On Wednesday, Quartexx Hockey shared a reel in which Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook could be seen working on his faceoff skills alongside San Jose Sharks’ Will Smith under the watchful eye of former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron.

Bergeron, who retired at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, has a career faceoff win percentage of 57.9%. In the last three years of his career, he consistently exceeded the 6% mark and was recognized as one of the best faceoff men in the NHL. The former center, who will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2026, has a wealth of experience to share.

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What does Newhook's work on his faceoffs indicate? Could it mean that he’ll be playing at center this upcoming season? Sure, it could mean that, or it could also mean that this is one aspect of his game he wants to improve, or that the team has asked him to work on it, just like it did with Zachary Bolduc when he was acquired from the St. Louis Blues.

When Kent Hughes was introduced to the press as the Canadiens’ new GM, he made a point of saying that he firmly believes that players can continually improve. That reaching the NHL doesn’t mean that you’re done learning, just that you’ve reached a certain level, adding that he made a point of ensuring his clients with Quartexx would keep on polishing their game and improving. It appears that his former business is still operating, even though Hughes is no longer involved.

Patrice Bergeron working with Alex Newhook & Will Smith on faceoffs pic.twitter.com/XOBLgWVoWt

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 27, 2025

When the Habs brass hired Martin St-Louis as their coach, a man who had played the game at the highest level during his 16-season career in the NHL but was a peewee coach at the time, it was clear that they were hiring a man who could teach, and that’s undoubtedly what he has done so far and continues to do. He spent a lot of time developing Cole Caufield into a more well-rounded player, not just a sniper. He helped Brendan Gallagher change his game, picking his battles and learning to pick his spots, and transformed Josh Anderson into a penalty kill specialist.

That approach not only benefits the team in the now, but it also raises the value of a payer on the open market; it’s about seeing the big picture. Hughes also stated in the same press conference that he wasn’t one to buy high and sell low; helping his players reach new levels is just another way to ensure that he doesn’t have to sell at a low price.

It’s a possibility that Newhook has been given a heads-up that he’d have to play at center, but it’s just as strong a possibility that Quartexx is helping their players improve by getting them some ice time with one of the best in the business. One way or another, this will benefit the Canadiens, as Newhook’s success rate in the faceoff department is far from satisfactory at 41.8%.

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Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

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New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat was one of the handful of players to come down to the Matt Martin Hockey Academy at Northwell Ice Center last week.

A Decade Of Giving Back: Matt Martin’s Hockey Academy Hits 10-Year MilestoneEAST MEADOW, NY -- After a 16-year NHL career, Matt Martin is hanging up his skates and stepping into a new role as special assistant to general manager Mathieu Darche for the 2025-26 season.

Horvat spoke with Islanders reporter Rachel Luscher about several topics, including his opportunity to attend Hockey Canada's Orientation Camp, which is currently underway, and what he knows about newcomer Jonathan Drouin. He also shared his excitement for training camp and more. 

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One thing he touched on was how he was feeling after sustaining an ankle injury at the 2025 World Championships back in May. 

“I feel great,” Horvat told Luscher. “I feel back to normal and ready to go for the season. I’ve been skating all summer; nothing has changed there [...] The whole experience was great. The guys were phenomenal, and we had a really good group of guys and a lot of good hockey players on that team. That was pretty fun to play with a guy like [Nathan MacKinnon]. It was a great experience.”

Horvat is the sole member of the organization to receive an invitation to the orientation as Hockey Canada prepares for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. 

With Mathew Barzal sustaining two long-term injuries last season, which limited him to 30 games, the Islanders will need both to be healthy if the Islanders want to get back into the playoffs after missing this past season. 

Mathew Barzal On Islanders Winning Draft Lottery & His Initial Thoughts On Matthew Schaefer Winning the draft lottery takes luck, but every eventual Stanley Cup champion gets a good bounce along their route to immortality. The New York Islanders had a 3.5% chance of winning the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery, and the balls popped in their favor.

Barzal, who had a minor procedure on his knee after sustaining an injury following a blocked shot on Feb 1 in Tampa, will be ready to go for camp, as well. 

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

The status of contract extension talks between the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid has been headline news throughout this summer. However, the 28-year-old center isn't the only notable player eligible for UFA status next summer.

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel and Minnesota Wild left winger Kirill Kaprizov are among the noteworthy players who could be part of next summer's UFA class.

So far, there's been little to report regarding any extension discussions between the Golden Knights and Eichel. Kaprizov's status has garnered more attention lately, especially after the Wild re-signed RFA center Marco Rossi last week, but there's no indication they're closing in on a deal.

Daily Faceoff's Anthony Di Marco was recently asked which UFA-eligible players might hit the open market next summer. Interestingly, he said it wasn't a certainty that Eichel and Kaprizov would sign extensions before July 1.

Di Marco wondered how the Golden Knights could afford another high-salaried forward after adding Mitch Marner and his $12 million average annual value for the next eight seasons. He speculated that the rising salary cap could send Eichel's next contract soaring above $12.6 million annually.

PuckPedia indicates the Golden Knights have a projected $20.375 million in cap space for 2026-27, with 14 active roster players under contract. They could also have another $8.8 million in cap relief if Alex Pietrangelo remains on the long-term injured reserve, giving them more than enough to re-sign Eichel.

As for Kaprizov, Di Marco acknowledged he's poised to become the highest-paid winger in the NHL. Nevertheless, he wondered if Wild GM Bill Guerin was willing to do so, pointing out that he played hardball with Rossi. While admitting the latter situation was different, the precedent has been set. He also thinks Kaprizov has the opportunity to significantly change the market for wingers, which he might not turn away from.

However, the Wild are determined to ensure the most exciting player in franchise history stays in Minnesota. Last October, Wild owner Craig Leipold indicated his club's plan to re-sign Kaprizov, boasting that no other team could offer him more money or a longer term.

NHL Rumor Roundup: The Latest Vancouver Canucks BuzzFollowing a season of turmoil for the Vancouver Canucks, this off-season has been relatively quiet.

Meanwhile, Michael Russo of The Athletic cited Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund telling reporters that he believes Rasmus Andersson's days as his teammate are numbered.

“Yeah, he's getting traded. It's obvious,” Backlund said during the NHL player media tour in Europe. The Flames captain added that Andersson doesn't want this situation to be a distraction, prompting Backlund to tell him to just go out and play and not worry about it.

Andersson has been the subject of trade rumors since June, when contract extension talks with the Flames broke down. While Backlund suggested the possibility that things could change, he seemed resigned to the fact that the 28-year-old defenseman will be moved before the March trade deadline.

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The popular sporting video game series by EA Sports, NHL 26, is set for a September 12 release for Playstation and XBOX. 

Over the past week, the software developer has begun unveiling its rankings for each different playing position in the game. 

Among those listed within the Top-10 at each position will be a handful of Winnipeg Jets players. 

The first position ranking provided by EA Sports was defenceman Josh Morrissey, who was given a 90 overall rating, ranking him eighth among all blueliners.

The second Jets player to earn a place on the Top-10 position rankings was winger Kyle Connor, who was named the No. 4 left winger in the game.

The 28-year-old forward led all Jets players in goals (41), assists (56) and points (97) last season as he helped Winnipeg to the Presidents' Trophy as the No. 1 team following the conclusion of the regular season.  

His overall rating was up one percentage point from NHL 25 to a 92 overall, ranking him in line with Artemi Panarin, Mitch Marner and William Nylander and only trailing Nikita Kucherov, Kirill Kaprizov, David Pastrnak, Mikko Rantanen, Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk on the charts among all wingers, left or right. 

No Jets cracked the Top-10 right wingers list, while Winnipeg native and Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone was given an 89 overall ranking, good for 10th place.

The third installment of the popular Crave documentary The Rebuild: Inside the Montreal Canadiens dropped promptly on Thursday at 12:01 AM, and it’s just as good as the first two episodes. This week, the series focuses on two elements that helped turn the team’s fortunes around last season: the acquisition of Alexandre Carrier and the arrival of Jakub Dobes with the team.

This time around, the cameras also give a peek at what life is like for the players who are plying their trade under Pascal Vincent with the Laval Rocket. We take a road trip to Utica with the AHL club, highlighting the differences between the life of a minor leaguer and an NHL pro. While the Canadiens’ players are in Florida, getting ready to face the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the farm team is in Utica, taking on the Comets. Speaking about their destination, former Habs prospect Logan Mailloux says it’s a “get in and get out” city, in stark contrast with the Canadiens’ Quebecers taking a stroll on the beach in Sunrise.

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The look inside the life of the Rocket player probably came because goaltender Dobes was recalled, unlike Mailloux, Joshua Roy, or Rafael Harvey-Pinard. It’s interesting to see the players on the bus ride to Utica, playing cards and just killing time, much like the Canadiens do on their road trips, but in far less comfortable settings.

Speaking to the camera on the beach in Sunrise, David Savard, Carrier, Samuel Montembeault, and Mike Matheson discuss what playing in the AHL is like and how, once you’ve tasted the NHL, you don’t want to go back down. Interesting stat: only 20% of AHL players will go on to play 200 or more NHL games in their career. This statistic shows how much more work is left once an NHL team drafts a player.

It’s interesting to hear that it was Dobes who asked to do a rookie lap, something rookie netminders do not normally do, before he got his baptism of fire against the Panthers. The segment on that game also reminds us that, on top of the rookie goaltender’s fantastic performance in Sunrise, the win was also the result of a brace of goals by Kirby Dach, something people might have forgotten amongst the negativity the big center faces because of multiple injuries. It’s great to see just how pleased his teammates are for him and how he comes to the bench to celebrate to the sound of numerous “Alberta beef!” cheers; we even find out what that nickname is about.

The cameras also take us into the broadcasting booth, where Pierre Houle is as enthusiastic as can be about the Canadiens’ 4-0 win over the champions, multiplying the “Ma parole!”. There’s a reason why the duo he forms with Marc Denis is so well-loved in the Montreal market; his passion for the game transpires in every word.

This episode also captures blueliner Alexandre Carrier’s reaction to the trade that brought him home days before Christmas. While he was acquired on December 18, he didn’t get a chance to practice with the team before the post-Christmas road trip and tells the camera he was basically trying to survive that first practice, as it was a lot to take in.

The cameras are also privy to a Savard whiteboard coaching session in which the veteran blueliner breaks down the Panthers’ power play and explains to his younger teammates what the penalty kill has to do to neutralize it. The newly retired rear guard looks like a natural at the whiteboard, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him remain around the team in some coaching capacity. Martin St-Louis also tells the camera that having players who can coach themselves like that is an indication that you are in a good place.

On the business side of things, we go behind the scenes of a marketing meeting in which France Margaret Belanger pitches the idea of a standing room section to owner Geoff Molson. We then see them go on a reconnaissance mission to the new section, which would actually be very high up and have an obstructed view. The aim is actually to provide a lower-cost experience for fans, with a more party-like feel. With a capacity of 21,105, the Bell Center is already the largest arena in the NHL, 1,388 seats ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks’ United Center, but the organization seems determined to increase that lead.

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Can’t make it to a game in person? No problem — the Golden Knights have announced the team’s broadcast details for the 2025-26 regular season. 

WE'RE GONNA BE ON TV!!!!!!!!! 🤩

Our 2025-26 broadcast schedule is here! 👇https://t.co/jCWlz0QgCU

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 27, 2025

Regional coverage includes 69 games that will be available through Scripps Sports and the Knight’s streaming service, KnightTime+. In Southern Nevada, Scripps will air on The Spot-Vegas 34, with additional stations streaming games across the organization’s designated television territory. Viewers outside the local broadcast area can access games through ESPN+. 

The Knights are set to appear in 15 nationally televised matchups, airing on ESPN and Turner Sports. 13 of those games will be exclusive to the two networks, including the season opener against the Los Angeles Kings on October 8, which will be broadcast live from T-Mobile Arena on TNT. 

In addition to television and streaming options, every Golden Knights home and away game will be carried on the the VGK Radio Network and the FOX Sports Radio Las Vegas (98.9 FM/1340 AM). Spanish-language broadcasts of home games will be available on Deportes Vegas (1460 AM). 

The full list of national television broadcasts for the Golden Knights can be found below and is subject to change.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS 2025-26 NATIONAL TV BROADCASTS

Wed. Oct. 8 vs. Los Angeles – TNT, MAX

Thu. Oct. 9 at San Jose – ESPN+, Hulu

Tue. Dec. 2 vs. Chicago – ESPN+, Hulu

Tue. Dec. 9 at N.Y. Islanders – TNT, MAX

Wed. Dec. 17 vs. New Jersey – TNT, MAX

Wed. Jan. 14 at Los Angeles – TNT, MAX

Thu. Jan. 15 vs. Toronto – ESPN

Thu. Jan. 29 vs. Dallas – ESPN+, Hulu

Sun. Feb. 1 vs. Anaheim – ESPN

Wed. Feb. 25 at Los Angeles – TNT, MAX

Sun. March 1 at Pittsburgh – TNT, MAX

Sun. March 8 vs. Edmonton – ESPN

Thu. March 19 vs. Utah – ESPN+, Hulu

Thu. March 26 vs. Edmonton – ESPN

Sat. April 11 at Colorado – ABC

In addition to the broadcast schedules for ESPN and Turner Sports, the National Hockey League announced that Vegas’ game in Carolina on October 28 has been adjusted from 4:30 p.m. PT to 3:30 p.m. PT. 

The Fortress is ready for Season IX 🏰 #VegasBornpic.twitter.com/0gBusbmt9N

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) August 27, 2025

Golden Knights Reveal 2025-26 Regular-Season Schedule, Open At Home Versus KingsLAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights will open their regular season at home against their Pacific Division rival Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 8, before hitting the road for three straight games.

EA Sports has revealed the top 10 New Jersey Devils players in NHL 26, as the game's release date approaches. 

The best Devils player on NHL 26 is unsurprisingly Jack Hughes, as the superstar center has been given a 93 overall rating. When noting that he averaged over a point per game for his fourth consecutive season, him getting such a high overall is understandable.

Hughes is not the only Devils player with a 90-plus overall rating, as star winger Jesper Bratt has secured a 91 overall rating after his excellent 2024-25 season. In 81 games this past campaign, Bratt scored 21 goals and set new career highs with 67 assists and 88 points.

Devils captain Nico Hischier is the third-best New Jersey player in NHL 26, as he has been given an 89 overall rating. From there, star blueliner Dougie Hamilton is up next, as he has been given an 87 overall rating. 

Following Hamilton are Jacob Markstrom, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Timo Meier. All three Devils players have been given 87 overall ratings in NHL 26. Devils defensemen Brenden Dillon, Brett Pesce, and Luke Hughes then complete the top 10, as they each have received 86 overall ratings.

Do you agree with these Devils overall ratings in NHL 26? Share your thoughts in the comments. 

Devils New Forward Is Interesting AdditionThe New Jersey Devils have added a handful of new players to their roster this summer. Among their most intriguing additions from this off-season is forward Evgenii Dadonov. 

With NHL 26 being released in two weeks, EA Sports has revealed the top 10 St. Louis Blues players in the game. 

The best Blues player in the game is star center Robert Thomas, as he has been given an 89 overall rating. Defenseman Colton Parayko and forward Jordan Kyrou are right behind Thomas, as they each have an 88 overall rating in the game. 

Next up is Blues breakout forward Dylan Holloway, as he has been given an 86 overall rating. Jordan Binnington will also be 86 overall in the game, which is understandable given the solid year he put together in 2025-26. 

Blues players Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk, and Pavel Buchnevich have all received 85 overall ratings in NHL 26. Then, to round off the list, defenseman Cam Fowler and winger Jake Neighbours have both been given 84 overall ratings.

Do you feel these overall ratings are accurate for these Blues players? Let your thoughts be known in the comments. 

Blues' Projected Defense Has Interesting LookThe NHL's official Facebook account shared its defense projections for each team in the Central Division. Here is how they see the St. Louis Blues' defense looking at the start of the 2025-26 season.

The Florida Panthers are going to get some national exposure this season.

On Wednesday, the NHL’s national television broadcast schedule was released, and the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions are being treated as such.

Out of the Panthers 82-game regular season schedule, 15 games will be broadcast to a national audience.

There will be six games featured on ESPN, six on TNT and three on ESPN+.

They include the season opener on Oct. 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks and the Winter Classic, when Florida hosts the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in Miami on Jan. 2.

All other Panthers games will be broadcast locally on Scripps Sports and stream on Panthers Plus.

The full national broadcast schedule can be seen below:

Oct. 7 – Panthers vs. Blackhawks, 5 p.m. ET on ESPN

Oct. 15 – Panthers @ Red Wings, 7 p.m. ET on TNT

Oct. 21 – Panthers @ Bruins, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Nov. 6 – Panthers @ Kings, 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Dec. 2 – Panthers vs. Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+

Dec. 11 – Panthers @ Avalanche, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN

Jan. 2 – Panthers vs. Rangers, 8 p.m. ET on TNT

Jan. 6 – Panthers @ Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT

Feb. 4 – Panthers vs. Bruins, 7 p.m. ET on TNT

Feb. 5 – Panthers @ Lightning, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+

March 1 – Panthers @ Islanders, 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

March 3 – Panthers @ Devils, 7 p.m. ET on TNT

March 5 – Panthers @ Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

March 26 – Panthers vs. Wild, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

April 15 – Panthers vs. Red Wings, 7 p.m. ET on TNT

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Photo caption: Jun 12, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Overview of fans in the stands during warm up between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers in game four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

Every year, everyone likes to predict what the NHL standings are going to look like by year’s end. There are usually some “hot takes” involved, but a lot of it is as expected based on the team’s makeup. 

For the Chicago Blackhawks, most folks around the league remember how this team has had a draft pick in the top three in each of the last three seasons. Great teams don’t select that high in the draft. 

“JFresh” revealed a standings prediction for 2025-26 on Wednesday. Their model is based on data and current rosters. 

JFresh (@JFreshHockey) on Xundefined

According to them, the Blackhawks are going to finish in last place in the Central Division with 75 points. Last place isn’t great, but the division is filled with teams that believe they can compete, and it’s a 14-point improvement over their 2024-25 season that ended with 61 points. 

This 75-point finish on the model has them as the fourth-worst team in the Western Conference. The Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, and San Jose Sharks all project to be worse. In the Eastern Conference, only the Philadelphia Flyers project worse.

This scenario would give Chicago the fifth-best odds at landing Gavin McKenna with the first overall pick. No matter how it happens, landing that superstar would enhance every franchise in the NHL. 

In a perfect world, the young stars on Chicago's roster take a big step, the team looks improved over the course of 82 games compared to a year ago, and the team still has a chance to make a top-five pick in a loaded draft class. 

If they somehow compete for a Wild Card spot, that will be a great experience for the youth as well. No matter what the finish looks like in the standings, there is potential for 2025-26 to be a great developmental year.

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

ESPN and TNT announced their national game schedule for the 2025-26 NHL season on Wednesday. 

There will be 172 combined games on the platforms, which is the most ever. One hundred of those games will be exclusive to ESPN platforms, while the other 72 will be exclusive to TNT.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will appear on national television 16 times, which ties them for the third-most appearances in the league, alongside the Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, and New York Rangers. Only the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, and Detroit Red Wings have more nationally televised games than the Penguins. 

10 of the 16 national games for the Penguins will be on ESPN platforms, while the other six will be televised on TNT. Despite low expectations for the Penguins this upcoming season, it highlights the strength of the Pittsburgh hockey market while continuing to emphasize the importance of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby on a national level.

While Crosby might be nearing the end of his career, both networks want to televise his games as much as possible because he remains one of the best players in the league. He has been in the NHL for 20 seasons and remains one of the faces of the league entering his age-38 season. 

They don't want to miss an opportunity to see him do something really special. He's also chasing down more history this upcoming season as he tries to become the Penguins' all-time leader in points. Crosby is only 37 points away from breaking Mario Lemieux's record (1,723) and also having the eighth-most points in NHL history.

One of the games on the Penguins' national schedule is against the Oilers on December 16 at PPG Paints Arena. TNT will have coverage of the game, and while it'll be great seeing Crosby go up against Connor McDavid, there's a good chance the network could witness history that night. 

It will be the Penguins' 32nd game of the season, and considering that Crosby has been over a point-per-game player his entire career, he'll have a chance of breaking the record in front of a national audience.  One of the networks could also call the game later in the season when he notches his 1,100th assist, becoming only the eighth player in NHL history to accomplish that feat. 

Outside of records, the network scheduled games where Crosby will get to go toe-to-toe with some of the Penguins' biggest rivals and teams he has feasted on his entire career. Three of the four matchups against the Rangers will be televised on ESPN/ABC, including the opening night game on October 7. Crosby has 40 goals and 109 points in 88 games against the Rangers. His 109 points are the third-most against any team in his career, only behind the New York Islanders (137) and Philadelphia Flyers (134). 

Speaking of those latter two teams, the Penguins will face the Islanders on February 3 on TNT and the Flyers on October 28 and January 15 on ESPN. Crosby will look to add to his point totals during those matchups and in the other games against them during the year. 

Penguins Will Have 16 Nationally Televised Games In 2025-26ESPN and TNT announced their television schedules for the 2025-26 NHL season, and the Pittsburgh Penguins will be heavily featured on both networks. 

The networks always love the Crosby-Ovechkin matchups, and with this year potentially being Ovechkin's final year in the league, it was obvious that both were going to put all three Penguins-Capitals matchups on national television. The first one will take place on November 6, and the other two will occur on April 11 and 12. 

Who knows, maybe we'll get another dueling hat trick game for old time's sake. 

Crosby also has a blast going up against Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon, who is also his best friend. The two teams will play in Denver on March 16 on ESPN. Crosby has had some great moments against the Avalanche during his career, including a natural hat trick in 2018. He brought the Penguins back from 3-0 down to tie the game in the third period before the Avs scored three more goals to win by three, 6-3.

The Penguins may be in rebuild mode, but Crosby gives everyone a reason to watch them on a nightly basis. You never know when he might do something special, and the networks are trying their best to prepare for that. 

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The NHL goaltending situation for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2025-26 already figures to be an interesting one.

With the acquisition of Arturs Silovs from the Vancouver Canucks earlier this summer, he and Tristan Jarry will likely be the frontrunners for the starting and backup positions. Rookie Joel Blomqvist may have a legitimate shot at the NHL roster out of camp as well. 

But perhaps even more interesting is the battle that will take place at the AHL level this season for the Penguins.

Even though Pittsburgh may have some uncertainty ahead, one certain thing is their goaltending depth. Beyond Blomqvist, there are a handful of others who all deserve to be starting AHL games: Sergei Murashov, Filip Larsson, and Taylor Gauthier. The problem is that - akin to the situation with the NHL roster - the WBS Penguins will more than likely keep just two goaltenders on their roster.

Alas, there is quite the conundrum down on the farm for the WBS Penguins. Here is the case for each of the four goaltenders who will, presumably, be competing for the AHL starting workload.

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The case for Joel Blomqvist

Blomqvist, 23, has more to prove this season than any of the other candidates for the job.

As mentioned before, he will probably get a fair shot at beating out Silovs for the second NHL job, assuming Jarry stays put. Blomqvist did have two stints in the NHL last season with the Penguins - the first went very well, while the second was a bit of a struggle - but Silovs may have the slight advantage because of his prior success in the NHL playoffs and his upside. 

So, if Blomqvist does happen to miss out on the NHL roster, there is no doubt that he should get a fair share of the split at the AHL level. The Penguins and Blomqvist have reached a point where they need to see what they have in him and if he figures to be part of the organization’s future plans. 

For that reason, he’s pretty much a lock to be in the AHL if he’s not on the NHL roster come Oct. 7. 

4 Penguins With The Most To Prove In 2025-26The NHL season is a month and some change away, and the Pittsburgh Penguins are heading into it with a true mix of youth talent and veterans, which is a nice change of pace from the past several seasons.

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The case for Sergei Murashov

The case for the 21-year-old Murashov is quite simple: He is, by most accounts, the Penguins’ best goaltending prospect. 

And he proved last season that he is capable of dominance.

After some injuries in the second half of the season, Murashov was called up from the ECHL - where he put up a 17-7-1 record with a .922 save percentage and a 2.40 goals-against average - to the AHL. And, during that stint, he set a new rookie franchise record with 11 consecutive wins and tied the general franchise record for consecutive wins. 

His ECHL playoffs didn’t go as planned, and there is still very much a rawness to his game that needs refinement and some fine-tuning. But the talent and the athleticism is there - dating back to his days in the KHL - and the Penguins know it. 

If they’re serious about contending again “as urgently as possible,” Murashov should be playing a full season in the AHL. He has not only proven he’s ready for the jump, he’s also a key piece of the Penguins’ future and represents their best chance at having a legitimate star goaltender at the NHL level. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Beginning To Turn HeadsHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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The case for Filip Larsson

For a large chunk of the season last year, there was a strong case that Larsson, 27, was the organization’s best-performing goaltender. Signed to a two-year contract worth $775,000 annually last summer, he was excellent to start the AHL season and actually saw the bulk of the workload in the first half.

But an injury in the second half of the season thwarted him a bit, and his performance fell off upon his return. He still managed to put up a .910 save percentage on the season and a 2.84 goals-against average on the season, though, and he is more refined than his two younger counterparts. 

This is likely Larsson’s last shot at cracking an NHL roster sometime in the future, and he did enough to earn his spot last season. It would be a tough break for him to get stuck behind both Murashov and Blomqvist, so with a strong training camp, there is a chance he could beat out Murashov for the other AHL job - or force the team’s hand into rostering three goaltenders, however unlikely.

Penguins' New Projected Defense Has Intriguing LookThe NHL's official Facebook account recently shared their projected defense pairings for each Metropolitan Division club. Here is how they see the Pittsburgh Penguins' defense looking once the 2025-26 season is here.

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The case for Taylor Gauthier

The unfortunate thing for Gauthier, 24, is that he is blocked by three other goaltenders in the system. Because, by all means, he absolutely deserves to be starting AHL games. 

Gauthier played in one AHL game last season and posted a 32-save shutout. He has a career .908 save percentage at the AHL level, and his past two seasons in the ECHL have been nothing short of spectacular. 

After being named ECHL Goaltender of the Year in 2023-24 with a 2.23 goals-against average and a 923 save percentage, Gauthier somehow followed that up with a better 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.06 goals-against average along with a .928 save percentage in 30 games for the Wheeling Nailers.

Like Larsson, Gauthier - who signed an AHL contract with WBS this summer - will need to have a very strong camp in order to beat out Murashov. But his chances are about level with Larsson’s, so it would be quite the story to see Gauthier earn an AHL spot for good out of camp.

Penguins Facing Uncertain Goalie Split Entering 2025-26 SeasonOnce again, the Pittsburgh Penguins face goaltending questions heading into a season. 

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One of the most anticipated prospects within the Detroit Red Wings system is Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellika, who was Detroit's opening round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft. 

Sandin-Pellikka is an offensive-minded defenseman with a widely-projected high ceiling, and has already demonstrated his abilities playing with Skelleftea AIK as well as for Sweden in the 2025 World Junior Championship.

His skills were on full display during the tournament, scoring four goals (including a hat trick in the tournament opener against Slovakia) and earning recognition by not only being named to the World Junior Championship All-Star team, but also taking home the title of Best Defenseman at the tournament for the second year in a row. 

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He also got his first taste of professional hockey in North America, joining the Grand Rapids Griffins for a pair of regular season games followed by three Calder Cup playoff games. 

Dan Cleary, the Red Wings's Director of Player Development, said in early July that he anticipates Sandin-Pellikka playing full time in the upcoming 2025-26 season with the Griffins and to have a regular role on the power-play. 

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

While discussing Detroit’s top prospects with fellow writer Max Bultman on The Athletic Hockey Show Podcast, Corey Pronman, senior NHL prospects analyst for The Athletic, stated that Sandin-Pellikka has the potential to develop into a top-four defenseman. 

"Sandin Pellikka is going to be fascinating, because his offense is special, but without scaring Red Wings fans too much, the story reminds me a little bit of David Rundblad," Pronman said. "A little bit it reminds me of Nils Lundkvist.....You have offense, but you need to defend really well at that size to be able to be a legit top 4D and I think he can." 

However, Red Wings fans will hope that Sandin-Pellikka's offensive potential is far higher than either Lundqvist or Rundblad, neither of whom ever scored more than six goals in an NHL season.

Like Sandin-Pellikka, both are fellow Swedes. Nils Lundkvist, a 2018 first-round pick of the New York Rangers, is currently with the Dallas Stars, while David Rundblad, selected in the first round by the St. Louis Blues in 2009, now plays for MoDo Hockey in Sweden’s second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan after a 113-game NHL career with multiple teams. 

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The Buffalo Sabres have made changes to their roster this summer, but the core of the team is still essentially the same. And so are the expectations on all Sabres players in that they know this is a make-the-Stanley-Cup-playoffs-or-bust season for them.

That said, specific expectations are different for each of Buffalo's players, and that's what we're analyzing in this player-by-player series for THN.com's Sabres site.

As part of this series, we'll be looking back at each player's key statistics, as well as what's expected for them next season. We started the series with looks at Buffalo's goaltenders, and more recently, we moved into the Sabres' defense corps. And in today's file, we're looking at veteran blueliner Mattias Samuelsson.

Player Name: Mattias Samuelsson

Position: Defenseman

Age: 25

2024-25 Key Statistics: 62 games, 14 points, 19:18 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary: $4.285-million

2025-26 Expectations: Samuelsson is currently slotted in as the Sabres' second-pair blueliner, and with the development of younger players Bowen Byram, Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin, Samuelsson doesn't have to do the heavy lifting for this Buffalo team,

The Swedish blueliner will likely have some flexibility as to where they play, he could be on Buffalo's first 'D' pairing. And that could be music to the ears of Sabre fans.

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 age 25, Samuelsson is being compensated handsomely, and while he's never going to be mistaken for Colorado 's Cale Makar as the NHL's best blueliner. And he's shown in the past that he can be an above-average player for Buffalo, eating up more than 19 minutes per night on average.

Samuelsson still hasn't played an 82-game series at the NHL level, with his 62-games this past season a career high. The Sabres need more out of him than that, And Buffalo's improved defense corps should have a positive impact on him.

Buffalo's group of blueliners is one of the deepest groups of defensemen in the league. But everyone on the back end has to their part, and that mean Samuelsson must put in a better effort than he did last season.

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. 

Samuelsson doesn't have much flash-or-dash to his game. He's a straightforward stau-at-home defenseman, and even if he didn't have the best year in 2024-25, the same can be said for just about every Sabres player.

Samuelsson definitely has to be considerably better next season, because if he doesn't come through with a strong show, the Sabres will definitely look to send him packing.