Category: Ice Hockey

The St. Louis Blues are an intriguing team on the rise. A major reason behind it is that they have multiple promising young players with good upside. As a result, it is fair to say that the Blues are heading in the right direction. 

When looking at the Blues' roster heading into the 2025-26 campaign, it is clear that they have a few young players who have the potential to hit new levels. In a recent article for NHL.com, Pete Jensen named defenseman Philip Broberg as the club's top fantasy hockey breakout candidate for the 2025-26 season. 

When looking at how well Broberg performed for the Blues this past season, it is entirely understandable that Jensen views him as a prime breakout candidate. The 2019 eighth-overall pick cemented himself as a full-time NHL defenseman for St. Louis in 2024-25, as he recorded new career highs with eight goals, 21 assists, 29 points, and a plus-21 rating in 68 games.

Yet, as an impactful Broberg was in 2024-25, it is fair to wonder if he can hit a new level this upcoming season. The left-shot defenseman is still just 24 years old and only has 149 games into his NHL career, so he certainly has the potential to continue to improve. It will be interesting to see if he can take that next step and emerge as a star for the Blues next season from here. 

Fantasy hockey breakout candidates for 2025-26 | NHL.comHayton has chance to reach another gear; picks unveiled during 32 in 32 series

New York Islanders prospect Daniil Prokhorov's PTO with the KHL's Dynamo Moscow has expired.

He didn't record a point in any of the games he played in, while serving as a fourth-line, 13th forward throughout training camp and preseason. 

The 18-year-old, drafted in the second round (No. 45) of the 2025 NHL Draft, was invited to their training camp after two seasons playing in the VHL, their junior league. 

Winning a job in the KHL was going to be a tough task for Prokhorov, but receiving an invitation was surely a positive sign in terms of how his potential is viewed. 

Dynamo Moscow's head coach, Alexey Kudashov, was asked about what he saw from the youngsters, and that's when he made a comment on Prokhorov (translated):

"Everything is going fine. Some of them played matches in the youth team, and some are playing for Dynamo Saint Petersburg. Everyone is in the squad, everyone is preparing, and everyone is in good shape. The question is whether someone will need a little more time, like, for example, Prokhorov. He is a very young guy and is only taking his first steps in adult hockey. It so happened that he practically did not play in the VHL. Everything is new for him now. All the players are ready; the only question is when the dream will start to be realized." (H/t Dynamo Website)

*The VHL is the KHL's equivalent to the AHL. 

For Prokhorov, playing in the KHL at 18 would have been one thing. However, going back to juniors in Russia likely doesn't make sense for his development, especially when he has the chance to come to North America. 

Yes, he'd be playing juniors over here, but playing for the OHL's Sarnia Sting -- they drafted him in the second round of the CHL Import Draft -- and getting acclimated to the North American game likely makes the most sense. 

Dynamo holds Prokhorov's rights, and they certainly could sign him to play in the VHL. 

We await to find out Prokhorov's plan. Don't be shocked if he signs his entry-level deal really soon.

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For a lot of hockey players, retiring and stepping away from the game is hard. You can see it right now with former Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard who’s already saying he would like to remain with the team in some capacity. Earlier this week, we heard that former top line center Tomas Plekanec will get his first experience behind the scenes at HC Kladno.

In an interview with TVA Sports’ Anthony Martineau, Plekanec explained that he is now the Sports Director of the Kladno Knights, a Czech team with which he played for parts of three seasons after retiring from the NHL. If the team sounds familiar, it’s probably because it’s the Czech club, which is owned by Jaromir Jagr, who is still playing for it, even at 53 years old.

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Speaking about his role, Plekanec explained that the on-ice decisions belong to the coach, but everything else hockey-related falls to him, meaning that he’s the equivalent of a GM in the NHL. When asked if he would like to have a management role with the Canadiens one day, he smiled and said, “Never say never, right? I’ll think about it when it comes.”

The 42-year-old was a third-round pick and 71st selection overall at the 2001 NHL draft and played 15 seasons in the NHL, all with the Canadiens aside from a 17-game stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs to whom he was traded when he was a pending UFA for Kirby Reichel, Rinat Valiev, and a second-round pick at the 2018 draft. The pick turned into Jacob Olofsson, the 56th selection, the Swedish player is now 25 and he has never played in North America.

The trade was still a big win for the Canadiens since Valiev was then used in a package to acquire defenseman Brett Kulak from the Calgary Flames. The blueliner played parts of four seasons with the Canadiens before being traded to his hometown team, the Edmonton Oilers, for William Lagesson, a conditional 2022 second-round pick, and a 2024 seventh-round pick. The latter became left-shot defenseman Rasmus Bergqvist, while the former became reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson.

Once his contract expired, Plekanec signed another contract with the Canadiens and played three more games in the 2018-19 season, recaching the 1,000-game mark. The veteran was then approached by the organization about a potential trade, but as he always wanted to retire as a member of the Sainte-Flanelle, he agreed to have his contract terminated by the organization.

In the end, he played 1,001 games in the NHL, including 984 as a Hab. He gathered 608 points (233 goals and 375 assists), skating in a top offensive role with the Canadiens. The center’s best season came in 2009-10 when he put up 70 points and added 11 points in 19 games as the Canadiens rode Jaroslav Halak’s hot streak to the Conference Finals.

Throughout his career, he was recognized as a very defensively responsible pivot, regularly getting votes for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward. He was a mainstay on the Canadiens’ penalty kill and was also strong in the faceoff department.

Unfortunately for Plekanec, the 15 years he spent with the team weren’t the Canadiens’ best, and he spent most of his career in the wrong chair. Had he played on other teams, he wouldn’t have been a top-line center, but since the Canadiens focused on defense for most of his career, he ended up with a significant offensive role and stepped up to the challenge.  

Once he called time on his NHL career, Plekanec went back home to Czechia and finished his season with the Brno Kometa, where he played another season before joining fellow countryman Jarg with Kladno. In 66 games with the Kometa, he put up 40 points and added another 106 points in 117 games with Kladno before hanging up his skates for good during the 2023-24 season.

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The Detroit Red Wings are hoping for big things out of Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, whom they selected in the opening round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

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

Having already racked up numerous accolades while representing Sweden in internationanl play, he's now gotten his first taste of North American professional hockey as a member of the Grand Rapids Griffins, and will likely begin the upcoming 2025-26 NHL season with the club barring an incredible showing in Red Wings Training Camp and exhibition play. 

What are the chances that he earns a roster spot with the Red Wings for the start of the new season? 

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Welcome to The Hockey News - Vancouver Canucks site’s player preview series for the 2025–26 season. In these articles, we’ll preview the players who are expected to play for the Canucks in the 2025–26 season. This edition will cover winger Vitali Kravtsov, who returns to Vancouver after two seasons in the KHL. 

Kravtsov's 2024-25 Season

Kravtsov had a productive 2024-25 season in the KHL. He recorded 58 points in 66 games and finished second in scoring on Traktor Chelyabinsk. As for the playoff, Kravtsov recorded seven points in 19 games while Traktor Chelyabinsk fell in the final to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. 

During the 2025 off-season, Kravtsov returned to the Canucks, signing a one-year, two-way contract with Vancouver. The 25-year-old was a restricted free agent, with his rights being held by Vancouver. Kravtsov's contract carries an AAV of $775,000 in the NHL, while his AHL salary is $450,000. 

Kravtsov's 2025-26 Predictions 

Where Kravtsov plays will be a significant talking point throughout training camp and the pre-season. He does need waivers to play in the AHL and may not even make it to Abbotsford, as he could be claimed if sent down. Kravtsov is also unproven at the NHL level, having produced only 12 points in 64 games during his career so far.

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Based on the Canucks current roster, the most likely spot for Kravtsov would be on the fourth line. That being said, there will be plenty of competition for final roster spots, meaning the Russian winger will have to separate himself from the rest of the forwards. If Kravtsov can provide some offence and show that his defensive game has improved since leaving the NHL, this signing by Vancouver will look like a smart move by the end of the season. 

Adam Kierszenblat’s Stat Prediction: 3 G, 5 A, 8 P

Izzy Cheung’s Stat Prediction: 5 G, 5 A, 10P

Bold Prediction: Kravtsov plays at least 50 games in the NHL this year.

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Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

Mitch Marner is weeks away from playing for a different team for the first time in his career. The Vegas Golden Knights forward is in Calgary for Hockey Canada’s orientation camp ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics to be held in Italy in February.

During that time, he spoke with TSN’s Mark Masters, his first time speaking to Toronto-based media since he departed the Maple Leafs, his hometown team of nine NHL seasons. In the interview, Marner revealed that the toughest part of leaving was saying goodbye to his teammates, particularly Auston Matthews. The two played their first NHL game together on Oct. 12, 2016, a night when Matthews scored four goals. Marner had tried to arrange a time to talk before Matthews departed for Arizona for the summer, but it didn’t work out.

Marner also revealed that he left Toronto because it was “time for a new chapter” and later went into detail about some of the fan harassment and safety concerns he dealt with over the last couple of years, particularly in the aftermath of Toronto’s 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of their second-round 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs series.

“We play Game 7 as we do in a non-enjoyable way of all time probably,” Marner recounted. “You know you get home, you're pretty disappointed, you're pretty devastated at that. The thought also that it was my last Maple Leaf game at home. And then I get a phone call probably about five or so minutes after from… I think it was my wife's father called me and goes, ‘I just want to let you know we've got people sending us screenshots of a guy posting your address online saying that if people want to come pay us a visit and say their goodbyes—in a quotation way—here’s the address.’ It was a little tough.”

Marner said he and his family had dealt with similar issues for the last two years.

“The market's very passionate. They love the team,” he said. “I know it. I was born and raised there. I've been a part of the Leafs Nation for a long time. But when your family's safety comes into question, especially having a new son, I don't think it's acceptable having full-time security pretty much at your house for two weeks after the playoffs just to make sure no one's coming to the house. And for safety, trying to walk your dog and your child. So it was a little unfortunate, but yeah, we all deal with this stuff.”

While Marner received some hate, there are also many fans of the skilled winger who led the Maple Leafs in points last season. He noted that while he knew he was getting some love from fans, the hate seemed louder.

“The problem is that the love comments don't come out as much as the hatred ones,” Marner said. “And that's just the way life goes, and that's the way social media has turned into in a way.”

He concluded by expressing gratitude for his time in Toronto. “I'm forever grateful to be a Maple Leaf and wear that crest on my… my chest for nine years. I mean, I tried to give everything I had for those nine years.”

The Maple Leafs completed a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, sending Marner’s rights to the Western Conference club. Marner then signed an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Golden Knights.

Marner will return to Toronto to play against the Maple Leafs on Jan. 23, the second night of back-to-back games, which he said he doesn’t like. “I would’ve liked to be one day in Toronto,” he added.

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Lane Hutson lives and breathes hockey; that much has been established in his rookie season, and it’s therefore not surprising to see him partner up with the company Hush. to put up a fundraiser in Brossard in the dog days of summer.

On a Thursday at 5:30 PM in Brossard, shortly after the kids returned to school, the event still managed to sell out the Montreal Canadiens' CN Sports Complex, and as a result, they were able to make a $25,000 donation to the Manoir Ronald McDonald Foundation.

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Before hitting the ice with Patrice Brisebois and Paul Byron for the Battle of Generations event, Hutson was made available to the media for 20 minutes. While we had hoped to obtain his comments on the topic of the summer in Montreal (related to his contract), any questions on the subject were shut down by the organizers. When asked why he would like to stay in Montreal, though, he did say that he loves hockey and feels the fans love it just as much as he does.

The sophomore blueliner credits his dad as a role model growing up, which influenced his desire to get involved in community events. Regarding the new arrival, Noah Dobson, he said he skated with him earlier this week and that he looks good, with a great shot. He added that he’ll be an exciting addition to the team. As for being surprised, he said he wasn’t, as there have been numerous changes around the league.

Asked if he was disappointed not to have been invited to the Team USA orientation camp ahead of the Milano Cortina Olympics, he explained:

Yes, I mean, there are some great players with USA Hockey and some great NHL players, so I wish them the best. For me, I’ve got a season to get ready for. […] I’d love to play, and it’s a long season, so you never know what could happen. If the opportunity presents itself, it’s certainly something I’d like to do.

-

As for Ivan Demidov, he praises his intelligence on the ice and the things he’s able to do. Asked if he would pair him with Patrik Laine if he were coach Martin St-Louis, he laughed and said they seem to have developed a bit of chemistry over the course of a couple of days, so that it could be a possibility; you never know. He added that either way, they will do great. Asked if he could see himself playing with Dobson, he replied that the Canadiens have a lot of great defensemen and plenty of options.

The youngster didn’t take much of a break from the ice this summer, spending most of it on the ice, coaching at his dad’s hockey school. He’s clearly as motivated as ever and hopes to get another taste of playoff hockey at the end of the year. Don’t expect his mum to spend as much time in town this year; all of his brothers are now out of the ice, and she’ll have plenty of visiting to do.

Hutson, Brisebois, and Byron were put through their paces on an obstacle course that was much easier for the current NHLers than for the retired players, unsurprisingly. Then, there was an accuracy shooting event, and a passing event; the youngster also dominated both, while Brisebois looked better in an in-close shooting challenge against the goalies. One of whom was Arseni Radkov, the Canadiens’ third-round pick at the last draft. In the end, it mattered very little who did the best since the point of the evening was to raise funds for the Manoir Ronald McDonald. Tickets were available via a presale at $15 each. The general admission was $30, or four tickets could be purchased for $60. Additionally, a limited number of VIP packages were available for $180.

Hutson is put through his paces on the obstacle course, giving the fans a good show but is stopped by Aseni Radkov #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/4Z8HKCw6rX

— Karine Hains (@KarineHains) August 28, 2025

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The Pittsburgh Penguins enter the 2025-26 season having gone three straight seasons without qualifying for the playoffs, and it appears likely to become four unless they exceed expectations. 

They are still super talented up front, led by captain Sidney Crosby. He's still one of the best players in the NHL and is coming off three-straight 90+ point seasons. He may be 38, but he still has quite a bit left in the tank. 

Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are coming off career-best seasons and look poised to start the season with the Penguins after being involved in trade rumors over the summer. They also still have 39-year-old Evgeni Malkin, who can still make some things happen and will likely have better linemates for this season. The other two spots in the top six will be up for grabs during training camp and the preseason.

There are other good players on this roster going into the season who have already had big seasons for the Penguins, but let's take a look at a few under-the-radar players who could break out this year. 

Tommy Novak

Novak was acquired by the Penguins in the Michael Bunting trade before the 2025 NHL trade deadline and played only two games for the Penguins before suffering a season-ending injury. He finished the season with 13 goals and 22 points in 54 games.

He's now back to full health and has the makings of a player who can do it all. He can play third-line center, but he can also slide into the top six if necessary. There's a good chance that he and Malkin get some minutes together this season since Novak is an excellent distributor and an underrated finisher. Both elements work really well for Malkin's line. 

Before this season, Novak finished the 2023-24 season with 18 goals and 45 points in 71 games. Six of those goals came on the power play, so expect him also to receive PP time this season, whether it's on the first or second unit. 

Novak is someone who Penguins fans should be excited about for this season. 

Arturs Silovs

Silovs was acquired by the Penguins on July 13 from the Vancouver Canucks for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and forward Chase Stillman. Silovs wasn't going to get much playing time with the Canucks next season due to their goaltending duo of Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen, so they found a new home for him. 

Silovs will have the opportunity to compete for Tristan Jarry's backup spot and is coming off an outstanding run in the Calder Cup Playoffs, winning the MVP and leading the Abbotsford Canucks to the Calder Cup title. He finished the playoffs with 16 wins, a 2.01 goals-against average, and a .931 save percentage. 

He's still only 24 and has also already played in some big games for Team Latvia at the World Championships and for the NHL's Canucks in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He helped his country win Bronze at the 2023 World Championships and has a knack for playing well in big games. 

If that play in big games can translate to the NHL for a full season, he'll have a good chance of earning a new contract with the Penguins since he's a restricted free agent after the season.

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Filip Hallander

I've said this before, but fans shouldn't sleep on Hallander going into the season, considering his performance over the last two years in the SHL (Swedish Hockey League). He looked like a different player in Sweden, finishing this past season with 26 goals and 53 points in 51 games. His 53 points ranked second in the league, and his goals also ranked second. 

His all-around game significantly improved during the last couple of years in Sweden, following two seasons in North America with the Penguins' organization. The Penguins picked him in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft, but he didn't get to North America until the 2021-22 season. 

After this past season, Hallander signed a contract with the Penguins at the end of April and is ready to fight for a full-time spot in the lineup. If he can bring over what he did in Sweden to the Penguins, they may find themselves with a solid depth contributor for pennies on the dollar. 

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Even though there were three players sitting through a press conference ahead of Team Canada's Olympic Orientation Camp, a lot of the questions and answers seemed to center on one of them. 

And he also happens to be the eldest of the group.

Yes. More than a decade since the NHL's last Olympic appearance at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the man who captained that squad just so happens to remain the talk of the town - and the talk of the country.

Sidney Crosby may be 38 years old now - and his famous and fateful "Golden Goal" at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics is now the stuff of history books - but the shine still hasn't worn off for those around him. 

"It’s not lost on our generation," Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart remarked during the presser. "I think the biggest motivation there for us is that it doesn’t look like the window is closing for him any time soon. He’s a day-by-day guy focused on the now. That’s motivating for us, so we’re excited about that opportunity.”

Unlike Reinhart and Edmonton Oilers' superstar Connor McDavid - the third leg at the press conference - Crosby has been here before. He is familiar with the Olympic stage, and he knows not to take any of these experiences for granted.

Crosby had an opportunity as an 18-year-old to crack the 2006 Olympic roster for the Turin games, but he was cut. He went on to score the Golden Goal in 2010 and captained Canada to gold in 2014, and - given the circumstances around the past two Winter Olympic games in 2018 and 2022 - many were worried that they may never see Crosby don the Olympic maple leaf jersey again, let alone get to share that Olympic ice with stars like McDavid and Reinhart.

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The rest of the hockey world may have been worried, but Crosby wasn't. Part of him always knew that he'd be back on this stage.

"With the way things went and so many things out of our control in the two prior times leading up to that, I try not to think too far ahead and just try to let it play out," Crosby said. "I was pretty confident that we’d find a way to get back, and I wanted to be a part of that, obviously. I guess I kept the belief.

"But, I think it wasn’t something that I gave a whole lot of thought as far as missing out on the opportunity. I just tried to be optimistic and positive about it.”

And after the success of the 4 Nations Face-off back in February, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic and positive about international hockey coming back to the forefront. Folks are talking about hockey who wouldn't normally do so. Many realize that there is more talent in the league than, arguably, there ever has been, and 4 Nations was the first time many of them got a taste of what international competition entails. 

Guys like Crosby, though, know what to expect. But that doesn't mean there won't be some surprises and differences in style of play, especially since the game is much faster than it was the last time Crosby stepped onto an Olympic stage.

"We’ll probably go over some stuff here in the next couple of days, so we’ll probably get a better feel for that," Crosby said. "It’s NHL ice surface, so I would think that, as far as structures and things like that, it would be pretty similar. But, obviously, you look at the skill level, the speed… it’s a whole other level. If it’s anything like 4 Nations, it’s going to be fast.”

Even if the game is fast, though, that doesn't mean Crosby can't keep up. He tied McDavid for the 4 Nations lead in points with five, and he continued his dominance as a point-per-game player with his 20th consecutive NHL season at that mark in 2024-25, which set a new NHL record. 

The game may be faster, but Crosby continuously finds ways to adapt. He takes that energy into both the NHL season and international play, and it doesn't go unnoticed by his peers - many of whom idolized Crosby as kids watching him score the most famous goal in their nation's history.

And they are grateful for the opportunity to finally share the ice with him on the world's biggest stage.

“There’s no shortage of what Sid means to me, I think that’s been well-documented," McDavid said. "Obviously, growing up watching Sid and idolizing him, and seeing him score that goal... You know, he’s cut from the ‘06 team, then in ‘10, he scores that goal, and then you see him captain the ‘14 team. So, for our generation, for him to still be here and being the captain and still playing a massive role… it’s special. It’s special for all of us."

Some of the talk surrounding Team Canada and Crosby this time around feels too eerily like a farewell tour. But, as McDavid pointed out, Crosby is still playing a "massive role" for Team Canada, so - perhaps - ruling him out for future Olympic games may not be the best bet. 

After all, this is Captain Canada we're talking about. This is a top-five player of all time. This is Sidney Crosby. 

Penguins' Sidney Crosby Lands High Rating In NHL 26Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby simply won't slow down. During his 20th career NHL season in 2024-25, he was once again one of the league's most dominant players. In 80 games on the year, the 2005 first-overall pick recorded 33 goals, 58 assists, and 91 points. With this, he set an NHL record by having his 20th NHL season producing at over a point-per-game pace.

Regardless of what happens in the future, though, Crosby is focused on the present. And he is eager and thankful to, once again, be representing his country at the peak of his sport's competition.

“[I'm] just grateful for the chance to still be competing and having the opportunity to do this," Crosby said. "You never know. It’s a tough sport, and it’s competitive. To be part of this, I think I'm just grateful, but I also know how special the opportunity is and what it means. So, in knowing that, it’s motivating. It’s a lot of fun to be a part of. You can feel the energy coming off of 4 Nations. That was huge, and I think everyone got a taste of international hockey and, obviously, what the Olympics are going to look like.

"A lot of different emotions, but just excited, motivated, and grateful for the opportunity to be at it again.”

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The NHL’s 2025-26 season is nearly here, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re making our way through a player-by-player series that breaks down the expectations for every Sabres player this coming season. 

Each Sabres has a singular goal of getting Buffalo into the Stanley Cup playoffs, but as individuals, every Sabres player has their own distinct expectations. 

That said, we’ve been through Buffalo’s goaltenders and their top defensemen. And in this file, we’re turning the spotlight on a blueliner the Sabres acquired this summer in the trade that sent winger J.J. Peterka to the Utah Mammoth – defenseman Michael Kesselring.

Player Name: Michael Kesselring

Position: Defenseman

Age: 25

2024-25 Key Statistics: 82 games, 22 assists, 29 points, 17:41 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary: $1.4-million

2025-26 Expectations: Given Buffalo’s depth on its back end, Kesselring isn’t coming to start his season expecting to be a top-four D-man – at least, not one right away.

Kesselring’s big body – he’s 6-foot-4 – and promise of growing his game (he’s got only one full NHL season under his belt) are what appealed to Sabres GM Kevyn Adams when he acquired Kesselring for Peterka. 

However, judging Kesselring against what Peterka will do for the Mammoth is unfair to Kesselring. He needs to be judged on his own merits, and that means giving him some patience to develop on his own timeline.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: D-Man Byram Has New Contract, Heightened Bar To ClearThe expectations on every one of the Buffalo Sabres' players are all about getting this team into the Stanley Cup playoffs. But other than that, the expectations change from player-to-player. And to that end, THN.com's Sabres site is breaking down the expectations on each and every Buffalo player this coming season.

At some point in the season, Kesselring will almost assuredly get a long look on Buffalo’s second pairing. You can only stress-test someone in stressful situations, and given that the Sabres will need to give Kesselring a raise when he becomes an RFA at the end of next season, Buffalo management will have to see exactly the type of talent they’ve got in Kesselring.

Kesselring’s physical stature and ability to chip in with an assist here or there will endear him to Sabres coach Lindy Ruff – but from there, Kesselring has to show he’s got more in his bag of tricks than that. 

Because for the short-term, at least, he’s going to be a member of Buffalo’s top-six defenders, and Sabres management should be bringing him along slowly.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Blueliner Power Needs To Elevate His GameThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is only a handful of weeks away, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve started a player-by-player series that analyzes each Sabre this past season and their probable contributions next year. 

There’s still some ceiling to Kesselring’s game, but the Sabres need him to produce more than what he’s shown thus far. He’s not going to be an all-star at the NHL level, but Buffalo brass saw something in him, and now he needs to reward their interest in him by thriving as a Sabre.

The Mammoth clearly were prepared to part ways with Kesselring, but he’s got a clean slate – and the way he responds to his new environment will dictate the opportunities (and the money) he’s going to get.

With the month of September beginning next Monday, Buffalo Sabres training camp is fast approaching. The club will host their Prospect Challenge with youngsters from the New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Columbus Blue Jackets starting on Thursday, September 11. The NHL is holding media events in Italy to promote the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, and Team Canada and Team USA are holding their orientation camps in preparation for next February.

While no current Sabres are at Canada’s camp in Calgary, AB, Buffalo forwards Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch are in attendance at USA’s camp in Plymouth, Michigan. Tuch in spite of his two-way ability is a long shot, but Thompson, who was a late injury replacement for the Americans at the NHL Four Nations Face-Off last February, finished with last season with 44 goals, and scored the tournament-winning overtime goal at the World Championships. His versatility of being able to play both center and wing may give him the inside track on a roster spot. 

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In news more focused towards gamers, the ratings for EA Sports NHL 26 were revealed in advance of the game’s release next week, and Sabres team captain Rasmus Dahlin received the highest team rating of 92, good for 22nd overall in the NHL. 

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Thompson and Tuch were the only other Buffalo players ranked in the top 100, with Thompson 51st overall at a rating of 89, and Tuch 99th with a rating of 87. Defenseman Owen Power (86), Bowen Byram (85), and center Josh Norris (85) were in the top 200, while new Sabre defenseman Michael Kesselring (84), center Ryan McLeod (84), goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (84), and winger Jason Zucker (83) completed the club’s top 10.  

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The Detroit Red Wings are hoping for big things from defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka, whom GM Steve Yzerman named the club's Round 1 draft selection in 2023. 

Sandin-Pellikka has already gotten some valuable experience of playing professional hockey in North America, as he joined Detroit's American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins for the tail-end of their regular season schedule and three postseason games. 

While he's likely to begin the 2025-26 NHL season with the Griffins, he's still going to be with the Red Wings at Training Camp in Traverse City, Mich. next month beginning Sept. 18. 

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

To say that Sandin-Pellikka is looking forward to it would be an understatement. 

"I’m f****** excited for the chance to experience the dream I’ve had since I was fourteen years old," he explained to Gunnar Nordstrom of Swedish website Expressen.

That about says it all, doesn't it? 

Could Axel Sandin-Pellikka Make Red Wings Main Roster?Red Wings fans anxiously await the arrival of high-end prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka on the main roster

The offensive-minded Swedish defenseman, who has drawn comparisons to Colorado Avalanche defenseman and former Conn Smythe Trophy-winner Cale Makar, will have every opportunity to make the club out of Training Camp in the words of Yzerman. 

“I guess we'll wait and see," Yzerman explained in early July following Red Wings Development Camp. "I’m not going to rule out any player coming in and being so good in camp that we’re going to keep him and see how he does in the NHL. The preseason games are tricky in that like a lot of the veterans are playing (the games) because they know they need to play them, but it’s not the intensity and the pace of a regular-season game." 

"And sometimes depending on who’s in the lineup, you’re not necessarily playing against NHL players. So, it can be misleading, both good and bad. I can answer that question better at the end of training camp.”

Sandin-Pellikka tallied 12 goals with 17 assists in Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League prior to traveling to North America to join the Griffins. 

If he can impress the Red Wings’ brass during Training Camp and preseason play, he could follow in the footsteps of Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, both of whom earned roster spots after their first camp with the club in 2021. 

Training Camp begins on Sept. 18, followed by the annual Red & White Game on Sept. 22. The Red Wings then open their pre-season schedule against the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena on Sept. 23. 

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As we approach September, it’s a great time to post some predictions for the 2025-26 NHL season. 

Below, you’ll see this writer’s rankings of an NHL division, the picks made in The Hockey News’ Yearbook & Fantasy Guide 2025 and BetMGM's odds of each team winning the division. We will not only argue for the rankings we made but also acknowledge why we might be wrong about each team.

Today, we’re starting the predictions series with a look at the Pacific Division.

1. Vegas Golden Knights

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 2nd
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 2.50 (+150)

Why I've Ranked Them First: The addition of former Toronto Maple Leafs star right winger Mitch Marner was the biggest coup of the summer, and Vegas now has one of the best playmakers on the planet. Only two teams finished higher than Vegas in our NHL summer splash rankings, and the Golden Knights once again have a stacked roster that can excel at both ends of the ice.

Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon pushed in all his chips to bring Marner aboard, and the Golden Knights – who finished first in the Pacific last season – are primed to be an even better offensive force and emerge as one of the deepest teams in the NHL.

Why I Could Be Wrong: To afford Marner’s $12-million cap hit, the Golden Knights had to move out a couple of solid foot soldiers in center Nicolas Roy and defenseman Nicolas Hague.

But the biggest blow is losing star defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who’s stepping aside indefinitely, potentially permanently, due to injury issues. The Golden Knights’ depth on ‘D’ is not as impressive as it used to be, and that could have an impact on the performance of starting goalie Adin Hill. While we’re all but certain Vegas will be a playoff team next season, they could slip down the ranks of the Pacific and be overtaken by teams like the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks.

2. Edmonton Oilers

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 1st
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 2.70 (+170)  

Why I've Ranked Them Second: The Oilers proved to be the best team in the Pacific last season – at least, in the playoffs. 

In the regular season, Edmonton finished third in the Pacific, behind the Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings. So to argue the Oilers will make that jump to the top spot in the Pacific felt like too big a stretch from this writer’s perspective. 

Edmonton has undergone some significant roster turnover, losing veteran wingers Connor Brown, Evander Kane and Corey Perry, among others. To replace them, they’ve turned to young players, such as left winger Isaac Howard and center Matthew Savoie, but they also added Andrew Mangiapane and European free-agent David Tomasek as well. Those changes could lead to the Oilers rising higher in the Pacific standings, but it may take time for the younger players to get settled in. 

Why I Could Be Wrong: The Oilers played as well as they did despite a (relative) down season from superstar center Connor McDavid. Similarly, star left winger Zach Hyman’s goal total fell to half of what he produced two seasons ago. Getting bounce-back years from those two could elevate Edmonton to the top spot in the Pacific.

The rookies and additions could ratchet up the energy levels for this Edmonton team. The Oilers are a virtual lock to get home-ice advantage, but where they finish specifically could be a coin flip.

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3. Vancouver Canucks

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 4th
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 16.00 (+1,500)  

Why I've Ranked Them Third: After winning the Pacific in 2023-24, a lot went wrong for the Canucks last season. There was a reported feud between star center Elias Pettersson and center J.T. Miller, injuries to star players, such as defenseman Quinn Hughes, goalie Thatcher Demko and Pettersson, and inconsistent play from the rest of the roster. Most, if not all, of those situations have been addressed this summer.

The Canucks acquired Kane from the Oilers, but otherwise, their roster is largely the same as the one in the spring.

While the yearbook has the Canucks finishing fourth in the Pacific – and out of a playoff spot – we feel like a bounce-back year is coming for them. If they can get anywhere close to their level of two years ago, Vancouver can not only be a playoff team but leapfrog the wild-card spots.

Why I Could Be Wrong: The Canucks lost coach Rick Tocchet just a year after he won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s best bench boss. That’s not a positive sign for Vancouver. 

Meanwhile, the play of Demko when he was healthy, including an .889 save percentage, was nothing to write home about. 

The Canucks may not rise as high as we envision, but Vancouver missing the playoffs for two straight years would be inexcusable..

4. Los Angeles Kings

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 3rd
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 5.00 (+400)  

Why I've Ranked Them Fourth: Few teams made as many moves as the Kings did this summer.

They hired GM Ken Holland, who reshaped their roster with a slew of signings, including Perry, right winger Joel Armia, veteran defensemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin and goalie Anton Forsberg. Their biggest departure was defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, who went to the New York Rangers.

While Holland changed things around the edges of his roster, we now see the Kings as now being less than the sum of their parts. 

They look more like a wild-card team. That’s a step back for L.A., as the Kings finished second in the Pacific last season. There’s still lots to like about them, but they may have bigger, foundational questions to ask themselves next summer if they do as we expect. 

Why I Could Be Wrong: Holland has earned his reputation as an above-average team-builder – he was part of the Oilers’ more recent successes when he recently served as their GM – and if he’s done nothing else with this Kings roster, he’s added a bunch of experienced hands to handle the pressure to not only get into the playoffs but to actually win a round or two. That’s something Rob Blake, Holland’s predecessor as Kings GM failed to do – once they do get into the post-season.

Either way, there’s next-to-no-chance L.A. misses the playoffs next season. There’s too much talent on the roster for that.

5. Anaheim Ducks

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 5th
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 36.00 (+3,500)  

Why I've Ranked Them Fifth: The Ducks won 35 games last season – their most since 2018-19. But for the seventh straight season, they missed the playoffs. 

While we do like the Ducks to improve on their sixth-place finish in 2024-25, it’s going to be especially difficult for them to unseat one of the teams we’ve put ahead of them in our projected Pacific standings.

Anaheim has a new coach in Joel Quenneville and new faces in left winger Chris Kreider and center Mikael Granlund. But if they’re going to climb up the Pacific standings, they’ll need their youngsters to do the heavy lifting. We can see that happening for the Ducks, but not to the degree that would make them a playoff team in ’25-26. 

The good news is they’re likely to keep getting better, but patience is a virtue for rebuilding teams, and Anaheim fans need to be patient for a bit longer as this Ducks team cements its identity.

Why I Could Be Wrong: With talent like right winger Troy Terry, center Leo Carlsson, left winger Cutter Gauthier, left winger Mason McTavish and defensemen Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov, the Ducks have the foundation of a terrific team. And with young No. 1 goalie, Lukas Dostal, signed to a long-term contract extension, Anaheim could sneak up on opponents and find a way to squeeze into a post-season slot.

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek has painstakingly built his team’s lineup into a competitive one, so the days of Anaheim languishing at the bottom of the Pacific are almost certainly over.

6. Seattle Kraken

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 7th
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 101.00 (+10,000)  

Why I've Ranked Them Sixth: The Kraken finished fourth in the Pacific in 2022-23, but they got progressively worse after that, finishing sixth and seventh in the division in the last two seasons. 

That is not a trend they wish to continue.

Seattle made major moves this summer, promoting former Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill to its GM role and replacing coach Dan Bylsma with former New York Islanders bench boss Lane Lambert.

Unfortunately for Lambert, the Kraken still have a dog’s breakfast of talent, with no truly generational players other than maybe center Matty Beniers. That’s going to keep them in the lower half of the Pacific for the time being, but we don’t see Seattle as a true bottom-feeder. 

The Kraken are still likely to be inconsistent, but as their younger players develop, they’re on the road to being an above-average team. They just won’t get there this season.

Why I Could Be Wrong: We’ve picked the Kraken to finish out of the playoff mix, but if the yearbook is correct, they’ll finish seventh again. To be fair, that is a possibility for a team that has too few needle-movers and too many middle-of-the-road players.

The Kraken are living in the shadow of another recent expansion team – the Golden Knights, which found a way to win a Stanley Cup and be a perennial mover-and-shaker. It hasn’t come nearly so quickly for the Kraken, and they may need another few years of no playoffs and high draft picks to set this team up for the long haul.

7. Calgary Flames

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 6th
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 36.00 (+3,500)  

Why I've Ranked Them Seventh: Calgary arguably overachieved last season. Even then, they finished fourth in the Pacific and out of a playoff spot. 

This summer, they added no one of significance while losing winger Anthony Mantha and goalie Dan Vladar. And we’re supposed to see the Flames as keeping up with the Joneses in the Pacific? Sorry, but we just don’t see it.

The Flames have potential trade chips – defenseman Rasmus Andersson chief among them – who can help out Calgary’s long-term potential by being traded this season. 

But in the short term, when you put the Flames’ roster alongside most other Pacific teams, it’s obvious that Calgary doesn’t have the depth or experience to be a true rival to the playoff contenders. That almost certainly makes them a reasonable candidate to plummet down the Pacific standings next year.

Why I Could Be Wrong: The Flames made the most of what they had last year. When you have proud veterans in the room, such as left winger Jonathan Huberdeau, center Nazem Kadri, captain Mikael Backlund and blueliner MacKenzie Weegar, you’re not going to be pure pushovers. 

So, could Calgary ride the performance of burgeoning star goalie Dustin Wolf to at least be in the conversation for a playoff berth in the West? Sure, we’re not ready to completely count them out.

8. San Jose Sharks

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 8th
BetMGM Pacific Division Winner Odds: 301.00 (+30,000)  

Why I've Ranked Them Eighth: There’s no doubt about where the Sharks will finish. 

San Jose was 24 points behind the seventh-place Kraken last year. That should tell you how far the Sharks have to go to get back to a respectable place in the standings.

Nevertheless, we like what San Jose GM Mike Grier has been doing. He’s building a reliable winner the most proven way – by being absolutely terrible for a long span and building through the draft. While it’s going to be another long season for the Sharks, in the macro picture, San Jose is well on its way to having the core components of a long-term winner.

Why I Could Be Wrong: Let’s be honest – we may be wrong about many of our predictions, but this Sharks prediction is nearly 100 percent guaranteed to be accurate. 

Even after San Jose made veteran additions, including defensemen Dmitry Orlov and Nick Leddy, the Sharks simply don’t have the type of proven needle-movers to stay out of the Pacific basement.

Three or four years from now, San Jose may be a first-rate Cup threat. But right now, the Sharks are nowhere near good enough to even dream about the playoffs.

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The Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Oliver Kylington and forward Givani Smith to professional tryout agreements on Wednesday.

Kylington was most recently with the Anaheim Ducks where he played in six games. 

This past season, Kylington was traded twice. He was first dealt from the Colorado Avalanche to the New York Islanders as part of the Brock Nelson trade, and the Islanders quickly shipped him off to the Ducks for future considerations. 

In his seven NHL seasons, Kylington has played for the Calgary Flames, Avalanche and Ducks. In 220 career games, the 28-year-old defenseman has recorded 18 goals, 42 assists, and 60 points. 

Smith was also traded twice during the 2024-25 campaign. He was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Avalanche in a deal that included Alexandar Georgiev and Mackenzie Blackwood in December. 

Right before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, he was dealt from the Avalanche to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Erik Johnson. 

In six NHL seasons, Smith has played for the Detroit Red Wings, Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Avalanche. 

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The 27-year-old forward has recorded nine goals, 13 assists, and 22 points in 168 career games.

Both Kylington and Smith will compete at training camp in hopes of earning an opening-night roster spot with the Hurricanes.