from 31 to 27.

"Bob was a skilled attorney and tenacious advocate for the players he represented as an agent and as the head of the Players' Association," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Wendy, their three children, Joe, Katharine and Kerry, and his many friends and admirers throughout hockey.

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Fedorov Captures Magic - July 1, 1994 - Volume 47, Issue 38 - Michael Ulmer 

Wayne Gretzky found out when he stopped in at his Toronto restaurant. A reporter told Martin Brodeur the night before.Anticlimax was the theme of the NHL Awards June 17 in Toronto.

The process garnered as much attention as the winners. On June 16, the Quatre Saisons television network in Quebec announced a list of winners that corresponded exactly to the roster of awards unveiled the following night.

The league promised to investigate the leak.

“It’s disappointing,” said Bernadette Mansur, NHL vice-president, corporate communications. “It doesn’t diminish the achievements, but it does take a bit of the magic away.”

Much of the magic that remained be-longed to double winner Sergei Fedorov, who became the first non-North American to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

He also won the Frank Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward. Fedorov, who had 56 goals and 120 points in 82 games for the Detroit Red Wings finished on top of the Hart Trophy voting ahead of two goalies, Dominik Hasek of the Buffalo Sabres and John Vanbiesbrouck of the Florida Panthers.

Hasek did receive the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalie and shared the Jennings Trophy with teammate Grant Fuhr for the league’s best combined goals-against average.

Boston Bruins’ defenseman Ray Bourque won his fifth Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman after a two-year absence.

“I wanted to prove I was still here,” Bourque said, “still kicking and still playing at a high level.”

Los Angeles Kings’ superstar Gretzky, meanwhile, hit the quarter-century mark for major NHL awards with his Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top scorer and Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship.

They go along with his nine Art Ross Trophies, nine Harts, three Lady Byngs and two Conn Smythes.

The New Jersey Devils took home their first two major awards in franchise history when Brodeur was awarded the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie and Jacques Lemaire the Jack Adams Award as top coach.

In other awards, Boston Bruins’ right winger Cam Neely won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication and Adam Graves of the New York Rangers won the King Clancy Trophy for leadership on and off the ice.

Fedorov also won the Lester B. Pearson Award for league MVP as voted by members of the NHL Players’ Association. Devils’ defenseman Scott Stevens took the Alka-Seltzer Plus Award for his plus-58 ranking and Rangers’ defenseman Brian Leetch took the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

After a week of rookie camp, the Chicago Blackhawks prospects finally got to play in a game. The Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase features the Blackhawks in addition to the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild. 

This event is taking place in St. Paul, Minnesota. The participating roster traveled there on Saturday afternoon after having a practice in Chicago during the morning hours. 

After going down 1-0 and having a sluggish start to the game for Chicago, they started to get their legs under them.

The Blackhawks got on the board in the second period when Taige Harding scored, thanks to a great chance created for him by Sam Rinzel. The captain for the night, Rinzel, danced around the zone before making a brilliant pass to Harding, who didn't miss. 

Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) on XSam Rinzel sets up Taige Harding for a Blackhawks' goal.

Towards the end of the middle frame, the Blackhawks took a 2-1 lead on a goal scored by Ryan Mast. Before the game was over, the Blues did find a way to tie it and force overtime. 

Not long into the extra frame, Oliver Moore made a power move using his speed and slid the puck into the net for the game-winner. This was an impressive display of the skills, tenacity, and skating that he brings to the table. 

CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) on XOliver Moore burns the defender and buries the OT winner for the Blackhawks !

Whether it was the impressive plays that led to goals by Oliver Moore or Sam Rinzel, amongst others, or big-time scoring chances created by the impressive Nick Lardis, the Blackhawks have a lot of exciting pieces who are just getting going. 

Maybe the most impressive performance for the Blackhawks came in the net. Stan Berezhnoy made 31 saves on 33 shots in the win. A fair amount of them came on grade-A chances. The Rockford IceHogs could see him in the mix during the 2025-26 season. 

Chicago's prospects are going to be back at it again on Sunday when they take on the Minnesota Wild prospects at 3 PM central to close out the Tom Kurvers Prospect Challenge. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

No need to overreact with Bump, Grebenkin shows bite and more as Flyers lose originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Flyers’ prospects weren’t the comeback kids this time.

They fell to the Rangers, 5-2, Saturday night at PPL Center in the second of two rookie games.

The teams split the weekend series. Game 2 was chippy and sloppy.

“I felt like there were a ton of whistles tonight,” AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley head coach John Snowden said. “I didn’t think there was a whole lot of flow in general in the game.”

Ethan Samson and Alexis Gendron provided the Flyers’ goals. Gendron finished with two in the series.

The Flyers rallied to win Game 1 in overtime, 4-3. Nikita Grebenkin, who scored the winner for the Flyers, had two assists in Game 2.

• Alex Bump, arguably the most NHL-ready prospect in rookie camp, went scoreless over the weekend.

That may be seen as a disappoint to some fans who have heard so many good things about him. But it’s important to remember that a pair of rookie games won’t decide a prospect’s fate for main camp.

Two years ago, Tyson Foerster was the rookie camp headliner. He went scoreless in the two games against the Rangers. The Flyers, though, weren’t too worried about it. Foerster went on to make the big club’s roster and had a 20-goal rookie season.

Bump could be one of those complementary guys who gets better around NHL players. And it’s not like the 21-year-old winger looked bad offensively in the rookie series. He showed some of his strengths.

In the first period Saturday, he put a pass through two Rangers and right to Matthew Gard at the doorstep. But Gard was unable to get his stick on it as he streaked to the net.

Alex Bump had a really good pass here but looks like Matthew Gard just missed it. pic.twitter.com/24PFjQpieW

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 13, 2025

• Grebenkin impressed in both games.

Not only can he make plays with quick hands and good vision, but he also competes through contact. You can see why the 22-year-old winger played seven games for the Maple Leafs last season before coming to the Flyers in the Scott Laughton trade.

“He plays with a ton of bite,” Snowden, who runs rookie camp, said. “He’s a highly skilled player, but he is not easy to play against at all. He’s going to whack you when you come off the bench, he’s going to crosscheck you, he’s going to stick his nose in there. He wants to take contact and create his space.”

This chance all starts with Nikita Grebenkin creating contact and winning a puck battle.

John Snowden said Grebenkin is skilled, but he plays with bite.

Grebenkin had a goal and two assists over the two rookie games. pic.twitter.com/waHcC0BggP

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) September 14, 2025

• Coming off a 20-goal year for the Phantoms last season, Gendron knows he has good offensive tools. But he also knows he needs to continue to round out his overall game if he wants to climb to the Flyers.

“Last year, I thought my game grew up a little bit,” the 21-year-old winger said. “I had a chance to play on the PK yesterday and today, so that’s pretty big for me. I’m trying to be more of a complete player — PK, power play, 5-on-5.

“I’m just trying to prove that I can be an NHLer; not just an AHL guy.”

• Samson had another strong game. His second-period goal came on a missile from the circle.

“One of his greatest strengths is his shot,” Snowden said. … “He can score when he gets his opportunities.”

The 22-year-old defenseman could be a call-up option at some point this season. He has steadily improved in two seasons with Lehigh Valley.

“That’s everyone’s goal at the end of the day, to make that jump,” Samson said. “I’ve just got to keep playing my game and doing what they tell me do, and hopefully I can get to the next step.”

• Carson Bjarnason started in net and played a little over half the game, giving up three goals on 17 shots.

The 2023 second-rounder really wasn’t to blame for any of them.

He allowed a first-period power play goal to Scott Morrow, who played 14 games for the Hurricanes last season.

New York struck again in the opening minute of the middle stanza when the Flyers gave up a 3-on-1 rush. Later in the period, the Flyers surrendered a 5-on-3 power play goal.

Camp invite Joey Costanzo finished the game and stopped 12 of 13 shots.

The Rangers’ final goal was an empty-netter.

• Oliver Bonk ended up missing the second rookie game, as well. The 2023 first-round defenseman was out Friday because of maintenance.

“Just getting him ready for main camp,” Snowden said after Saturday’s loss.

One would think the Flyers didn’t feel there was any need to rush Bonk back, but we’ll see how his status trends over the course of early next week.

Denver Barkey had the night off after an excellent game Friday.

• The Flyers are scheduled to have two more days of rookie camp in Voorhees, New Jersey.

The Los Angeles Kings received unfortunate news when veteran forward Corey Perry, signed to a one-year contract after spending the past season and a half with the Edmonton Oilers, was injured during a training session.

He has since undergone surgery and is expected to miss several weeks. Even at 40, Perry has proven he can still contribute, scoring 19 goals and 11 assists in 81 regular-season games for the Oilers, then adding 10 more goals in the postseason before Edmonton once again fell to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final.

It’s a cruel twist of irony for Perry, who has now been on the losing side in the Stanley Cup Final in five of the last six seasons with four different teams (Dallas in 2020, Montreal in 2021, Tampa Bay in 2022, and Edmonton in 2024 and 2025).

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Detroit Red Wings fans are all too familiar with Perry from his many years with the Anaheim Ducks. He and the Ducks faced Detroit three times in the postseason (2007, 2009, 2013), with the Red Wings winning each of the last two series in seven games.

While Perry has never backed down from dropping the gloves, he likely never would have imagined himself getting handled in a bout against Pavel Datsyuk, a multi-year winner of the Lady Byng Trophy as the NHL's most gentlemanly player. 

The Red Wings hosted Perry and the Ducks in their 2010–11 season opener at Joe Louis Arena, a 4–0 Detroit victory. With the game already well in hand in the third period, Perry’s frustration boiled over as he confronted Pavel Datsyuk along the half-wall.

After landing a few punches, Perry found himself on the receiving end, as Datsyuk fired back and eventually wrestled him to the ice as the sellout crowd roared in approval. 

“I’m not a very big guy to talk about what happened,” Datsyuk explained years later. "What happened, happened. It’s part of hockey, part of the show.

“When you watch a fight from the side, you see how people grab each other and try to protect themselves. So, I was trying to defend myself.” 

Datsyuk, who had already scored a goal with adding an assist, picked up his first and only Gordie Howe Hat Trick of his NHL career with the fight.

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Ottawa Senators prospect Carter Yakemchuk wasted no time making his presence felt at the 2025 Prospects Showdown in Montreal. The 19-year-old defenseman scored twice and added an assist as the Senators opened the four-game rookie event with a 4–3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday afternoon at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Yakemchuk, Ottawa’s first-round pick (7th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, was a difference-maker throughout the prospects game, displaying the offensive instincts that nearly earned him an NHL job last fall. 

While his first goal was a lucky bounce off a Leafs defender, his second one, which turned out to be the difference in the game, was a thing of beauty. All alone in the slot, he froze everyone with a fake shot on the forehand, then pulled the puck to his left and deposited the backhand into the open net. If you've watched any of his Calgary Hitmen junior scoring highlights from the past, it's obvious that move is a Yakemchuk favourite when he has an attacking lane to the opponent's net.

He wasn’t the only former first-rounder to make an impression. Tyler Boucher, Ottawa’s 10th overall pick in 2021, delivered one of his stronger outings since beginning his injury-plagued time with the organization. Boucher skated with confidence, won some key battles along the boards, and buried the club’s third goal with a quick wrist shot from the top of the circle.

Up front, Xavier Bourgault, also a 2021 first-rounder (Edmonton), was noticeable all day in the offensive zone. Neither Boucher nor Bourgault has been a high-achieving AHL player yet, much less live up to their NHL draft billing, so this is a huge year for both of their pro careers.

Meanwhile, Steve Halliday – Belleville's top scorer last season – also had a productive afternoon, notching a goal and an assist while making smart plays in all three zones. 

In goal, the spotlight belonged to Jackson Parsons. The Embrun native, who was named both OHL and CHL Goaltender of the Year last season with the Kitchener Rangers, played the entire game and turned aside several high-danger chances. Parsons has a chance to battle with Hunter Shepard and Mads Sogaard for AHL goaltending duty this season, and he made a good first impression on B-Sens head coach David Bell, who described Parsons as the difference in the game.

Ottawa-born Luke Haymes had a goal and an assist for the Leafs.

The Senators’ rookies will be back on the ice Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. when they face the Winnipeg Jets prospects in their second and final game of the event. That matchup will close the book on Sens rookie camp, with Ottawa’s management staff set to finalize rookie invitations to main camp, which begins next week. 

By Steve Warne
This article first appeared at The Hockey News-Ottawa

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Day two of the Golden State Rookie Faceoff is in the books, as the San Jose Sharks defeated the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday afternoon. The Sharks’ portion of the event in Irvine has come to a close, as the only remaining game will be between the Kings and the Anaheim Ducks tomorrow afternoon.

Entering the games, the Sharks made a few changes from the night before. Cam Lund is day-to-day with an upper-body injury following a controversial hit late in the game against the Ducks. Meanwhile, Joshua Ravensbergen and Luca Cagnoni were taken out of the lineup as healthy scratches. Jack Bar and Noah Beck entered the lineup, giving the Sharks 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Meanwhile, between the pipes, Matt Davis got the start but split the time with Christian Kirsch.

The Kings got off to a hot start, with Koehn Ziemmer scoring just 15 seconds into the game. Just over a minute later, Parker Berge scored on another odd-man rush, extending the Kings’ lead to 2-0 within two minutes of puck drop. Kirill Kirsanov’s shot from the point off a Faceoff made it 3-0 just under halfway through the first period. Kenta Isogai joined the Kings’ goal-scoring party with just over five minutes remaining in the first frame.

It was clear right out of the gate that the Sharks were fatigued, both mentally and physically, due to the quick turnaround between games. As a result, decision-making was off, which created multiple chances for their opposition. The well-rested Kings were also a step quicker, and it was an overall struggle for the Sharks in the first period.

The Sharks had an opportunity to turn things around with 3:09 remaining in the period, as they got their first power play of the night. Isaiah Saville made a couple of saves for the Kings during the penalty kill, and the Sharks failed to convert on their man advantage.

The second period instantly started out with more grittiness than the first. There were a couple of scrums early, then Braden Hache was given an interference penalty for a late, heavy hit on Berge. Less than a minute after the penalty, Quentin Musty dropped the gloves with Henry Bruzstwicz after Musty threw a big hit along the boards, which earned him a boarding penalty. As a result, the Kings had a two-man advantage for over a minute.

The Sharks killed off the 5-on-3, and the remaining power play would be cut short as Kaleb Lawrence would be called for cross-checking, giving the Sharks a power play of their own after a few seconds of 4-on-4 play. Saville denied a Michael Misa one-timer with a great post-to-post save, preventing the Sharks’ second-overall pick from scoring his first goal with his new organization.

The Kings would kill off the penalty before Haoxi (Simon) Wang dropped the gloves with Lawrence. Both were given ten-minute misconducts along with their five-minute fighting majors, and went directly down the tunnel for the remainder of the period. Halfway through the period, both teams swapped goaltenders; Kirsch took over for Davis on the Sharks’ side, while LA-native Mattias Sholl entered the game for the Kings.

Kasper Halttunen got the Sharks on the board off a pass from Misa, making it a 4-1 hockey game. Moments later, Filip Bystedt added another, making it 4-2. Halttunen and Bystedt’s goals came on the first two shots that Sholl faced after entering the game, less than a minute apart.

Dawson Kerwing would get called for high-sticking Max Heise, giving the Sharks power play another opportunity. The Kings would kill it off. Musty would draw another penalty late in the penalty, and after massive chaos in front of the Kings' net, the puck would find its way to Sam Dickinson, who put it behind a sprawling Sholl to make it 4-3 with just a second remaining in the period.

After a scrum at the end of the second period, the third started with some 4-on-4 hockey. Misa’s hunt for a goal continued throughout the night, as he was once again denied in spectacular fashion when he had a two-on-one with Musty six minutes into the third.

A few moments later, the Sharks had a similar chance; this time Teddy Mutryn hit Sholl directly in the mask with his shot. The Sharks drew a penalty on that play, and on the ensuing face-off, Halttunen was high-sticked, giving the Sharks nearly two full minutes of 5-on-3 hockey. Collin Graf ripped a one-timer from Dickinson past Sholl, tying the game at 4-4.

Minutes later, Graf would make it five unanswered goals as shortly after the penalty expired, he shot from the right face-off circle, beating Sholl and making it 5-4 in favor of the Sharks. Misa’s hunt for a goal came to an end when he found the back of the net with 8:04 remaining in the game, off a pass from Musty.

The Kings got one back with 4:19 remaining, when Aatu Jamsen scored a gritty goal in the crease, making it a one-goal game once again. Mattias Havelid put away his second of the tournament, restoring the Sharks’ two-goal lead with just over two minutes remaining. Carson Wetsch added one more for the Sharks, who walked away with an 8-5 victory when all was said and done.

San Jose Sharks Defeat Anaheim Ducks to Kick Off Golden State Rookie FaceoffSan Jose Sharks hockey is back, at least in a sense. The Sharks’ prospects took the ice on Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks at the Golden State Rookie Faceoff. 27 Days Until Opening Day: The Sharks' History of Number 27The San Jose Sharks' season is just around the corner. We’re just 9 days away from preseason hockey and 27 days away from the official kick off of the 2025-26 season against the Vegas Golden Knights on October 9. Former Sharks Goaltender Signs With the Buffalo SabresFormer San Jose Sharks netminder Alexandar Georgiev has signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

The NHL’s 2025-26 season has just about arrived, and here on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re continuing our player-by-player series in which we break down the expectations for each Buffalo player in the coming season.

We’ve made our way in this series through the Sabres’ goalies, defensemen and the first two lines of forwards. And in today’s file, we’re analyzing Buffalo winger Jack Quinn, who is kicking off Year 1 of a two-year contract extension that is a significant bump in pay over what Quinn had been making.

But let’s focus right now on the current expectations for Quinn in ‘25-26, and whether he’s likely to meet or exceed them.

Player Name: Jack Quinn

Position: Left Wing

Age: 23

2024-25 Key Statistics: 74 games, 15 goals, 39 points, 14:52 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary:$3.375 million

2025-26 Expectations: In three NHL seasons, Quinn has hinted at being an above-average player, posting 15 goals and 39 points in 74 games last season – slightly better than his full-first-year numbers of 14 goals and 37 points in 75 games in 2022-23 – and he’s been given a bridge deal of sorts by Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to build himself into a long-term core component for the organization.

Quinn’s rather limited time-on-ice last season could be pointed to by some with the idea that if he gets more minutes, his point totals are going to rise significantly. Sabres coaching and management members may agree with that notion. But when the season begins, it’s likely that Quinn is going to be on Buffalo’s third line, with center Jiri Kulich and right winger Jordan Greenway, the latter of who isn’t known as a big-time point producer. 

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Staying Healthy A Key Concern For Rugged Winger GreenwayThe Buffalo Sabres need all hands on deck if they're to end their `14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought. And that means everyone on the roster is going to have to pull their weight. What will expectations for every Sabres player look like? That's the focus of THN.com's Sabres site series.

All of which is to say that Quinn may need to be more of a play-finisher than a playmaker this year. But his significant raise (from $863,334 last season to $3.375-million for this year and next year) carries with it increased expectations. And given that injuries limited Quinn to only 27 games in 2023-24 – with two serious injuries in the same season – he can’t afford another injury. That’s true for all players, but some more than others are under particular pressure to stay healthy, and Quinn is one of them.

As the eighth-overall draft pick in 2020, the 23-year-old Quinn needs to live up to the hype in a way that hasn’t happened yet. He’ll begin the season in limited minutes once again, but it would be to management’s delight if he did enough damage on offense to warrant a bump up the depth chart and more playing opportunities. It’s entirely up to Quinn to dictate what his future is going to look like, so nothing short of a new set of career-highs on offense has to be something he’s capable of if he’s going to remain a Sabre over the long haul.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Veteran Winger Zucker Looked To For Cluch OffenseThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is nearly upon us, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we're continuing our player-by-player series in which we break down expectations for each Sabres player this season. We've looked at Buffalo's goalies and defensemen, and in this latest column, we're turning our attention to veteran winger Jason Zucker.

If he isn’t, Quinn is going to languish on the third line, and at his new price tag, there may not be many teams stepping up to acquire him when they can wait a year and sign him to a more production-appropriate salary beginning in 2027. But if he does step up and the Sabres get back into the playoffs, Quinn’s salary could be seen as a first-rate bargain. 

Time will tell what the road forward will look like for Quinn, but he enters 2025-26 with a decent number of opportunities from Sabres coach Lindy Ruff. The way he responds to them will help shape his destiny as an NHLer.

By virtually all accounts, the Chicago Blackhawks are still a number of assets away from being a bona fide Stanley Cup playoff contender, let alone a legitimate Cup frontrunner. However, on Saturday, the Blackhawks firmed up their goaltending picture for the foreseeable future with a contract extension for No. 1 netminder Spencer Knight. 

Beginning next season, the 24-year-old Knight will get a raise of approximately $1.33 million, from his 2025-26 salary of $4.5 million to $5.83 million in 2026-27. At first glance, that may seem like a dangerous investment in a goalie who has only 95 games of NHL experience to his credit, and who has never played more than 37 games in a single season. But making projections on young players by giving them high-end money isn’t a new exercise for NHL GMs. Indeed, they do that all the time, and Knight’s case is no different.

The 24-year-old Knight, who was acquired from the Florida Panthers last season, didn’t have the best season from an individual statistics perspective. In 15 appearances for Chicago after the trade, Knight posted a .896 save percentage and 3.18 goals-against average. But on a true elite team like the Panthers, Knight’s 2025-26 numbers – including a .907 SP and 2.40 GAA – were significantly better. That’s what Hawks GM Kyle Davidson had in mind when he traded for Knight, and now, in giving Knight contract security through the 2028-29 campaign, he’s locked up a potential difference-maker between the pipes.

With Knight now secure in the knowledge that he’s going to be ‘The Man’ in net for the Blackhawks, Davidson can continue on with his roster-building for the future. But unfortunately for long-suffering Chicago fans, there’s still a very long way to go before the Hawks can have a realistic shot at making the post-season. 

Chicago has some key pieces of the puzzle, including forwards Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, and defensemen Alex Vlasic, Kevin Korchinski, Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov. The problem is, they don’t have nearly enough depth to run with first-rate Central Division teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars. Especially up front, the drop-off in talent in Chicago is severe, and although the Blackhawks currently have $18.6-million in salary cap space, you don’t see NHL free agents climbing over one another to sign a contract with the Blackhawks.

So while there may come a day when Knight’s numbers look like the ones he posted in Florida before the trade last season, the Hawks are going to go through more growing pains this coming year and more than likely, a year or two after that. Once you’re out of the playoff picture in the salary-cap era, it’s extremely difficult to claw and climb your way back into the playoff mix. And even with new coach Jeff Blashill giving every Blackhawks player a clean slate, Chicago is going to have a very difficult time being anything other than cannon fodder.

The Hawks haven’t made the playoffs for the past five seasons, and the 2025-26 season is likely to look very similar for them. Knight has a commitment for the next four seasons, and that’s a good thing for Chicago. The problem is the rest of the roster has multiple holes to fill, and they won’t be filled (a) easily or (b) soon.

It’s probably hard to hear if you’re a Blackhawks fan accustomed to the glory years of the modern era for the franchise, but the truth is, Chicago isn’t anywhere close to being a playoff team at the moment. And while Knight may be good enough to eventually backstop them to a playoff spot, that day isn’t likely to come this coming year, or anytime rapidly after that.

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