The NHL’s 2025-26 season is officially a month away for the league's Canadian squads.

After six American teams face off on Oct. 7, the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs duel on Oct. 8, followed by the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers later that evening. Talk about a red-hot start to the campaign.

The Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks start their seasons on Oct. 9.

Most Canadian teams made notable changes this summer. It's time to rank them in order from most competitive to least.

1. Winnipeg Jets

Major additions: Jonathan Toews, C; Gustav Nyquist, LW; Tanner Pearson, LW

The Lowdown: The Jets were the NHL's regular-season champions last year. While they lost a valuable piece in left winger Nikolaj Ehlers, their overall offense might not be worse off.

Why? Because of the signing of veteran Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews.

The 37-year-old hasn’t played since April 2023, and though that time off may work against Toews, having him as its second-line center could prove to be one of the best off-season coups of any team if we see some vintage Toews.

The Jets also have the NHL’s best goalie and most valuable player in Connor Hellebuyck and a stacked lineup in front of him, including Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey, Gabriel Vilardi and Cole Perfetti. Even summer acquisition Gustav Nyquist is only two seasons removed from a 75-point campaign before recording 28 points last year. If he bounces back somewhat, he could be a great secondary scorer.

Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff still has $3.9 million in salary cap space. Even if he doesn’t make any other additions, he’s constructed and maintained one of the NHL’s most dangerous squads. They’ll begin the season as Canada’s biggest Stanley Cup threat.

2. Edmonton Oilers

Major additions: Andrew Mangiapane, LW; Isaac Howard, LW

The Lowdown: The Oilers won the Western Conference for the second straight playoffs, but they also lost the Cup final to the Florida Panthers each time.

Change was inevitable for Edmonton, and it was most noticeable in the Oilers’ group of forwards.

Gone are veteran wingers Evander Kane, Viktor Arvidsson, Corey Perry, Connor Brown and Jeff Skinner. In their place are wingers Andrew Mangiapane, Isaac Howard, David Tomasek and center option Curtis Lazar. Matt Savoie could also graduate to the NHL.

So while Edmonton has taken a step back overall in terms of experience, Mangiapane provides steady two-way play, and Howard and Savoie could even give the Oilers more skill in the bottom six. Tomasek, who led the Swedish League in points last year, can demonstrate versatility, whether it's providing depth scoring or using his size to defend.

That said, the Oilers are Canada’s second-highest-rated team on this list because they have two of the top five players on the planet in centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and their defense corps is as strong as it has been in recent memory.

Ultimately, Edmonton’s goaltending is inferior to Winnipeg’s, which is why we put the Jets ahead of the Oilers here. But in the NHL’s weakest division, the Pacific Division, Edmonton should feast on its opponents and easily secure home-ice advantage by season’s end. After that, it’s up to their veterans to make the final competitive step.

As the year begins, the Oilers have an embarrassment of riches, and they deserve to be near the top of any list of Canadian teams.

3. Toronto Maple Leafs

Major additions: Nicolas Roy, C; Matias Maccelli, RW; Dakota Joshua, LW

The Lowdown: The Maple Leafs suffered arguably the biggest roster hit of any NHL team with the departure of superstar Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights.

While there are some Chicken Littles out there moaning about the sky falling on Toronto, the truth is the Leafs finished first in the hyper-competitive Atlantic Division last season. The changes they have made – bringing in rugged winger Dakota Joshua from the Vancouver Canucks, playmaking right winger Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth and acquiring two-way center Nicolas Roy from Vegas – are almost assuredly going to keep the Leafs in the hunt for top spot in the division.

The other areas of the Leafs’ roster haven’t changed, most notably, in terms of their deep defense corps and the excellent goaltending tandem of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll. So while Toronto may not make as many highlight reels without Marner, this remains a well-above-average group that can do some damage in the regular season and potentially beyond.

4. Vancouver Canucks

Major additions: Evander Kane, LW; Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D; Adam Foote, coach

The Lowdown: Putting the Canucks ahead of two teams that made the playoffs last season isn’t so much a comment on the changes Vancouver has made this summer as much as it is about GM Patrik Allvin re-signing star right winger Brock Boeser to a contract extension.

Adding edgy left winger Kane from the Oilers will help make Vancouver a tougher team. But if they stay healthy, we’re betting the Canucks will get bounce-back seasons from key veterans, including star center Elias Pettersson and goalie Thatcher Demko.

There’s more than enough depth and skill on the Canucks for Vancouver to challenge not only for a playoff spot in 2025-26 but to also battle for home-ice advantage.  

5. Ottawa Senators

Major additions: Jordan Spence, D; Lars Eller, C

The Lowdown: The Senators had a breakthrough last season, finishing fourth in the Atlantic and getting into the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

While their first-round exit at the hands of the arch-rival Maple Leafs was a measurement of how far this Sens team still has to go before they can be considered a front-runner to win the Cup, Ottawa’s core of young players is only getting better. That should keep a playoff berth well within reach in 2025-26.

Ottawa’s additions have changed the periphery of their lineup, but the Senators have the foundation to be a playoff team once again and improve their play once they get there. And although they’re not yet on a level with the Jets, Oilers and Leafs, they're not that far off from that level, either. 

6. Montreal Canadiens

Major additions: Noah Dobson, D; Zack Bolduc, LW; Joe Veleno, C; Sammy Blais, LW

The Lowdown: The Canadiens were ranked No. 1 in THN.com’s Summer Splash rankings of every team’s off-season because they added a No. 1 defenseman in former New York Islanders blueliner Noah Dobson, as well as dynamic young winger Bolduc in a trade with the St. Louis Blues. They didn’t have to create roster holes to bring in either of the two.

The Habs unexpectedly made the playoffs last year, but expectations have now increased for them. It won’t be easy to get back into the playoffs this coming year, but Montreal's competitive bar has been raised, and their fan base should expect to see them get to the next step in their competitive trajectory.

7. Calgary Flames

Major additions: none

The Lowdown: In the eyes of more than a few observers, the Flames overachieved last season – and even then, they failed to make the playoffs. That may be the same fate for them in 2025-26, especially given that Flames GM Craig Conroy made no changes of consequence this summer.

This isn’t to say that Calgary doesn’t have important building blocks for the long-term. Certainly, goalie Dustin Wolf is a star on the rise, and proud veterans, including center Nazem Kadri and left winger Jonathan Huberdeau, will exhibit a professionalism that will serve their youngsters well. But the Flames are very much a work in progress. Until they demonstrate they should be higher on this list, Calgary will be the Canadian team with the furthest to go to be a true Cup threat.

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Welcome to this edition of "From The Archive". In this recurring series, we open The Hockey News' vault and display some of the top WHL-related articles from the past. Today's article comes from May 1, 2007, where Rob Vanstone wrote about Calgary Hitmen defenceman Karl Alzner.

Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here and read the full issue here.

Crowning King Karl, Draft Preview 2012, May 1, 2012

KARL ALZNER’S OWN NHL DRAFT PREVIEW preceded this publication by a year. The Calgary Hitmen defenseman attended last year’s proceedings in Vancouver, even though he was not draft-eligible until 2007.

“It was at GM Place and that’s 15 or 20 minutes away from my house, so I zipped over there and watched all my buddies walk up there and saw how they went through it,” recalled Alzner, who hails from Burnaby, B.C.

In the process, Alzner got a taste of the butterflies.

“I even felt nervous sitting there.” said Alzner, who was born nine days after the 2006 draft eligibility cutoff of Sept. 15, 1988. “You still get a bit giddy and jumpy and anxious.”

Alzner isn’t likely to experience an extended period of anxiety before being chosen. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder was eighth overall in mid-season rankings of North American-based skaters appraised by NHL Central Scouting. He typically plays 35 to 40 minutes per game

“It’s automatic to put him out there in any situation,” said Hitmen coach-GM Kelly Kisio. “He never says no. He never says he’s too tired. He just keeps going back out.”

Kisio expects Alzner to become a bulwark in the big leagues – but when? Asked if Alzner could crack an NHL lineup at 19, Kisio chuckled and said: “Only if you want to give me a heart attack.” A more likely scenario, as outlined by Kisio, calls for Alzner to spend another year in the WHL before proceeding to the pro minors.

“He’s going to be a great pro, just the way he carries himself,” Kisio said. “I don’t see why he won’t be a 15-year pro and put those kind of numbers up as far as ice time in the NHL. He’s a great skater and his capacity for work is huge.”

Now he needs to expand his repertoire.

“A lot of times, he just wants to make the safe play and sit back instead of joining the rush and creating some offense that way,” Kisio said. “If he can put himself out of that comfort zone and get a little crazy once in a while, I think it’ll help him down the road.”

Alzner became more of a factor in his third WHL season, registering eight goals and 47 points in 63 games, but he still espouses a defense-first philosophy.

“It’s the way I’ve grown up,” he said. “I’ve always played hockey really safe.”

It is not safe to assume Alzner is a passive player despite this season’s modest penalty-minute total (32).

“He’s an aggressive player, but he plays within the rules,” one NHL scout said. “He has good positioning so he’s not going to take penalties like hooking and holding. He’s one of those players you don’t want fighting and taking penalties because you want him on the ice. He doesn’t do anything exceptionally well, but he’s good at everything. (Although) he moves the puck out of his end, he’s not flashy and he’s not going to go end-to-end, but at the end of the night he’ll have a couple of assists because he makes good decisions.”

He also makes for a good teammate. He is as quick to interact with both rookies and veterans.

“I think I’m super-easy to approach and talk to,” Alzner said. “I never shun anybody.”

Nor does he get shunned. He even chatted with Joe Sakic, who is also from Burnaby, when the Colorado Avalanche visited Calgary. Such are the perks of playing junior in a big-league facility like the Saddledome.

“You see Iginla, Sakic, Gretzky all these guys, “Alzner marvelled. “You’re really star-struck at first, but it’s kind of cool that they’re one level above where we are right now.”

He’s a great skater and his capacity for work is HUGE

Alzner is about to move one important step closer.

“I’ve been waiting for this for years and years,” Alzner said of the draft. “I’m happy now that I finally get my chance. It couldn’t come quickly enough.” 

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.    

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The Philadelphia Flyers have a loaded roster for their upcoming rookie camp and rookie series against the rival New York Rangers, which should make the competition a breeze for them.

On Monday, the Flyers announced a rookie camp roster headlined by first-round picks Oliver Bonk, Jett Luchanko, and Jack Nesbitt, as well as a few players who already have NHL experience, like Karsen Dorwart, Jacob Gaucher, Devin Kaplan, and Nikita Grebenkin.

Add in some other top prospects like Alex Bump, Denver Barkey, Hunter McDonald, Spencer Gill, and Carson Bjarnason, and it makes for an exciting watch.

Plus, this will also be our first chance to see recent trade acquisition Tucker Robertson play with his fellow Flyers prospects and future Lehigh Valley Phantoms teammates.

3 Flyers Prospects with the Most to Prove at 2025 Training CampIf the Philadelphia Flyers are to make any noise in the 2025-26 season, some up-and-coming prospects will need to steal the spotlight and show some progress.

As for the Rangers on the other side of things? It's far less impressive and exciting for the Blueshirts.

The Rangers' rookie camp roster is spearheaded by first-round picks Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault, with offseason trade additions Scott Morrow (K'Andre Miller trade) and Carey Terrance (Chris Kreider trade) debuting for New York.

Aside from them, though, the roster is more or less complemented by older players and late-round draft picks, many of whom being 22 years old are older.

This is why the Flyers have such a big advantage heading into the weekend.

Philadelphia is younger, faster, and more talented across the board. The bar isn't very high compared to a Rangers team that's spent the last handful of seasons competing for a Stanley Cup, tossing draft capital aside for roster players, but that also doesn't mean the Flyers haven't done a good job themselves.

Prospects like Luchanko, Bonk, Dorwart, Kaplan, Grebenkin, and Bump should all be in the conversation for an NHL roster spot by the end of training camp, while the Rangers can only really say that about Othmann, Perreault, and, potentially, Morrow.

Not all of these players will stick with the Flyers this season, to be clear, but the internal competition alone should be cause for excitement, even if the fruits don't immediately manifest.

The Flyers are, understandably, giddy about the group they've assembled, and they'll take the ice together soon enough.

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#5 - Isak Rosen - Right Wing (Rochester - AHL, Buffalo - NHL) 

Rosen was selected 14th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft following the Sabres selection of Owen Power first overall. The speedy forward played mostly at the junior level for Leksands in his draft year. After short stints in junior and the second-level Allsvenskan, Rosen played 28 SHL games and had four goals for Sweden at the IIHF World Juniors in 2022. The Sabres then chose to bring him to North America to play with the Rochester Americans.

The 6’0”, 174 lb. winger started slowly in his first season with the Amerks but improved as the season went along, posting 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in 66 games. He also made an impact in Rochester’s comeback first-round victory against Syracuse, scoring four points in two of their victories, and eight points in 14 playoff games in their run to the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Final.

The 22-year-old in his second AHL season finished with 50 points (20 goals, 30 assists) in 67 games, and earned an NHL promotion, playing seven games with the Sabres in late November and early December. Last season, Rosen set a career-high with 28 goals in 61 games and led the Amerks with 55 points, but despite the Sabres struggling most of the season, Rosen was not given a chance at significant playing time in the NHL, playing mostly a bottom-six role in eight NHL games.  

There continues to be a question of whether Rosen will ever get a legitimate chance to earn an NHL roster spot in Buffalo, or if that only happens if he is traded by the Sabres. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

Kick off a new week with rapid-fire hockey topics in The Wraparound.

Breaking Down The NHL's Divisional Favorites by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Kelsey Surmacz discussed in this episode:

0:00: Did the Calgary Flames get a good deal with Connor Zary’s extension?

3:58: How will the Montreal Canadiens use their cap space after trading Carey Price’s contract?

8:15: Reflecting on the life and NHL career of Ken Dryden

12:20: How will the Winnipeg Jets handle missing Adam Lowry for the start of the season?

16:20: Does Kirill Kaprizov deserve to be the highest-paid NHL player ever?

21:05: Will Connor McDavid score 60 goals this season?

25:26: Breaking down the divisional favorites for the upcoming NHL season

30:10: Rearranging the NHL’s top 50 players list

34:35: Will Connor Bedard or Macklin Celebrini have more points this season?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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Amazon

With the NHL's Goalie Week coming to a close, let's take one last moment for the "tendys" and shed some light on my take of the Kraken's all-time goalie list.

1. Joey Daccord

Daccord has solidified himself as the #1 goalie in Seattle, starting in 55 games for the Kraken last season. Selected in the Expansion Draft from the Ottawa Senators, Daccord excelled in AHL play with the Charlotte Checkers and the 2022-23 AHL Western Conference Champions, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. He was brought up to the Kraken full-time for the 2023-24 season and has been a light in the Kraken lineup ever since. Among his Kraken accolades, he has put himself into contention to represent the United States in the 2026 Olympic Games after a strong showing in the recent IIHF World Championships.

2. Philip Grubauer

Grubauer is the Kraken's winningest goaltender with 57 wins in 156 games played. He was signed as a free-agent by the Kraken in July 2021 following the expansion draft. He will be entering his 5th year of his 6-year contract this season, and will expectedly be sharing the crease with Daccord. Grubauer has at times left a lot to be desired after the Kraken brought him in from the Colorado Avalanche where he posted career bests 39 wins and 7 shutouts in the season prior, however, he has had stretches of brilliance and clutch play with his most memorable performance coming in Game 7 of the first round of the 2022-23 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs where he defeated his former team, and defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Avalanche.

3. Martin Jones

After a solid career as the starter with the San Jose Sharks, Martin Jones was signed to the Kraken for the 2022-23 season. Initially expected to be the team's backup, Jones ended up leading the team in games started with 42 and wins with 27. With his 27 wins, combined with an additional 19 wins between Grubauer and Daccord, the Kraken clinched their first and only NHL Playoffs appearance in franchise history, eventually losing to the Dallas Stars in the second round. Jones signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the following offseason and is currently a free agent.

4.  Chris Driedger

One of the biggest what-ifs for the Kraken is goalie Chris Driedger. Coming off of a solid season as a backup with the Florida Panthers, winning 14 games in 23 starts and posting a solid .927 save percentage, he came to the Kraken and in his lone full season with the Kraken in 2021-22, he posted a less exciting, but team leading, .899 save percentage in 27 games. He unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in the 2022 IIHF Championship Finals against Finland, forcing the Kraken to seek additional help at goalie during his recovery, which effectively closed the door on his return to a prominent role on the Kraken roster. He recently signed a 1-year contract with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.

Honorable Mentions

Niklas Kokko, Victor Ostman, and Ales Stezka

All three of these goalies have suited up for the Kraken exactly one time in their careers with Stezka the lone goalie to start a game. Kokko and Osman are still in the Kraken system, and look to show off their talents in the upcoming Rookie Camp and Training Camp starting later this month.

Related

Kraken Goaltender Invited To USA's Olympic Orientation CampSeattle Kraken goalie, Joey Daccord, has been named one of the four goalies invited to the U.S. Men's Olympic Orientation Camp on August 26-27 in Plymouth, Michigan. The 2-day camp is considered to be a team-building event and the first step to creating a roster for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games.

  Exploring three Detroit Red Wings prospects that could make the jump to the NHL in the 2025-26 season.  

Read More: 3 Red Wings Prospects That Could Make NHL Debut This Season

The Detroit Red Wings have long been praised for building one of the NHL’s top prospect pools, and now, several young talents are reaching the point in their development where an NHL debut could be just around the corner.

With training camp approaching and roster spots potentially up for grabs, a handful of exciting prospects are looking to earn a shot. Amadeus Lombardi, a 2022 fourth-round pick, impressed with nearly a point-per-game pace in limited AHL action and could step in as a bottom-six center if injuries arise. Meanwhile, all eyes are on Nate Danielson, the ninth overall pick in 2023, who appears close to cracking the opening night lineup thanks to his rapid development and a relatively open competition at center. On the blue line, Shai Buium could follow a similar path to Carter Mazur, who impressed in Grand Rapids before earning his NHL debut later in the season. With Detroit’s defensive depth still in flux, Buium’s steady two-way play might make him a prime candidate for a mid-season call-up.

What do you think Red Wings fans? Who do you think is the first to get the call-up for this upcoming season? Let us know below! 👇

Exploring three Detroit Red Wings prospects that could make the jump to the NHL in the 2025-26 season.

The Detroit Red Wings are known as having one of the best prospect pools in the NHL since starting their rebuild with some players finally getting to the point where they are old enough and have been developed to a point where they have the potential to make their NHL debut.  

Whether it’s a highly touted first-rounder or a late-round gem turning heads in the AHL or overseas, the opportunity is there for fresh faces to earn a spot on the roster. With training camp around the corner and roster spots potentially up for grabs, here are three Red Wings prospects who could make their debut next season. 

Amadeus Lombardi, C

Detroit's fourth-round pick back in 2022 has found his game this past season with a near point-per-game average with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 22-year-old Newmarket native recorded 40 points, tying for fourth on the team in points with winger Sheldon Dries. His 19 goals was also tied for third on the team with former NHLer Austin Watson. This is all with Lombardi having played just 44 games compared to the others around him that played closer to the full 72-game AHL season. If an opportunity becomes available with an injury that would require the team to call up a center for the fourth line, we can count on Lombardi getting a chance to make his debut.

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

Nate Danielson, C

The most highly anticipated prospect in the pipeline could finally make his NHL debut in 2025 as the former ninth overall pick in 2023 NHL Draft showed signs of a relatively seamless transition to pro hockey last season. After recording 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 through 71 games, it's safe to say that if he continues to develop as fast as he is, we will likely see him in a Red Wings jersey in a just a few short months. 

At least that's what EliteProspects thinks as they have the 20-year-old Alberta native projected to make Detroit's main roster for this season. The center position remains relatively open, with only Dylan Larkin, Marco Kasper, and Andrew Copp firmly ahead of him in the lineup for next season. We could see Danielson in the lineup as soon as October 9th versus the Montreal Canadiens. 

More Red Wings: After Jab At Red Wings, Klim Kostin Hopes To Play For Former Club

Shai Buium, D

This appears to be a near identical case to Carter Mazur last season. After spending less than a handful of games following the conclusion of his junior career in Grand Rapids, Mazur got accamlated to the style of play and helped him focus his training for the following season. He would go on to play his first full season and impress the Red Wings. It wouldn't be until the following season however that Mazur would get the call 20 games into the season. 

Buium has walked almost the same path as he excelled with the Griffins last season, playing big minutes and now has a full season of pro hockey under his belt. The Red Wings defense core is one of the weakest points on the team and is the most likely to see movement. If Buium can continue to impress like Mazur did in his third pro year, we can expect a call-up at some point in the season.

SHAI BUIUM FIRST PRO GOAL🚨 #LGRW#GoGRGpic.twitter.com/wOzjqWpAfm

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) March 4, 2025

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For the Los Angeles Kings, this season might mean more than just another year of hockey on the ice; it could be the last shot they have for a Stanley Cup title. 

After four consecutive first-round exits to the Edmonton Oilers, the Kings face a daunting challenge. Year after year, the same storyline has surrounded the Kings, with each year promising a breakthrough, only to end in disappointment. 

Again, this is still a very talented group of players that is filled with not only veterans who have playoff experience, but also young, talented stars who have the potential to be great. But there comes a moment where your window closes, not because of the talent, but from the psychological element of repeatedly falling short of expectations.

29 days until the @LAKings' home opener.

Pictured: Pheonix Copley, who is the fastest goaltender in franchise history to record 20 wins in a season, which he accomplished in 29 games in 2022-23. Copley has a record of 28-7-5 in 46 games with the #LAKings.#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/IAsqEb6j5v

— The Kingstorian (@Kingstorian) September 8, 2025

Aging Core Nearing the End

The Kings' identity still revolves around two franchise legends: Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, who have been with the franchise for over a decade, with two Stanley Cup titles under their belt.    

But, given their age and attrition, it might be time to move on from both Doughty and Kopitar this season. Many die-hard Kings fans and experts have been advocating for this move to happen earlier, as they believe the young talent in LA can lead them to the promised land. Now, we just have to wait and see if the Kings will deal them at the trade deadline or next summer. 

This season could be the last where we both see them on a Kings uniform, or at least play at a solid level. Kopitar was still great, playing 81 games at age 38 with 21 goals, 46 assists, and 67 points. He can still play at a high level, but he most likely will take a step back this year, given his age, and so will Doughty, who missed time with injuries last season. 

Years of Playoff Heartbreak

The recent playoff history of the Kings is a maddening one. While they've assembled competitive rosters, Los Angeles has lost to the Oilers in the first round in four straight playoffs. Every series has uncovered the same issues: failure to close with superstar talent, infuriating up-and-down goaltending, and an inability to stop Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

That consecutive failure has created an impression that the Kings have remained constant. If they cannot progress this season, fans and management could expect changes to the roster.

The Goaltending Question

Goaltending has been a big question mark come postseason for the Kings in recent years. Last offseason, the Kings acquired Darcy Kuemper, bringing in his veteran experience to provide stability and strength under the net.

At 35, Kuemper is a short-term solution rather than a long-term answer. If he falters, the Kings lack a proven young goalie ready to take the reins. In a Western Conference where elite goaltending often swings playoff series, this could be the factor that determines whether the Kings finally break through. 

Why the Window Isn’t Completely Closed

Despite the concerns, Los Angeles still has reasons for optimism. Their younger core, led by Quinton Byfield, Adrian Kempe, Brandt Clarke, and Alex Turcotte, is young, elevating pieces entering their prime. 

Kings fans on Kempe's contract, Kopitar's future and more on the latest "Locked on #LAKings" podcast and YouTube show. #GoKingsGohttps://t.co/uxgXsYrHu1 via @YouTube

— Locked On LA Kings (@LockedOnLAKings) September 7, 2025

If two or three of these players take significant leaps this season, the Kings could balance their veteran leadership with youthful energy and skill.

The Pacific Division, while competitive, remains winnable. Vancouver has emerged as a contender, and Edmonton continues to be the biggest obstacle, but the Kings finished second place in the division last season and were just two games back of the first-seeded Golden Knights. 

Suppose LA has enough depth and talent to stay in the mix. A key trade deadline move could push them over the top.

The Los Angeles Kings are heading into the 2025-26 season hoping to improve on their previous campaign and finally get past the first round. One player who might be earning a professional tryout (PTO) deal somewhere in the NHL is Klim Kostin, who supposedly has had conversations with the Kings at this point. 

In a recent interview, Kostin confirmed his interest in joining the Edmonton Oilers again, considering how well he fit with them in his previous stint, but confirmed the Kings have reached out to him. The way he worded it made it sound like they had made an offer, but that's not confirmed just yet.

Kostin, who is 26 years old, played 35 games with the San Jose Sharks last season, scoring one goal and adding six assists for seven points. Throughout his career, he has played 190 games, scoring 25 goals and adding 28 assists for 53 points.

He hasn't been able to find a full-time home and has bounced around the NHL for several seasons, but his next destination could be somewhere he tries to stay and make a home for himself, and it seems as though the Kings are going to be a serious consideration for him. 

Stay tuned in with your Los Angeles Kings here at The Hockey News, as the 2025-26 season inches closer.

A year after finishing at the bottom of their division for the first time in modern memory, the Boston Bruins need a lot of things to go right for them to have even the faintest hope of challenging for a Stanley Cup playoff berth.

If one thing in particular doesn’t improve for them – the performance of starting goalie Jeremy Swayman – the Bruins are destined to wind up in the Atlantic Division basement for the second straight year.

Just about everything that could’ve gone wrong for Swayman did go wrong last season. The 26-year-old missed Boston’s training camp due to a financial stalemate. Although he did get a new contract done in time to start the Bruins’ second game of the season, he never got into a groove and finished with what were by far his worst individual numbers of his five-year NHL career, including a 3.11 goals-against average and .892 save percentage in a career-high 58 appearances.

Granted, some of the blame for Swayman’s bloated numbers must be attributed to Boston’s porous defensive game when Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm were injured. But when Swayman asked for and received a pay raise to $8.25 million per season, he invited the criticism of him that had harangued him all season long.

Now, he must help the Bruins exceed expectations in 2025-26.

"We have an endless belief mindset, and that's gotta be set from Day 1," Swayman told reporters last Thursday. "We can't go in the future, we can't predict what's gonna happen, but the thing is that we can control what we can control, right here, right now."

With Bruins backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo being no serious threat to take playing opportunities away from him, Swayman didn’t have the competition pushing him to elevate his own performance.

Boston Bruins Netminder Jeremy Swayman Ready For Rebound SeasonLast season was a tough year for the Boston Bruins, and perhaps nobody took that harder than Jeremy Swayman. 

Now, he has some competition for another coveted goalie spot.

Not only does Swayman face intense pressure to backstop the Bruins into playoff contention, but he also must try to secure playing time on Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Americans have plenty of options in net, including Winnipeg Jets superstar Connor Hellebuyck and Dallas Stars counterpart Jake Oettinger. The three of them were on the 4 Nations Face-Off squad, but only Hellebuyck and Oettinger played.

"That's always the hardest problem with being a goalie," Hellebuyck told NHL.com at the United States' Olympic orientation camp. "There are multiple guys but only one net."

So while Swayman can’t lock up the starter’s job for the U.S. with strong play out of the gate, he can definitely push himself down the pecking order if he struggles early on. Other Olympic hopefuls, such as Joey Daccord and Thatcher Demko, could even push Swayman off the team. 

"I have to compete all out in order to get the best out of them," Swayman told NHL.com. "And that's the best part, because we are on the same team. We know that one goalie plays at the end of the day, but they'd be (angry) at me if I was taking shifts off, or if I was taking a practice off, and I'd be the same with them.

"And 100 percent we all want to play, we all want to be in that net come gametime in Milan, and that's exactly what we're going to do. And that mindset is going to really elevate us."

In sum, it’s shaping up to be a boom-or-bust season for Swayman this coming year. He’s going to be the last line of defense for a B's team that is in a transition of sorts, and that’s a recipe for potential disaster. So is the fact that Swayman’s contract doesn’t have no-trade protection until next season, forcing Boston GM Don Sweeney to make a long-term judgment on Swayman far sooner than anyone may have anticipated when he signed his current deal a year ago.

Of course, every starting NHL goalie is dealing with some degree of pressure and ups and downs. That comes with the territory. But Swayman is facing significantly more pressure than most of his colleagues. How he handles it could prove there's nothing to worry about, or it could be the calm before the storm.

Swayman has got to step up and justify the Bruins’ investment in him. Because if he doesn’t, it will be an extremely long season for him.

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.

The Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, and Minnesota Wild will all participate in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase.

This is a three-game tournament where each organization will have some of its best prospects compete in a round robin format. 

Last week, the Blues and Wild each revealed their roster for the tournament, which will begin on September 12th when St. Louis takes on Minnesota. Chicago will play St. Louis on the 13th and Minnesota on the 14th. 

The St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild each have talent in the organization. Their rosters for this event have high-end prospects with ceilings of NHL contributors. 

Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) on XBuium, Yurov, Haight, Heidt, Kumpalainen, Benak highlight the #mnwild rookies in the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase at TRIA Rink Sept. 12-14 vs. Blues and BlackhawksLou Korac (@lkorac10) on X#stlblues roster for the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase Sept. 12-14 in Minnesota ...

With that said, the Blackhawks have been rebuilding while the Blues and Wild compete for the playoffs, so their draft selections have typically had more value in recent years. The Blackhawks' roster, announced on Monday, features numerous players who could compete for NHL or AHL jobs immediately. 

Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) on Xour 2025 Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase roster is here‼️ 📰 ➡︎ https://t.co/Dmhovq9tn2

This group includes players with NHL experience, such as Oliver Moore, Artyom Levshunov, and Sam Rinzel. These guys all plan on playing with the Blackhawks on Opening Night. At a minimum, they will see time in the NHL during the 2025-26 season. 

Will AJ Spellacy, Nick Lardis, or Ryan Greene play for the Blackhawks? How about the Rockford IceHogs? There is a lot to decide on with this prospect event, training camp, and the preseason. 

Many other young players will likely have wonderful developmental seasons elsewhere. In particular, notable players such as Nathan Behm, Martin Misiak, and Jack Pridham are expected to be factors in this event. 

This does not mean that the Blackhawks are going to steamroll everyone else in this showcase. All of these young players are coming in with the hopes of impressing their organizations as they look to eventually have NHL careers. 

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

As training camp approaches, prospects are looking to challenge for a spot on their NHL teams.

As hard as they compete, sometimes it’s best for these young players to spend some time in the AHL to mature and get more ice time than they would in the NHL. Nonetheless, they’ll bring plenty of excitement to the American League.

While it’s possible for these players to see games in the NHL, here are three players to look out for in their first AHL season.

Easton Cowan, LW, Toronto Marlies

Easton Cowan is easily the most coveted prospect in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. After trading away Fraser Minten to the Boston Bruins for Brandon Carlo and a 2026 first-round pick, Cowan stands alone at the top of the prospect chart.

The left winger is coming off back-to-back OHL championships and a Memorial Cup victory last year. Along the way, Cowan picked up many awards and accolades from his exceptional play, especially in the post-season. 

The 20-year-old has led the OHL in playoff points for the last two seasons, was named OHL playoffs MVP, Memorial Cup MVP, and led the Memorial Cup in points twice, in addition to other achievements.

Cowan has accomplished and performed like a player who should be a regular NHL player in no time, so his first season with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL should be one to watch for Maple Leafs fans and hockey fans.

Andrew Cristall, C, Hershey Bears

Andrew Cristall had a season for the ages last year for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets and the Spokane Chiefs. He scored 48 goals and led the WHL with 132 points in 57 games. He was just as impressive in the playoffs, leading the league in goals with 21 tallies and recording 41 points in 19 games, which puts him in the top 10 for most points in a WHL post-season.

Cristall was selected in the second round of the 2023 draft by the Washington Capitals and could be set to debut for the Hershey Bears next season. 

The Bears have been a force to reckon with for the past three seasons, winning two straight Calder Cups in that span. The addition of Cristall could make their case for a third Calder Cup in four years all the more plausible.

Detroit’s Sandin-Pellikka Among Rookie Defensemen To Look Out For Next AHL SeasonNHL Training camp will be kicking off soon, and each team’s prospects will be looking to fight for their spot on that roster.

Brayden Yager, C, Manitoba Moose

Brayden Yager is a complete, two-way center who has recorded three straight solid seasons in the WHL. Last season, he registered 82 points in 54 contests between the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Lethbridge Hurricanes. 

In Yager’s five-year junior career, he was named CHL and WHL rookie of the year, a Hlinka Gretzky gold medalist and a WHL champion with the Warriors in 2023-24.

He was also named captain for Team Canada at the latest World Junior Championship. Yager recorded three helpers in that tournament.

The 20-year-old from Saskatoon is ready for a new challenge next season - whether that’s a sniff with the Winnipeg Jets in the NHL or a season with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL - he’ll be one to look out for.

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.

The Philadelphia Flyers have confirmed the schedule and roster for this year's highly-anticipated Rookie Camp.

The kids are ready to roll!

Check out the full 2025 Rookie Camp roster and schedule. #LetsGoFlyershttps://t.co/fAXFjyalMJ

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 8, 2025

Taking place over five days, camp will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 11, with back-to-back games against the New York Rangers rookies to follow at PPL Center on Sept. 12 and Sept. 13. The games will start at 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., respectively.

After a break on Sunday, Sept. 14, on-ice sessions will resume on the 15th and 16th.

Some notable highlights on the confirmed roster include talents like Denver Barkey and Oliver Bonk, who saw immense success with the London Knights in the OHL during the 2024-25 season, winning both the OHL Championship and Memorial Cup.

Jett Luchanko, who made the Flyers' NHL roster out of preseason camp last year, is also set to feature.

Fans will also get to see more of players like Alex Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, and Jacob Gaucher, who impressed with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season. 

All on-ice sessions will be open for fans to watch at the Flyers Training Center in Vorhees, N.J.

Speculation over the futures of Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell and defenseman Erik Karlsson has persisted throughout the off-season.

Rust and Rakell are signed through 2027-28 with annual average values at, or above, $5 million. Meanwhile, Karlsson has two seasons remaining on his deal with the Penguins paying $10 million of his $11.5 million average annual value.

The Penguins are rebuilding, though management is reluctant to say it out loud. That's fuelling the conjecture about where those veterans fit within management's plans.

On Sept. 2, Josh Yohe of The Athletic expressed surprise that Rust, Rakell and Karlsson were still on the Penguins' roster with training camp fast approaching. He believes the two forwards could fetch returns of prospects, draft picks, or young NHL players. Shipping out all three would improve the Penguins' chances of winning the 2026 draft lottery and the opportunity to select top prospect Gavin McKenna.

Two days later, Yohe reported Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is content to start the season with his current roster but didn't rule out Dubas attempting to make a move or two.

Yohe thinks Karlsson stands the best chance of moving, despite his cap hit, his disappointing play over the last two seasons and his no-movement clause. He claimed some teams remain interested in the 35-year-old puck-moving defenseman, provided the Penguins retain a healthy chunk of his cap hit.

Teams are usually reluctant to retain salary on an expensive contract that has more than a year remaining. However, PuckPedia projects the Penguins will have over $13 million in cap space for the coming season and a whopping $53.2 million for 2026-27. They can comfortably afford to retain up to half of Karlsson's remaining cap hit.

Yohe wondered if Fenway Sports Group's attempt to sell the Penguins could affect any attempt by management to retain part of Karlsson's salary to facilitate a trade.

Shifting our focus to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Yohe's colleague James Mirtle was recently asked if there was any truth to rumors suggesting defenseman Brandon Carlo might become a trade chip.

Carlo, 28, was acquired from the Boston Bruins before the March 2025 trade deadline.

Mirtle thinks the Maple Leafs are still looking to add to their forward group. He felt that Carlo might be a viable option because they don't have much trade capital, and they could prefer replacing the shutdown blueliner with a puck-moving rearguard.

The Leafs haven't suitably addressed the departure of right wing Mitch Marner, but there are few decent options currently available. If Carlo becomes trade bait to address that need, it might not come until later in the season when better trade targets emerge.

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.