While the Detroit Red Wings ultimately fell short of qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, a key positive they carried into the offseason was their performance under new head coach Todd McLellan, whose tenure from late December onward translated to a 96-point pace over a full 82-game campaign.

Forward Lucas Raymond, who reached a new career-high 80 points after scoring 27 goals with 53 assists in his fourth NHL season, noted that he and his teammates immediately noticed a difference in McLellan’s coaching style compared to Derek Lalonde, who was dismissed after a 13-17-4 start to the campaign.

Raymond, who is in Milan, Italy as part of the NHL European Player Media Tour, also believes that beginning the upcoming season with McLellan behind the bench will reap serious benefits for the Red Wings. 

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

"It was good, it was really good," Raymond said of the difference under McLellan. "Just when he came in, obviously it's not easy, I can imagine as a coach coming in mid-season to a team and trying to implement your stuff, but for us, I felt a big difference right away, and I think with him getting a full training camp and a full summer with all the training staff and the organization to push in his direction, it's going to benefit us a ton." 

Raymond, whom the Red Wings selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, made his NHL debut for Detroit in the 2021-22 NHL season along with fellow rookie Moritz Seider, who would go on to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best first-year player. 

"Just coming in my first year and with Mo, it was kind of nice coming in together and we've had a similar journey," he said of playing alongside Seider. 

"I like Lucas Raymond because all he ever does is score monstrous goals." -@mike_p_johnson called this OT game winner!@DetroitRedWings | @JamisonCoyle | @KevinWeekes | #LGRWpic.twitter.com/y7sOdQ2Fzu

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) November 28, 2024

Raymond also expressed appreciation for being teammates with both Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane, the latter of whom he referred to as "hilarious" to be around. 

"Obviously Larks as a captain, I've played with him pretty much my entire career from my first year," Raymond said. "Just having that guidance is huge, and it's not just developing into a great friendship where we can support each other, and it's nice to have someone where you can go through with that.

"Kaner is Kaner, it's fun to have him around," Raymond said with a chuckle. 

"He's hilarious and he's so much fun to be around and learn from," Raymond continued of Kane. "I try to soak in as much as possible with everything he's done. But I feel like peopel might not see that side of him too often, but he's actually a funny guy." 

Raymond, Kane, Larkin and the rest of the Red Wings are scheduled to begin Training Camp from Traverse City, Mich. later this month on September 18. Following eight pre-season games, they'll open the new season against the Montreal Canadiens at Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 9. 

Follow Michael Whitaker On X

Earlier in the summer, it was revealed that the Chicago Blackhawks would sign Anton Frondell to his entry-level contract, but he would play the 2025-26 season with Djurgården of the Swedish Hockey League. 

It seems to be the consensus that this is the right move for him and his development. The Blackhawks likely aren't chasing the playoffs, and Frondell can have another year in Sweden to work on his game with other Swedish players. 

On Wednesday, Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects posted that Frondel would be playing on a "kid line" in Wednesday's preseason game. Viggo Bjorck and Victor Eklund were his linemates, and there was a lot of energy. 

Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) on XWord around the campfire is Djurgården will roll a Kid Line in their SHL preseason game tomorrow Viggo Björck - Anton Frondell - Victor Eklund That's fun.

During the game, Frondell scored a highlight reel goal that showed off his speed, tenacity, and overall skill on the ice.

While in stride, Frondell controlled a stretch pass by batting it down to himself with his hand, and then fighting off two defenders to get a quick but powerful shot on net. 

SwehockeyGIFs (@swehockeygifs) on XAnton Frondell 🚨 Joey LaLeggia 🍎 #difhockey 🎥 Tv4 Play

It is just a preseason goal against lesser competition than what he'll see in the NHL, but that doesn't take away from how much skill it takes to pull off a move like that. There has to be a certain level of effort in one's game to score a goal of that caliber. 

Frondell, while being teammates with former Blackhawks forward Marcus Kruger, is primed to have a big year with Djurgården. The 2025 third overall pick may not get the most ice time on his team, but the overall tools are there for him to take full advantage of what he's given.

By the time he comes to North America full-time, he will be ready for a chance at the NHL. His goal is to be a complete 200-foot player by the time he gets to the big leagues. After the draft, he compared himself to Florida Panthers star Aleksander Barkov.

With the players that the Blackhawks already have in the system, he would fit in perfectly if he reaches that level of play. Becoming as good as Barkov is a tall task, but the style of play will be welcomed with open arms by the organization. 

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

While many of this year's most notable unrestricted free agents (UFAs) have been signed, there are still some veterans who remain on the market. Among the most recognizable UFAs who are still available is former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Erik Johnson.

Johnson just completed his 17th NHL season, where he started the year with the Flyers. In 22 games this past season for Philly, he recorded one goal, three points, and 40 hits. He then was traded back to the Colorado Avalanche at the 2025 NHL trade deadline. In 14 games with the Avs following the move, he recorded one goal, one assist, and a plus-4 rating.

Overall, at this stage of his career, Johnson is more of a depth defenseman. While this is the case, it is fair to wonder if he could get at least a professional tryout (PTO) if he elects to continue his playing career. The 2006 first-overall pick has over 1,000 games of NHL experience, and he could be a good veteran for a team to bring in to help mentor their younger players. 

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what happens with Johnson from here. In 39 games over two seasons with the Flyers, he recorded three goals, six points, and 90 hits. 

Flyers Forward Should Build Off Strong YearPhiladelphia Flyers forward Noah Cates was undoubtedly a bright spot from the Metropolitan Division club's 2024-25 season. In 78 games on the year for the Flyers, the 2017 fifth-round pick scored a career-high 16 goals and recorded 37 points. This was after he posted six goals and 18 points in 59 games during the 2023-24 campaign, so he took a big step forward with his play. 

Former Florida Panther Scott Gomez will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as the Class of 2025 alongside Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Tara Mounsey and Bruce Bennett. 

"The collection of talent that is part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2025 is truly remarkable," said Mike Trimboli, president of USA Hockey. "Their extraordinary contributions have positively impacted our game and continue to do so today."

Gomez, a native of Anchorage, Ala., played 1076 games in the NHL, scoring 181 goals and 756 points. The former 27th overall pick of the 1998 NHL Draft was a pure playmaker, winning two Stanley Cups and a Calder Trophy in his NHL career.

Gomez left a long-lasting legacy in the NHL, playing with seven NHL teams, those being the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, Panthers, St. Louis Blues and the Ottawa Senators, but his impact on the sport of hockey, especially USA hockey, goes beyond his NHL resume.

Gomez was unable to win any international tournaments with Team USA, but starred in several events. He featured in two World Junior Championships and finished the tournament with the most assists in 1999. Additionally, Gomez was a key figure in the Americans' squad in the 2004 World Cup and the 2006 Olympics. 

The now 45-year-old wasn't with the Panthers for a very long time, playing just one season and recording two goals and 12 points in 46 games, but provided veteran leadership to a young team that was near the bottom of the NHL.

Parise, Pavelski, Gomez Feature In U.S. Hockey Hall Of Fame's Class Of 2025Scott Gomez, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Tara Mounsey and Bruce Bennett will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as the Class of 2025.

Red Wings prospect Shai Buium reflects on his journey from NCAA champion to AHL standout in exclusive interview with The Hockey News.

On Wednesday afternoon, The Hockey News had an exclusive sit-down interview with Red Wings prospect Shai Buium. The San Diego native is looking to make an impact at upcoming training camp and potentially push for a main roster spot. 

Before being selected in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Buium was a standout defenseman at the University of Denver, recording 14 goals and 61 assists for 75 points with a +61 rating in 120 games across three seasons. His collegiate career was very successful as he was a part of two National Championship wins with the Pioneers in 2022 and 2024.

Shai Buium(2nd round’21 for Denver) picks up an assist 🍏 on the goal that gives Denver the lead in the national championship game. #LGRW

pic.twitter.com/ZAIn1bZGf8

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) April 13, 2024

While spending his off-season in sunny California, Buium noted that his goal for the season is to continue growing as a player and become a true difference maker wherever he plays. 

“I'm always going to training camp thinking in the back of my mind, I want to make it a hard decision for them to send me down to the AHL obviously,” Buium explained “Goals for the season, largely to be the best player on the Griffins, best defenseman on the Griffins, and try to work my way up to the NHL and just keep developing my game so when I get to the NHL I'm ready to go."

More Red Wings:Red Wings AHL Coach Tabs Buium As Emerging Standout in Detroit Pipeline

Buium’s confidence in his game is noticeable by his peers as Griffins Assistant Coach Brian Lashoff noted Buium is one of the players to watch for the Griffins heading into next season. Buium noted that he appreciated his coach’s comments and that to hear things like that from his coach and a former longtime pro defenseman is very flattering but noted there’s “still a lot of work to do.”

Lashoff and Griffins Head Coach Dan Watson noted in previous interviews with The Hockey News that Buium progressed as the season went along with Lashoff explaining that towards the end of the season, he trusted him with “big minutes” in key situations. The 22-year-old defenseman finished with a pair of goals and 23 assists for 25 goals through 67 games played. He described the transition from the NCAA to the AHL as “a little more systematic” and that the talent in the league was evident from the start.

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

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

“Everybody's really good, like the fourth line through the first line, everyone's a good player, everyone's got good sticks, everyone knows how to use their body well, so just maneuvering through that and just learning the game, it's a little bit quicker,” Buium said “Pucks are going to the net, you have to be really good at box outs, in the corners, just little things that you maybe get away with sometimes in college, if you're maybe being lazy, or you're out of position, you can't be out of position in pro hockey."

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Buium attributed his style of play to being a two-way defenseman that can transition well and move the puck while also not trying to model his game too much after one specific player. 

"Not gonna lie, I don't like to model my game after specific guys. I just like to watch the best guys in the NHL and just pick things from them,” Buium stated “You go watch [Jaccob] Slavin and how good he is defensively, and then you go pick up things from a more offensive defenseman and then you learn those things in the ozone and their transition play but just try to pick up things from everybody.”

More Red Wings: Detroit AHL Coach Believes New CBA is "Good for Both Sides"

If he can continue his steady progression and turn into one of the most impactful defenseman on the Griffins like he hopes, Buium could get a look on the Red Wings main roster. Detroit finished bottom 12 in defense last season and with a young player that is hungry, looking to make an impact, he could make a lasting impression with bench boss Todd McLellan and carve himself out a role. 

Buium finished off the interview by showing admiration towards the University of Denver during his time there when asked about some of his favourite moments as a Pioneer. 

“Oh, it was super fun obviously, you're playing hockey with some of your best friends you made in school and winning championships, there's nothing better,” Buium explained “Had the best, best times of my life playing hockey there, I got to play a year with my brother, win a championship with him, so I’m really grateful for that part of my life."

From a brief chat with Buium, he comes across as a fun-loving Californian who simply wants to play hockey, excel at it, and spend quality time with the people he cares about when off the ice. In the off-season, he explained he enjoys golfing, after recently picking it up as a hobby, and relaxing on California beaches with “good people that can have good conversations.” Based on even a short interaction, it’s easy to see why Detroit fans should be excited to cheer him on and hope he makes a strong impact on the franchise.

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Is this an actual crisis or is this just spiraling in the offseason?  

It's been 63 days since Nashville Predators forward Luke Evangelista was made a qualifying offer upon the expiration of his entry-level contract. 

In three seasons with the Predators, Evangelista has emerged as a potential future star of this organization, putting up 32 points in 68 games last season at 22-23 years old.

General manager Barry Trotz has called him the future of the Predators, and Evangelista said this past season has been "a great opportunity" for him playing in the Predators' top six. 

However, less than a month before Predators training camp, Evangelista has yet to sign a new contract.

He did not sign the original offer by the July 15 deadline, but that does not mean that all negotiations have stopped. 

Evangelista's representation and Trotz have most likely spent the better part of these last 55 days trying to figure out a contract that would work for everyone. On July 1, following the opening of free agency, Trotz commented on the status of Evangelista's contract negotiations. 

"We're just trying to find a term that fits," Trotz said on Evangelista's qualifying offer. "I would like to go longer. The agents are hesitant to go longer on term."

While all of this has been centered on Evangelista, rightfully so, throughout the summer, there has been a growing narrative about the Predators' front office. 

The Athletic has published a series of articles this summer ranking the interworking of every team in the league.

Brady Skjei and Nic Hague's contracts were ranked as two of the worst in the league. The Predators were ranked 30th out of 32 in the NHL's contract efficiency rankings, and the Predators' front office confidence was ranked 31st with a "D-" rating. 

With the Predators taking an elongated amount of time to re-sign Evangelista, a player they highly value, the front office could be in hot water before the puck drops. 

The issue that's seemingly repeated is that they are either signing older players to long contracts or generally bigger players to big contracts. 

The two big splashes from last season's free agency, Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos, were both signed to long contracts as players in their mid-30s.

Marchessault was unable to figure out a deal in Vegas as the Golden Knights didn't want a five-year contract with Marchessault being 38 years old by the time it expired. 

Skjei and even Juuse Saros' contract came under fire due to their ages and decline in production. One Athletic article even pointed out Nashville's decision to prioritize extended Saros over developing Yaroslav Askarov, who was traded to the San Jose Sharks as an 11th overall pick in 2020. 

This summer, the Predators traded for Nicolas Hague, a bottom-two defenseman from the Golden Knights, and signed him to a 4-year, $5.5 million contract, with the expectation he'll play in the Predators' top defensive pairing. 

From the outside, it looked like another case of the Predators just signing a player that was "big" with Hague having a 6-feet-6-inch, 230-pound build. 

The Evangelista situation may be the tipping point, or even just the water coming right up to the brink of the pot. 

If he truly signifies that he wants to leave, the Predators will have his rights as a restricted free agent and will be able to dictate where he goes. At that point, the saving grace of the front office would be to bring in a player who his either equivalent to Evangelista or better. 

If this deal gets done, great. It'll likely be a contract that is either two or three years. 

However, that does leave a bittersweet taste of "why did it take the Predators this long to sign him?" 

This is a player that Trotz had called "the future," but it had taken over two months to strike a deal? 

This is a major crossroads that the Predators are at when it comes to front office confidence.  

The Hockey News Big Show once again brought on longtime NHL netminder Devan Dubnyk, founder of Dubnyk Development

Is It Time To Worry About Unsigned NHL RFAs? by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Michael Traikos, Ryan Kennedy and Dubnyk discussed in this episode:

01:00: Why hasn't RFA Luke Hughes signed yet?

05:30: How much does the threat of losing both Hughes brothers affect the New Jersey Devils?

06:50: How likely is it that RFA Mason McTavish plays somewhere other than the Anaheim Ducks?

09:00: How much of a rush is Anaheim in to re-sign McTavish?

11:20: What should we expect from Jonathan Toews in his return year?

14:20: What will the health situation look like for Toews?

16:20: Who is affected the most after the NHL fixed the playoff LTIR loophole?

20:30: How much did that cap loophole bother you?

22:30: What are your thoughts on the end of the NHL dress code?

25:20: Which guys will make the most of the end of the dress code?

27:20: Dubnyk discusses the latest news on Mitch Marner’s exit from Toronto

29:20: What’s it like playing in a big market when things are not going well?

34:30: Zach Parise is one of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 inductees

38:40: Who will sign an extension first: Connor McDavid or Kirill Kaprizov?

39:45: What is your favorite summer activity to do during the off-season?

42:50: NHL rookie tournaments: yay or nay?

44:50: How cool is it to see a non-traditional country winning in international hockey?

46:30: What team do you associate Jaromir Jagr with the most, besides the Pittsburgh Penguins?

47:45: Who’s the best backup goalie in the NHL?

Watch the full Episode here 

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One of the New York Rangers’ top defensive prospects is none other than EJ Emery. 

The Rangers selected Emery in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft with the hopes he could blossom into a reliable NHL defenseman down the road. 

However, during his first season playing at the University of North Dakota, Emery struggled from a statistical standpoint as he only recorded one point in 31 games. 

Rangers director of player development Jed Ortmeyer doesn't believe this is an issue though since Emery’s game is not necessarily about loading up the stat sheet. 

"I don't think his game is measured on production," Ortmeyer said via Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "It's his ability to defend and play in all situations in terms of penalty killing, playing against other team's top players and shutting them down, being hard to play against. He's so focused on working from the (defensive) zone out."

Not only does Ortmeyer feel that Emery’s lack of statistical success is not a concern, but he believes Emery showed a lot of promise throughout his freshman season.

Rangers Add 100th Anniversary Logo To Centre Ice At Madison Square GardenIn honor of their 100th season, the New York Rangers have added a 100th anniversary logo to centre ice at Madison Square Garden.

“He had a really good year. He’s one of the youngest defensemen in college hockey as a true freshman,” Ortmeyer said. “It's a tough league he was playing in. He was able to step in and have a big role and play big minutes for them. I think his development is heading in the right direction and he’s on a great path at a great school. We are excited about what he’s doing and where he’s going.”

The 19-year-old attended Rangers development camp in July, and he’s set to return to North Dakota for his sophomore season.

With it being September, most of the players who hit the market as unrestricted free agents (UFAs) this summer have been signed. While this is the case, there are still some interesting players available for the taking who could land professional tryouts (PTOs) over the next few weeks.

Among the veteran defensemen still looking for their next contract is former New Jersey Devils blueliner Jon Merrill.

Merill played this past season with the Minnesota Wild, where he posted two goals, six points, 41 hits, and 85 blocks in 70 games. This was his fourth season with the Wild, but his tenure in Minnesota came to an end this summer after he was not re-signed. Now, with the regular-season being only one month away, he still has not found his new home.

Yet, when noting that Merrill can work well in a bottom-pairing or seventh defenseman role, the possibility of him getting a PTO before NHL training camps start is certainly there. Teams are always on the hunt for more defensive depth, and Merrill is one of the top unsigned blueliners left. It also does not hurt that he has 12 years of his NHL experience. 

Merrill was selected by the Devils with the 38th overall pick of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. In 216 games over four seasons with the Devils, he recorded six goals, 30 assists, 36 points, and 173 hits.

2 Ex-Devils Stars Selected To U.S. Hockey Hall Of FameFormer New Jersey Devils stars Zach Parise and Scott Gomez have been selected to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. 

The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the youngest organizations in the NHL. They do have some veterans on the roster who will make an impact in 2025-26, but most of the hope comes from players who are still on their entry-level contracts. 

On Tuesday, Corey Pronman of “The Athletic” revealed his list of the best NHL-associated players under the age of 23. The qualifications for this list are that you are already claimed by an NHL team and are under the age of 22 as of September 15th, 2025. 

Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) on XNew @TheAthleticNHL: Ranking the best NHL players and prospects under 23 https://t.co/m5kYwruYo2

The Blackhawks are well represented on this list, starting with their young superstar, Connor Bedard. He is ranked second, only behind San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini. Bedard has a case to be number one, but his somewhat underwhelming season on a struggling team in 2024-25 leaves a lot to be desired. 

Connor Bedard is still very much on track to be a star in the league, like Celebrini. The latter just has more hype surrounding him due to the events of the last year. 

Bedard was one of 11 Blackhawks players named on a list that included 173. He is the only one who landed in the first tier, the “elite player” category. 

Tier 2 didn't have any Blackhawks in it. However, Artyom Levshunov did make tier 3 (Bubble NHL All-Star and top of the lineup player. He was ranked 22nd overall. 

Levshunov, a former second overall pick in the draft, has a ton of upside. He is the fifth defenseman on the list, with the ceiling of being a top-pair NHL defenseman. Big and meaningful minutes are on the slate for Levshunov in 2025-26. 

Anton Frondell, Chicago's third overall pick in 2025, was in Tier 4 and ranked 26th, which Pronman described as a "top of the lineup" player tier. For Frondell, who will play 2025-26 in Sweden, that is not a bad way to be evaluated at this stage. If he turns out to be a top-six two-way forward for Chicago, they will see that as an absolute win.

If he is a second-line center long-term behind Bedard, they'd be set down the middle of their scoring lines. The tools are there for him to be a key contributor for the next decade. 

Tier 5, where Pronman has "bubble top and middle of the lineup players", is where you'll find Frank Nazar (ranked 45th), who just earned an incredible contract extension. Pronman isn't as high on Nazar as most, but the respect is there to acknowledge that he could be a top-of-the-lineup player. 

For Nazar, 2025-26 is about leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that he is an above-average player. His speed, creativity, and tenacious ways could be how he takes that next step as a producer. 

Then there is the "middle of the lineup" tier 6. There you will see Kevin Korchinski (80th), Sam Rinzel (86th), Sacha Boisvert (111th), Oliver Moore (113th), Mason West (136th), Colton Dach (151st), and Roman Kantserov (162nd). 

Having Rinzel below Korchinski is certainly a choice. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher defenseman has his feet wet in the NHL, but he has a lot more to prove. If he plays anything like he did towards the end of the season, he will be closer to Levshunov's tier than this one with Korchinski.

The rest of the forwards in this group all make sense. They all could have years where they are big offensive contributors to the team, but none of them are guys that the Blackhawks are hoping can lead them in scoring en route to the playoffs. 

Everybody views prospects differently. This is another perspective that ultimately shows that the Blackhawks have done a wonderful job of stockpiling talent, regardless of the order. What Kyle Davidson and his staff do with said talent remains to be seen.

To view Pronman's rankings in full, you can click here. 

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

While speaking with The Athletic's Michael Russo last week, Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund was honest regarding the ongoing trade rumors surrounding longtime teammate Rasmus Andersson.

"Yeah, he's getting traded," Backlund said. "It's obvious."

It is not very often that you hear an NHL player be that transparent about the possibility of one of their teammates being moved. Yet, based on Backlund's comments, it certainly feels that Andersson will be traded elsewhere at some point as he enters the final year of his contract.

Let's discuss three teams that stand out as possible landing spots for Andersson.

Vegas Golden Knights

In late June, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported that Andersson only wanted to sign a contract extension in a potential trade if it was with the Vegas Golden Knights. Since then, the Golden Knights have been heavily linked to Andersson as a potential landing spot.

The Golden Knights are well known for making big moves, and it would make a ton of sense for them to bring in Andersson. Considering Alex Pietrangelo has stepped away from hockey to try to recover from injuries and might not return, the Golden Knights certainly could use another effective two-way right-shot defenseman. Landing Andersson would provide them with just that. 

The Golden Knights would need to be creative to be able to afford Andersson, considering they're more than $7 million over the salary cap. Pietrangelo will likely be on the long-term injured reserve, which gives Vegas more cap room to work with, but the team will still only have around $1.16 million in space once that happens.

That said, they have never been afraid to make aggressive moves if it means landing an effective player.

Dallas Stars 

The Dallas Stars have plenty to be optimistic about heading into the 2025-26 season.

They have a strong mix of veteran and young forwards to go along with an elite goaltender in Jake Oettinger. However, after Miro Heiskanen, the right side of their defense is Dallas' Achilles heel. Acquiring Andersson would be an excellent way to fix this.

Andersson would give their second pairing a massive boost if acquired. However, he could also be an option for their top pairing if Miro Heiskanen moved to the left side or misses time. In either scenario, the Stars' top four would improve tremendously with an Andersson addition, and Ilya Lyubushkin and Nils Lundkvist down the depth chart. 

Similar to the Golden Knights, the Stars would need to move out some salary to make a trade for Andersson work. That is where things could get tricky, as Dallas currently only has a little over $400,000 of cap space. Even if Andersson is still available closer to the trade deadline and the Stars accrue cap space, they still must make more room to acquire the blueliner.

Boston Bruins 

The Boston Bruins could also be a dark horse team to watch when it comes to Andersson. While they re-signed Henri Jokiharju this off-season, they still have not found the best top-four replacement for Brandon Carlo since trading him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Acquiring Andersson would change that.

Andersson would significantly improve the right side of Boston's defense. Having a one-two punch of Charlie McAvoy and Andersson would make the Bruins a much more difficult team to go up against. He would also give them another quarterback to work on their power play due to his offensive skills.

The Bruins' goal is to prove that last season was a fluke and to get back into the playoffs in 2025-26. Acquiring Andersson could help their odds of doing just that.

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EA SPORTS NHL has provided fans the first in-depth look at NHL 26 gameplay in a question and answer video. 

The video re-iterates that the L2/LT glitch that was prominent in NHL 25 has been patched. There is now a speed cap and penalty on the mechanic, players will not be able to blow by opponents while shielding the puck. Players will also slow down when spamming the pivot override with their right stick. 

The hip checking mechanic has also been adjusted to stop it from being used as a forechecking option. The power of the hit will be influenced by how much the player has to turn. This should stop players from being able to utilize the hip check to cover large portions of ice. 

Reverse hitting has also received a nerf, factoring in the size and weight of the player more than NHL 25. 

EA notes they reduced the number of X-Factors in an attempt to eliminate less impactful ones and simplify when X-Factors will be activated. There is new UI that will show when an X-Factor is active. 

The gameplay shows clips of some of the 80+ new goalie animations and discusses NHL EDGE data. It will be interesting to see how this data is implemented throughout the cycle of the game and if it makes a noticeable impact. 

Check out some #NHL26 Gameplay!

And hear answers to some of the most asked GP questions from the Dev Team 👂

Tune in: https://t.co/y1cuRZgkcWpic.twitter.com/D2H29P3ZHx

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) September 3, 2025

It will be cool to see and a big step forward if AI Ovechkin naturally sits in his one-timer spot or if AI Draisaitl can snipe from the goal line. 

The full list of the players and their attributes can be seen here.   

NHL 26 is set to release Sept. 12, those who pre-order the deluxe edition get access Sept. 5. 

For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed.    

Former New Jersey Devils stars Zach Parise and Scott Gomez have been selected to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. 

Joining Parise and Gomez in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame's class of 2025 are Joe Pavelski, Tara Mounsey, and Bruce Bennett. 

Parise spent 19 seasons in the NHL split between the Devils, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, and Colorado Avalanche, where he posted 434 goals, 455 assists, 889 points, and a plus-76 rating. In seven seasons as a member of the Devils, the 2003 first-round pick posted 194 goals, 216 assists, and 410 points in 502 games. 

Gomez played in 16 NHL seasons in his career, where he posted 181 goals, 575 assists, and 756 points in 1,079 games. In eight seasons over two stints as a member of the Devils, he had 121 goals, 361 assists, and 484 points. He also won the Stanley Cup with New Jersey twice and the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2000. 

Ex-Devils Forward Looking To Bounce Back With New TeamEarlier this off-season, the New Jersey Devils traded forward Erik Haula to the Nashville Predators. The move was understandable, as the Devils needed to free up cap space, and Haula had a rough 2024-25 season. Furthermore, Haula is a player the Predators are already familiar with, as he played for them in 2020-21.

The Wichita Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the NHL's San Jose Sharks and AHL's San Jose Barracuda, have announced that they have extended their affiliation agreement with the Sharks and Barracuda for the 2025-26 season.

Under the affiliation agreement, the Sharks will be able to designate players within their development system for assignment with the Thunder. The club will also be composed of players who are signed to two-way AHL contracts in addition to those on ECHL contracts (under agreement with the Thunder).

“We're happy to keep our partnership with San Jose going," stated Thunder GM Joel T. Lomurno. "We saw some solid talent come through Wichita last season. I'm looking forward to seeing those guys take the next step and excited to see what new players we can develop this season.”

The 2025-26 season will be the fourth year that the Thunder will partner with San Jose. Last year, Wichita had 10 players spend time in the Air Capital that were either on AHL or NHL contracts.

Goaltender Gabriel Carriere impressed during his time with the Thunder and then earned his first NHL contract with the Sharks this past March. Defenseman Braden Hache appeared in 33 games with the Thunder. He was recalled and earned a consistent role in the lineup for the Barracuda.

Defensemen Jeremie Bucheler, forwards Mitchell Russell and Luke Grainger and netminder Aaron Dell all played for both the Thunder and the Barracuda.

"Wichita is a premier franchise in the ECHL with a proven track record of developing NHL prospects well," Sharks Assistant General Manager and San Jose Barracuda General Manager Joe Will noted. "The staff, facilities and city are all first class."

San Jose joined the NHL in 1991. The Sharks have advanced to the Western Conference Final six times, which included them capturing the Presidents’ Trophy in 2009. San Jose has also earned five Pacific Division titles and made a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2016.

San Jose has one of the most exciting young players in the league in Macklin Celebrini as well as Will Smith and William Eklund.

“I'm excited to be back with San Jose for another season,” Thunder Head Coach Bruce Ramsay stated. “Last year, I was able to work with some talented players that lived out their dreams as they continue to pursue a chance to play in the NHL. It was a pleasure to help develop guys like Gabriel Carriere and Braden Hache, who both signed second contracts with the organization. I'm proud of Gabe, who really improved his game and earned an NHL contract with the Sharks and equally as proud with Braden, who is back with the Barracuda.

“I'm happy with the progress of several other players who spent a significant amount of time here. We look forward to growing our partnership and working together to ensure success at each level for all three teams.”

San Jose has several ties to the ECHL. Sharks Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky served two seasons as a head coach for the South Carolina Stingrays. NHL Goaltending Coach Thomas Speer played in three league contests as a member of the Idaho Steelheads and Las Vegas Wranglers in the 2011-12 season and went on to serve as Goaltending Coach with the Allen Americans, then the Sharks’ ECHL affiliate, from 2014-15 through 2016-17.