Category: Ice Hockey

Matt Benning hopes to be back in the NHL next season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It was an awkward season for Benning, whom the Maple Leafs acquired from the San Jose Sharks in late October for defenseman Timothy Liljegren. Almost immediately, the 31-year-old was loaned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, and he played the entire season with the club.

Benning appeared in 39 games with the Marlies, scoring one goal and seven assists—his first stint in the AHL since the 2019-20 season with the Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers’ AHL affiliate).

The Edmonton, Alberta native has played 464 games in the NHL since being drafted by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round (175th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. Benning was a mainstay on the Sharks’ blue line until he underwent hip surgery to repair a torn labrum in January 2024.

Now, after a full rehab, tons of playing time with the Marlies, and a training camp upcoming, Benning hopes to impress Toronto enough that he can make the club’s opening night roster.

“I still think I’m an NHL defenceman,” Benning told the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson. “I didn’t get a chance for a call-up (with the Leafs) but their D core is really good. I don’t blame them. I need a good camp to either impress them or another team (waiver claim) before the season starts.”

Benning isn’t that far removed from his strongest season in the NHL, where he scored one goal and 23 assists in 77 games during the 2022-23 season. As a veteran defender, there’ll be plenty of NHL teams wanting his services if he has a strong training camp with the Maple Leafs.

“I was fine with it (AHL last season). I was excited to play more, find my game again after my big (hip) injury. Individually, if I felt I could be in the NHL again, then it was the right move to be down there,” added Benning.

The defenseman is in the final year of a four-year, $5 million contract signed in 2022 with San Jose. If he does impress during Toronto’s training camp, there’ll likely be a few teams putting in a claim if he’s waived before the beginning of the year.

However, if he’s waived and no team claims him, the Maple Leafs will once again be charged $100,000 to keep his contract in the minors with the Marlies.

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One of the most intriguing - and unexpected - NHL stories of the summer has been coming out of Pittsburgh.

And it all started back in June, when a certain Penguins’ legend suddenly emerged as a potential suitor to re-purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins from their owner in Fenway Sports Group (FSG), who Lemieux and then co-owner Ron Burkle sold the team to back in December of 2021.

Since then, another name has emerged. And that would be the Hoffmann Family of Companies.

First reported by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, David Hoffmann and his company have emerged as serious frontrunners to purchase the Penguins from FSG at a reported sale price around $1.75 billion, which is far more than the $900 million FSG bought the Penguins for in 2021.

The Hoffmann Family of Companies is Chicago-based, already purchased the ECHL’s Florida Everblades from the Carolina Hurricanes, and have long wanted to own an NHL team. All indications are that the Hoffmanns are serious about the Penguins, and - up to this point - FSG has put out no rebuttal to the claims about the Hoffmanns’ interest.

And this is in contrast to previous reports. Back in January, it was revealed that FSG was interested in taking the Penguins to market for a minority investment stake, and that stance was reiterated after Pierre LeBrun of TSN reported in June that Lemieux, Burkle, and ex-Penguins’ President David Moorhouse were interested in buying back the team.

“We’ve seen the speculation, and as we’ve previously shared with media, Fenway Sports Group is currently engaged in a process to explore a potential minority investment in the Pittsburgh Penguins,” FSG put out in a statement at the time. “The focus is on identifying a small, passive partner, and that is the current framework under discussion with potential investors.”

Is This The Right Time For Lemieux To Buy Back Penguins?There is one name that will forever be synonymous with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He saved the franchise on multiple occasions. He’s one of the greatest players in NHL history. And he mentored and helped shape one of his fellow greatest players in NHL history in Sidney Crosby. 

Although it’s curious that they have not yet released any sort of statement in the wake of the Hoffmann family rumors, it does raise some questions - understandably so - about the state of the Penguins’ franchise. Many are worried about the fact that, if the sale happens, it would be the second ownership change in less than five years - marking not only a perceived “failure” on the part of FSG, but also a lack of interest in the Penguins as an organization.

There is also some concern among fans about Hoffmann’s ties to Kansas City, as his wife hails from there. The words “Kansas City” do strike fear in the heart of Penguins’ fans, as the team nearly relocated there in the early 2000s before a new arena deal in Pittsburgh was struck.

But, let’s make one thing clear: No matter who the owners of the Pittsburgh Penguins are, the Penguins are going to remain in Pittsburgh. And the love, fanfare, and interest surrounding the team has not faded and will not fade.

Whatever happens, the organization is in good hands. If FSG retains controlling interest in the Penguins - even if one of the other two groups does purchase a large minority share - the team will be more than fine. FSG may not have the “family-like” atmosphere that the groups led by Lemieux and Hoffmann might have, but they do have a large stream of cash that the team has benefitted from.

Both GM/POHO Kyle Dubas and Director of Player Development Tom Kostopoulos have remarked on several occasions how owners Tom Werner and John Henry are “all-in” from the investment and buy-in side of things. FSG has given the Penguins’ front office near-unlimited financial resources to work with, and it has resulted in a much larger player development staff as well as a more thorough, individualized approach to player development. 

If the Penguins do get sold to the Hoffmann Family of Companies? That doesn’t figure to change. Pens’ fans can think of David Hoffmann almost like Ron Burkle in the sense that he’s a billionaire businessman interested in purchasing the team, but Hoffmann is also invested in hockey itself. 

As mentioned before, there has long been interest on the Hoffmanns’ side of things about getting involved in NHL ownership. Having present and passionate owners - and the family-like setting back - would be a welcome change of pace for a team that has become a bit more “corporate” over the past few years.

Five Storylines To Watch For The Penguins In 2025-26NHL fans have been counting down the days to the 2025-26 season ever since the Florida Panthers raised the Stanley Cup for a second consecutive season back in June.

Then, of course, there’s Lemieux, Burkle, and Moorhouse. It might seem crazy that Lemieux and co. are interested in buying back the team for twice as much as they sold it for - and, by some accounts, Lemieux and his cohort are not willing to meet asking price at this point - but, here we are. 

Pittsburgh would welcome back a franchise icon anytime. And there has certainly been no love lost between Lemieux, the city of Pittsburgh, and the Penguins.

But - regardless of what happens and who is calling the shots for the Penguins - rest assured that the team will be just fine.

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The 2025-26 NHL season is only about a month and a half away from starting, and it’s going to be here before anyone knows it. Heck, action is already starting to pick up a little bit around the league after the Minnesota Wild re-signed forward Marco Rossi to a three-year deal on August 22. It also feels like it’s only a matter of time until the Anaheim Ducks re-sign forward Mason McTavish. 

As for the Pittsburgh Penguins, they enter the season with a lot of question marks, but their direction isn’t one of them. They are clearly rebuilding and have been since they traded Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes before the 2024 trade deadline. 

Still, their forward group on paper right now is decent, especially since Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are still on the roster. However, it gets really dicey once you look at the defensemen and the starting netminder. The Penguins will be able to score this year, but will also give up a lot of goals due to those various weaknesses. In other words, if you’re a betting person, take the “over” in a lot of games this year. 

Many Penguins fans are obviously watching the 2026 NHL Draft closely, with Gavin McKenna and other potential franchise players like Keaton Verhoeff and Ivar Stenberg in the spotlight, since the top of the draft is the easiest place to find the next game-changing prospect that can help turn the team around. The Penguins will need the lottery balls to go their way to get one of those players, but will face stiff competition from other teams who also likely won’t be very good. 

With all of that in mind, let’s take a look at five teams that could/should be worse than the Penguins this year. 

1. San Jose Sharks

The Sharks were the worst team in the NHL last year, winning only 20 games and finishing with 52 points, nine fewer than the Chicago Blackhawks. The Penguins had 28 more points than them last year, despite missing the playoffs for a third consecutive year. The Sharks have a nice developing core, led by Macklin Celebrini, but they are still far away from being a serious Stanley Cup threat, let alone a playoff team. 

Will they be better this year? Probably, but not to the point where they will make up 28 points on the Penguins. A lot would have to go wrong for Dan Muse’s squad to finish behind the Sharks. 

2. Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks only won 25 games and finished with 61 points last year, 19 fewer than the Penguins. They have the generational superstar in Connor Bedard and did a great job locking up Frank Nazar to a long-term extension last week, but like the Sharks, they still need more talent and aren’t close to contending right now. 

It’s asking a lot for them to make a big leap next season, even though there’s a chance they’re at least a bit better compared to last year. At the end of the day, Bedard needs more help. 

3.Boston Bruins

The Bruins’ eight-year playoff streak ended last season when they finished last in the Atlantic Division with 33 wins and 76 points. Their fans then got to see captain Brad Marchand traded to the Florida Panthers, one of the Bruins’ biggest rivals, right before the trade deadline, before he helped the Panthers win their second-straight Stanley Cup. 

They still have several issues heading into this season, chief among them: Who is scoring the goals outside of David Pastrnak? Pastrnak is one of the best pure goal scorers in the NHL, but he can’t do it all by himself. 

Can Matt Dumba Have A Bounceback Year In 2025-26?If one thing is for certain when it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins, it’s that their team defense has failed them in the three years since they’ve made the playoffs.

4.Seattle Kraken

The Kraken were hoping to return to the playoffs this past season after signing defenseman Brandon Montour and forward Chandler Stephenson during free agency, but didn’t accomplish that goal, finishing seventh in the Pacific Division with 76 points. Because of that failure, they fired former head coach Dan Bylsma, made Jason Botterill their new general manager, and hired Lane Lambert to be their new head coach. 

They continue to stack as many depth forwards as they can and still don’t have a true superstar in their lineup. Joey Daccord is a solid goaltender, but still needs more help. 

5.Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators were one of the busiest teams last offseason, signing Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei, and Jonathan Marchessault to hefty contracts. They were a sexy pick to finish top three in the Central Division before they fell flat and finished seventh in the Central Division with 68 points. 

Fast forward one year, and it still doesn’t appear that general manager Barry Trotz knows what he’s doing. Their star players are also another year older, and the Central Division promises to be tough once again this year. 

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The New York Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy two seasons ago, then plummeted to 11th in the Eastern Conference last year. That's quite the change.

Suffice it to say, the Rangers intend to prove last season was an anomaly, making changes of consequence. They added a new coach in former Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan, traded Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks, sent K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes, and picked up defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov on the free-agent market. 

Now, the Rangers will try to bounce back.

BetMGM has the Rangers with the sixth-best odds of winning the Eastern Conference this coming season. And there is certainly a possibility that the Rangers manage to keep up with the Joneses with their off-season moves and ride one of the NHL’s top goaltenders to win the East.

But this writer has some significant doubts that the Blueshirts will bounce from such a low to such a high.

For starters, the Rangers have to consider their opponents in the Metropolitan Division and the rest of the East.

In the Metro, you have to figure the Hurricanes, Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils are locks to be playoff teams. We’ve already said we see the Columbus Blue Jackets as a playoff team, so from our perspective, the Rangers are going to be battling for fifth place in the Metro and hopefully focused on grabbing that second wild-card berth and limiting the Atlantic Division to sending only three teams into the playoffs.

The next reason the Rangers are going to have a tough time rebounding into playoff form: the caliber of their opponents. In the Metro, the fight for fifth also includes the New York Islanders, Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. The Pens have a group of veterans intent on making one last playoff run, and the new-look Islanders also have experienced players who want to win now. Meanwhile, the Flyers have also looked to take a step forward, adding a new coach, as well as Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak and Dan Vladar to augment their lineup.

NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No.10 New York RangersThe Hockey News’ exclusive summer splash series evaluating the off-seasons of every NHL team is into the final stretch. To put these rankings together, we’ve focused the spotlight on every franchise’s off-season additions, departures, hirings and firings. And we’ve labelled each team as belonging to one of three categories – teams that have improved, teams that essentially stayed the same, and teams that have regressed. 

The competition for fifth in the Metro is bound to be fierce. All it may take is one or two points that separate playoff teams from the outsiders in the division and conference. And if the Rangers suffer through a bad couple of weeks or a bad month, they could find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. The trade departure of veteran left winger Kreider may leave a vacuum in the Rangers’ dressing room that hurts them in the long run. 

Certainly, the Rangers have arguably a considerably better lineup than the one that finished last season. They’re going to have a full year of star center J.T. Miller, and Gavrikov can play on their top defense pairing. Those two veterans have the potential to be difference-makers for the Rangers in 2025-26.

Who knows – maybe the Rangers get a superb effort from star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, and maybe he carries them through the first, second and third rounds next spring. It wouldn’t be the first time a team benefits from a netminder standing on their head.

Nevertheless, we can see multiple roads forward for the Rangers next year: one road has them meeting expectations and re-establishing the franchise as a true Cup threat, and the other road – the one we think is more likely for them – has them pushing for a playoff spot but just falling short and facing the same questions next year.

Five Possibilities For The New York Rangers' Captaincy In 2025-26The New York Rangers are one of only three NHL teams without an active captain. 

Is winning the East in the cards for the Rangers? Sure, it’s possible. But asking whether it’s likely is a more sobering question, and one whose answer may not make Rangers fans happy.

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The NHL's 2025-26 regular-season is nearly here, and the Buffalo Sabres' roster is more or less finalized. And in this series on THN.com's Sabres Site, we've started a new series in which we go player-by-player through Buffalo's roster and analyze the expectations for each player.

We began the series late last week with looks at the Sabres' goaltending picture. And in this file, we're turning to Buffalo's defense corps -- specifically, star defenseman and captain Rasmus Dahlin. Needless to say, the expectations on Dahlin are sky-high, and if he captains a Sabres team that fails to make the Stanley Cup playoffs again this coming year, changes could be coming for Buffalo as a team and Dahlin as an individual.

But we want your thoughts -- what are your expectations for Dahlin in 2025-26? And what do you think happens to Dahlin's future in Buffalo if the Sabres can't make the playoffs for the 15th straight season?

Let us know with a comment below -- and feel free to register as a community member here on THN.com. Your voice matters, and we want your point of view. 

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. 

Secondly, he acquired goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Petr Mrazek, who had just wrapped up his second stint with the club after he was re-acquired in a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks in March. 

The hope of Yzerman is that Gibson represents Detroit's first true starting goaltender in the last several seasons since the days of Jimmy Howard. 

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

Starting in 2018, the Red Wings have featured the likes of Howard, Jonathan Bernier, Thomas Greiss, Alex Nedeljkovic, Ville Husso, Alex Lyon, James Reimer, Cam Talbot, and Mrazek between the pipes, none of whom were able to firmly take hold of the starter's reigns. 

Additionally, no Red Wings goaltender has managed to record a save percentage better than .904 over the last four seasons. While Detroit's porous defense played a role in that statistic, the fact that no goalie was able to firmly emerge as a bonafide starter was a concern. 

Enter Gibson. This past season with the Ducks—his final one with the franchise that drafted him 39th overall in 2011—he posted a .912 save percentage, his best mark since recording a .917 in the 2018-19 campaign.

While he's only 31 years old, Gibson was made expendable in Anaheim due to the emergence of Lukáš Dostál.

A veteran of 506 NHL games with 204 victories, Gibson immediately slots in as Detroit’s No. 1 goaltender. If he can stay healthy, the Red Wings would like him to play around 50 games, which would allow 38-year-old Cam Talbot, who played well in his first season with Detroit, to settle comfortably into a backup role.

Whether the Red Wings can finally end their nearly decade-long postseason drought, the longest in franchise history, will largely depend on Gibson’s play and durability.

Fans will be hoping he can help bring playoff hockey to Little Caesars Arena for the first time since the venue opened. Gibson, meanwhile, already brings multiple rounds of postseason experience to the table, and believes that the Red Wings could be on the cusp of making something special happen.

“Their resume over the last few years shows that they’re right there,” Gibson said via the Red Wings' official website in July. “That’s where I want to be. I want to be fighting for the playoffs and get in the playoffs. I truly feel that all you got to do is make it in the playoffs, and once you do that it’s a whole new season whether you’re the Presidents’ Trophy Winner or the eighth seed. You never know what could happen.”

Gibson’s acquisition was a calculated gamble by Yzerman, aimed at buying more time for highly touted goaltending prospects Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine to continue their development, while also providing Detroit with an established starter in net.

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The 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. 

Some of that is due to the money they’re making, and some of that is due to the level of their skill. But we’re intrigued by looking at the Sabres’ roster player-by-player, and see if we can’t paint a macro picture regarding the nuances of Buffalo’s predicament.

The 25-year-old Swede faces a huge amount of pressure to lead this team into the Stanley Cup playoffs, because another year without playoff hockey may cause Dahlin to seek employment elsewhere – and it may cause the Sabres to oblige him.

We began the series with looks at Buffalo’s goaltending: first, with this look at Sabres presumptive starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen; then, we looked at newcomer goalie Alex Lyon, and most recently, we looked at youngster Devon Levi. And today, we’re starting our look at the Sabres’ defense corps – beginning with the most talented, highest-paid player and most crucial D-man, captain Rasmus Dahlin. 

Player Name: Rasmus Dahlin

Position: Defenseman

Age: 25

2024-25 Key Statistics: 73 games, 51 assists, 68 points, 46 even-strength points, 24:14 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary:$11-million

2025-26 Expectations: After a sub-par season in 2023-24, Dahlin clapped back last season, returning to his impressive numbers from 2022-23. One interesting fact – Dahlin was still a minute-muncher, but his average time-on-ice was down a full minute, from 25:25 in 2023-24 to 24:15 this past season. 

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff gave Dahlin a couple fewer shifts per night, but given that Buffalo’s defense corps is relatively deep – with youngsters Owen Power and Bowen Byram not yet close to their peak – Dahlin should be utilized a little less, as he’d be fresher at the end of the year if and when the Sabres qualify for the playoffs.

That’s a very big ‘if’, of course. There have been baseless rumors in the past about Dahlin’s commitment to the Sabres, but even if he did feel ready to move on, could you really blame him? Dahlin has played seven full years for the Sabres, and in that span, the highest Buffalo has finished in the division is fifth – and even then, that came back in 2021-22 and 2022-23. The past two seasons have been a step back for the Sabres, and it would be only human for Dahlin or anyone else to grow exhausted with the losing.

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. 

Dahlin’s contract runs for another seven seasons at a team-high $11-million. He also has a full no-move clause in each year of his deal, but Dahlin might be more than willing to waive the clause if it meant going to an organization with a proven track record of winning, and if Buffalo can't figure out a way to finally get things right.

If that sounds unfair to the Sabres, you should know that it’s unfair *of* the Sabres to expect to keep talent around when you can’t even get to the playoffs, let alone grow into a legitimate Cup threat. It’s really just human nature for elite athletes to strive to succeed, and you can only take so many fruitless swings at the plate before you start looking for a different ballpark to play in.

Dahlin is going to be showcased by his native Swedish team at the upcoming Winter Olympics, but the bigger measuring stick for him must be how far he can lead the Sabres this year. As Buffalo’s captain, he has to be responsible for things, be they good or bad. And that can also grate on the nerves when you can’t get into the win column more often than not.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Newcomer Lyon Signed To Serve In Supporting Role In NetThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is just around the corner, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve committed to analyzing every Sabres player and the expectations on them next season. Every Buffalo player has the pressure to get this Sabres team into the playoffs for the first time in a decade-and-a-half, but every player’s outlook is at least a little bit different. 

When it comes to time-on-ice, Dahlin will continue to lead all Sabres skaters in 2025-26. And if he stays healthy, a season where he challenges his current career-best single-season point total of 73. Much is expected of him, but if he can have a positive impact at both ends of the rink, Dahlin could help provide the breakthrough season Buffalo fans have ached for, and start this Sabres franchise down a path where fans can legitimately be excited to see the team night-in and night-out.

The future for Dahlin remains bright, but he has to be part of a playoff win sooner than later. Otherwise, bigger changes for him and the entire Sabres roster could be coming.

When the Ottawa Senators hit training camp next month, there probably won't be many roster battles to sort out. But one major variable remains: the health of veteran defenceman Nick Jensen.

The 34-year-old underwent off-season hip surgery in May, a procedure he’d hoped to avoid but ultimately couldn’t. The hip first locked up on him last November following a game in San Jose, and while he’d experienced similar issues earlier in his career, this time the problem didn’t go away. Jensen spent the rest of the season grinding through the pain, spending more time than he'd like on the trainer's table, before deciding surgery was the only solution.

Now, over three months removed from surgery, Jensen is back training, skating, and feeling optimistic. But when exactly he'll be back isn't clear.

“Personally, I'm just kind of grinding ahead one day at a time,” he said last week on the Coming in Hot Podcast. “I know it's easy for guys that when they go through surgeries they get these timelines in their head … I don't really take that approach.

"I'm really just focused on going to the gym every day and making sure that I do all the work that I can and all the work that I should, and it's been feeling really good.”

The biggest change, he admitted, is simply his quality of life. 

“Everyday life is way better. Family life, you know, and playing with my kids. It was a game changer right out of the gates,” Jensen said. “Training and stuff, I feel like it's going really well.

"I probably could have gotten on the ice earlier, but I just wanted to take the time and really hammer down the strength on my hip and make sure that’s ready. I think it paid off and now I'm starting to get on the ice more … Overall, I think I'm in a really good spot right now and I think I just hit three months out from surgery.”

Jensen’s hip issues last season began in San Jose after a November game against the Sharks, but at first, he wasn’t fazed because his hip had locked up on him before.

“Usually it cleared in three or four days, maybe a week. But this time it didn’t. We tried everything, injections, medication, all that stuff, and none of it really had the answer. I was like, I can't do this the rest of my career … I would almost rather retire than continue to try to play like this.”

What made it even tougher was the fact that Jensen and Thomas Chabot had gotten off to such a good start. Early on, they were one of the best D pairs in the league, which was just what GM Steve Staios was banking on when he traded away Jakob Chychrun to acquire Jensen from Washington.

Now, Jensen’s focus is on rehabbing properly and making sure the hip holds up for the long grind of an NHL season. But he’s not putting any timeline on things.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the Sens signed Minnesota Wild free agent defenseman Cameron Crotty, an Ottawa native. Their recent stockpiling of right-shot defencemen, including Crotty, Jordan Spence, and Lassi Thomson, hints that Jensen may miss some time.

But once he returns, whenever that is, Ottawa gains back a reliable, steady presence on its blue line, and that could be a huge factor in whether the Senators can take another step forward this season.

By Steve Warne
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa

Read more Sens articles from The Hockey News:
Three Ottawa Senators Named To U.S. Olympic Orientation Camp
Senators' NHL Dream Began Over Pints in the Dressing Room
Former Ottawa Senator Travis Hamonic Signs With Atlantic Division Rival

A Stanley Cup championship is the ultimate goal for every NHL player, including goaltenders. 

Yet, some of the league's greatest goaltenders from the past and present have never had the opportunity to hoist the Cup.

Despite having all the tools, their on-ice careers never led to a championship. While there’s still time for at least one player on this list to win it all, for the others, that time has come and gone. 

Here are the top five NHL goalies who have never won a Stanley Cup during their playing career.

5. Curtis Joseph

Curtis Joseph, a.k.a ‘Cujo,’ is one of the most underappreciated goalies in NHL history. He played for six different NHL teams throughout his career, and it’s fair to argue that on some of those rosters, he was the team’s best player.

Undrafted, he began his career with the St. Louis Blues in 1989-90, playing there until 1995. He later joined the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs before playing the rest of his career in Detroit, Phoenix and back in Toronto.

In 943 regular-season games, Joseph had a 454-352-90-6 record, 2.79 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and 51 shutouts. The 1999-2000 King Clancy Trophy winner also had a 63-66 record, 2.42 GAA, .917 SP and 16 shutouts in 133 playoff games.

Joseph’s career included deep runs with the Maple Leafs in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Those teams ran into playoff powerhouses, such as the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes.

4. Henrik Lundqvist

Henrik Lundqvist will be remembered as arguably the best goaltender in New York Rangers history. He delivered 11 30-win seasons in his first 12 years – the one year he didn’t reach 30 wins was the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, when he went 24-16-3. Lundqvist also won the Vezina Trophy in 2011-12, when he had a 39-18-5 record, 1.97 GAA, .930 SP and eight shutouts. 

Still, he never won the Stanley Cup. 

The Hockey Hall of Famer got as far as the 2013-14 Stanley Cup final against the Los Angeles Kings. Despite recording a 2.14 GAA and .927 SP in that post-season, Lundqvist’s Rangers lost the final in six games.

3. Roberto Luongo

Roberto Luongo has won the Stanley Cup twice, but not during his playing career.

Luongo’s been a special assistant to the GM with the Florida Panthers since 2019-20, winning the Cup in 2023-24 and 2024-25.

As a Hall of Fame netminder, he got close but didn’t win it all. He took the 2010-11 Vancouver Canucks to a Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup final before the team became less of a contender in his final seasons there. Luongo's career took a turn when he rejoined the Panthers, but this was before they became the elite franchise they are today.

Luongo’s 489 regular-season wins are the most among NHL goalies who have not won the Cup as a player.

2. Carey Price

Carey Price carried the Montreal Canadiens before they embraced a full rebuild. He took them through deep playoff runs – including to the 2020-21 final against the Tampa Bay Lightning – but the team was never able to provide him with the right surrounding cast before injuries derailed his NHL career.

Price had 361 wins with a career .917 save percentage and 2.51 GAA. It’s a shame he’s no longer able to play in the NHL, given that the team is trending in the right direction with young, talented players who could turn that franchise into a Cup contender in the next few seasons. 

1. Connor Hellebuyck

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is the only remaining active player in this list. Considering the Jets are the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners, they’re in their Cup-contending window, and Hellebuyck remains in top form. 

Hellebuyck, 32, has won the Vezina Trophy three times, the Jennings Trophy twice and the Hart Trophy once. He has a career 2.56 GAA, .918 SP and 45 shutouts with a 322-185-44 record.

The Jets have advanced past the second round just once in Hellebuyck’s decade-long career. Will this be the season they get over the hump?

Honorable Mention: Ron Hextall

Ron Hextall was one of the most entertaining goaltenders in the NHL and arguably one of the better netminders of his era. His best chance at winning the Stanley Cup came in the 1987 final, but his Philadelphia Flyers were up against the dynasty Edmonton Oilers, which dominated the NHL, winning Stanley Cups four times in five seasons. The Oilers beat the Flyers in seven games, but Hextall still earned the Conn Smythe Trophy for a 15-11 record, 2.76 GAA and .908 SP. 

Hextall got another Cup final appearance in 1997, but the Flyers lost to the Detroit Red Wings in four games.

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Kick off the week with rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics on The Wraparound.

Which Calder Finalist Is Most At Risk Of A Sophomore Slump? by The Wraparoundundefined

Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello and Jack Williams discussed in today's episode:

0:00: Will Brady Martin suit up for the Nashville Predators this season?

4:55: Which newcomer on the Florida Panthers has the chance to make the biggest impact this season?

8:15: Which Calder Trophy finalist from last season is most likely to have a sophomore slump?

11:32: Will Pat Verbeek and the Anaheim Ducks end up trading Mason McTavish?

15:20: Could the sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins affect the direction of the franchise?

18:40: Do the Colorado Avalanche have the pieces to be the best team in the Central Division?

22:45: Do the Boston Bruins have a defensive core to compete for a playoff spot?

27:10: Who should be the next captain of the Bruins?

29:45: Should Tyson Barrie have ever been considered for the Norris Trophy?

32:19: Do the New York Rangers have the potential for a huge bounce-back season?

See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.

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One Carolina Hurricanes trade target could look to sign a contract extension sooner rather than later. 

It wasn’t too long ago since the Hurricanes were linked as a potential suitor for Mason McTavish if he were to be on the trade block. 

According to Jimmy Murphy of RGMedia, the Hurricanes were keeping tabs on the availability of McTavish.

McTavish is a restricted free agent and has yet to sign a contract extension with the Ducks. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that a contract extension won’t get done. 

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek reportedly views McTavish as a cornerstone of the franchise.

“I can’t get into Verbeek’s head, but I don’t think he thought Zegras and Drysdale were sure things when it came to being core players,” Eric Stephens of The Athletic said. “I do believe he sees McTavish as one.”

Taylor Hall Has Felt At Home In Carolina, Leading To Contract Extension With Hurricanes There was one major positive to come out of Mikko Rantanen three-way trade between the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks for the Carolina Hurricanes. 

It’s unclear if the Hurricanes are still in the market for McTavish or if any trade talks between the Ducks and Hurricanes have ensued. 

The Montreal Canadiens are a team on the rise, and a big reason for it is their strong defensive depth. They only improved it this off-season, too, as they acquired Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders.

When looking at the Canadiens' defensemen, it is clear that they have a ton of options to work with. Thus, there will be plenty of competition at training camp once it begins. 

Recently, the NHL's official Facebook account shared their defense projections for the Canadiens, and they went with some interesting pairings.

For the Canadiens' first pairing, the NHL's account predicted that Kaiden Guhle will play on the left side, while Lane Hutson would play on the right. This pairing would make sense, as Guhle's strong defensive play would give Hutson the freedom to take plenty of chances offensively. They also have experience playing together.

For the Habs' second pairing, the NHL's account sees Mike Matheson playing alongside Noah Dobson. Having a star like Dobson playing on the second pairing would certainly spread out the Canadiens' depth on the blueline, and Matheson could work well playing with him. 

As for the Canadiens' third pairing, the NHL's account has Arber Xhekaj playing with Alexandre Carrier. With Carrier being a dependable defensive defenseman, Xhekaj could benefit playing with him as he continues to work on his development.

If this ends up being the Canadiens' defensive group on opening night, Jayden Struble would be the odd man out. With this, it is apparent that the Canadiens have plenty of solid defensemen to work with.

Nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see what their blueline ends up looking like once the season is officially here. 

Canadiens Star Lands Top 10 Rating In NHL 26Earlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens made a big splash when they acquired Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. They then quickly signed him to an eight-year, $76 million contract extension. With this, he is expected to be a major part of the Canadiens' blueline moving forward. 

Earlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens made a big splash when they acquired Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. They then quickly signed him to an eight-year, $76 million contract extension. With this, he is expected to be a major part of the Canadiens' blueline moving forward. 

Dobson has been a star throughout his career, and he has been rewarded for it. EA Sports has revealed that Dobson is one of the top 10 right-shot defenseman for NHL 26, which will be released on Sep. 12. 

Dobson earned the No. 9 spot, as EA Sports has given him an 88 overall rating. With this, he has the same rating as other star defensemen like Evan Bouchard, Colton Parayko, Moritz Seider, Dougie Hamilton, John Carlson, and Drew Doughty. That is certainly some great company. 

Cale Makar sits at 95 OVR in #NHL26.
Adam Fox trails at 90, too big of a gap? 🤔

See Defensive Ratings here: https://t.co/1ZOOUJeVAzpic.twitter.com/S004oecFDS

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 25, 2025

In 71 games this past season with the Islanders, Dobson recorded 10 goals, 29 assists, and 39 points. Overall, he put up decent numbers in 2024-25, but he is a clear bounce-back candidate heading into 2025-26. Just back in 2023-24 with the Islanders, he scored 10 goals and set career highs with 60 assists and 70 points in 79 games. If he gets his numbers back up like that in 2025-26, it would be massive for the Canadiens. 

Canadiens' Arber Xhekaj Should Hit New LevelThe Montreal Canadiens have plenty of young players who fans should pay close attention to in 2025-26. Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj is certainly one of them.

Training camp and the start of the NHL preseason will make for a pivotal few weeks for forgotten Philadelphia Flyers prospect Adam Ginning, a defenseman now lost at the bottom of the pecking order.

Ginning, 25, has played just 11 NHL games for the Flyers over the course of the last three seasons, scoring one goal.

The 6-foot-3 Swede saw the bulk of that action in the 2023-24 season as an injury replacement, featuring in nine games under now-departed head coach John Tortorella.

Last season, as we know, is a different story, as Ginning played just one game - Jan. 30 against the New York Islanders - taking just 18 shifts and playing a total of 12:48 while picking up a -1 rating.

That's hardly a sign of trust as it is, and it was further evidenced by fellow Swedish defense prospects Emil Andrae and Helge Grans earning longer cameos in the NHL with the Flyers last season.

Now, with a new head coach in Rick Tocchet coming in and John Snowden now in charge of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms operation, any good faith Ginning has built over the years has been reduced to a clean slate.

That could work in the 25-year-old's favor, but it could also doom him to another full season in the AHL.

At this point, Andrae, Grans, Nick Seeler, Travis Sanheim, Cam York, Egor Zamula, Dennis Gilbert, and, probably, Hunter McDonald are all ahead of Ginning on the organizational depth chart.

The lack of upside hurts Ginning, too, as he'll turn 26 during the season (Jan. 13), has very little NHL experience relative to his peers bar McDonald, and produces a nominal amount of offense.

Ginning sunk his chances of making the NHL roster last season with a dreary preseason marred by turnovers, inaccurate and delayed passing, and generally being a slow operator at the heart of the Flyers' defense.

Tocchet, in his only two playoff appearances as an NHL head coach, heavily utilized puck-movers like Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jakob Chychrun, Alex Goligoski, and Tyler Myers.

The defensemen who didn't move the puck as well or put up as many points were defensive foils, like Niklas Hjalmarsson, Ian Cole, Nikita Zadorov, Carson Soucy, and Jason Demers; all of whom were fairly accomplished NHL defensemen at that point.

Flyers' Next Rebuild Step Hinges on Jamie Drysdale's DevelopmentHow Jamie Drysdale plays in the 2025-26 season will, for better or worse, alter the path of this rebuilding Philadelphia Flyers team.

Noah Juulsen, too, has joined Tocchet in Philadelphia, further muddying Ginning's chances of sticking with the Flyers.

The 2018 second-round pick also has just one year remaining on his contract with the Flyers, after which he'll become a Group-6 unrestricted free agent.

And, before Ginning signed that two-year extension with the Flyers last offseason, there were well-traveled rumors that the hulking rearguard could opt to return to Sweden rather than continue to compete for an NHL future.

Based on how last year went, from preseason on, Ginning is effectively on his last chance to make it happen before a move to Sweden becomes the ideal path forward.

The Flyers welcome the competition - it will be fierce this fall - but Ginning has a long and arduous few weeks ahead of him if he is to finally stick at the NHL level.