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

#6 - Brodie Ziemer  - Right Wing (Minnesota - NCAA)

Ziemer was the Sabres third-round pick at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas after scoring 70 points (27 goals, 43 assists) in 61 games as part of the US National Development Program’s Under-18 squad, and after posting a dozen points and serving as team captain of Team USA at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Under-18s.

The 19-year-old winger was a standout for Team USA at the 2025 World Junior in Ottawa last January in their gold medal-winning effort, and he put up good numbers (12 goals, 11 assists in 38 games) as a freshman at the University of Minnesota. Ziemer is a high-motor player with good two-way skills and possesses leadership abilities, but he will have to get stronger to improve his chances of a successful professional career. 

Elite Prospects says Ziemer “plays the short-range, give-and-go passing game, but also finds the cross-slot threats. Inside space, he deceives defenders. Without it, he deftly redirects passes through opponents into space.” The feisty forward is a lock to be part of Team USA at the 2026 World Junior in Minneapolis this December.

Arseni Gritsyuk is adjusting to life in New Jersey, but he doesn’t have to do it alone.

This offseason, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald signed two new additions to the team: Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov. Both veteran forwards are expected to play key roles on the roster, but for Dadonov, his impact could be especially important heading into the 2025-26 season.

Dadonov has been part of the NHL since 2009. At that time, Gritsyuk was just nine years old.

After 11 seasons in the league, the Devils brought Dadonov in for the upcoming campaign. Born in  Russia in 1989, Dadonov was drafted 71st overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers.

He spent six seasons with Florida before stints with the Ottawa Senators (2020–21), Vegas Golden Knights (2021–22), Montreal Canadiens (2022–23), and Dallas Stars, where he played the past three years.

While the right winger has put up solid numbers, 361 points in 617 games, he was brought to New Jersey for more than just scoring.

Mentorship.

The Devils selected Arseni Gritsyuk in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, he has developed in the Kontinental Hockey League before officially making the jump to North America this summer. Now, he’s preparing for his first NHL training camp with New Jersey.

Excitement has surrounded his arrival, but the adjustment is significant. Moving from Russia, where he was born and raised, to North America, where his career will continue, is no small transition.

Luckily, he has support.

After a 13-and-a-half-hour trip to New Jersey, Gritsyuk told NHL.com that he met up with Dadonov soon after arriving.

He’s also leaning on assistant coach Sergei Brylin, another Russian-born Devil. Drafted in 1992, Brylin played his entire career in New Jersey and now serves behind the bench. He’s already helped Gritsyuk settle in, giving him a tour of team facilities and providing a familiar presence in his native language.

Although Gritsyuk learned English in preparation for his NHL move, he acknowledged how helpful it is to have Russian speakers around as he adapts on and off the ice.

“It’s important,” Gritsyuk told NHL.com. “If I didn’t have them, it would be a little bit harder for me.”

One of his biggest challenges so far? Learning his teammates’ names.

“In Russia, you go in a room and everyone’s name is Sergei, Maxim, Anton,” he joked. “Here it’s Jake, Bobby, Scott, Markstrom, Marky. It’s a little bit different.”

From Ex-players to current players and everything in between, we've got you covered. 

Did you miss anything from the past week at The Hockey News - Columbus Blue Jackets? If you did, we have you covered with the Sunday Recap. Click on each card below to read the stories from the past week. 

42 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #42The Columbus Blue Jackets have 42 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today we look at the history of jersey #42. 

Kevyn Adams - 2000-01 - Adams was drafted 25th overall in the 1993 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins. 

Adams was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2000 NHL expansion draft. He would Adams would score 22 points in 66 games with the Blue Jackets before being traded at the trade deadline to the Florida Panthers alongside a 4th round pick in the 2001 NHL entry draft in exchange for Ray Whitney and future considerations.  

Although it felt like Adams played in Columbus for a long time, his stay was very short, and CBJ fans at the time were not happy about the trade initially. But when Ray Whitney stepped into Nationwide Arena, that all changed. 

Adams went on to play until the 2008-09 season. In January of 2009, Adams retired from the league and became a player agent. He was hired by the Buffalo Sabres as a Development Coach in 2009 and has held various positions, including Assistant. Coach, Director, Youth Hockey Supervisor, Vice President, and Sr. VP of Business Administration. On June 16, 2020, however, he was promoted to the big job of General Manager of the Sabres, where he still holds that position today. He is, however, on the hot seat, as the Sabres haven't made the playoffs since 2011. 

From The Archive: Meet A Mascot - StingerThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

STINGER, AT 6-FOOT-9, is an oversized yellow jacket wasp who gets his green coloring from a combination of the natural bee yellow and the blue of the coats worn by Union soldiers from the Buckeye State during the Civil War (from whom Columbus draws its nickname.)

He was unveiled to the public in 1998 and appeared on a uniform shoulder patch from Columbus’ first season in 2000 through to the end of 2002-03. He’s also been featured on a goalie mask, when Keith Kinkaid donned a depiction of Stinger on his lid during his brief stint in central Ohio last season.

41 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #41The Columbus Blue Jackets have 41 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today we look at the history of jersey #41. 

Ben Simon - 2005-06 - Simon was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1997 NHL Draft. 

Simon, a native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, played 13 games for Columbus during the 2005-06 season. He totaled zero points. He left for Europe and played one season in the EIHL in England. He retired in 2011. 

Simon moved into coaching almost immediately after retiring. His first head coaching job was for the Cincinnati Cyclones in 2013-14 for one season. He spent 5 years as the Head Coach for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. He has been an assistant for the Iowa Wild for the last two seasons. 

Former Blue Jackets Forward Still Looking For New TeamNow that the calendar has flipped to September, it means hockey is back. With that, there are still a handful of players looking for work. Some of the top names include Jack Roslovic, Robby Fabbri, and Matt Grzelcyk, but there is one forward who stands out. That is former Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson, who is still searching for a team willing to give him a chance.

After spending last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Atkinson was left unsigned on July 1, making him an unrestricted free agent. Unfortunately, his time with the Lightning didn’t end well. He was placed on waivers just before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, and after clearing, he was frequently called up and reassigned back to the AHL.  

40 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #40The Columbus Blue Jackets have 40 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today we look at the history of jersey #40. 

Jared Boll - 2007-16 - Boll was drafted in the 4th round of the 2005 NHL Draft.

Boll played in 518 games for the CBJ and totaled 62 points. He is #1 all-time in CBJ history with 1,195 and has 154 fights to his name. 

Jared Boll was a big man in his playing days. Standing 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, there weren’t too many who would willingly step up to Boll. He was an old-school enforcer who would not hesitate to stand up for his teammates and take one on the chin if necessary. In his career, he fought the St Louis Blues more than any other team. He had four seasons where he had fight totals over 20 and there were a few seasons that were 15+. His most common opponent was Krys Bach (5), and he fought the likes of Paul Bissonnette (4), George Parros (4), and Clayton Stoner. Boll is the best enforcer the CBJ has ever had.

After retiring from the Anaheim Ducks, Boll returned to Columbus, where he is now an assistant coach. 

39 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #39The Columbus Blue Jackets have 39 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #39. 

Greg Moore - 2009-10 - Moore was drafted in the 5th round of the 2003 NHL Draft. 

Moore played four games for the Jackets during the 09-10 season and had zero points. On March 1, 2010, Moore was traded by the Islanders to the Columbus Blue Jackets. After signing with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010, he was traded back to Columbus on February 28, 2011. 

He left for Europe in 2011 and would play in Germany and Czechia until he retired in 2015. He went into coaching immediately, retiring. He has coached at various levels for the United States Development Team and is currently the Head Coach for the U.S. National U-17 Team. He's also been a head coach for the USHL's Chicago Steel, and three seasons for the AHL's Toronto Marlies. 

Blue Jackets Announce Fan Events For 25th Anniversary SeasonThe Columbus Blue Jackets have announced a series of fan events and community givebacks as part of their 25th anniversary season.

Fans can take part in bidding for the Blue Jackets Foundation’s annual Golf Classic silent auction. Items include a lunch with the organization’s leadership group, headlined by Boone Jenner, a “GM for the Day” experience with general manager Don Waddell, and a behind-the-scenes game night experience with play-by-play announcer Steve Mears.  

38 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: Boone JennerThe Columbus Blue Jackets have 38 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the captain of the Blue Jackets - Boone Jenner

It’s hard to believe Boone Jenner has been around since 2013. Seems like only yesterday he made his NHL debut for Columbus, but even back then, people knew he was going to be the captain of this team. On October 12, 2021, Jenner was named the 7th Captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He began his captaincy just a few days before the start of the 21-22 season. Jenner was born to lead and shows it. He's not a screamer on the bench, he's not overly dramatic, but his teammates listen to him and gets respect from players around the league. 

Columbus Clippers Wear Special Blue Jackets Jersey In Triple-A Baseball GameLast night, the Cleveland Guardians' Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, wore special Columbus Blue Jackets jerseys for a special CBJ Season Ticket Holder Event. 

While wearing the Blue Jackets-style uniforms, the Clippers battled back through eight innings to take the lead. Unfortunately, they gave it up and headed into the ninth tied. That set the stage for a perfect finish to a night honoring the Blue Jackets.  

37 Days Until Opening Night At NWA: The History Of Jersey #37The Columbus Blue Jackets have 37 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #37. 

Mattias Timander - 2001-02 - Timander was drafted in the 9th round of the 1992 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins. 

Timander was taken by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft. After playing for the Jackets during their first two years of existence, he was traded to the New York Islanders in 2002. He finished his CBJ career by playing in 154 games and totaling 22 points. 

When the lock out of 2004-05 happened, Timander left for his home country of Sweden, where he played until he retired in May of 2013. 

Report Suggests Stars Had Interest In Blue Jackets' OlivierEarlier this week, a report surfaced from Jeff Marek suggesting that the Dallas Stars were one of the teams interested in Columbus Blue Jackets' forward Mathieu Olivier if he had hit the open market.

Earlier this week, a report surfaced from Jeff Marek suggesting that the Dallas Stars were one of the teams interested in Columbus Blue Jackets' forward Mathieu Olivier if he had hit the open market.  

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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With the 2025-26 season creeping ever closer, the landscape of the NHL and team outlooks are becoming clearer.

The Anaheim Ducks made a 21-point leap in the standings in 2024-25, improving upon their 2023-24 total of 59 points to 80 points.

With the addition of four veteran players and Joel Quenneville behind the bench, the team's stated goal from ownership to general manager Pat Verbeek and the roster players is to make the 2026 playoffs.

Report: Anaheim Ducks "Not Crazy on a Bridge Deal" for Mason McTavish, Prefer Long-Term Extension

How the Ducks Could Benefit from CBA Changes

Media outlets seem to, at the very least, be buying into the Ducks no longer dwelling at the bottom of the NHL standings and soon putting an end to their elongated rebuild in which they’ve missed the playoffs in each of the last seven years.

Also seemingly buying into it are Las Vegas oddsmakers, who are giving the Ducks decent odds to either remain in the same area of the standings as last season or improve slightly.

According to BetMGM, the Ducks have expectedly low odds to win the Stanley Cup (+12500), Western Conference (+5000), and the Pacific Division (+3500). However, they’ve been given +180 odds to improve by ten points in the standings and eclipse the 90-point plateau, +250 odds to achieve their goal of making the playoffs, and were given an over/under (o/u) number of 84.5 points.

Their o/u number ties them with teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, and Philadelphia Flyers, projecting them around the bubble of the middle third and bottom third of teams in the overall NHL standings.

The Ducks will be relying on a myriad of aspects if they’re to make another sizable jump in the standings and reach the 95-100 point mark, as has been required in the last half-decade in the Western Conference.

Along with the usual, relatively clean injury sheet and bounces going their way needed for teams projected near the playoff bubble, the Ducks will need their young core pieces to take the next steps in their development, Lukas Dostal to translate his success as a tandem goaltender to a starter, their older veterans not let their play decline (too much) on the wrong side of 30 years old, and for Quenneville to prove he hasn’t lost a step in his four years away from the game.

Though much of the Ducks' relative success in 2024-25 could be attributed to their goaltending, they parted ways with John Gibson, half of that successful tandem, and Trevor Zegras, who was an offensive spark to a team desperate for one, the quartet of acquisitions (Chris Kreider, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Poehling, and Peter Mrazek) have the potential to fit the team’s desired play style and depth chart more conductively, amplifying the young stars and helping better realize their potential.

A five-point improvement is a modest number for a team with designs of playing meaningful hockey until (at least) game 82. Those buying into Verbeek’s plan, the roster, and potentially an elite coaching staff, could be in for easy money with that wager (were they so inclined). Playoffs are a loftier prediction, but still within the realm of possibility for the first time in at least half a decade in Anaheim.

Ducks Announce 2025 Rookie Camp Roster

2025-26 Anaheim Ducks Awards Preview: Joel Quenneville, Jack Adams Favorite

2025-26 Anaheim Ducks Awards Preview: Odds Lukas Dostal Wins Vezina

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Detroit Red Wings - Sept. 14 2021 - Vol. 75 Issue 3 - Bob Duff

Read Now: Red Wings Emerging as Potential Landing Spot for Oilers' Connor McDavid

FORWARDS

GORDIE HOWE

1946-71

GP 1,687 G 786 A 1,023

PTS 1,809 PIM 1,643

‘MR. HOCKEY’ DOMINATED THE game like no player before him and very few since. Howe won six Hart Trophies and and six Art Ross Trophies. A four-time Cup champion, he twice broke the NHL single-season scoring mark and retired as the league’s all-time scoring leader. Howe posted his best NHL season, with 103 points, at 40 in 1968-69.

STEVE YZERMAN

1983-2006

GP 1,514 G 692 A 1,063

PTS 1,755 PIM 924

THE RED WINGS CURRENT GM wore the ‘C’ in Detroit for two decades. Yzerman won the Pearson Award as NHL MVP voted by the players in 1988-89, setting franchise scoring records with 65 goals, 90 assists and 155 points. Later sacrificing personal numbers to become the game’s best two-way center, he guided the Wings to three Stanley Cups.

TED LINDSAY

1944-57, 1964-65

GP 862 G 335 A 393

PTS 728 PIM 1,423

THE HEART AND SOUL of Detroit’s 1950s dynasty, ‘Terrible Ted’ captained two Stanley Cup winners. He and Nels Stewart remain the only players to be NHL leaders in both scoring and penalty minutes during their careers. In 1956-57, Lindsay set a then-team record for assists (55) and a then-NHL record for points by a left winger (85).

DEFENSEMEN

NICKLAS LIDSTROM

1991-2012

GP 1,564 G 264 A 878

PTS 1,142 PIM 514

LIDSTROM’S NICKNAME – ‘THE Perfect Human’ – says it all. He won seven Norris Trophies. The Swedish native was the first European player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy and to captain a Stanley Cup champion. A 12-time all-star, Lidstrom shares the NHL record of 20 consecutive seasons in the playoffs with Larry Robinson.

RED KELLY

1947-60

GP 846 G 162 A 310

PTS 472 PIM 253

KELLY JUMPED DIRECTLY TO Detroit’s blueline from junior hockey in 1947. He was the first winner of the Norris Trophy in 1953-54 and also won two Lady Byng Trophies with the Red Wings. A four-time Stanley Cup champion with Detroit, Kelly scored 19 goals in 1952-53 and was Hart Trophy runner-up in 1953-54.

GOALIE

TERRY SAWCHUK

1950-55, 1957-64, 1968-69

GP 734 W-L-T 350-245-132

GAA 2.44 SP n/a SO 85

ARRIVING AS DETROIT’S NO. 1 goalie to begin the 1950-51 season, Sawchuk quickly established his superstar credentials, starting with the Calder Trophy. In his first five years with the Wings, Sawchuk posted 195 wins, 56 shutouts and a 1.94 goals-against average. He also won three Vezina Trophies and three Stanley Cups in that span.

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TOP 3 TEAMS OF ALL-TIME

A 100-point season and epicunbeaten streak were topped inthe playoffs with a perfect record

#1 1951-52

IN THE 1952 PLAYOFFS, the Wings were perfect, the first team to go 8-0 in the post-season. While becoming the NHL’s regular-season champs with 100 points, Detroit put together a club-record 15-game unbeaten streak. Gordie Howe led the NHL in goals (47) and points (86) en route to the Hart and Art Ross Trophies, while Terry Sawchuk took the Vezina. Howe, Sawchuk, Ted Lindsay and Red Kelly were all first-team all-stars. In the playoffs, Detroit swept Toronto and Montreal. Sawchuk didn’t allow a goal on home ice, finishing the post-season with four shutouts, a 0.63 goals-against average and .977 save percentage.

#2 2001-02

THE WINGS ASSEMBLED A superstar-laden team, the likes of which will never be seen in the salary-cap era. They suited up nine Hall of Famers: Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom, Dominik Hasek, Sergei Fedorov, Chris Chelios, Igor Larionov, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille and Brendan Shanahan. Coach Scotty Bowman also is in the Hall. Detroit had 116 points to win the Presidents’ Trophy. In the playoffs, the Wings rallied from a 2-0 series deficit to defeat Vancouver in Round 1. Down 3-2 to Colorado in the West final, Hasek posted successive shutouts in Games 6 and 7. The Wings beat Carolina in a five-game Cup final.

#3 1935-36

DETROIT’S FIRST CUP-WINNING TEAM was also the NHL’s best regular-season squad. Center Marty Barry placed second in the NHL scoring race, while defenseman Ebbie Goodfellow was named to the second all-star team. The Wings opened the post-season in epic fashion, beating the Montreal Maroons 1-0 in the NHL’s longest game. Rookie winger Mud Bruneteau scored the winner in the sixth overtime period after the two teams played 176:30. Detroit goalie Normie Smith allowed just one goal, posting a shutout sequence of 248:32, as the Wings swept the series. Detroit then downed Toronto 3-1 in the final. 

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Only six RFAs that played in the NHL last season remain unsigned. Adam Proteau at The Hockey News ranked the six of them by their teams' pressure to sign them. 

Of the six teams that have RFAs remaining, the Chicago Blackhawks were ranked last with defenseman Wyatt Kaiser. Mason McTavish (Anaheim Ducks), Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils), Luke Evangelista (Nashville Predators), Rasmus Kupari (Winnipeg Jets), and Alexander Holtz (Vegas Golden Knights) are all ahead.

The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) on XLet’s break down a fun little pressure-o-meter on the six remaining RFAs: https://t.co/QxQNMgM3YA

This is a fair ranking. Although Kaiser looked great in his 57 games played during the 2024-25 season, there is still a lot of room for improvement. 

Chicago also has lots of defensemen who deserve a look at the beginning of the year. Connor Murphy and Alex Vlasic are locks to play often. After them, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski, Ethan Del Mastro, Louis Crevier, and Nolan Allan all need ice time. Whether that is with Chicago or Rockford remains to be seen for most of them. 

When Kaiser does return, that will make it nine players looking for ice time on the blue line. With only one true veteran - Connor Murphy - in the mix, that is a lot. 

Based on these facts, there is no reason for the Blackhawks to give Kaiser what he wants right away. If he wants more ice time, money, and term on his contract, he has to play more and earn it. There are plenty of players in the organization who are on a similar trajectory. 

When the Blackhawks do finally get Kaiser extended, they will be a better team for it. Adding a solid defensive player who is smart on the ice is something they are looking to do. They just don't have that much pressure on them to get it done on his terms more than their own terms.

With all the cap space that Chicago has, they can afford to make him happy while also forcing him to prove his long-term worth. 

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

The New Jersey Devils announced on September 5, 2025, that they had signed four players to professional tryout contracts ahead of training camp: forwards Kevin Rooney and Luke Glendening, along with goaltenders Georgi Romanov and Adam Scheel.

In net, the Devils already feature two proven veterans. This offseason, the team re-signed Jake Allen to serve as backup to Jacob Markstrom, who has been a reliable starter in recent years. Together, Markstrom and Allen form one of the NHL’s stronger tandems, each capable of stepping up when called upon.

That said, both goalies carry injury histories. While one can typically fill in when the other is sidelined, the situation becomes complicated if both are injured at the same time. In those cases, New Jersey has often turned to Nico Daws of the Utica Comets.

Daws has filled in several times over the past few seasons, but his team rights expire after next year. If the Devils want to capitalize on his trade value, their window is closing. They could also opt to re-sign and promote him, but indications suggest that may not be the path they pursue.

Enter Scheel and Romanov, two goaltenders brought in on PTOs to bolster training camp competition.

Adam Scheel, 26, is a six-foot-four netminder who went undrafted but has spent the past few years in both the AHL and ECHL. He also represented Team USA at the U17 and U18 levels in 2016–17. Though he has yet to make his NHL debut, Scheel is looking to break through with the Devils, or at least earn a spot in the AHL, ready for a call-up if needed.

Georgi Romanov also went undrafted but has already seen NHL action with the San Jose Sharks. In 2023–24, he appeared in two games, facing 30 shots and posting a .967 save percentage. Last season, he played eight more games, stopping 219 shots but finishing with an .877 save percentage. His career record currently stands at 0–6, and he is still chasing his first NHL win—something he hopes to achieve this year in red and black.

With training camp opening September 10, both Scheel and Romanov will be players to watch. While Markstrom and Allen have the top two spots secured, the door is open for one of the PTO goaltenders to make an impression and possibly work their way into the lineup over the course of the 2025–26 season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a lot of veteran players on the team heading into the 2025-26 season, but they still have some young players pushing for more playing time. 

Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen got a taste of NHL action last season and looked the part in their short sample sizes. McGroarty made his NHL debut early in the season before developing more in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and then came up with Koivunen at the end of the season. As long as they have good camps, they'll likely be on the roster to start the season. 

Filip Hallander is coming back from the SHL after spending two seasons in that league. He finished second in goals and points in the entire SHL last year and will also be given every opportunity to make the full-time roster. He has played in three games at the NHL level with the Penguins, but spent most of his time in WBS before heading to the SHL after the 2022-23 season. 

There will be other young players who make strong pushes in training camp, but may not be ready to make the roster and their NHL debut yet. Let's take a look at some of the players that may fit into that category. 

Tristan Broz

Broz made his regular-season debut with the WBS Penguins last season after turning pro. It came after he spent the previous three seasons in college hockey and helped the University of Denver win the Frozen Four during the 2023-24 season. He scored the game-winning goal against Boston in the Frozen Four to send Denver to the National Championship Game. 

Broz finished the 2024-25 season with 19 goals and 37 points in 59 games, and one goal and three points in two playoff games. He was able to utilize his shot and vision throughout the season and was one of WBS's best players in the playoffs before bowing out to Lehigh Valley.

Penguins head coach Dan Muse may want to get a look at Broz if he keeps developing well during the upcoming season.

Emil Pieniniemi

Pieniniemi will make his WBS debut next season in his first professional season after spending the 2024-25 season with the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs. It was his first OHL season, and he finished with 10 goals and 60 points in 60 games. His 60 points were sixth among defensemen in the OHL. He was also dynamite in the playoffs, compiling four goals and 10 points in 11 games. His offensive game took a significant step forward, and he's looking to carry it over into the AHL. 

The left side of the Penguins' defense is still a primary concern heading into the season, but Pieniniemi isn't likely to be ready just yet. However, if he starts his pro career with a bang, there's a chance he could be a call-up option later in the year, especially if some injuries pop up on the back end. 

Harrison Brunicke

This one is dependent on a couple of factors. Number one, he has to have an outstanding camp like he did last year, since there's a logjam on the right side right now. Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang will take up the bulk of the top four minutes, and Connor Clifton and Matt Dumba will compete for minutes on the bottom pairing. Brunicke will have to ensure that the coaching staff and management can't deny him at least a nine-game trial to start the year. 

Number two, we need to determine if the NHL, NHLPA, and CHL can reach an agreement to allow one 19-year-old CHL player per NHL team to play in the AHL this season. The deal is set to start for the 2026-27 season, but the NHL and NHLPA are trying to negotiate an agreement with the CHL to push it up to this season. If that happens, Brunicke will have the chance to play in the AHL all season, instead of his junior team, the Kamloops Blazers, who aren't going to be any good this season.

Right now, his only options for the 2025-26 season are his junior team or the Penguins. Having the option to send Brunicke to the AHL, assuming an agreement can be reached, would be beneficial for his development. He's too good to play on his junior team, and it showed when he was healthy last season. 

Brunicke has the potential to be a second-pairing defenseman on the Penguins if he hits his ceiling. 

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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. 

At this point, we have reached the top-five on our list. And right at No. 5 is a young netminder who continues to garner the attention of many and has pretty much done nothing but dominate up to this point: Sergei Murashov.

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#5 G Sergei Murashov

For any goaltender anywhere, it is extremely difficult to not only have a save percentage of .913 or higher at every level of professional hockey so far, but also to show signs of dominance almost effortlessly.

Yet, this is something that 21-year-old Penguins' goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov has managed to accomplish.

To be clear, the one and only season Murashov has had a sub-.913 save percentage was for Loko Yaraslovl of the MHL as a 16-year-old, when he posted a .909 save percentage in eight games. Since then, he has been nothing short of spectacular.

From 2021-24 between the MHL and KHL, Murashov never posted a save percentage below .925. In fact, during the 2022-23 season with Loko Yaroslavl, Murashov went 24-7-5 with 11 shutouts, a 1.53 goals-against average, and a .948 save percentage. And that was the season following his draft year in 2022 (118th overall).

Who Will Be The Starting Goaltender In WBS This Season?The NHL goaltending situation for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2025-26 already figures to be an interesting one.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound goaltender's impressive numbers in Russia preceded his move to North America for the 2024-25 season - and he did not miss a beat with the move.

In 26 games ECHL games with the Wheeling Nailers last season, Murashov posted a 17-7-1 record to go along with a .922 save percentage and a 2.40 goals-against average. Because of injuries at the AHL level, Murashov was called up to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) during the second half of the season, and he made franchise history. 

He won his first 11 starts at the AHL level, setting a new franchise rookie record and tying the general franchise record for consecutive wins. In 16 total starts at the AHL level last season for WBS, Murashov went 12-3-0 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.64 goals-against average.

In other words, there is no doubt that this kid has talent. His quickness and athleticism is unmatched by any other netminder in the Penguins' system, and Murashov carries himself with a certain confidence and calm that isn't typical of goaltenders his age.

On Hershey's first goal, Sergei Murashov came up with a RIDICULOUS rebound save seconds prior to the 3rd attempt going in. @InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/96Sfwao58i

— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) April 12, 2025

He is still raw, and he needs to work on his rebound control and refining the sharp edges in his game. He also had a tough three games in the ECHL playoffs, even if it was largely the result of the team in front of him failing to execute.

But it's hard to deny the upside of a guy who has proven he can get it done at every level of hockey up to this point.  Goaltending has been a problem area for the Penguins since their back-to-back Stanley Cup runs in 2016 and 2017, and they have an abundance of goaltenders in their system. Murashov will be competing with the likes of Joel Blomqvist, Filip Larsson, and Taylor Gauthier for the AHL starting job this season, which will be a fascinating battle to keep an eye on in training camp.

Murashov has put a little bit of distance between himself and the rest of them, and it would probably be best for his development to be full-time in the AHL this season. But - regardless of where he laces them up this season - this is certainly a prospect Penguins' fans and NHL fans should be keeping an eye on.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Defenseman Should Be Full-Time In The NHL This SeasonHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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The list so far:

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

The NHL’s 2025-26 season is almost here, and it’s a great time here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site to continue this player-by-player series in which we break down expectations for each Sabres player in 2025-26.

The Sabres need desperately to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs. But as individuals, each Sabres player has their own expectations. 

We’ve gone through Buffalo’s goalies and defensemen in this series. And in this file, we’re focusing on Sabres No. 1 center Josh Norris, who came to the Sabres in the deal that sent Dylan Cozens to the Ottawa Senators. But Norris will have to stay healthy to justify the trade, and that’s something that hasn’t been easy for him to do in five NHL seasons..

Player Name: Josh Norris

Position: Center

Age: 26

2024-25 Key Statistics: 56 games, 21 goals, 35 points, 18:36 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary:$7.95 million

2025-26 Expectations: Norris was enjoying a bounce-back season with the Senators, posting 20 goals and 33 points in 53 games when he was dealt to Ottawa. And after he arrived in Buffalo, Norris appeared in only three games before the Sabres’ season ended. 

But at that point, Sabres fans were willing to cut Norris some slack.

That said, the goodwill will end  if Norris can’t get into groove as a key contributor. He’s got to appear in at least 70 games, and be Buffalo’s catalyst on offense on a top line. 

Nothing short of career-best numbers will satisfy Sabres fans’ desire to get back to the playoffs. And ideally, Buffalo should – should expect a 35-40-goal season out of Norris. He’s the Sabres’ highest-paid forward, and he needs to play like one. And playing on. a top line with star winger Tage Thompson shoulhelp Norris to achieve that goal.

At 26-years old, Norris no longer has time on his side. But his salary and skills package dictate he be afforded every opportunity to succeed. He needs to prove to everyone (himself included) that he can stay healthy and contribute throughout the regular-season.

Because he’s signed through the 2020-30 season, Norris isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. But time could drag on for Norris if he can’t right the ship and plays a full regular-season, Norris has no-trade clause protectio in his current deal, but that doesn’t kick in until next summer.

For now, though, the challenge for Norris is clear – be an effective number-one center, and make his teammates around him better. If he can’t do that and Buffalo struggles in the standings, Sabres fans will be rueing the day Buffalo  GM Kevyn Adams acquired him. 

There are still a handful of notable unrestricted free agents (UFAs) looking to find their new homes at this point of the off-season, and one of them is former Philadelphia Flyers forward Cam Atkinson. 

Atkinson signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning this past off-season after the Flyers bought him out. The 36-year-old forward followed that up by having a tough season with the Bolts in 2024-25, where he had four goals, nine points, and a minus-4 rating. He was also placed on waivers back in March by the Lightning.

Although Atkinson had a tough year, the possibility of him landing a professional tryout (PTO) before NHL training camps start is there. Given his strong resume, he could be a good low-risk player for an NHL club to bring in. 

With training camps being so close to starting an NHL teams starting to sign players to PTOs more frequently, Atkinson will be an interesting player to keep an eye on over the next few weeks. Time will tell if he does at least land a PTO from here. 

Recent Flyers News 

Flyers' Goaltending Gets New Ranking

Flyers' Jett Luchanko No Longer Guelph Storm Captain: OHL Trade Coming?

Predicting The Flyers' Plans at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline 

Between Igor Shesterkin, Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Sergei Bobrovsky, you could really make a case for any of them in terms of the debate for the top goaltender in the NHL.

From a salary perspective, Shesterkin is technically valued as the best goalie, having earned an eight-year, $92 million contract extension from the Rangers last season, making him the highest-paid goalie in the NHL. 

Despite the New York Rangers regressing as a team and Shesterkin’s stats taking a dip, former NHL goalie Cory Schneider believes Shesterkin is still the most dominant netminder in the league. 

" He’s the highest paid goalie by a wide amount and I think rightfully so.. “I think [Igor Shesterkin], for my money, is the most talented goalie in the league,” Schneider said on NHL Network. 

Mike Sullivan has A Lot To Prove With The Rangers While Mike Sullivan is an already established NHL coach, he has a lot to prove as he begins this new opportunity with the New York Rangers. 

In the NHL Network’s most recent list ranking the top goalies in the NHL, Shesterkin ranked third behind Hellebuyck and Vasilevskiy, but ahead of Bobrovsky.

The Chicago Blackhawks would have been a perfect match with the Montreal Canadiens to acquire Carey Price's contract.

They could afford the cap hit, and it would keep them above the floor if they shed some veterans ahead of the trade deadline. Price is already retired and a future Hall of Fame goalie. Trading his contract is nothing more than a financial move for the Canadiens. 

On Friday, the San Jose Sharks made that move to acquire Price's contract from Montreal. They sent defenseman Gannon Laroque to Montreal and got a 2026 5th-round pick back. 

San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) on X🔀 TRADE ALERTCanadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) on XThe Canadiens acquire defenseman Gannon Laroque from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for goaltender Carey Price and a fifth-round pick in 2026. News release ↓ #GoHabsGo https://t.co/hnwKBe7FE0

This wasn't the only salary-addition move that the Blackhawks could make. There are other deals like this out there, including one with the New Jersey Devils. 

New Jersey has been trying to trade Ondrej Palat since the beginning of the off-season. He is still a playable bottom-six forward, which makes this a different scenario than Price, but he is not producing like a $6 million forward. 

Outside of getting some salary added to their books, the Blackhawks would also likely acquire a draft pick or a prospect in exchange for taking on Palat. 

Palat is a former two-time Stanley Cup champion who was always clutch in the playoffs, but his game hasn't been at a high level since signing with New Jersey. 

New Jersey, a team up against the cap ceiling, certainly wants to make this move so that it can extend their young defensive star, Luke Hughes. The Blackhawks are one of the teams that can take on Palat's contract and give him significant playing time.

It's a move worth considering for the Blackhawks before someone else swoops in and does it.

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