EA SPORTS NHL has revealed the top 10 right defensemen in NHL 26.

NHL 24 cover star Cale Makar tops this list at 95 overall, five rating points higher than Adam Fox, the next closest right handed defender. 

Makar is the tied with Quinn Hughes as the highest overall defensemen and comes in as the sixth-highest rated player in NHL 26. 

The top 10 right defensemen are:

1. Cale Makar - 95 overall
2. Adam Fox - 90 overall
3. Charlie McAvoy - 89 overall
4. Evan Bouchard - 88 overall
5. Colton Parayko - 88 overall
6. Moritz Seider - 88 overall
7. Dougie Hamilton - 88 overall
8. John Carlson - 88 overall
9. Noah Dobson - 88 overall
10. Drew Doughty - 88 overall

Makar also tops this list with 95 acceleration, 94 speed, 95 deking, and 95 passing.

Seven of the 10 defenders on this list come in at 88 overall, showing the disparity between the depth of high end left and right defensemen. 

Other highlights include, Evan Bouchard  with 95 slapshot power and 93 passing, Noah Dobson with 92 acceleration, John Carlson with 93 wrist and slapshot power, and Moritz Seider with 92 body checking. 

Each of these 10 players will come with an X-Factor.

The full list of the 20 highest rated defensemen in NHL 26 and their attributes can be seen here.   

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

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

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.

In a lot of ways, the entire backend needs to be reenvisioned and reinvented. General manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas swung big in the summer of 2023 to acquire Erik Karlsson - which has come with mixed results - and with an aging Kris Letang and a whole lot of question marks in every other defensive slot, the Penguins need to both give younger guys opportunities and take chances on some blueliners in need of a change.

One of those blueliners is defenseman Matt Dumba, who the Penguins acquired from the Dallas Stars on Jul. 10. In 63 games with the Stars last season, Dumba put up one goal and 10 points and ended up a minus-5 while largely playing bottom-pair minutes. 

It wasn’t all that long ago that Dumba, 31, was playing solid hockey with the Minnesota Wild, but the last few seasons have been somewhat disastrous.

Last season, Dumba had a minus-7.3 defensive rating according to HockeyStatCards, which is - to put it quite bluntly - not ideal. In fact, it was the 11th-worst defensive rating among NHL defensemen last season. He also didn’t do much at all to contribute offensively, but that is a bit more understandable since he was playing largely bottom-pair minutes against the third and fourth lines of opposing teams.

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.

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So, is the veteran capable of having somewhat of a bounceback season for the Penguins?

The reality is that there are a lot of elements factoring into it. Of course, the largest one is that Dumba will be playing in a vastly different setting with very different expectations, as Dallas is one of the league’s premiere cup-contending teams, while Pittsburgh is in the midst of a rebuild. Naturally, that drops some of the stakes and gives him a bit more wiggle room in terms of the pressure to perform. Perhaps playing a bit looser and with less of a chip on his shoulder would benefit Dumba.

There’s also the fact that Dumba was a large topic of discussion within the trade picture last season, something that can certainly affect player performance. Now that a trade is over and done with, he shouldn’t have to worry about that until at least around deadline time, at which point he is probably hoping to perform well enough to be dealt back to a contender in the final year of his two-year, $7 million contract.

Do The Carolina Hurricanes Make Sense For Erik Karlsson?With only a few days remaining in July, all three of Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson are still on the Pittsburgh Penguins' roster. 

Also, Dumba’s deployment with the Penguins will largely depend on whether or not a Karlsson trade happens at some point, which is something that has been swirling in and out of the rumor mill. If Karlsson sticks around for the entirety of the season - and even for most of it - Dumba won’t have much room to redeem himself in a bigger role because the Penguins’ right side will be blocked with Karlsson and Letang. 

The Penguins also have an even bigger logjam on the right side, as they acquired Connor Clifton from the Buffalo Sabres on draft day this year and have younger guys like Jack St. Ivany and Harrison Brunicke in the mix during training camp, too. So it’s not just the two bigger names ahead of Dumba that he’ll have to worry about. In fact, with Karlsson in the picture, he'll likely find himself jockeying for playing time.

But even when considering his competition on the right side, his numbers - comparatively - don’t look all that terrible. For example - according to 2024-25 data from Natural Stat Trick - Dumba’s Corsi (51.44 percent), expected goals share (49.24 percent), and high-danger chances share (52.86 percent) were all higher than those of Letang’s (49.11, 46.87, and 48.29 percent, respectively). 

Granted, Dumba played against lesser competition on a better, deeper team, which certainly counts for something. But his metrics are close to pretty much every other Penguins’ defenseman but Karlsson, who has skewed-positive offensive metrics.

What Will Kris Letang’s Role Be In 2025-26?Pittsburgh Penguins’ defenseman Kris Letang has enjoyed a Hall of Fame-worthy career up to this point, and it’s no secret that his time in the National Hockey League has been met with his fair share of challenges.

Finally, there’s the coaching aspect. The Penguins have an overwhelmingly new coaching staff heading into 2025-26, and some of them - including new head coach Dan Muse and defensive coach Mike Stothers - specialize on the defensive side of the puck. 

Although it remains to be seen how much the new staff will change the team’s current system, perhaps the Penguins’ coaches will be able to get more out of Dumba this season or, at least, identify and target some problem areas of his game. The same can be said for the entirety of the Penguins’ defensive corps, which can benefit from a new set of eyes.

At the end of the day, the Dumba trade was mostly about Pittsburgh taking on his salary for one season in order to receive a 2028 second-round draft pick in return. But, if he gets the right opportunity and finds some version of his older self, he can be a decent short-term addition to their right side - and a potential deadline trade chip - this season.

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The London Knights arguably are the most coveted and highly sought-after organization in not just the OHL but the entire CHL. Young players hope to hear their name called every draft by the organization that has recently won back-to-back OHL Championships and the 2025 Memorial Cup. And now with the new NCAA rules in play, Americans are beginning to flock to the London powerhouse. 

The Knights’ training camp is officially underway, and there are a ton of new faces. The new members aren’t just the young buds from the 2025 draft class, like first-rounder Alex Campeau. The Hunter brothers have been active in recruiting players who bring experience playing at the junior level. They are successfully leveraging their organization's reputation as one of the best teams for player development in junior hockey.

London has made four notable signings of late, which include a couple of towering Russians and two older American forwards. 

Colorado Avalanche Prospect Signs With London KnightsThe retooling of the London Knights roster has been in full throttle throughout August. GM Mark Hunter has been actively signing free agents with valuable junior-level experience. Additionally, through the import draft, the team has acquired a large right-shot defenseman who was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in this past June's draft.

As camp opened up, the Knights organization announced the signing of American forward Braiden Clark to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. He is another overage free agent signing, just like Kaeden Hawkins was. They both played and developed in the USHL, but one difference between the two, Clark is coming from the NCAA. 

We've signed Braiden Clark to an OHL Scholarship & Development Agreement.

DETAILS: https://t.co/ZrPTzbjOuApic.twitter.com/JQzhQJMohz

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) August 25, 2025

Clark, 20, played at Providence College last season. It wasn’t the freshman campaign he would’ve hoped for, playing only 16 games and registering three points (1 goal, 2 assists). The forward from Ohio was slated to return to Providence, but has made the tough decision to leave the NCAA in hopes that playing as an overage forward in London will be more beneficial for his development. 

London’s overage core for the 2025-26 season now consists of three forwards: Braiden Clark, Kaeden Hawkins, and returnee Noah Aboflan. 

The additional American free agent signing came just under a week ago. The Knights recruited forward Ben Wilmott away from the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede to join their brigade for the upcoming season before he leaves for Ohio State University. 

We've signed free agent Ben Wilmott to an OHL Scholarship & Development Agreement.

DETAILS: https://t.co/amWLcdM1Bjpic.twitter.com/SnmL9Hajz8

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) August 19, 2025

Wilmott, 18, is one year younger than Clark and brings 101 games of USHL experience. He started with the Chicago Steel organization in the 2023-24 season and was traded to the Stampede at the onset of last year. In Sioux Falls, he recorded 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) in 50 games during the 2024-25 season.   

It was reported earlier in the month by Puck Preps writer Ryan Sikes that Wilmott was expected to sign with London. The depth the Knights have brought in to their forward corps will mask a bit of the blow of losing their all-stars — Easton Cowan, Denver Barkey, and Kasper Halttunen — from the past two seasons. 

Fun fact, Wilmott and Knights defenseman Henry Brzustewicz were minor hockey teammates with the North Jersey Avalanche. 

London Knights Bolster Lineup With Latest Two SigningsThere’s one thing that the London Knights don’t do: rebuild. Fresh off back-to-back OHL Championships, and several of their star players leaving the team due to graduating to the professional level or aging out of the league, don’t expect the Hunter brothers to stay quiet.

Another massive, pun intended, signing the Knights recently made was of 6-foot-8 defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii. The Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan, native signed his OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement back on Aug. 20. He is committed to the University of Maine. 

We've signed Maksim Sokolovskii to an OHL Scholarship & Development Agreement.

DETAILS: https://t.co/nlEJNpnMSspic.twitter.com/t9gypTFGFH

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) August 20, 2025

Sokolovskii, 17, was drafted 119th overall in the second round of the 2025 CHL import Draft. He came over from Russia last season to play for the Atlantic Coast Academy 16U AAA team, where he excelled, scoring 84 points (34 goals, 50 assists) in 65 games. The towering blueliner led all defensemen in points in the entire 16U AAA circuit in the USA.

Several other top European performers from that circuit have also signed with OHL clubs this summer: Andrei Gudin (Barrie), Vladimir Provorov (Sudbury), and Beksultan Makysh (Windsor). 

Sokolovskii is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, and seeing the trend of how NHL teams are coveting size on the blueline again, scouts will be following the mammoth rearguard, whether he suits up primarily in London for the 2025-26 season or not. 

London Knights Rene Van Bommel Commits To NCAA Lake Superior State University London Knights forward Rene Van Bommel has committed to Lake Superior State University in the NCAA, where he will report following the completion of his junior career in the OHL. 

Lastly, the Knights organization signed Russian forward Mikhail Zakharov to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. The Tomsk, Russia, native grew up playing minor hockey in Russia, but has been playing hockey in Ontario since the 2023-24 season, when he suited up for the Toronto Red Wings U18 AAA team. 

We've signed Mike Zakharov to an OHL Scholarship & Development Agreement.

DETAILS: https://t.co/tNk7J9y4zypic.twitter.com/0pl4g5QfKv

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) August 21, 2025

Zakharov, 18, is another player who brings size to the lineup. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 176 pounds, his presence down the middle of the ice provides London depth that they need. He played in the OJHL for the King Rebellion last season, recording 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists), and added five points (1 goal, 4 assists) in five playoff games. 

Although he was just recently drafted 103rd overall in the fifth round of the 2025 OHL Priority Selection, Zakharov is two years older than the majority of his 2009-born class. 

London understands they have an advantage in player recruitment, being who they are. Specifically, with the Americans they have signed this summer, an easy pitch is this: you will have more NHL scouts' eyes on you playing for our organization than you would anywhere else, even in the NCAA for a school like Providence. 

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Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Latest OHL News:

Why Brady Martin's Decision To Avoid The NCAA Is Justified For His DevelopmentBrady Martin’s choice to sign his entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators, foregoing his eligibility to play in the NCAA, is a decision that was maybe a bit unexpected, considering the evolving landscape. While other 2025 first-round draft picks, like Porter Martone and Roger McQueen, have opted to continue their development in the NCAA, leaving the CHL, Martin's decision to stay put in the OHL for the 2025-26 season is justified and the right call for his growth.  Top NHL Draft Prospect Adam Valentini Not To Honor OHL Commitment With KitchenerSour news hit the Kitchener Rangers organization, losing a high-end player just before training camp starts.  Brantford Bulldogs Ink Several Blueliners, Including 2025 First-Round Draft Pick David BuchmanThursday, August 21, 2025, the day of signings: that’s what we’re going to call it. 

The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results. 

Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games. 

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#18 - Topias Leinonen – Goaltender (Mora IK - Allsvenskan-SWE)

The Sabres selected Leinonen in the second round after picking three centers (Matthew Savoie, Noah Ostlund, and Jiri Kulich) in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal. Similar to his countryman and fellow second-rounder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the 6’4″, 214 lb. Leinonen is the physical package that NHL clubs are looking for in a goaltender. 

After putting up excellent numbers in Junior (2.28 GAA and .916 save percentage), he played internationally for Finland at the World Junior Under-18’s in 2022, but the next two seasons at the junior, second-level pro Mestis, and pro-level SM-Liiga, Leinonen was plagued by injury and the results have been mixed at best.

Leinonen shifted to Sweden to play for Mora IK last season, and the 21-year-old seemed to find his stride with a 2.31 GAA and .910 save percentage in 25 games. After being signed to an ELC in March, the Sabres will be looking for him to put together a consistent season in North America,  but the question is whether it will be in Rochester or ECHL Cincinnati with Devon Levi, and 2023 draftee Scott Ratzlaff battling for playing time with the Amerks. 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

EA SPORTS NHL has revealed the 10 highest rated left defensemen in NHL 26.

NHL 25 cover star Quinn Hughes tops the list at 95 overall, followed by four 92 overall defenders. 

The top 10 are:

1. Quinn Hughes - 95 overall
2. Zach Werenski - 92 overall
3. Roman Josi - 92 overall
4. Victor Hedman - 92 overall
5. Rasmus Dahlin - 92 overall
6. Miro Heiskanen - 91 overall
7. Jaccob Slavin - 90 overall
8. Josh Morrissey - 90 overall
9. Jake Sanderson - 89 overall
10. Gustav Forsling - 89 overall

Hughes is the fifth-highest rated player in NHL 26 and is three overall points higher than Werenski, Josi, Hedman, and Dahlin, the next closest left handed defenders. 

The Canucks defender also tops this list with 96 speed, 95 deking, and 97 passing. 

This is a solid list and is representative of the top 10 left defensemen. It is good to see defensive oriented players like Slavin and Forsling receive high ratings. 

Notable 'snubs' include Lane Hutson, Shea Theodore, Mikhail Sergachev, Thomas Harley, and Jakob Chychrun. 

The full list of the 20 highest rated defensemen in NHL 26 and their attributes can be seen here. 

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

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

With training camp a month away, the Ottawa Senators have signed two players with meaningful ties to the city and organization.

The Sens announced on Monday they've signed defenseman Cameron Crotty to a two-year, two-way contract and re-signed forward Jan Jenik to a one-year, two-way deal. On the surface, they’re depth moves, but both players add some nice organizational depth and come with intriguing connections.

Crotty was born in Ottawa and played his minor hockey with the Gloucester Rangers before spending two seasons with the Brockville Braves of the CCHL.

Crotty was drafted 82nd overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2017, then headed to Boston University, where he was teammates with Brady Tkachuk for a season. After three years as a Terrier, Crotty has carved out five seasons in the pro game. Last year, the well-spoken 26-year-old logged his second career NHL appearance with the Minnesota Wild, while serving as captain of their AHL affiliate in Iowa, a nice nod to his leadership.

Jenik is also a former Arizona draft pick, but his connections to the Senators' brass began before that. He was acquired last summer in exchange for Egor Sokolov, and Jenik's his arrival in Ottawa was no coincidence. The deal was pulled off by Steve Staios, who had once been Jenik’s GM with the Hamilton Bulldogs, a team then owned by Michael Andlauer.

In addition to Jenik's re-signing, the Steeltown nostalgia grew even stronger this offseason when Ottawa signed Arthur Kaliyev, Jenik’s former linemate with the Bulldogs. With Kaliyev also on a two-way deal, there’s a strong chance the duo will be reunited in Belleville, where their chemistry could make a big impact in the AHL. 

Ottawa Senators Sign Five Players, Including Former OHL Sniper Arthur KaliyevWhen the Ottawa Senators selected Shane Pinto 32nd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, some Sens fans raised an eyebrow or two, wondering if Hamilton Bulldogs winger Arthur Kaliyev might have been the better choice. Kaliyev had just put up a 51-goal OHL season, and ended up being chosen by the LA Kings with the very next pick after Pinto.

Last season, Jenik produced 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 52 games with Belleville, finishing seventh in team scoring while also appearing in two NHL games. Crotty was a steady defensive presence on Iowa's blue line, and at 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, he not only fits Ottawa's bigger-is-better credo, but he also aligns with their motto of 'you can never have enough right-shot defensemen.'

With Lassi Thomson, Carter Yakemchuk, Max Guenette, and Djibril Toure, Belleville seemed more than set on the right side. Adding another organizational righty is perhaps another hint that Nick Jensen may not be ready to start the season.

Both Jenik and Crotty will likely begin the season in Belleville, but both will be on the bubble next month and should be top call-up candidates in the event of injury.

By Steve Warne
This article originally appeared in The Hockey News-Ottawa

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Tyson Barrie has officially announced his retirement from the NHL after a career that spanned parts of 15 seasons, finishing his career as a member of the Calgary Flames.

Signed as a depth piece last fall, Barrie suited up in 13 games for Calgary in 2024-25, recording three points (1g, 2a). Though his time with the Flames was brief, his career numbers speak for themselves: 822 games played, 110 goals, and 398 assists for 508 points.

Originally drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round of the 2009 NHL Draft, Barrie went on to play for Colorado, Toronto, Edmonton, Nashville, and Calgary. Known for his puck-moving ability and offensive instincts from the blue line, he carved out a respected career that spanned over a decade.

Barrie officially retired on August 25, 2025, leaving the game as one of the most reliable offensive defensemen of his era.

Tyson Barrie announced his retirement from the NHL after a 14-season career.

Barrie, 34, participated in a 7-7 tie on Sunday between alumni for the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Pioneers. The NHL posted on Monday that Barrie called it a career.

"I was unsure about my future sort of, and yeah, it's cool," Barrie told Nathan Rudolph of DNVR Avalanche on Sunday before the alumni game. "So grateful for the career I've had and all the friends I've got to make, and good to do stuff like this now, but it is a quick turnaround. I didn't think I'd be putting my gear on for a while."

Barrie finished his NHL career as one of the most productive offensive blueliners of his time.

After the Avalanche selected Barrie 64th overall in the 2009 NHL draft, he posted 110 goals and 398 assists for 508 points in 822 regular-season games between 2011-12 and 2024-25. 

In that 14-season span, Barrie ranked 10th in points among NHL defensemen.

Barrie played 10 games in 2011-12, but he recorded his first point on Feb. 14, 2013, with an assist against the Minnesota Wild. He added another two assists against one of his future teams, the Edmonton Oilers, in the next game, then scored his first goal against another future employer, the Nashville Predators, two nights later.

He ended up with 13 points in 32 games for the Avalanche that season, then stepped it up with 38 points in 64 games in 2013-14.

But Barrie really broke out in Colorado in 2014-15, when he put up 41 assists and 53 points in 80 games while averaging 21:22 in ice time. That was the first of four 50-point campaigns and seven 40-point seasons in his career.

Barrie played 484 games for the Avalanche and had 307 points, which ranks second in scoring by a blueliner in franchise history. Cale Makar and his 428 points are first.

Colorado traded Barrie with Alexander Kerfoot and a sixth-round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen and a third-rounder in July 2019. Barrie played one season for the Leafs, scoring 39 points, before signing with Edmonton the following off-season.

Barrie led all blueliners in scoring during the shortened 2020-21 season, with 48 points in 56 games.

After parts of three seasons with the Oilers, Barrie was traded to the Predators with Reid Schaefer, a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 fourth-rounder in exchange for Mattias Ekholm and a 2024 sixth-rounder in February 2023.

Barrie played parts of two seasons in Nashville. He signed with the Calgary Flames in 2024-25, recording a goal and two assists in 13 games and adding another five points in 11 AHL games for the Calgary Wranglers.

On top of his regular-season stats, Barrie also had two goals and 19 assists for 21 points in 47 playoff games. The closest he got to winning the Stanley Cup was in 2021-22 with the Oilers, when they reached the Western Conference final.

Outside of the NHL, the Victoria, B.C., native won a gold medal at the 2015 World Championship on Team Canada, recording six points in 1`0 games. In 2017, he won silver and had seven points in three games. He also received silver at the 2011 world juniors.

Before his pro career began, Barrie was a WHL champion in 2009 and the league's top defenseman in 2010. He also played in the AHL All-Star Game in 2012. 

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Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tyson Barrie is calling it a career.

The 34-year-old is retiring after 822 games in the NHL, split between the Colorado Avalanche, Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, and Calgary Flames. Barrie, a 2009 third-round (64th overall) selection by the Avalanche, spent eight seasons with the club before being involved in a trade to Toronto in 2019.

Barrie—along with Alexander Kerfoot and a 2020 sixth-round pick (which turned out to be Joe Miller)—was shipped to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Nazem Kadri, defenseman Calle Rosen, and a 2020 third-round pick (Jean-Luc Foudy).

The right-shot defenseman spent one season in Toronto, appearing in 70 games with the club and scoring five goals and 34 assists. Barrie was fifth among Maple Leafs in points that season, only behind William Nylander, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews. 

Barrie had a difficult start with Toronto under former head coach Mike Babcock, only scoring seven assists in his first 21 games with the club. After the Maple Leafs fired Babcock on Nov. 20, 2019 and hired Sheldon Keefe, Barrie’s point total improved with him scoring five goals and 27 assists in the final 47 games of the season.

After just one season in Toronto, the defenseman became an unrestricted free agent and signed a one-year, $3.75 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers. Barrie led all NHL defensemen in points that season with 48 (eight goals and 40 assists) in 56 games.

He re-upped with the Oilers for three more seasons, but was traded to the Nashville Predators in a deal that saw Mattias Ekholm go to Edmonton in late February 2023. Barrie played out the rest of his deal in Nashville before joining the Flames on a one-year, $1.25 million contract last season.

The Victoria, BC-born defender would go on to play just 13 games with Calgary, scoring one goal and two assists while averaging just under 16 minutes of ice time per game. In 47 career NHL playoff games, Barrie tallied two goals and 19 assists with Colorado, Toronto, Edmonton, and Nashville.

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After spending almost two months as a free agent, former St. Louis Blues forward Zach Sanford has found his new home.

Sanford has a one-year contract with HC Lugano of Switzerland's National League, the overseas club has announced. 

Sanford was acquired by the Blues during the 2016-17 season in the trade that sent defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk to the Washington Capitals. Following this move, Sanford became a solid part of the Blues' roster. 

In 183 games over four seasons with the Blues, Sanford recorded 36 goals, 35 assists, 71 points, and 230 hits. This included setting career highs with 16 goals, 14 assists, and 30 points in 58 games with the Blues during the 2019-20 season. He was also a part of the Blues' Stanley Cup winning team in 2019. 

Sanford's time with the Blues ended when he was traded to the Ottawa Senators in September of 2021. Following his time with the Blues, he had stints with the Senators, Winnipeg Jets, Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes, and Chicago Blackhawks. His last appearance at the NHL level was in 2023-24.

Now, Sanford is taking his talents overseas, where he should be a key part of HC Lugano's roster. 

Blues' Projected Top Six Looks Very GoodRecently, the NHL's official Facebook account shared what they think will end up being the St. Louis' Blues top six for this upcoming season. When looking at it, there is no question that it looks very good.

Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Zach Sanford is taking his talents overseas. 

HC Lugano of Switzerland's National League have announced that they have signed Sanford to a one-year contract for the 2025-26 season. 

Sanford, 30, spent all of this past season at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Rockford IceHogs. In 70 games with the AHL squad in 2024-25, he recorded 19 goals, 24 assists, and 43 points. He also had three goals and eight points in seven playoff games for Rockford this spring.

Sanford appeared in 18 games with the Blackhawks during the 2023-24 season, posting four assists, 17 hits, and a minus-3 rating. He also played in 13 games with the IceHogs in 2023-24, recording three goals and six points. 

Sanford will now look to make an impact with HC Lugano after landing this one-year deal with the overseas club. It will be interesting to see what kind of year he has from here. 

Blackhawks Star Ranked Among Best NHL Players Born In 2000sThe NHL Network recently ranked the top 25 players born during the 2000s. Without any surprise, Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard made the cut.

EDMONTON - Many great players have come and gone.

The Edmonton Oilers have had their fair share of elite players. From Wayne Gretzky to Mark Messier and Grant Fuhr, many talented players who once wore Oilers colors have hung up their skates.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

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Now, Tyson Barrie can be added to the list.

NHL (@NHL) on XAfter 822 NHL games, Tyson Barrie is calling it a career. 👏 Best of luck in retirement!

It's official - the former Oilers defender is officially done playing hockey. In addition to the Oilers, he spent time playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, and Calgary Flames.

In 190 games for the Oilers he recorded 132 points, including 61 on the powerplay. He was traded to the Predators in the deal that saw Mattias Ekholm arrive in Edmonton.

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The Anaheim Ducks have had one of the most transformative offseasons in the NHL. They’ve parted ways with two former core pieces (Trevor Zegras and John Gibson) of their roster and replaced them with four new players (Chris Kreider, Mikael Granlund, Ryan Poehling, and Petr Mrazek) set to play various and specific roles throughout the lineup.

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In addition to the roster changes, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek let Greg Cronin go as head coach after two seasons, including last season (2024-25), where they made a 21-point jump in the standings and totaled 80 points for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

To replace Cronin behind the Ducks' bench will be the second-winningest coach in NHL history, Joel Quenneville. With him, Quenneville brought in three new members of the coaching staff, including former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft to run the forwards and power play, Ryan McGill to run the defensemen and penalty kill, and Andrew Brewer, who was the video coach for the Florida Panthers during Quenneville’s time there.

All these changes were made with a stated goal in mind: to put an elongated rebuild to rest and make the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons.

A glance at the roster will indicate the Ducks will be relying on internal growth from their most talented young players, and for those players to drive play while surrounded by insulating veterans.

In an offseason with so much change and a lofty goal for the following campaign, the roster still feels incomplete, and the Ducks still have the most projected cap space in the NHL ($20.54 million).

However, the Ducks don’t have a lot of room to add pieces, as their top nine forward group is full and more are awaiting an opportunity, the cupboard of NHL-caliber defensemen is overflowing, and they have two capable backups behind starting goaltender Lukas Dostal.

If everything goes according to plan, an imposing qualifier in and of itself, the roster may be good enough to compete for a playoff spot as is. However, there are a few obvious areas ripe for upgrades (or further upgrades). One impact piece (at least) could be enough to put them over the top.

Top Line Impact Winger

The acquisition of Chris Kreider was made to address the Ducks’ severe need for goalscoring, specifically of the net front variety. The hope is that with improved health from producing at a career-low, his 2024-25 season will prove a blip, and he will return to a similar scoring rate as in his previous three seasons, where he exceeded 35 goals in each year.

Mikael Granlund is another forward coming off a string of successful seasons, eclipsing the 60-point mark in three of the last four years. He’ll provide a versatile and complementary two-way presence wherever he lands in the lineup.

Kreider and Granlund will look to provide positive impacts, but even with potential breakout seasons from the Ducks’ trio of young top-six forwards (Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish), a dynamic offensive talent could provide a critical boost to the rest of the depth chart.

The drawback is that players of that ilk are rare finds, and either have to be acquired in the draft or will demand considerable assets in exchange on the trade market. They are very seldom available during free agency.

A winger to connect with and fill the gaps in Carlsson’s game could springboard his potential transformation into a superstar center. Perhaps a play-driving transition winger could elevate the impact of McTavish’s motor and battling prowess, allowing him to take the next steps toward realizing his potential as well; the Ducks’ version of Jake Guentzel for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Jesper Bratt for the New Jersey Devils, Carter Verhaeghe for the Panthers, etc.

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Two-Way Center

Ryan Poehling will likely provide an abundance of energy and defensive prowess from the bottom of the lineup, but unless he discovers untapped offense capabilities, he likely won’t find himself in matchup situations against opposing top lines. And the Ducks will be facing some potent ones in the Western Conference between Connor McDavid’s line in Edmonton, Nathan MacKinnon’s line with the Colorado Avalanche, Jack Eichel’s line with the Vegas Golden Knights, etc.

Granlund has defensive qualities to his game and the capability to play center; however, he may not be best suited for a true shutdown role.

A center who can kill plays and limit defensive zone time against the NHL’s top offensive juggernauts while providing quick-strike depth offense could be a key to unlocking the full potential of the rest of the lineup; the Ducks version of Phillip Danault for the Los Angeles Kings, William Karlsson for the Knights, Anton Lundell for the Panthers, etc.

Top Pair Defenseman (Preferably Right Shot)

The Ducks' blueline is brimming with young, dazzling, offensive talent. Jackson LaCombe experienced a breakout season a year ago, and the path is clear for Olen Zellweger and/or Pavel Mintyukov to do the same this year. All three players are left shots.

On the right side, Jacob Trouba, Radko Gudas, and Drew Helleson are all seemingly tasked with assuming more defensive-oriented roles on the backend.

The potential pitfall of that configuration is the reliance on young players to take pronounced steps in their development with questionable insulation. Trouba and Gudas are over 30 years old and in the later stages of their careers, which never included roles as top shutdown options, while Helleson will need considerable seasoning if he’s to eventually evolve into one.

A defender with the ability to kill breakouts in the offensive zone, transitions through the neutral zone, cycles in the offensive zone, fend off strong forechecks, and make simple plays will elevate whichever offensive dynamo he’s paired with and properly slot the rest of the blueline in more suitable roles; the Ducks’ version of Jaccob Slavin for the Carolina Hurricanes, Devon Toews for the Avalanche, Mattias Ekholm for the Oilers, etc.

If the goal is to make the playoffs, and a player fitting any of the above descriptions is made available, it may be high time for Verbeek to pull that trigger.

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