The Chicago Blackhawks have one of their core forwards locked in for a long time now that Frank Nazar has agreed to terms on a seven-year extension. 

This deal for Nazar, which kicks in during the 2026-27 season, is worth $6.59 million per year against the cap. This deal was earned with his impressive play down the stretch last season. 

Nazar's deal makes NHL history as it is the largest contract given to a forward with his level of experience. His extension comes at a time when he has only 56 career games. 

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet detailed it on social media, explaining how it broke the record set by Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild. 

Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) on XGreetings from Milan…site of the NHL/NHLPA European media tour. Some news: hearing Chicago is closing in on an extension for Frank Nazar — a key building block of its rebuild.  Going to be somewhere above $6M AAV; a couple of sources indicating it will be the largest contractElliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) on XKaprizov current deal is 5 x $9M (55 games) Nazar will be 7 x $6.59+ (slightly above $46M)

It's a gamble in a lot of ways, but Nazar's skill, speed, attitude, and tenacity make him worth the risk. Young players with his level of production, especially towards the end of 2024-25, get paid handsomely nowadays. 

Now that Nazar is paid and has some stability with his hockey home, he can focus on playing the game and getting better with each passing day. It may not be long before this contract is considered to be extremely "team-friendly".

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

The name that has been circling the internet all summer has officially made an appearance on an NHL Network list. The Top 20 Centers Right Now countdown features Golden Knights star Jack Eichel at No. 6. 

A career-high 94 points has Jack Eichel moving up to #⃣6⃣ on our Top 20 Centers Right Now list! @GoldenKnights | #NHLTopPlayerspic.twitter.com/2D2xT7MSpn

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 20, 2025

The 28-year-old center has truly made his mark in this organization, proving consistent improvement every season. Though not one of the “Original Misfits”, he continues to be a fan favorite in the community. 

Playing a total of 241 games during four regular seasons in Vegas, Eichel put up some impressive numbers showing his reliability on the ice.  After his departure from the Buffalo Sabres back in 2021, Eichel had 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) at the end of the regular season. 

Jack Eichel, Stanley Cup champion pic.twitter.com/EfAdwFF1AV

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 14, 2023

He played a significant role in the historic championship run for the Knights the following year. He posted 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) in the regular season and led the team in postseason scoring with 26 points in 22 playoff games. 

This past season marked a breakout year—his best yet. Over 77 games he racked up a career-high 94 points (28 goals, 66 assists). 

Eichel continues to be an invaluable asset to the Vegas community. He’s a regular presence at youth hockey camps and actively participates in the annual Battle for Vegas charity event. The buzz around him certainly isn’t just hype; it’s earned.

EXCLUSIVE: Jack Eichel Talks Summer Vacation, Starting Camp With Newest Knight Mitch MarnerLAS VEGAS -- Golden Knights star Jack Eichel knows what it means to leave an organization and city that brought you into the NHL, and then having to start over in a brand-new city.

The goaltender is arguably the most important position in hockey. Across the NHL, there are several elite netminders, guiding their respective teams to victory.

At the end of every season, the best goaltender is awarded the Vezina Trophy. The winner is decided by a vote consisting of all 32 GMs in the NHL.

While it may be too early for anyone to confidently predict the winner of the 2025-26 Vezina Trophy, BetMGM has the futures odds. The goalies with the top five odds are on another tier from the rest.

Here’s why these five candidates could and couldn’t be crowned goaltender of the year.

Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

It should surprise no one that the 2024-25 Hart Trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck, is the odds-on favorite on BetMGM to win the Vezina Trophy next season, at 4.10 odds (+310). 

Why he could win: The Winnipeg Jets goaltender has proved to be the best in the NHL over the last two seasons. He’s won the Vezina Trophy in both seasons, and he will go for his third straight and fourth total.

Among goaltenders who have played at least 25 games last season, Hellebuyck led the NHL in goals-against average (2.00) and was second best in save percentage (.925 percent).

Why he couldn’t win: Winning the Vezina as many times as he did forces Hellebuyck to continuously outperform his peers between the pipes. The 32-year-old has put himself on a pedestal, and the moment he can’t play up to his standards, even if it is above-average in comparison to the rest of the NHL, he could lose his title. Other top-tier goalies can put up an excellent season as well.

Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers

Igor Shesterkin is entering his seventh season with the New York Rangers and his first under his new contract extension, which is worth a goalie-high $11.5 million per year. His odds of winning the Vezina this upcoming season are 7.75 (+675).

Why he could win: Shesterkin has won the Vezina Trophy before. It was in the 2021-22 season when he recorded a 2.07 GAA and a .935 SP. Since that campaign, Shesterkin has had two top-10 Vezina finishes. He ranked seventh in the NHL in goals saved above expected last season, with 21.6, according to moneypuck.com, even though he had somewhat of a down year by his standard.

Why he couldn’t win: Shesterkin's goals against average and save percentage have regressed since winning the Vezina in 2022. Last season, he ended with a .905 SP and 2.86 GAA, the worst of his career so far. Those numbers aren't respectable for a Vezina candidate.

Five NHL Goaltenders With The Most To Prove In 2025-26With the skill level and speed at which the current game is played, NHL goaltenders have struggled to perform at a high level season-to-season.

Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning

Following his fellow Russian, BetMGM lists Andrei Vasilevskiy with 8.50 odds (+750) to win the Vezina. 

Why he could win: Vasilevskiy has been in the Vezina Trophy conversation for nearly his entire career. Besides winning it in 2018-19, the Tampa Bay Lightning netminder has had six other top-10 finishes for the award, four of them in the top three.

To win this trophy, goalies need help from teammates, and it’s no secret that the Lightning are a top team. Since Vasilevskiy’s NHL debut, Tampa Bay has only missed the playoffs once.

Why he couldn’t win: While the 31-year-old has been an elite goaltender for years, the Lightning have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for three straight years now, which could be a sign of the team getting weaker. That could ultimately affect Vasilevskiy’s numbers and chances at earning his second career Vezina.

Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars

Devan Dubnyk's predicted winner for the Vezina Trophy, Jake Oettinger, has 16.00 odds (+1500) of winning the award for the first time in 2025-26.

Why he could win: For the last few years, the Stars have been one of the best teams in the league, making the Western Conference final for three straight seasons. With Oettinger being just as impressive as Dallas’ D-corpsand the rest of his team, it’s a great recipe for him to stand out in the list of top goaltenders in the NHL.

Why he couldn’t win: Even though the 26-year-old has been consistently solid for the Stars, he needs to reach the next level and be consistently elite. All the winners of the Vezina Trophy in the last five years have recorded a .920 SP or better. Oettinger has not been able to reach that level just yet. Last year's 2.59 GAA and .909 SP aren't strong enough.

Why The NHL's Stanley Cup Favorites Could Or Couldn't WinEntering a new NHL season, all 32 teams begin with the same record, but each of them has different goals.

Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames

Coming off an impressive rookie campaign, Dustin Wolf of the Calgary Flames has 19.00 odds (+1800) of winning the Vezina in his sophomore season.

Why he could win: Wolf will have to use his underdog title to his advantage in the race to win the 2025-26 Vezina Trophy. While it may feel like a long shot, he could be considered for the award with a stellar season. He was tied for the 10th-best save percentage (.910) last season, so if he continues to trend upward, he can reach another level.

Why he couldn’t win: The 24-year-old is going into his sophomore season. It’ll be a tremendous challenge for him to enter the conversation of the Vezina Trophy, never mind winning the award outright, especially considering opponents scouted him in his rookie year.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report has released his latest NHL Trade Block Big Board for the month of August. Among the 15 players who made Richardson's trade board is Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson. 

Seeing Matheson among the players on this trade board is not necessarily surprising, as he has been the subject of trade speculation throughout this off-season. With the Canadiens having several young defensemen and Matheson entering the final year of his contract, there have naturally been questions about his future in Montreal. 

Yet, if the Canadiens were to trade Matheson during this off-season, it would undoubtedly come with risk. The 31-year-old is still an important veteran and leader on the Canadiens' blueline, so his absence would be felt if he were to be moved. 

In 80 games this past season with the Canadiens, Matheson recorded six goals, 25 assists, and 31 points. This was after the left-shot defenseman scored 11 goals and set career highs with 51 assists and 62 points in 82 games with the Canadiens during the 2023-24 season.

Nevertheless, with Matheson entering next season as a pending UFA, some fans will naturally wonder if the Canadiens could trade him by next year's deadline. Yet, a contract extension would put the trade rumors surrounding Matheson to bed. It will be interesting to see what happens with him from here. 

Canadiens Are 2 Moves Away From Perfect Off-SeasonIt has been an excellent off-season for the Montreal Canadiens. They most notably acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson and promising young winger Zack Bolduc in separate trades. They also improved their depth by bringing in Joe Veleno, Sammy Blais, and Kaapo Kahkonen through free agency.

Over the past week, TheHockeyNews.com has examined prospect goaltenders and defensemen who look ready to make the jump to being full-time NHLers.

Now, it’s time to see the wingers who look to join that group, and they’re an exciting bunch.

As for the criteria, it’s the same as the defensemen list, so these players must have been either AHL or NCAA regulars last season, still eligible for the Calder Trophy and are at least 20 years old. 

Without further ado, here are five breakthrough wingers for the 2025-26 NHL season.

Matt Savoie, Edmonton Oilers

Everywhere Edmonton Oilers prospect Matt Savoie has played, he’s found success. He averaged more than a point per game in the United States League and WHL in juniors. By the end of his first full AHL season in Bakersfield, the 2021 ninth overall pick from the Buffalo Sabres has blossomed into a player ready to make that jump to the NHL.

There are still questions about Savoie’s game at the next level. 

Will his diminutive 5-foot-9 stature hinder his ability to remain an offensive threat? Can he create consistently at the NHL level rather than rely on being an off-the-puck finisher? 

These questions are valid, but they’re so far overblown by all accounts. 

Savoie has the skating, the smarts, the deception and the skill to be a capable offensive second-line-caliber guy. 

Even if Savoie tops out as more of a supplementary offensive player, we’ve seen players in that mold succeed on first lines next to genuine stars, such as Capitals playmaker Dylan Strome next to Alex Ovechkin last season or previously, Mike Hoffman with Mark Stone on the Ottawa Senators. 

With Zach Hyman potentially missing time next season recovering from wrist surgery, Savoie could have opportunities to play with the best of the best, such as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Savoie is listed as the third-best right winger on the Oilers' depth chart in The Hockey News’ 2025 Yearbook & Fantasy Guide. 

Gabe Perreault, New York Rangers

In Gabe Perreault’s draft year, he netted the most points in USA Hockey National Team Development Program history with 132 over 63 games. He beat out a plethora of NHL stars, such as Auston Matthews (117 in 60), Jack Eichel (87 in 53) and NHL 26 cover star Matthew Tkachuk (95 in 65), to name a few. 

Unlike those mentioned above who were selected well within the top 10 of the NHL draft, Perreault fell to the New York Rangers at 23rd overall.

Draft concerns included his skating, a lack of bulk and how he’d do without his NTDP linemates, Washington Capitals pick Ryan Leonard and the San Jose Sharks’ Will Smith. 

While his skating has marginally improved, and he’s become more physically engaged and mature with time, the concerns surrounding Perreault’s reliance on his linemates are worth amplifying. Since Smith’s arrival in San Jose, Perreault’s stat line from his first to second seasons in the NCAA fell by 12 points. Given this, Perreault’s lack of significant skating improvements may hinder his truly elite upside. He should be more well-rounded to fit lower in the lineup.

With the Rangers’ youth movement in full swing, The Hockey News projects Perreault as the No. 2 right winger on the team. Given this opportunity, Perreault should succeed despite his skating, as he has the tools and hockey sense to become a high-end cerebral playmaker at the NHL level.

NHL Prospect Pool Overview ’25-26: Catch Up On Every Team’s PipelineThe NHL prospect pool overview series is our annual summer series breaking down every team's prospect pipeline.

Ville Koivunen, Pittsburgh Penguins

Ville Koivunen’s stock has skyrocketed with the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

He was overlooked when the Carolina Hurricanes included him in the trade to Pittsburgh for beloved star forward Jake Guentzel at the 2024 trade deadline. While the 2021 second-round pick averaged close to a point per game in Finland in 2023-24, he struggled to produce in an AHL stint the season before. However, from the moment he joined the Baby Pens in the AHL, things took off.

In his first full-time AHL season, Koivunen led the Penguins' affiliate in points with 56. This led to an eight-game NHL call-up where he put up seven assists thanks to his exceptional vision and deception. 

Koivunen is ranked as the No. 1 left winger on the Penguins, and one would have to imagine what a full season next to Sidney Crosby could do to fast-track his development. 

Bradly Nadeau, Carolina Hurricanes

Drafted late in the QMJHL, USHL and even his home province’s Maritime Junior Hockey League, Nadeau quickly rose to prominence in the BCHL, scoring 45 goals and 68 assists for 113 points over 54 games in his draft year. 

The impressive play led to him being drafted 30th overall in 2023 by the Hurricanes. He was considered a project player at the time.

Just one year later, Nadeau made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes after a seismic 46-point rookie campaign in the NCAA with the University of Maine. 

Needing some more seasoning, Nadeau played his age-19 season in the AHL with Chicago and very quickly adapted to the pro game, adding more physicality and playmaking to his game alongside his dangerous shot. 

Given this, it wouldn’t be surprising if Nadeau sneaks onto the Hurricanes roster out of camp despite being ranked as the No. 5 right winger on the team in the 2025 Yearbook.

Five Goalies Poised To Break Into The NHL Full-Time In 2025-26Anticipate a wave of newer faces looking to prove themselves in net this NHL season.

Liam Ohgren, Minnesota Wild

When Liam Ohgren got the call-up to the Minnesota Wild after a string of injuries last season, the 2022 19th overall pick made them count. 

The six-foot left winger showed off his speed, willingness to engage physically and a deceptive, NHL-level shot. By season’s end, the 21-year-old amassed 24 more games of experience in the big league, scoring two goals and three assists. 

Ohgren’s work rate has seemingly transitioned off the ice as well as the youngster looks swole in off-season training photos. The additional bulk and conditioning might be just enough of what Ohgren needs to make the Wild’s bottom six full-time next season. He’s currently positioned as the No. 5 left winger in THN’s Yearbook.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

As training camp nears, the Detroit Red Wings face a crucial decision of who will fill in as the first-line left wing.

The Detroit Red Wings are a little under a month away from in-game action as they prepare for training camp and pre-season. One of the few remaining question marks left in the Detroit lineup is the top line left wing spot. It's unclear as of right now who will occupy the left wing of Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin with fewer solutions becoming available. 

The team reportedly hopes to keep their second line of Marco Kasper, Patrick Kane, and Alex DeBrincat intact, as the trio showed strong chemistry and offensive potential last season. With that line likely staying together, the coaching staff will need to look elsewhere to fill the top-line left wing role. Whether that means promoting from within, giving a young prospect a shot, or making a late offseason move. There are still several names in the mix, and each brings a different set of strengths and risks to consider. 

Red Wings' Larkin Cracks NHL Network’s Top 20 Centres List for 2025Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin named to NHL Network's top 20 centres list for 2025

Veteran Netfront Presence in van Riemsdyk

The early lineup reports have recent Red Wings' add James van Riemsdyk on the top line left wing spot and this does make a bit of sense. During last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, van Riemsdyk occasionally played top line minutes at times with Sean Monahan and it worked out quite well for them. JVR posted 16 goals, his highest total in three seasons, and finished with 36 points, marking the eighth time he was able to do so in his last nine seasons. 

It's not an elite option like they were hoping for but a big body in front to screen the goaltender could help boost the production of the other forwards getting better openings same for defenceman like Moritz Seider or Simon Edvinsson from the point. 

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

Rookie Opportunity

One potential option that some contending teams have been rumored to be exploring is giving a big chance to an up-and-coming prospect for top line minutes with two elite linemates. This can hopefully fast track their development and work as a low-cost option on an entry-level deal compared to a player with millions coming in against the cap. The back-to-back Western Conference Champion Edmonton Oilers are rumored to be experimenting with this as they would like to give high-end prospect Isaac Howard a chance to carve out a meaningful role. 

This is expected to be a role on the top line with one of the best players in the league in Connor McDavid with the elite Zach Hyman on his opposite wing. The Red Wings have several options they could use for this method like former first round pick Nate Danielson or former third round pick Carter Mazur, who are both expected to contend for NHL roster spots this September. 

Yzerman, Red Wings Parts Ways with In-State Standout, Signs with Sabres AffiliateThe Detroit Red Wings lose rights to former draft pick and Michigan State captain Red Savage as he signs with Sabres AHL affiliate.

Sign Fabbri? Offer Sheet McTavish? Max Pacioretty?

There are still several options on the market worth exploring for the position. Veterans like Max Pacioretty or Tomas Tatar, both possibly nearing unofficial retirement, remain available. There are also younger reclamation projects such as former first-round pick Jakub Vrana who could offer some upside. 

Another intriguing possibility is bringing back former Red Wing Robby Fabbri. Despite being limited to just 44 games last season due to an upper-body injury, he could be an option if healthy as he had his most productive years in Detroit. From 2020 to 2024, Fabbri recorded 127 points with 61 goals in 234 games. His 61 goals rank third and his points rank sixth on the team during that span, all while averaging just under 16 minutes of ice time per game. His 0.54 points per game average suggests he could potentially reach the 45 to 50 point range in a larger role. Fabbri could be a low-cost, short-term experiment who could easily be moved down the lineup if it does not work out. 

Lastly, the most unlikely option is trying to put in an offer sheet for Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish. The young, growing talent is a restricted free agent with the Red Wings having been involved in trade talks with for some time. Not much news has come out about the situation since but as we draw very close to the season it seems unlikely he will be moved.

“My Heart Beat Faster”: Sergei Fedorov Recaps Finding Out Of Jersey Retirement NewsThe iconic No. 91 jersey of former Detroit Red Wings forward Sergei Fedorov will soon be taking its rightful place in the rafters of Little Caesars Arena, and will be displayed alongside the eight previously retired numbers that include his teammates Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom.

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Not long after the graduation of Matvei Michkov, the Philadelphia Flyers once again have a top five NHL prospect in their system.

Prospect savants EliteProspects recently released their latest list of the top 100 NHL-drafted prospects, featuring Flyers picks ranging from Jett Luchanko to Alex Bump.

But, to find the first Flyers prospect on the list, you won't have to read very long at all.

Forward Porter Martone, drafted sixth overall by the Flyers in the 2025 NHL Draft in June, placed fourth overall on EliteProspects's ranking.

The only players ahead of the 18-year-old future Flyers star are 2024 first-round pick Ivan Demidov and 2025 draft classmates Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa. Not too shabby, huh?

Notably, Martone ranked ahead of players like Ryan Leonard, Zeev Buium, Beckett Sennecke, James Hagens, Michigan State University teammate Cayden Lindstrom, and Tij Iginla.

Flyers Reportedly Rejected Islanders Trade to Secure Porter MartoneThe Philadelphia Flyers were open to lots of things ahead of the NHL Draft, but, ultimately, a bold New York Islanders trade offer wasn't enough to pull them away from selecting Porter Martone with the sixth overall pick.

Players like Brady Martin and Anton Frondell didn't even crack the top 20 in this ranking.

"Porter Martone understands hockey at a deeper level than most. He knows where to be, how to move, and where to pass to break the opposition’s coverage and score," EliteProspects director of North American scouting Mitch Brown wrote.

"Not only does he have all the necessary tools to play in the NHL, but his hockey sense grades as elite. If he can become more physical and add pace to his game, he should become a top-line play-driver."

Should Martone take that next step as Brown suggests, he'll provide with the Flyers with yet another elite player on the wings alongside Matvei Michkov.

Martone, of course, would be the second star prospect at the position in the last two years for the Flyers, succeeding Michkov.

The Flyers would love to add more high-end talent down the middle to get the puck to those guys, but it's not as if they don't have it all.

Flyers' Porter Martone Badly Snubbed in Ranking of Top NCAA ProspectsTop Philadelphia Flyers prospect Porter Martone will undoubtedly be one of the most exciting young prospects playing in the NCAA this season, but, strangely, some would disagree.

Plus, Brown predicted Luchanko would eventually take over as a second-line center for the Flyers in the near future, particularly due to his unobstructed path to the role.

A new addition like Trevor Zegras might have something to say about that, but there are no guarantees the former Anaheim Duck is a long-term solution with only one year remaining on his contract.

So long as Martone continues to progress in the NCAA, as widely expected, the Flyers will be in a good position to contend for a Stanley Cup for a long time.

Expect the No. 6 overall pick to see NHL ice as soon as this upcoming spring after his freshman season in the NCAA.

It seems Emil Bemström’s time in North America has come to an end.

It was reported last week by Henrik Sjöberg of HockeyNews.se that Bemström will return to Europe. But he won't be playing in his home country of Sweden as many people would expect him to do.

Instead, Bemström will take his talents to Switzerland and play for SC Bern of the Swiss National League per Sjöberg. Bern has been playing since 1931 and is widely considered the most successful franchise in the NL. The team has yet to make it official, and he's not listed on their roster.

After being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in February of 2024, he played a total of 38 games, scoring 3 goals and totaling 6 points. He was not tendered a contract by Pittsburgh this summer. 

In Columbus he played in 242 games. He scored 34 goals and had 75 points. Unfortunately for Bemström, he could never get it to click in the NHL. 

In the AHL is where he really excelled. For the Cleveland Monsters, he played in 33 games and had a total of 47 points. For the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season, he had 48 points in 48 games. 

It seems young Bemström was just good enough for the AHL, but just not quite good enough to make it work in the NHL. 

He's still young at 26, so I wouldn't write off Emil Bemström making an NHL return just yet. 

Let us know what you think below.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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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. 

Other Sabres Stories

Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Lawson Crouse 

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

#22 - Simon-Pier Brunet - D (Drummondville - QMJHL)

Brunet was the Sabres fourth-round pick at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas. A teammate of Buffalo blueline prospect Vsevolod Komarov, the 6’2” 196 lb. defenseman had not shown much of an offensive side in the first two years of his junior career, posting just 17 points in 99 games before being drafted, but last season the 19-year-old posted 32 points (8 goals, 24 assists) in 60 games with Drummondville of the QMJHL. 

Brunet does have the size and skating ability that could have develop into a matchup shutdown defender down the line. In June, the 6’2”, 196 blueliner was dealt by the Voltigeurs to Victoriaville, where he will play next season, but reports indicate that after next season he will head to the NCAA to play at Merrimack College.  

The Sabres obviously recognize the organizational need for right-handed blueliners with their top four defenders in Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Bowen Byram, and Owen Power all left-handed, that is why they have drafted predominantly righties (Radim Mrtka, David Bedkowski, Adam Kleber, Brunet, Maxim Strbak, Gavin McCarthy, and Komarov) in the last four drafts.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo

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The 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.

On Monday, the Knights organization announced the signing of Swedish blueliner Linus Funck to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. London used their first-round selection (58th overall) in the 2025 CHL Import Draft to take Funck. He is the 13th player from the first round of the draft to sign in the OHL for the upcoming season. 

We've signed @Avalanche prospect Linus Funck to an OHL Scholarship & Development Agreement.

DETAILS: https://t.co/2gTiBb6xevpic.twitter.com/J5FZup0BJu

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) August 18, 2025

Funck, 18, was taken 118th overall in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Avalanche. He played in Sweden’s top junior league (J20 Nationell) for the Lulea HF organization. Funck led his team in scoring amongst defensemen with 28 points (5 goals, 23 assists) in 48 games. Also, he wasn’t afraid to mix it up from time to time, a trait the Hunter brothers will adore, recording 59 penalty minutes. 

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.

“Defensively, Funck shows good awareness and positioning within his own end. He’s quick on puck retrievals and shows great intensity when battling for the puck in the corners and down low. He anticipates and kills plays very well and does a great job of quickly transitioning to offense. While he has some bite, if he adds a little more strength to his game, he could become even more of a threat on the backend.” 

Peter Baracchini, a writer for The Hockey Writers, wrote a draft profile for Funck. The above quote is just a snippet describing Funck’s value on the defensive side of the puck. In his article, he mentions that the Swede is a pass-first kind of player, but does a good job at walking the blueline to find open shooting lanes. 

The Hunter brothers love size on their blueline. Funck stands at 6-foot-3 and 183 pounds. Pair that with his fluid mobility and you have a right-shot defenseman who can shut down attacks swiftly with his feet and reach. 

London has had one of the best bluelines in the OHL for a few years now. Their depth was unmatched. However, Oliver Bonk, Cam Allen, and most likely Sam Dickinson, won’t be back. The opportunity for Colorado’s fourth-rounder to play top-four minutes is there, as the Knights arguably only have one right-shot defenseman — Henry Brzustewicz — capable of handling those minutes. 

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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.  Kingston Frontenacs Bolster Blueline With Top-Four Defenseman Jack Brauti We are just under two weeks away from the start of the 2025 OHL preseason. Training camps are just around the corner, and the Kingston Frontenacs recognized the need to add a top-four defenseman to their lineup ahead of the 2025-26 season.  Peterborough Petes Sign Leon Kolarik; Import Roster CompleteThe Peterborough Petes have finalized their import roster for the upcoming 2025-26 season. The club will have three brand new imports who will get their first taste of CHL action in just a few weeks. And interestingly enough, all three are eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. 

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby may be entering his 21st NHL season, but he is still a legitimate superstar. He had another fantastic season in 2024-25 for the Penguins, as he recorded 33 goals, 58 assists, and 91 points in 80 games. This was the 20th season in a row that Crosby produced at an over a point per game pace, which is an NHL record.

With Crosby once again being one of the NHL's most dominant players in 2024-25, he has rightfully made the NHL Network's latest Top 20 Centers Right Now list.

Crosby earned the No. 5 spot on the NHL Network's list, ranking ahead of other star centers like Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, and Brayden Point. Crosby also moved up, as he was No. 6 on the NHL Network's list last year. 

Our Top 20 Centers Right Now list has a total of:
• 12 Stanley Cups
• 5 Conn Smythe Trophies
• 10 Ted Lindsay Awards
• 8 Hart Trophies
• 8 Art Ross Trophies
• 7 Maurice Richard Trophies
• 3 Selke Trophies

What do you think of our list?@NHL | #NHLTopPlayerspic.twitter.com/7xSsx0hpuh

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 20, 2025

While Crosby is now 38 years old, he has not shown any signs of slowing down. He is easily still one of the NHL's best players, and it will be fascinating to see what kind of year he can have with the Penguins in 2025-26 from here. 

Report: Former Penguins Defender Heading OverseasFormer Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta has reportedly found his new home and will be taking his talents overseas.

For a third year, Montreal Canadiens player Juraj Slafkovsky was named the hockey player of the year in his native Slovakia. The 21-year-old might not have met his expectations in the last season, but he did well enough to catch the eye of the voters. The title is awarded each year through a voting process by the Slovak Hockey Association.

He had already won the distinction in 2022 and in 2024 when he cleaned up at the Slovakia Hockey gala, winning the Best Under 20 Player and the Best Forward award as well.

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In his third NHL season, the left winger managed to score 51 points, a one-point improvement over his second season output. The power forward spent most of the season on Nick Suzuki’s wing alongside Cole Caufield, but once again had a slow start. His play picked up later in the season as he started playing a more physical game.

In a recent interview, he mentioned that he would be satisfied if he managed to score between 65 and 70 points. This would be quite an improvement, but given the fact that the Canadiens should have a more menacing top six this season, which should take some of the pressure away from the top line, it might just be doable.

The youngster also said that he needs to stop talking about what he must do and start doing it on the ice, echoing the statements of many fans on social media. Ivan Demidov’s presence should bring some much-needed internal competition for the top line role on the left. If Slafkovsky falters, the young Russian will be ready and willing to step into the role.

In February, the winger will be heading to Milano-Cortina to represent Slovakia in the Olympics. This should be great motivation for the player, who was a standout performer at the 2022 games, having picked up seven goals in as many matches, which led his country to a bronze medal. It was that performance that caught the eye of the hockey world and helped make him the first-overall selection at the 2022 draft. The Slovaks will be hoping for another medal finish this time around, but with the NHL players being back in the fold, powerhouses like Canada and the USA should find their way back to the podium, making their task much harder.

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Recently, the NHL's official Facebook account shared their top six projections for each club in the Central Division. For the Chicago Blackhawks, they went with an interesting group of forwards. 

For the Blackhawks' first line, the NHL's account naturally has Connor Bedard at the center spot. As for the wingers, they see Ryan Donato and Teuvo Teravainen playing with Bedard next season. This trio would make a lot of sense, as they are all skilled offensive players who made up the top three in points on the Blackhawks last season. 

As for the Blackhawks' second line, NHL's account has Frank Nazar at center, with Tyler Bertuzzi and newcomer Andre Burakovsky as his wingers. Nazar being the club's 2C is expected, as he is a young forward who has the potential to become a big part of their roster. Having Nazar play with two veterans who can score like Bertuzzi and Burakovsky could certainly benefit his development. 

One Blackhawk who could also earn a spot in Chicago's top six who did not make the NHL account's projection is Ilya Mikheyev. The 30-year-old forward is coming off a strong season with the Blackhawks, posting 20 goals and a career-high 34 points in 80 games.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what the Blackhawks' top six ends up looking like at the start of the season from here. 

Former Blackhawks Prospect Joins New TeamA former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman is officially staying in the KHL.