Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization. 

Today, we spotlight No. 11, a Penguins' 2025 first-round pick who has begun to turn some heads after Penguins' prospect development camp: center Will Horcoff.

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#11: F Will Horcoff

When the Penguins selected center Will Horcoff 24th overall in 2025, the first reaction of many was to think that the Penguins were reaching for the pick. After all, Horcoff was a largely unproven player straight out of the U.S. National Team Development Program who went on to play at the University of Michigan midway through the season - where he was the youngest player in the NCAA - and registered four goals and 10 points in 18 games. 

However, a large sum of that tune changed when folks actually got to see a little bit of Horcoff in live action at Penguins' prospect development camp at the beginning of July.

5 Observations From Penguins’ Prospect Development CampAfter five days, development camp for the Pittsburgh Penguins has finally reached its conclusion.

Granted, it's unwise to put too much stock into a performance at prospect development camp, as - oftentimes - it is not all-gas, no-brakes. The stakes aren't high, and it's not as if players are truly playing for roster spots at that point.

But there's no doubt that Horcoff was a standout once the competition kicked off on the last day of camp during the scrimmages. The 6-foot-5, 203-pound forward showed off his high compete level, strong work ethic, ability to drive his way to the net front, and strong two-way presence.

The biggest draw to Horcoff's game is easily his versatility. Already a high-IQ player at such a young age, Horcoff is responsible in his own zone, can win faceoffs, is deployed in all situations, and has been known to put the puck in the net using his craftiness and ability to read defenses. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Don't Sleep On This Russian WingerHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

Like fellow first-round draftee Bill Zonnon, Horcoff's all-around game is already on display. But the fact that Horcoff waltzed onto Michigan's roster and made an impact right away as the league's youngest player speaks volumes. There is a maturity, a recognition, and a will in his game that may not be matched by anyone else on this list. 

And he can always be found right around the blue paint and unafraid to get confrontational, which is an energy the Penguins desperately need.

Horcoff's father, Shawn, spent 15 seasons in the NHL and was drafted in the fourth round (99th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in 1998, finishing his NHL career with more than 1,000 games played and north of 500 points. Hockey is in Horcoff's blood - and he very well could take that for granted - but he plays every shift like his career depends on it.

First goal of the tournament for Will Horcoff! pic.twitter.com/Nnkv6RqK0W

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) April 24, 2025

Horcoff has a nice ceiling as a versatile middle-six center, and he's the kind of player any team wants when they're trying to contend for Stanley Cup championships. He's certainly one to watch as the Penguins continue to build toward the future. 

The list so far:

- No. 12: F Mikhail Ilyin
- No. 13 F Filip Hallander
- No. 14: F Bill Zonnon
- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Has Middle-Six UpsideHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

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While the Detroit Red Wings ultimately missed out on qualifying for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, one of the positives that they took with them into the offseason was the return to form of goal-scoring forward Alex DeBrincat. 

The Farmington Hills, Mich. native tallied 39 goals for the Red Wings in the 2024-25 NHL season, his highest output since reaching 41 goals while a member of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021-22. It was also 12 goals higher than his output of 27 in his first season wearing the Winged Wheel. 

That's a 30-goal season for Alex DeBrincat! 😼 #NHLStats: https://t.co/LzYD9aedWN

📺: @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3Tpic.twitter.com/FmUir2xors

— NHL (@NHL) March 13, 2025

Earlier this week, DeBrincat participated in the 17th Annual Ilitch Charities Celebrity Golf Classic, and spent a few minutes chatting with hosts Jim Costa and Jon Jansen of The Costa & Jansen w/ Heather Show on 97.1 The Ticket, and was asked right off the bat how much of an adjustment period it will take thanks to the multiple new faces on the roster acquired by GM Steve Yzerman. 

"Not that long, I think that a lot of the bonding that we do in Traverse City off the ice helps it progress and make it a lot easier," he said. "It's nice going up there to get to know the new guys, and as a new player, it's nice to get to know the team. It's a great time up there, and it really makes us closer."

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

DeBrincat and the Red Wings have been in prime position to further solidify a spot in the Wild Card postseason race in each of the last two seasons coming into the month of March, only to suffer prolonged losing streaks that all but officially sealed their fate. 

"I think there's a lot of things that happen at that time of year, we obviously weren't playing well, but that's history," DeBrincat said of Detroit's March struggles. "We gotta figure out a way why in the last two years, we've had a lull in that March time frame....us as players have to find a way to power through that and not get such a setback. There are going to be setbacks during the year, but we have to find a way to minimize them and not let them last." 

Among the multiple new additions to the Red Wings roster coming into this season include goaltender John Gibson, forwards James van Riemsdyk and Mason Appleton, and defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker, Travis Hamonic and Ian Mitchell. 

Red Wings Add Blue Line Depth With Signing of Travis Hamonic Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has already signed defensemen Jacob Bernard-Docker and Ian Mitchell so far this offseason, but another new name has been added to Detroit's blue line. 

Does DeBrincat believe that the team, as currently constructed, can bring playoff hockey to Little Caesars Arena for the first time? 

"For sure," he said with no hesitation. "We got a couple guys that are coming in that should really help us, and it'll be fun to start the year and see what everyone's made of and go from there. You can't make the playoffs in the first month, but it will definitely help if you have a good start." 

Following their 13-17-4 start last season, Yzerman decided to change direction, parting ways with head coach Derek Lalonde and assistant coach Bob Boughner. In their place, he hired former Stanley Cup–winning assistant coach Todd McLellan, along with assistant coach Trent Yawney.

After the coaching change, the Red Wings went 26-18-4 under McLellan, highlighted by a pair of seven-game win streaks. Over a full 82-game schedule, that pace would have been enough to secure a postseason berth.

DeBrincat believes the Red Wings will benefit from having McLellan lead a full training camp as he begins his first full season as head coach.

"It will be good and it will be hard," DeBrincat said of he's anticipating from McLellan in Training Camp. "It will be very attention to detail oriented. In Todd's game, details are really big, and just the work ethic - he requires you to give it your all on every shift, and tthat's something that will be instilled on Day 1." 

DeBrincat, McLellan and the Red Wings will officially begin Training Camp in Traverse City, Mich. on September 18, followed by the annual Red & White Game (moved to Grand Rapids this year). 

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Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Simon Despres has found his new home.

The Saint-Hyacinthe Bataillon of the Ligue Nord-Americaine de Hockey (LNAH) have announced that they have signed Despres for the 2025-26 season. 

Despres spent this past season in the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) with the Glasgow Clan, where he posted six goals, 29 points, and 63 penalty minutes in 52 games. This was after he recorded two goals and 12 points in 44 EIHL games with the Nottingham Panthers in 2023-24. Now, by signing with Saint-Hyacinthe, he will get the chance to continue his career in Quebec. 

Despres was selected by the Penguins with the 30th overall pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. In 144 games over four seasons with the Penguins from 2011-12 to 2014-15, he recorded five goals, 33 points, 120 penalty minutes, 323 hits, and a plus-27 rating. 

Despres' time with the Penguins ended when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks during the 2014-15 in exchange for Ben Lovejoy. From there, Despres played with the Ducks until the completion of the 2016-17 season. This would be the last year he played at the NHL level.

Penguins Should Consider Targeting Intriguing Bruins ProspectThe Pittsburgh Penguins are currently in the middle of a retool/rebuild. Because of this, one of their primary goals from here should be to continue to improve their prospect pool. This will only help their future as they look to become a playoff team again. 

Detroit's Patrick Kane Eyes Final Olympic Run with Team USA in 2026

With the 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon, Patrick Kane is making it clear: he’s not chasing a farewell tour but a gold medal.

The 36-year-old NHL veteran has his sights set on cracking the U.S. Olympic roster one final time, understanding this may be his last opportunity to compete at the sport’s highest international level. Kane was among the players invited to Team USA's orientation camp this week, a preliminary step in assembling the squad for the upcoming Games in Milan-Cortina.

“Winning gold in a best-on-best tournament is something that’s missing from my career,” Kane told NHL.com’s Nick Cotsonika. “It would be fun to have that opportunity.”

Red Wings’ 2025 Draft Steal Turning Heads in Junior League ActionRed Wings recent 2025 5th-round pick Nikita Tyurin Talks Development, KHL Debut, and Championship Mindset.

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Kane’s international résumé includes appearances in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, but the only medal to show for it is silver from Vancouver. Despite a decorated career that includes three Stanley Cups and multiple individual awards, Kane remains motivated to add international gold to his trophy case.

Notably, he was left off the U.S. roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off last February but remains an impact player with nearly 60 points last season, including a season-ending hot streak in which he posted 45 points over the final 43 games. 

“I don’t want to be picked because of what I’ve done in the past,” Kane explained as he wants to make the team based on performance “You want to be selected because of what you bring now.”

Detroit recently brought back Kane on a one-year, $3 million deal, where he’ll continue his pursuit of several major milestones like scoring his 500th career goal and surpassing Mike Modano as the highest-scoring American player in NHL history as he needs just eight goals and 32 points, respectively, to reach those marks.

“If I play well and someone else gets the nod, that’s part of it,” he said. “But I’ll know I did everything I could.”

Red Wings Prospect Emerging as Top Talent After Impressive KHL Pre-SeasonRussian prospect for the Red Wings dazzles with three goals through KHL pre-season. 

From the sounds of it, Kane is motivated more than ever and could lead to another stellar season from the Buffalo native as he enters his 19th NHL season. 

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EA SPORTS NHL has revealed the top 10 left wingers in NHL 26, led by Kirill Kaprizov at 94 overall. 

NHL 26 cover star Matthew Tkachuk comes in as the second highest rated left winger at 93 overall, with Artemi Panarin and Kyle Connor narrowly behind at 92 overall. 

The top 10 left wingers in NHL 26 are:

1. Kirill Kaprizov - 94 overall
2. Matthew Tkachuk - 93 overall
3. Artemi Panarin - 92 overall
4. Kyle Connor - 92 overall
5. Jesper Bratt - 91 overall
6. Alex Ovechkin - 90 overall
7. Brandon Hagel - 90 overall
8. Matthew Boldy - 89 overall
9. Brad Marchand - 89 overall
10. Jake Guentzel - 89 overall

Kaprizov's 96 offensive awareness and 94 puck control contribute to his high rating he has Quick Release and Wheels X-Factors. Tkachuk also has 96 offensive awareness to go along with the Big Tipper, Born Leader, and Spark Plug X-Factors.

Ovechkin remains a deadly sniper with 95 overall slapshot power and 93 wrist shot. 

Keep an eye on the ratings database for an in-depth look at each players stats. 

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 Rockford IceHogs forward Zach Sanford has signed a one-year contract with HC Lugano of the Swiss NL for the 2025-26 season.

Sanford recorded 19 goals and 43 points in 70 games with Rockford last season.

The 30-year-old racked up 49 goals and 104 points in 334 career NHL games with the Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks. 

He notched 20 points in 60 regular season games and four points in eight playoff games with the Blues in 2018-19 on the way to a Stanley Cup win. 

The Salem, Mass., native has 54 goals and 110 points in 196 career AHL games with the IceHogs, Hershey Bears, Chicago Wolves, San Antonio Rampage, Milwaukee Admirals, and Tucson Roadrunners.

✍ L’Hockey Club Lugano comunica di aver siglato un contratto valido per la stagione 2025/26 con l’attaccante statunitense Zach Sanford.

Benvenuto a Lvgano, Zach! ⚪🟡⚫https://t.co/T20j16bzQv

— Hockey Club Lugano (@OfficialHCL) August 25, 2025

Sanford, Mike Sgarbossa, and Connor Carrick all spent last year in the AHL and will suit up for Lugano in 2025-26. 

Check out our AHL Free Agency signing tracker here.        

The 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.

We started this player-by-player series with a look at the Sabres' goaltenders. More recently, we've been focusing on Buffalo's blueline with breakdowns of the expectations on D-men Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. And in this file, we're turning our attention to a player who was in the headlines to a great degree this summer -- defenseman Bowen Byram.

The 24-year-old Byram was an RFA this summer, but late in the signing period, he agreed to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $6.25-million. Now, Byram has to deliver on his end of the bargain with a strong 2025-26 campaign. And below, we're going to break down the expectations for Byram this year.

Player Name: Bowen Byram

Position: Defenseman

Age: 24

2024-25 Key Statistics: 82 games, 31 assists, 38 points, 22:42 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary: $6.25-million

2025-26 Expectations: Byram was Buffalo's second-most-utilized player last season, averaging nearly one more minute of ice time per-game for a new career-best in that department, However, Byram's career-best total of 38 points has to be understood in the big picture -- and the big picture indicates that this past season was Byram's first full 82-game campaign, which was nine games more than his previous career-high.

Meanwhile, Byram's new salary is a raise of nearly $3-million-per-year from his 2024-25 salary of $3.85 million. With that in mind, it's understandable that expectations on Byram are going to be considerably higher this coming year. Only Dahlin was on the ice more than Byram last season, so Byram needs to set a higher bar for himself, and clear that bar.

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. 

Byram has the next two seasons to prove himself as a truly elite NHL blueliner. Because at the end of that period, he's going to be a UFA -- and if he does succeed at improving to a Grade-A level, he could price himself outside of Buffalo's salary cap structure and strike it rich when next he's a free-agent.

Indeed, with Dahlin and Power getting more money than Byram for the foreseeable future, Byram may have to go elsewhere to find greener financial pastures than what is likely to be available to him in Buffalo. He could have to choose between staying a Sabre and making a choice as a businessman, and the choice he makes may not be in Buffalo's best interest.

Byram doesn't need to win a Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman to justify his salary increase. That said, he does need to continue putting up more points in each of the next two seasons. If he fails to do so, the Sabres may look to trade him before his current contract ends.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Captain Dahlin Facing Intense Pressure To Lead Buffalo To PlayoffsThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is almost here, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve just kicked off a series that analyzes each Sabres player and the expectations they’ll be facing next season. All of them as a group have one singular goal – ending Buffalo’s Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years – but as individuals, there are different things they’ll need to deal with. 

Byram doesn't have any no-trade or no-move protection in his new deal, and if the Sabres did put him on the trade block, there would be no shortage of teams lining up to acquire him. After all, he's still well in advance of his peak years, and there's always going to be a team or two (or three) that believes a change in scenery can lead to better performances from any particular player.

Byram wouldn't be the first NHL defenseman to encounter a bump or two in his road of development, and he wouldn't be the last in that regard, either. Buffalo has to show some patience with him, but at his current pay grade, that sense of patience won't be there for him forever.

Byram has got to be part of a winning picture in Western New York, or face an uncertain future and a potential new start with a different team. It's that straightforward a situation for him, and as it stands, he can dictate his future with a strong 2025-26 showing.

From year to year, there’s been a regular discussion on which NHL division is strongest.

A straightforward look at how many points each of the NHL’s four divisions generated last season goes a long way toward illustrating the most competitive divisions.

It’s no surprise that the Atlantic Division had the most standings points (737) of any division. The Central Division (735) was second, followed by the Metropolitan (713) and the Pacific (710).

Within divisions, tiers separate the best each division has to offer from the least competitive squads. In the Atlantic, there are three distinct tiers.

Tier 1

The first tier consists of the top three teams in the Atlantic standings last season – the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning and the back-to-back Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers.

Although there are never complete guarantees, all three of the Maple Leafs, Lightning and Panthers are virtual locks to get back into the post-season in 2025-26. 

Toronto has made significant changes to what was already a strong lineup. Although they lost Mitch Marner, they added more depth and toughness to the forward group, and they re-signed John Tavares and Matthew Knies for some high production. While finishing first in the division could be tougher without Marner, they're still in a good position.

Tampa Bay largely retained its roster, with some depth pieces coming and going. They still have one of the best forward groups in the NHL, starring Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel. Victor Hedman leads the way on defense, and Andrei Vasilevskiy remains a top-level netminder.

Florida might even have the best forward group in the league after managing to re-sign Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand. Losing Matthew Tkachuk for at least the start of the season will hurt, but the Panthers still have Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart and four solid forward lines, with Aaron Ekblad, Seth Jones and Gustav Forsling leading a strong defense corps and Sergei Bobrovsky standing tall in net when it matters most.

It would be a major shock if any of the three teams falls far down the Atlantic standings next year and fails to qualify for the playoffs, because on paper, the Panthers, Lightning and Leafs have more than enough talent and depth to outlast their other Atlantic rivals.

Top Five NHL Forward Groups Entering 2025-26The NHL’s off-season continues to unfold, and by mid-July, most teams made their key roster moves. That brings us to the question of what teams are best at each position – forward, defense and goal. 

Tier 2

The mid-tier of the Atlantic features the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens.

The Senators and Canadiens had breakthrough seasons in 2024-25, and both have realistic aspirations to return to the playoffs next season.

Ottawa became more consistent by the end of last season, and after strengthening its defense group and re-signing Claude Giroux on offense, the expectation is to keep moving upward.

The Canadiens, meanwhile, arguably improved the most this off-season by acquiring Noah Dobson and Zack Bolduc, while Ivan Demidov gears up for his first full NHL season.

It will be difficult for Ottawa and Montreal to leapfrog over the Panthers, Bolts and Leafs to secure home-ice advantage in the post-season, but their youngsters may be able to get the job done and outshine teams that finished ahead of them in 2024-25.

In other words, the Habs and Sens could move into the top tier and push one of the Maple Leafs, Lightning or Panthers into the mid-tier.

NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No. 1, Montreal CanadiensThe Hockey News’ summer splash rankings – which rank the off-seasons of every NHL team – have been posted for the past 31 days. And today, we’ve arrived at the team that was No. 1 in our list – the Montreal Canadiens.

Tier 3

Finally, the third tier in the Atlantic is comprised of the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins. These teams will be in a ferocious fight to claw their way out of the division’s basement and surprise cynics by earning a wild-card berth.

The Sabres and Red Wings will be in dire straits if they fail to make the playoffs next season. In fact, Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams and Detroit counterpart Steve Yzerman may lose their jobs if they don’t make notable strides next year. So, this third tier may have the most pressure on it to do something of positive consequence next season.

The Bruins are more or less in a class of their own right now. Boston has enough veteran know-how to make a push into the lower end of the playoff picture, but they also could wind up stuck in the bottom tier as they figure out a new course to take with their mix of young talent and experienced hands.

Boston GM Don Sweeney began the process of retooling by dealing away veterans Marchand, Brandon Carlo and Charlie Coyle last season, and he may have little choice but to do more of that if the Bruins can’t climb higher in the Atlantic. 

Who knows, perhaps Boston stays at the very bottom of the Atlantic for the second straight time next year – something its fans are certainly not accustomed to. But the Bruins are currently a dog’s breakfast of young and old talent, and given how competitive the rest of the Atlantic promises to be next season, a last-place finish for the Bruins certainly isn’t out of the question.

It may not be the end of the world if Boston finishes near the bottom of the league this upcoming season, either, especially considering it would mean a better chance of drafting Gavin McKenna to develop an incredible future with him and 2025 draft pick James Hagens.

In any case, the Atlantic will be a tough division to play in next season. No Atlantic teams are pushovers, and that’s almost assuredly going to result in a highly competitive playoff race.

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The 2025-26 NHL regular-season is almost at hand, and here on THN.com's Buffalo Sabres site, we're breaking down the expectations for every Sabres player. 

Earlier this past week, we focused on Buffalo's goaltending, and on Monday, we turned our attention to the Sabres' defense corps with a look at Buffalo captain Rasmus Dahlin. And in this file, we're focused on young blueliner Owen Power. 

What are your expectations for Power this coming year? He's still just a kid at 22 years old, but as a No. 1-overall draft pick, the bar for him is higher than it is for most players. But we want to hear from you -- and you can make your opinion known by commenting below.

You can also register as a member of the Sabres community here at THN.com. Your voice has value, and we want your perspective.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman surprised many in the 2022 NHL Drat when he chose German defenseman Moritz Seider with the sixth overall selection, but the pick has paid off in multiple ways. 

Not only did Seider win the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie in the 2021-22 NHL Season, but he's become Detroit's top defenseman and routinely plays heavy minutes against the opposition's best players. 

Seider is also set to compete for his native Germany in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The German roster will also be chalk-full of talented players included Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, and Lukas Reichel. 

Earlier this morning, Germany selected its preliminary six players for the #MilanoCortina#Olympics! pic.twitter.com/qVAcCOYg3U

— NHL (@NHL) June 16, 2025

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

He and his countrymen hope to help their homeland make a name for itself in the upcoming tournament. 

"I know we're a small country, but we want to challenge all the big names out there and just try to get better as a team, also as individuals," Seider said via NHL.com. "Honestly, you want to make a name for yourself overseas. Hopefully we have more and more people joining us and making it a little bit of a brand over there."

"I think it would be fun to have us all on one team eventually and show what we're capable of," Seider said. "It's a big credit to them in the first place. Overall, we want to make names for ourselves, be leaders on our own teams, and then if we have a chance to, then come together, and then it's even more fun coming here."

Red Wings Players to Watch in 2025-26: John Gibson Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman pulled off a pair of trades during the offseason, first trading the underperforming veteran Vladimir Tarasenko and his $4.75 million cap hit to the Minnesota Wild. 

Seider already has considerable international experience, having captained Germany at the 2019 World Junior Championship Division IA tournament, and also played in the 2021 and 2023 IIHF World Championships. 

Thanks to his natural leadership, Seider was named Germany's captain during the recent 2025 IIHF World Championship, helping them to a medal round appearance. 

Unser Kapitäns-Team für die WM 🔥

Moritz Seider wird die deutsche Männer-Nationalmannschaft 🇩🇪 bei der bevorstehenden IIHF-Weltmeisterschaft in Dänemark & Schweden anführen. An seiner Seite: Jonas Müller, Marc Michaelis und Dominik Kahun als Assistenten 💪🏻 #debteamspic.twitter.com/YkBBNbZFE8

— Deutscher Eishockey-Bund (@deb_teams) May 4, 2025

During his time in the NHL, Seider has already climbed the list to become fourth in all-time games played by a German-born defenseman with 328. He's also demonstrated incredible durability, having not missed a single game in each of his first four seasons. 

The Red Wings consider Seider a building block for their franchise, and made that clear when he affixed his name to a seven-year, $59.85 million contract extension last September. 

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The 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. 

Every Sabres member wants nothing more than a Stanley Cup playoff appearance, but as individual athletes, Buffalo’s players all have at least slightly different goals and expectations for ‘25-26. And with that in mind, after focusing Monday night on Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, we’re moving to another key young blueliner for Buffalo – defenseman Owen Power. 

Like Dahlin and every Sabres player, Power faces a huge amount of pressure to get this Sabres team into the playoffs. And while Power is a few years younger than Dahlin, Power needs to do his part and step up and help guide Buffalo to a playoff berth. And the good news is he has the skills to do that.

Player Name: Owen Power

Position: Defenseman

Age: 22

2024-25 Key Statistics: 79 games, 33 assists, 40 points, 21:19 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary: $8.35-million

2025-26 Expectations: As someone drafted with the first-overall draft pick in 2021, Power has a high bar to clear when it comes to expectations on him. And while it would be unfair to suggest Power suffered a setback this past season, the 22-year-old did not have an ideal performance in many regards.

For one thing, Power’s time-on-ice average was cut by more than 90 seconds per game last season, going from an average of 22:55 in 2023-24 to 21:19 last season. That’s the second consecutive season Power’s average ice time was cut by at least one minute per game. And now, will Sabres coach Lindy Ruff cut Power’s minutes again? That seems counterproductive, but it would be the continuation of a two-year trend, so we’re not counting it out by any means.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Captain Dahlin Facing Intense Pressure To Lead Buffalo To PlayoffsThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is almost here, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve just kicked off a series that analyzes each Sabres player and the expectations they’ll be facing next season. All of them as a group have one singular goal – ending Buffalo’s Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years – but as individuals, there are different things they’ll need to deal with. 

Although Power did set new career-highs in goals (seven), assists (33) and points (40) last year, it wasn’t as if he blew his previous career-bests out of the water. For three years now, Power has put up between 27-33 assists per year, and between 33-40 points – not terrible numbers, but not numbers you’d associate with a No. 1-overall pick.

Also impacting the judgment on Power is the fact he’s the second-highest-paid player on the Sabres’ roster at $8.35-million per-season. Power is in Year 2 of a seven-year contract, and his pay rate means he’s going to be held to a higher standard than most Buffalo players.

To be sure, Power’s offensive numbers should be higher, given his 1:36 of average power-play time last year. He may be the second banana to Dahlin on the back end, but that doesn’t mean Power has to trail Dahlin’s offensive stats by 28 points, the way he did last season. Dahlin is a special player, but Power was drafted also to be a special player, and he needs to deliver more than he’s delivered thus far.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Young Goalie Levi Must Show He Can Take Next Step, Establish Himself At NHL LevelThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is nearly upon us, and at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re examining each Buffalo player and the expectations on them next year. Each Sabres player has the pressure to get this Buffalo team into the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, but every player’s outlook is at least a little bit different. 

Now, Power is nowhere close to his peak years, so that has to be taken into account when grading his performance. But as Buffalo attempts to end its 14-year playoff drought, every Sabres player needs to elevate their game, and that includes Power. 

Arguably Buffalo’s strongest area is its defense corps, and Power is one of the key reasons why that is so. But Power has to do more – and maybe, do more with less – so his challenge is clear. He’s an integral component of the Sabres’ blueprint for success, but the pressure on Power is considerable, and it isn’t likely to subside anytime soon.

The Buffalo Sabres announced details for a single-game ticket presale beginning Tuesday, and that individual game tickets will go on sale to the public next Tuesday, September 3rd. The club also announced 17 theme nights for the 2025-26 regular season, beginning with the home opener against the New York Rangers on Thursday, October 9th. 

More than half the theme nights will feature giveaways, such as a rally towel for the opener, a Sabretooth Beanie Hat for the game against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Saturday, October 18th, a Sabres butter dish for the Sunday pre-Thanksgiving contest against the Carolina Hurricanes, a Rasmus Dahlin pin for the February 5th game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and a Tage Thompson bobblehead for Fan Appreciation night against Dallas on Wednesday, April 15. The club will also be wearing their red, black, and white “goat’s head” jersey for a significant portion of their 41 home games, which will be announced before the season. 

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The National Hockey League Players’ Association and Upper Deck will host the 15th annual NHLPA Rookie Showcase on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia, with over 30 NHL prospects and rookies scheduled to attend, one of which will be Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius. 

The 19-year-old was named to the AHL All-Rookie team after scoring 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in his first season in North America, after being selected 14th overall at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas. Other players attending will be 2025 top overall pick Matthew Schaefer of the NY Islanders, and Team USA World Junior gold medal winners Zeev Buium(MIN), Ryan Leonard (WAS) Gabe Perreault (NYR), and Jimmy Snuggerud (STL).

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