The Flames’ future looks bright. 

General Manager Craig Conroy set out this summer to solidify the franchise’s foundation. By securing his starting goaltender, keeping two of his brightest young forwards, and welcoming a defensive phenom with superstar potential, Conroy gave Flames fans a reason to be excited about the next five years and beyond.

Here’s a look at the four signings shaping Calgary’s future:

1. Dustin Wolf – The Backbone in Goal

The Flames wasted no time locking up their long-term answer in net. On September 9th, Dustin Wolf signed a seven-year, $52.5 million contract carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $7.5 million.

Wolf, 24, cemented himself as a cornerstone during the 2024–25 season, appearing in 53 games and finishing with a 29-16-8 record, a .910 save percentage, and a 2.64 goals-against average. His 29 wins not only led all rookie goaltenders but ranked 11th among NHL netminders. With his new deal, Wolf is set to be the backbone of Calgary’s future.

READ:  Why Dustin Wolf Will Win the Vézina - Sooner Than You Think 

2. Connor Zary – A Two-Way Star in the Making

While it’s not the longest commitment, Calgary secured forward Connor Zary to a three-year bridge deal worth $11.325 million, giving him an AAV of $3.775 million.

At 23, Zary is still scratching the surface of his potential. Last season he recorded 13 goals and 27 points in 54 games before being sidelined with a lower-body injury. Over 117 career NHL games, he’s tallied 27 goals and 61 points, showcasing his ability to contribute consistently while playing a strong two-way game. His versatility at both centre and wing adds even more value to his deal.

3. Matt Coronato – A Budding Offensive Leader

The Flames made a long-term commitment to Matt Coronato in May, signing him to a seven-year, $45.5 million extension, carrying an AAV of $6.5 million.

Coronato, 21, earned the investment with an impressive sophomore season, finishing third on the team in both goals (24) and points (47). The 2021 first-round pick has proven he can score in every situation—on the power play, at even strength, and in clutch late-game moments. His blend of skill and work ethic - with an elite shot - makes him a key building block for Calgary’s top six.

READ:Firing On All Cylinders -  Flames’ Matt Coronato Emerging As Core Piece

4. Zayne Parekh – The Defensive Phenom

The most recent addition to the core, Zayne Parekh, signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Flames on July 5, 2024, after being selected ninth overall in the ‘24 NHL Draft.

Parekh enters camp with enormous hype after a historic OHL career with the Saginaw Spirit. He produced back-to-back 30-goal seasons from the blue line, including 107 points in 61 games last year. His dominance earned him the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenceman and the CHL Defenceman of the Year award. If he impresses in camp, he could push for NHL minutes right away.

Drafted. Developed. Ready.

What makes these moves even more encouraging is that each player—Wolf, Zary, Coronato, and Parekh—was drafted and developed by the Flames organization. Each has spent time with the Wranglers, and have bought into the culture Conroy and head coach Ryan Huska are building.

With goaltending secured, dynamic scoring under contract, and a franchise-calibre defenceman waiting in the wings, the Flames have addressed three of hockey’s most difficult boxes to check. The summer of 2025 wasn’t just busy for Calgary… it was transformative.

Follow Bryan Wilson on X.

Quinn Hughes' future with the Vancouver Canucks has been murky since team president Jim Rutherford floated the notion of the defenseman one day joining brothers Jack and Luke with the New Jersey Devils.

Hughes, 25, is two years away from UFA eligibility, prompting speculation suggesting the Canucks might have to consider trading their captain if unable to sign him to a contract extension next summer.

James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now noted the ongoing conjecture linking Hughes to the Devils, but doesn't believe a trade will happen anytime soon.

Nichols cited Hughes' Sept. 5 interview with Sportsnet's Iain McIntyre, where he stated he wasn't looking beyond this season. “Who knows what we can do and who knows how I'll be feeling this time next year? It's still a year away,” he said.

Trading Hughes this season would signal a rebuild by the Canucks. However, their moves this summer (including re-signing Thatcher Demko, Brock Boeser and Conor Garland) suggest they're hoping to rebound after missing the 2025 playoffs. If it goes well, it could convince Hughes that his long-term future is in Vancouver.

Canadiens Trade Carey Price's Contract To Sharks: Recapping Goalie's Time In MontrealThe Montreal Canadiens traded Carey Price and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick to the San Jose Sharks on Friday.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, the Canadiens were expected to shop Carey Price's contract after paying the permanently sidelined goaltender his $5.5-million signing bonus last Monday. On Friday, they bundled his contract with a 2026 fifth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks in return for minor-league defenseman Gannon Laroque.

Shipping out the entirety of Price's cap hit makes the Canadiens cap-compliant this season, putting them under the $95.5 million salary cap by $4.568 million.

Marc Dumont of Montreal Hockey Now indicated the Canadiens have the cap flexibility to make a trade to improve their roster this season. They could accrue over $20 million if they wait until the March 6 trade deadline.

RG.Org's Marco D'Amico believes the Canadiens won't take that long. He cited sources claiming they could make moves before training camp or toward American Thanksgiving (Nov. 27).

It's no secret that the Canadiens seek a second-line center. They were linked to Marco Rossi before he re-signed with the Minnesota Wild last month. Speculation persists that they're among the teams interested in Mason McTavish, but it's expected that the Anaheim Ducks will re-sign the 22-year-old RFA.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are entering the 2025-26 season with several young players to watch. One interesting Blackhawks player who fans should keep an eye on this season is forward Landon Slaggert. 

Slaggert appeared in 33 NHL games this past season with the Blackhawks, where he posted two goals, six points, and 25 hits. He also recorded 10 goals and 25 points in 39 games down in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rockford IceHogs.

Overall, Slaggert has shown signs of promise early on in his career, even if he has had some growing pains like all young players do. The potential for him to become a solid bottom-six forward, at a minimum, is certainly there.

Slaggert also demonstrated at the collegiate level that he has some offensive potential. This was especially the case during his senior season with Notre Dame during the 2023-24 campaign, as he set career his collegiate career highs with 20 goals and 31 points in 36 games. 

Overall, now that Slaggert has completed his first full professional season split between the NHL and AHL, it will be fascinating to see if he can hit a new level with Chicago in 2025-26. If Slaggert takes that next step in his development, it would be great news for a Blackhawks club looking to become more competitive. 

Former Blackhawks Prospect Joins New TeamFormer Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jalen Luypen is no longer on the free-agent market, as he has signed a one-year contract with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. 

At the team's annual charity golf tournament on Monday, Ottawa Senators GM Steve Staios held court with the media and was asked, among other things, about winger Alex Formenton. TSN's Clare Hanna brought up the fact that Formenton had signed to play in Switzerland again, that his rights still belonged to Ottawa and asked Staios if he had spoken to the player or if he had any thoughts.

"I have no comment on that. In fact, it's a league matter, and the player is ineligible to play," Staios said. THN Ottawa's Graeme Nichols followed up, asking if Formenton became eligible, would there be interest? "I won't comment on it," Staios said.

The fact that the Senators retained Formenton’s NHL rights seemed like a moot point up until very recently. Leading up to the World Junior trial, it had been announced, although not formally filed with the league, that Formenton was walking away from a professional hockey career to pursue a career in construction.

He hadn’t played anywhere in the 2024-25 campaign and had only played a total of 46 games with Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss-A league in the two previous seasons.

However, in light of his acquittal, Formenton has now re-upped with Ambri-Piotta for 3.5 months for the coming season – a timeline which seems to suggest he hasn't given up on his dream of returning to the NHL.

Former Ottawa Senators Winger Alex Formenton Returns To Pro HockeyAfter being acquitted of sexual assault in the high-profile criminal case involving five members of the 2018 Canadian World Junior hockey team in August, Alex Formenton has signed a three and a half month contract with HC Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss League.

Now, the Senators are faced with three options that they may not have anticipated. Here's a synopsis of the options and their pros and cons, assuming the NHL’s post-acquittal investigation leads to their eligibility being reinstated.

1) Walk Away

This option makes the least sense. Even if they don’t want him back in the fold, simply walking away and letting him become a free agent would be poor asset management.

The one thing the Senators have is time, and Staios and company would be wise to use it.

Formenton needs to be on an NHL contract by December 1st to be eligible to play this season. They can use this time to scout and evaluate him to see if he's missed his window or if he can get back to where he was in 2021-22, which was a player with a lot of upside and elite speed. He's also a player who's cap-friendly and would likely sign for the league minimum. This time can be used to determine if he's still an asset or not.

2) Trade

The Senators won’t be the only team scouting Formenton in Switzerland. Surely, at least one other of the 31 NHL markets would see value in bringing him in if he still has the skills.

The return wouldn’t be huge, but maybe the Senators could get back a second-round pick, which is what Formenton was in 2017. Elite skating forwards who bring a physical element, kill penalties and score 18 goals in the NHL don’t grow on trees.

There is a buyer out there for Formenton if he can get back to his past NHL level of play.

3) Sign

There appears to be some support for this in the online community. A good number of Sens fans appear to believe that since the player was found not guilty on all charges, he should be welcomed back. 

Justice Maria Caroccia, in her judgment, did more than pronounce Formenton and his co-accused not guilty. It sounded like she accepted Formenton’s counsel’s version of the events as the truth, and described the Crown's evidence as not credible or reliable.

So a good portion of Sens Nation will be tracking Formenton’s progress in Switzerland and his HockeyDB page over the next three months out of sheer curiosity. They will also be casting a watchful eye on Gary Bettman and Bill Daly for news of their investigation to see if clemency will be granted.

By Pat Maguire
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Can The Senators Still Avoid Losing Their 2026 First Round Pick?
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Senators Captain Brady Tkachuk: 'We Want More'
Four Major Storylines This Month At Ottawa Senators Training Camp
Staios: 'We're Not Dismissing That Yakemchuk Makes Our Team Out of Camp'
Ottawa Senators: Ranking The Six Best At Each Position

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have signed goaltender Dustin Wolf to a seven-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $7.5 million.

Wolf, 24, emerged as a cornerstone for the Flames during the 2024–25 season, appearing in 53 games and recording a 29-16-8 record alongside a .910 save percentage and a 2.64 goals-against average. His 29 victories not only led all rookie netminders but also ranked him 11th overall among NHL goaltenders.

The Gilroy, California native capped off his breakout campaign by finishing second in Calder Memorial Trophy voting, underscoring his rapid rise as one of the league’s brightest young stars.

A seventh-round pick by Calgary in the 2019 NHL Draft (214th overall), Wolf has quickly built a decorated resume. Before establishing himself with the Flames, he captured back-to-back AHL Goaltender of the Year awards (2022, 2023) and earned the Les Cunningham Award as AHL MVP in 2023.

With this extension, the Flames secure their goaltending future as the team continues to build toward long-term success.

Former Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jalen Luypen is no longer on the free-agent market, as he has signed a one-year contract with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. 

Luypen became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on July 1 after the Blackhawks elected not to tender him a qualifying offer. Now, after spending over two months as a UFA, he has found his new home with the Stingrays. 

Luypen spent the majority of this past season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rockford IceHogs. In 56 games with the AHL squad, he recorded eight goals and 14 points. He also played in five ECHL games with the Indy Fuel, posting one goal and three points. 

In 110 games over two seasons with the IceHogs, Luypen posted 12 goals, 22 assists, and 34 points. He never appeared in an NHL game during his time with the Blackhawks. 

Luypen was selected by the Blackhawks with the 216th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. 

Blackhawks Have Big Decision To Make With DefenderChicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy has been an important part of the team's roster for a long time now. The right-shot blueliner is entering his ninth season with the Blackhawks in 2025-26, where he will once again be one of their veteran leaders. 

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A minor NHL trade went down on Sept. 4 between the Seattle Kraken and the Philadelphia Flyers. The two players involved in the deal have a history with each other from their time in the OHL, which includes winning an OHL Championship with the Peterborough Petes in 2023. 

It was a one-for-one swap between prospects Tucker Robertson — traded to Philadelphia — and Jon-Randall Avon — traded to Seattle. 

TRADE ALERT: We’ve acquired forward Tucker Robertson from Seattle in exchange for forward Jon-Randall Avon. https://t.co/qqLjli342H

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 4, 2025

Both players have gotten off to slow starts to their professional playing careers. Additionally, both are entering the last year of their entry-level contracts, and a change of scenery may be exactly what they need to break through at the AHL level and earn another contract. 

Robertson, 22, was taken 123rd overall in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Kraken. He played three seasons in the OHL, with the Covid-19 pandemic taking away his 2020-21 season. He played for the Petes during his entire tenure in the league, recording 189 points (65 goals, 104 assists) in 191 games. 

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During the 2022-23 season, when Peterborough were crowned champs, Robertson led the team in goals (36) and points (90) during the regular season. He finished second on the team in scoring during the playoffs with 22 (9 goals, 13 assists) in 23 games. 

Through his first two professional seasons, the Toronto, Ontario, native has 77 AHL games under his belt, registering 19 points (10 goals, 9 assists). 

Avon, 22, went through the 2022 NHL Draft without hearing his name called. However, shortly after attending Philadelphia’s rookie development camp, immediately after the draft, the Flyers signed the speedy forward to an entry-level contract. 

Avon came into the league as a top prospect. His hometown Peterborough Petes drafted him 11th overall in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, and just like Robertson, he spent his entire tenure in the OHL with the Petes. 

Robertson had the better OHL career than his former teammate Avon, who recorded 139 points (62 goals, 77 assists) in 179 games. However, Avon has had slightly more success in the AHL, playing two full seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, scoring 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) in 125 games. 

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Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Latest OHL News:

Kitchener Rangers & Guelph Storm Named Finalists To Host 2027 Memorial Cup The finalists to host the 2027 Memorial Cup tournament have been named. The Guelph Storm and Kitchener Rangers, OHL rival organizations, have been announced as the two finalists. Rangers Head Coach Jussi Ahokas Has NHL Teams Intrigued Kitchener Rangers’ Jussi Ahokas became the first European head coach in OHL history when he joined the franchise in 2023. He’s entering his third season behind the bench for the blueshirts, and is coming off a 47-15-6 season where he took home the 2024-25 Matt Leyden Trophy for OHL Coach of the Year.  Maple Leafs Offering Prospect A Second ChanceA player selected in the NHL draft has two years to demonstrate that they deserve an NHL contract. If they cannot secure a deal during that time, the NHL team loses their rights to the player, and they re-enter the draft for one final opportunity. If no team selects them, they become a free agent and are free to sign with any NHL team.

The Calgary Flames made a big commitment in net to Dustin Wolf on Tuesday.

Calgary re-signed Wolf to a seven-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.5 million, the team announced. He's currently entering the final season of a two-year contract worth $850,000 annually and would have been an RFA with arbitration rights.

Wolf, 24, finished second in Calder Trophy voting last season and was on the NHL's all-rookie team. After having only 18 games of NHL experience heading into the 2024-25 campaign, the rookie goaltender stayed in The Show for good and even leapfrogged Dan Vladar into the Flames' No. 1 role.

In 53 games last season, Wolf recorded a 29-16-8 record, a 2.64 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and three shutouts. Vladar, meanwhile, had a 12-11-6 record with a 2.80 GAA, .898 SP and two shutouts. The veteran signed with the Philadelphia Flyers this off-season, while the Flames signed Ivan Prosvetov to compete with Devin Cooley for their new backup job.

Wolf's efforts were part of Calgary's push for the playoffs last year. He split the net in the team's four-game win streak to open the season, and he had more wins than losses per month from October to January, then in April. He also finished the season with 11.9 goals saved above expected, according to moneypuck.com.

In January specifically, Wolf went 7-3-0 with a 2.32 GAA and .922 SP to earn rookie of the month honors.

Although Wolf finished second to Lane Hutson in the rookie of the year voting, the six-foot netminder from Gilroy, Calif., has earned accolades at previous levels.

Between 2021-22 and 2022-23, Wolf won the Baz Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL's goaltender of the year twice, the Harry Holmes Memorial Award for the best goaltending duo and the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL's most valuable player.

Before his AHL career began, Wolf won the Del Wilson Trophy as the WHL's top goaltender in back-to-back years. In 2019-20, he was the CHL's goaltender of the year as well. In 2018-19, he had the WHL's best GAA at 1.69, and he was the WHL and CHL's scholastic player of the year.

Wolf's new contract kicks in for the 2026-27 season and runs through 2032-33, eating up five years of UFA eligibility. He will be 32 when the contract is scheduled to expire.

Wolf was Calgary's last pending RFA at the NHL level. The Flames still have at least seven pending UFAs, including captain Mikael Backlund, Rasmus Andersson and Ryan Lomberg.

Last weekend, the Flames announced they re-signed their last RFA of this off-season, 23-year-old Connor Zary, to a three-year contract with a $3.775-million cap hit.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Despite another last-place finish in the NHL’s Central Division, there was a lot to like about how the Chicago Blackhawks ended the 2024-25 season. They still came in 31st place, but it appeared as if their young talent was starting to blossom. 

Now, they come into the season expecting to be better, although charging towards the playoffs seems to be a tall task for the young roster. The Hockey News 2025-26 Yearbook & Fantasy Guide is available, and the staff predicts that the Chicago Blackhawks will come in 8th place in the Central Division. 

You can subscribe to get a copy of the yearbook here & check out what it said about the Blackhawks below. 

Excerpt from THN Yearbook:

It would be a liberal use of the word to call the Blackhawks' 2024-25 season one of progress. Going solely by the standings, Chicago improved to the tune of two wins and nine points, the end result of which was a repeat 31st-place finish.

But squint a bit and you can begin to see the outline of a team with honest-to-goodness promise. The Blackhawks picked up points in five of their final six games last season, winning four of them. They played some of their most exciting hockey during that stretch, and, for the first time since Connor Bedard's arrival, it looked as though the burgeoning superstar wasn't the lone weapon in the lineup.

Does it translate to a big leap this season? Unlikely. But the Hawks, under the guidance of coach Jeff Blashill, will look to transition from the easy out they've been over the past two campaigns to a legitimate handful for opponents.

OFFENSE

The offense centers on the preternaturally gifted Bedard, who led the Blackhawks in scoring in both his rookie and sophomore seasons. But a multi-pronged attack could see Bedard reach even greater heights. Frank Nazar's late-season heroics and performance at the World Championship suggest he's ready to become an impact player, while Oliver Moore looked confident stepping out of the college game and into Chicago's lineup. The veteran contingent isn't awe-inspiring, but Ryan Donato, Teuvo Teravainen, and Tyler Bertuzzi must only insulate the youthful core.

DEFENSE

No defender in the NHL is in a greater sink-or-swim position than Alex Vlasic, who is pencilled in as Chicago's No. 1 defenseman. With Seth Jones out of the picture and Alec Martinez retiring, Connor Murphy is the Blackhawks' only veteran presence on the back end, which means Vlasic, the next-most experienced defenseman, is going to be leaned on heavily. Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel are going to play more consistent roles, and Kevin Korchinski will push for a full-time NHL return. Still, the blueline's fortunes come down to Vlasic. No pressure.

GOALTENDING

Once lauded as the future of the Florida Panthers' crease, Spencer Knight arrived ahead of last season's trade deadline and immediately turned in an impressive 41-save performance. The rest of the campaign was less awe-inspiring, however, as Knight posted an .885 save percentage in his final 14 games. Granted, there were mitigating circumstances - namely, playing behind the Blackhawks' ragtag defense - that give Chicago faith the 24-year-old will make good on his considerable upside. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are hopeful Laurent Brossoit can return from the knee surgeries that sidelined him for the entirety of last season to split time in the crease. Otherwise, Arvid Soderblom is the likely second-stringer. 

SPECIAL TEAMS

The only area the Blackhawks won't need to see marked improvement is their special-teams play. With Bedard acting as both distributor and triggerman, Chicago was able to author the league's seventh-most-effective man advantage. On many nights, the power play was the Blackhawks' sole source of gaining any momentum. The penalty kill was also uncharacteristically solid given the 5-on-5 defensive results. Only 10 teams allowed fewer shot attempts against per 60 shorthanded minutes.

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more. Download the "2025-26 Yearbook & Fantasy Guide" here. 

The Florida Panthers will soon be hitting the ice for the start of 2025 Training Camp.

We’re now into the second week of September, and Panthers players have been arriving back in South Florida and preparing themselves for another run at a Stanley Cup.

It won’t be long before fans are back to seeing and hearing about their favorite Panthers players back on the ice, but thanks to Scripps Sports, those of us who could use an injection of Stanley Cup Playoff hockey into our veins are in luck.

Over the next couple of weekends, Scripps will be airing four of Florida’s playoff games from last season on WSFL and WHDT.

They are all for of the Panthers’ series clinching wins.

Here’s the schedule:

Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. ET: Round 1, Game 5 at Tampa Bay

Sunday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. ET: Round 2, Game 7 at Toronto

Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. ET: Round 3, Game 5 at Carolina

Sunday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. ET: Stanley Cup Final, Game 5 vs. Edmonton

Whether or not you’re able to catch them live, I think many of us will be setting our DVRs, just to keep these handy.

Afterall, you never know when the mood to enjoy some postseason success will strike.

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Photo caption: May 28, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) celebrates after scoring a goal the game clinching goal on Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) in game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Now that the kids have all gone back to school, it will be time for the Montreal Canadiens’ youngsters to get back to work. On Monday, the Habs revealed their rookie camp roster and provided the media with a complete schedule of the rookie camp. Twenty-six players will be put through their paces by Laval Rocket coach Pascal Vincent and his assistants Daniel Jacob, Martin Laperrière, and Marco Marciano.

The coaching staff will be putting 18 forwards, eight blueliners, and three goaltenders under the microscope from Wednesday, September 10, to Tuesday, September 16. As always, the first day of camp will consist of physical and medical testing at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, and the media will be able to speak to Vincent, Jacob, and Laperriere.

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The rookies will hit the ice on Thursday for a practice from 10:00 AM, and selected players will be made available to speak to the media on the following day. The schedule will remain the same on Friday, as the team will move to the Bell Center over the weekend for two games. First, the Canadiens' rookies will take on the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday at 7:00 PM (tickets are still available on Ticketmaster). Then, on Sunday, Vincent’s men will be facing the Toronto Maple Leafs’ rookies at 3:00 PM, before the Ottawa Senators take on the Jets at 7:00 PM.  The Senators and Leafs will also be facing off on Saturday at 1:00 PM. Both of the Canadiens' prospects games will be broadcasted on RDS stations. 

The organization will hold its traditional golf tournament on Monday, the 15th, and on that day, the rookies will be enjoying a day off. Rookie camp will wrap up on Tuesday with a practice at 10:00 AM in Brossard, followed by a final media availability.

The 26-player roster features Ivan Demidov, Owen Beck, Oliver Kapanen, Florian Xhekaj, David Reinbacher, Adam Fowler, Jacob Fowler, and many more. Matthew Wang, Simon Lavigne, and Maleek McGowan will all be attending on a tryout basis.

It will be interesting to see what Vinzenz Rohrer can do in his first rookie camp. The 75th overall pick at the 2022 draft was signed following an excellent performance at the World Championship last spring, scoring six points in eight games for Austria.

Canadiens Agree To Terms With Austrian Prospect Vinzenz RohrerThe Montreal Canadiens announced on Saturday that they had agreed to a three-year entry-level contract with 20-year-old prospect Vinzenz Rohrer. A third-round pick at the 2022 draft, the Austrian prospect spent the last two seasons with the Zurich Lions of the Swiss-A league, with whom he won two championships.

Xhekaj will be another one to watch after putting up 24 goals and 35 points in his first full pro season with the Rocket last year, even though he wasn’t playing on a top line. The gritty forward also spent 175 minutes in the penalty box, showing similarities in his play with that of his brother, Arber.

Demidov, Beck, Kapanen, and Reinbacher will all be hoping to make the Canadiens’ roster this season and should report to camp eager to make their mark. While Demidov’s presence in Montreal is for all intents and purposes guaranteed, the others will have to impress to earn a roster spot.

As always, the CN Sports Complex will be open to the public during the rookie camp, but it’s worth noting that there are no intra-squad scrimmages scheduled in the team’s press release.

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Ahead of what will be his first full training camp with the Philadelphia Flyers, top goalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov continues to draw support from his peers from all over the globe.

Players like Calgary Flames forward and fellow Belarusian Yegor Sharangovich and Flyers teammate Nikita Grebenkin already spoke out this offseason to defend the 23-year-old Kolosov.

Now, KHL forward Kirill Voronin, currently playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, is the latest to give his take on the polarizing Flyers goalie prospect.

"Kolosov, a great professional and a good goalkeeper. Where he is now is probably the dream of many hockey players. And, most likely, he needs some time to adapt in order to gain a foothold in North America," Voronin told Legalbet.by in a recent interview.

"If, nevertheless, he believes that he is not strong enough there, then some other decisions must be made."

Capitals' Breakout Star Willing to Help Aleksei Kolosov... If He Wants ItTop Philadelphia Flyers goalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov has had a trying first full season playing in North America.

Kolosov has quickly been erased from the Flyers' goaltending picture in the eyes of many, and the offseason addition of veteran goalie Dan Vladar certainly didn't help the youngster's case.

It's been unclear, to begin with, as to whether the Flyers' former third-round pick would return for another season in Philadelphia, though all signs currently point to that happening.

Kolosov struggled last season, to be certain, posting a 10-15-2 record between 29 games at the NHL and AHL levels with the Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but if he can get comfortable and become a real piece for the Flyers, the fans and the organization should be able to rally behind him and push that momentum forward further.

The 23-year-old is already getting that support from afar, but perhaps some local support and a string of encouraging performances would go a long way for the fans and for the Flyers organization.

We're just under a month away from the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2025-26 season getting underway inside Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers on October 7.

The Penguins will get to see their old head coach, Mike Sullivan, right away after he accepted the Rangers' head-coaching position right after the regular season ended. As a matter of fact, the Penguins will play the Rangers in two of their first three games since the Rangers will come to PPG Paints Arena on October 11. 

Sullivan will get a big video tribute from the Penguins after he guided the franchise to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, and is arguably the best coach in franchise history.

Expectations aren't exactly high for the Penguins heading into this season since they're rebuilding, but that doesn't mean the year is going to be full of negatives. In honor of hockey being around the corner, let's make some bold predictions for this Penguins' season. 

Tommy Novak will score 20+ goals.

I am all aboard the Tommy Novak train entering the 2025-26 season and think a lot of Penguins fans are sleeping on him. He only got to play in two games before he got hurt and had to miss the rest of the season. Novak came over from the Nashville Predators in the Michael Bunting trade before the 2025 NHL trade deadline.

The Penguins got younger in that deal and think Novak can be a good fit in their top nine for this season. He's an underrated goal scorer and has a release that people don't talk about enough. He finished last season with 13 goals and 22 points in 54 games while rocking a 14% shooting percentage.

For his career, Novak is a 15.2% shooter, with a career-high shooting percentage of 18.3%. He can score from anywhere and will have the opportunity to play second and third-line minutes this year. He's flexible and can play both center and wing, meaning head coach Dan Muse may put him on Malkin's wing at times. On paper, it is a strong fit since Novak can score and has some slick vision. 

Novak's career high in goals is 18, but he will break that this season and get his first 20-goal season. 

Erik Karlsson will score 70+ points (if he's not traded).

This one may seem a bit crazy since Karlsson hasn't even gotten over the 60-point plateau during his Penguins tenure. However, he has more to give and is going to come into this season motivated to prove his detractors wrong after his first two seasons with the team.

He was banged up heading into last season after suffering an injury during training camp, and it took him a bit to find his game. His first month was especially rough, but after that, he settled in a bit more and was one of the top 5v5 offensive play drivers among all defensemen in the NHL. He was also great at the 4 Nations Face-Off since the Swedish coaching staff had a plan for him, and he executed it to perfection.  

Karlsson will have the opportunity to get top-pairing minutes this season since he's the Penguins' best defenseman, which means he will spend a ton of time with the Sidney Crosby line. He'll also likely be the power play quarterback after the Penguins let Matt Grzelcyk walk to free agency. The power play isn't Karlsson's strong suit, but he'll still get points from it.

If this prediction comes to fruition, there will be teams calling the Penguins for his services after a slow summer in terms of trade rumors. 

4 Penguins Who Could Surprise In 2025-26It’s no secret that the expectations for the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t exactly sky-high this season. The team is somewhere in the midst of a rebuild, and there is uncertainty regarding the futures of several players on the roster.

Arturs Silovs will steal starts from Tristan Jarry.

The Penguins acquired Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks on July 13 to bolster their goaltending depth heading into the season. Silovs is bringing a lot of momentum into this year after helping the Abbotsford Canucks win the Calder Cup last season. He was the best player on the team and was named the MVP of the Calder Cup Playoffs after finishing with 16 wins, a 2.01 goals-against average, and a .931 save percentage. 

Silovs is the favorite to win the backup spot to Tristan Jarry, who still has a lot of question marks heading into the season. He was sent down to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton multiple times last season due to poor play before coming up for the last month of the season. To his credit, he played well to end the year, but it still shouldn't inspire a lot of confidence heading into this season. 

Jarry is what he is at this point in his career, and with that in mind, Silovs will steal some starts from him since he will be the more consistent goaltender. Consistency in the NHL has been an issue for Silovs, but this will be the season where he starts to solve that problem. 

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The Pittsburgh Penguins haven't officially announced their training camp roster yet, but we know at least one of the top prospects will be there when it likely opens next week. 

Bill Zonnon, one of three players the Penguins selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, will be at Penguins training camp. 

Bon camp les gars! 💪

☑️Justin Carbonneau (Blues)
☑️Bill Zonnon (Penguins)
☑️Spencer Gill (Flyers)
☑️ Vincent Collard (Red Wings)
☑️ Maël Lavigne (Flames)
☑️ Mateo Nobert (Golden Knights)
☑️ Vincent Desjardins (Avalanche)
☑️ Arseni Radkov (Canadiens)
☑️ Jakub Milota (Predators) pic.twitter.com/HHQ4IHpjzD

— ArmadaBLB (@ArmadaBLB) September 8, 2025

Zonnon was picked with the 22nd overall pick by the Penguins after they selected Benjamin Kindel with the 11th overall pick. They later selected Will Horcoff, son of former NHL player Shawn Horcoff, with the 24th overall pick. 

Zonnon has spent the last three seasons in the QMJHL and will spend his fourth in the league this season with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. He spent the last three years with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, and his production went up each year, including this past season, when he finished with 28 goals and 83 points in 64 games.

The Penguins' coaching staff and management will get to see how he does at camp before sending him back for his junior season. They're really excited about him and think he can be a mainstay in the NHL once he develops more.

His game is more east-west but uses his shot really well and is really good around the net front. He also has some slick playmaking ability.  There's a lot to like about his game, and it'll be great to see him showcase his skill once camp starts.

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There were plenty of offseason additions made by Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, though none could truly be considered of the "major splash" variety. 

One such addition that is flying a bit under the radar with the potential to be among the more intriguing signings is that of former Winnipeg Jets forward Mason Appleton, who signed a two-year contract and will earn a $2.9 million annual cap hit. 

UPDATE: The #RedWings have signed forward Mason Appleton to a two-year contract with an AAV of $2,900,000. pic.twitter.com/yQO7G4t24d

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 2, 2025

It's a homecoming of sorts, as he already had ties to Michigan with his two seasons in East Lansing for the Michigan State Spartans from 2015 through 2017. 

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

Selected 168th overall in 2015 by Winnipeg, Appleton has built a steady, unflashy NHL career, appearing in exactly 400 games. The majority of his time in the NHL has been played with the Jets aside from a relatively short time with the expansion Seattle Kraken before he was traded right back to Winnipeg that season. 

While Appleton won't be filling up the scoring sheet, one area he can thrive in is one that the Red Wings badly need help in - the penalty kill.

Detroit's penalty killing flirted with NHL history last season, and not remotely in a good way. The Red Wings were in very real danger of setting the worst penalty killing efficiency percentage in League history since the statistic began being tracked in 1977. 

They finished at 70.1 percent efficiency, the worst in the NHL and not far off from the all-time worst 68.2 percent set by the 1979-80 Los Angeles Kings. 

Newly-Signed Mason Appleton Hungry For Playoff Hockey With Red Wings He already has local ties to the Mitten State, and he's returned - this time, as a seasoned NHL veteran.

Appleton is expected to slot into a bottom-six role with Detroit, but could be a central figure with their penalty killing as he was during his tenures with the Jets. He'll also be filling a role that was occupied on the PK last season by Tyler Motte, who was not re-signed. 

Don’t expect Appleton to hover any higher than around the 10 goal mark this season - but that’s not why he was signed. Yzerman clearly values his reliable 200-foot game, with the hope that he can provide a much-needed boost the penalty kill.

At 6'2", Appleton also brings an element of size to the Red Wings lineup that also wants to be harder to play against. 

Last season, Detroit missed the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference by just five points. Even an average penalty kill ranking could have made a significant difference in picking up those extra points in the standings. 

Look for him to begin the season on either Detroit's third or fourth line, but to be included in Detroit's first penalty-killing unit. 

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